Hey sis — if you’re creating content, designing digital products, or building a personal brand online, Canva is your ride-or-die. But let me tell you — there’s a whole world of time-saving, boss-level tricks that most people don’t know about.
Today I’m spilling the tea on 12 Canva hacks that’ll make you feel like a pro (even if you’re just starting). These are perfect for digital creators, online biz babes, and anyone trying to show up with polished, high-quality content without hiring a designer.
Let’s get into it.
1. Remove Video Backgrounds (Pro Only)
Want to cut out the background in a video clip? Yup, Canva can do that — no green screen needed. This Canva Pro feature lets you erase busy or unwanted video backgrounds with one click. It’s perfect for UGC creators, product demos, or video content where you want to stay in focus.
How to do it:
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Upload your video to Canva.
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Click the video, then hit Edit Video.
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Click Background Remover (Pro feature) and watch the magic happen.
Perfect for Reels, TikToks, or UGC content.
2. Bulk Create Content in Seconds
This is for my girlies making planners, journals, or quote graphics — save so much time with this. With Bulk Create, you can design 50+ pages using one template and a spreadsheet. It’s ideal for journals, social media quotes, or product catalogs you want to mass-produce quickly.
How to do it:
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Create a design with placeholders (like a quote or product name).
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Go to Apps > Bulk Create.
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Upload a CSV file with your content.
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Connect the data to each text box, click “Continue,” and generate dozens of pages in seconds!
3. Use Shortcuts Like a Pro
Canva has time-saving keyboard shortcuts that help you design faster with fewer clicks. Learn a few, and you’ll fly through your content creation sessions. Let’s speed things up with a few Canva keyboard shortcuts:
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T = Add text
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R = Add rectangle
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L = Add line
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Cmd/Ctrl + D = Duplicate
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Cmd/Ctrl + K = Add link
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Shift + Arrow keys = Move elements faster
Keep a cheat sheet handy and save time every time you design!
4. Create Custom Mockups
You don’t need Photoshop to make product mockups anymore. Use Smartmockups to place your product into realistic settings like laptops, phones, or books. It’s an easy way to upgrade your marketing visuals and increase sales appeal.
How to do it:
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Search “Mockup” or “Smartmockups” in the Elements tab or go to Apps > Smartmockups.
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Upload your product image or design.
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Choose a mockup frame (like a laptop, phone, book, etc.).
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Boom — instant visual that looks super professional.
5. Turn Text into an Image (with Shadows)
Make your headlines pop by turning them into image layers. Saving text as an image allows you to layer, blur, or shadow your words like a design element. This makes it easy to add visual depth and effects not possible with live text.
How to do it:
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Type your text and design it how you like.
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Right-click > Save as image.
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Re-upload it to your design.
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Add shadows, blurs, or overlays to elevate the look!
6. Easily Create Tables (No Need to Draw Boxes)
Canva doesn’t have a table tool? False. Though Canva doesn’t have traditional tables, you can easily insert grid-style layouts or drag shapes to build your own. This is helpful for planners, guides, or comparison graphics. Here’s how to do it easily:
How to do it:
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Go to Elements > Tables, or search “Table.”
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Choose a preset or drag out shapes to create rows/columns.
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Customize colors, borders, and spacing to fit your brand.
Perfect for price lists, comparison charts, or digital guides.
7. Quickly Share Designs to Your Phone
Want to post from your phone fast? Use this trick. Scan a QR code to instantly open your design on your phone without emailing or downloading. It’s a lifesaver for fast uploads to Instagram or TikTok.
How to do it:
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On desktop, click Share > Send to phone.
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Scan the QR code with your phone camera.
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It opens your design in the Canva mobile app instantly.
Great for Instagram posts, stories, or uploading product previews.
8. Find More Elements from the Same Creator
Love a design style and want more like it? When you find an aesthetic element you love, you can explore the designer’s full library for cohesive content. This helps you keep your designs polished and on-brand. Here’s the secret:
How to do it:
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Click on any element you love.
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Look under the element title for the creator’s name.
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Click the name to browse all their other designs.
This keeps your designs consistent and on-brand.
9. Quickly Create QR Codes
Easily generate a scannable QR code directly in Canva for any link, like your website or product page. Add it to flyers, business cards, or product downloads for a pro touch. Perfect for digital products, business cards, or linking to your store.
How to do it:
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Go to Apps > QR Code Generator.
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Paste your website or link.
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Insert the QR code into your design and customize the colors.
Now you’ve got a smart, scannable link built right in.
10. Star Your Favorite Templates & Elements
Never waste time searching again. Click the star icon on anything you love to save it to your “Starred” folder. No more digging through searches every time you want your favorite items.
How to do it:
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Hover over any element or template and click the ⭐ icon.
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Access all your faves under Projects > Starred.
Perfect for keeping your go-to branding pieces in one place.
11. Change the Color of PNGs
Yup — you can recolor certain PNGs to match your aesthetic. Some Canva PNGs let you adjust the color to match your brand palette. This adds cohesion and flexibility to your designs, even when using pre-made graphics.
How to do it:
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Add a PNG from Canva’s library.
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If it’s editable, the Color Picker will appear at the top.
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Choose your custom brand color.
Not all PNGs are editable, but many are — test it out!
12. Find and Replace Text Across Pages
Editing an e-book or digital guide? This will save your life. Quickly search and replace words or phrases across your entire design project. It’s perfect for last-minute changes to names, prices, or product titles.
How to do it:
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Click Edit > Find and Replace from the top toolbar.
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Type the word or phrase to find.
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Enter what you want to replace it with and click “Replace All.”
It updates every page in one click — no more manual changes!
Girl, these Canva hacks are gold if you’re creating content, building a digital biz, or leveling up your brand. The more you know, the faster (and more confidently) you’ll be able to show up online like the boss you are.
No gatekeeping here — just glow-ups, efficiency, and creativity.
✨ Bonus Resource for Digital Bosses:
Need ready-to-edit Canva templates for your business?
Check out our Template Shop — from media kits to brand boards and product mockups, we’ve got your back with done-for-you tools to help you create and sell faster.