Make Easy But Powerful Social Media Graphics: Canva |Stencil

Name: Make Easy But Powerful Social Media Graphics: Canva |Stencil
Rating: 4.6 (69 reviews)

Learn simple, effective techniques to make beautiful social media & web graphics using Canva or Stencil in under 1 hour.

Created byKristen Palana

Last updated 2/2026

English

What you'll learn

Create professional-looking web and social media graphics using free online tools in 1 hour or less
Take your regular logo and put it on a transparent background in four minutes or less
Be up and running fast using the most essential and useful tools in Canva and Stencil
Deliver graphics through the free social media post-planning tool, Buffer
Get a birds-eye view of the design process from concept to final product

Course content

6 sections • 21 lectures • 1h 41m total length

Introduction1:52
Welcome to the course. In this lesson I'll let you know what you can expect to learn, who this course is best suited for, and tell you more about who I am and how I can help.
Social Media Graphics Using the Free Tools, Canva and Stencil. A Quick Overview2:44
In this lesson I'll show you some samples of social media graphics made using both Canva and Stencil. We'll go over what is possible and how you can already start thinking about which social media platforms you will be making graphics for.
Make sure to click on resources so you get the links to sign up for the free versions of Canva and Stencil.

Welcome to Canva! Getting Started and a Few Important Design Tips3:24
In this lesson we'll get you set up with a free Canva account and I will give some tips on getting started making social media graphics that look professional.
Choosing Templates and Sizes For Different Social Media Platforms -Let's Start!4:47
In this lesson we'll talk about why templates are so cool and how they can not only help you with layout design, but also help you get ideas for your social media messages. We'll also pop on over to Brainy Quotes to get some inspiration for creating an inspiring message.
Working With Text in Canva (-And Some Good Typography Advice)8:00
In this lesson, we'll add your quote to the template and work with adjusting the font, font color, font size, and spacing. I'll also give you some sage design advice and get into some typography advice and design principles such as hierarchy. (See the downloadable resources for top design principles you can use to make better images...)
What Have You Learned So Far About Type?
Adding Images (-From Canva and Also Your Own)7:24
In this lesson I'll show you how to add images from Canva's library as well as how to search royalty-free image sites (where images are copyright free and 100% legal to use as your own). From there I will show you how to add and upload your own images as well as hot to adjust them. Make sure to look in the resources section to get my list of places to find free images, music, and videos for your projects.
Make Your Logo a Transparent Logo in Under Four Minutes3:42
In this lesson I will show you a super easy and quick way to take an existing logo and put it on a transparent background. I normally do this task in Photoshop or Gimp, but after creating this lesson, I'm just going to use the free online tool Lunapic instead. It's a time saver! :-)
Using Filters, Icons, Frames, and Other Canva Goodies (-Plus We Tint Our Logo)4:23
In this lesson we'll get into some more of Canva's features and tools. We'll also use Filters and settings to tint our logo so it better matches the colors in the overall design and creates more aesthetic unity in our final image.
Let's Review Images and Logos
Downloading and Sharing Your Finished Design3:12
In this lesson I'll show you how quick and easy it is to download and share your finished graphic. We'll also talk about other collaboration and sharing features as well as how you can use a post planner to help share your graphic across social media platforms.
Now It's Your Turn! Make a Web or Social Media Graphic Using Canva
Extra: Resizing for Social Media, Animated Gifs & Making Videos Using Canva Pro5:57
The focus of this course is mainly on using the FREE features of Canva, however it does have some very cool features available through Canva Pro. If you'd like to learn some of them, have a look at this lecture. Also check the resources tab to get links to the latest Canva Pro features.

Extra: Using a Post Planner. Buffer Mini Crash Course8:36
In this optional extra lesson, I'll give you a quick rundown on how I use the free post planner, Buffer to post my Healing Hands social media graphics across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google+. I'll show how to make a post, discuss best practices such as adding links and hashtags, and discuss scheduling posts for the most optimum times your target audience is online.

Making a New Social Media Graphic Using Stencil (Case Study)10:53
This lesson is a case study and and introduction/crash course in how to use Stencil. We'll make a new graphic and go over some of Stencil's most important features and tools.
Stencil: Let's Make Another New Graphic, This Time From Scratch (Case Study #2)9:18
Case Study #2. In this lesson we'll make another new graphic from scratch and explore tools and settings as we make informed design decisions. This lesson will help you gain insight into how designers think when moving elements around and deciding on colors, fonts, and layout.
The Final Stencil Image Wrap Up. +Icons and Other Features.2:14
In this lesson I'll talk about finalizing the Case Study #2 image, go over icons and other Stencil features, and invite you to submit your own designs for feedback.
Now It's Your Turn! Make a Web or Social Media Graphic Using Stencil

Extra: Remove Text or an Object from a Photo FREE (and fast!)5:25
Here is a free, fast, and easy way to painlessly and professionally remove text or an object from a still image using a free online tool called Fotor. Check it out!
Extra: 5 Easy & Free Tools That Will Free Your Creative Soul10:24
Don't stop at making social media graphics. Have a look at some of my favorite free and intuitive tools that will have you also making illustrations, web sites, animations, and more. Get a taste of what is possible in under 10 minutes and be up and running ASAP.
[This lecture comes from my full course, Skyrocket Your Creativity: 7 Easy Ways.]
75+ Resources to Get Free Images, Music, and Videos For Your Projects0:22
Here are more free resources you can use in your creative projects.
Extra: Making Image Fixes on the Go Using Photoshop's Free Online Editor7:06
In this extra lesson, I'll show you a quick and easy FREE online tool made by the Adobe Photoshop people that will allow you to fix and enhance your web images for free. Use this tool to brighten images, increase contrast, crop, adjust, and more.

This lesson comes from my course (that also utilizes free tools), Quick & Easy FREE Image Fixes for Beginners: GIMP Spotlight
New: Quick & Easy Ways to Boost Your Online Presence in Under 1-Hour (LIVE)0:25
Catch the recording of a LIVE 1-hour workshop I did recently in partnership with Mastrius, an online mentorship platform for artists.

Requirements

No previous design experience is necessary. Only basic computer skills are required (such as knowing how to copy and paste text, save a file, use the Internet, etc.)

Description

Are you ready to take charge and learn quick and easy methods for creating and editing powerful web images/social media graphics like a professional in just 1 hour?

Whether you are an entrepreneur, employee, content creator, teacher, author, or social media maven, over the last few years it has become CRUCIAL to know how to do a little bit of everything online.

With this course as your guide, you'll learn how to confidentially and professionally create and manage your OWN unique images for your website, blog, eCourse, eBook, presentations, or social media pages.

-No design skills required.

-No expensive software required.

-Beginners and busy people welcome.

Save time, money, and sanity by learning how to finally make your own images without having to always pay someone else to do them for you.

In this course you will learn:

Easy and quick ways to create professional web & social media graphics in minutes using free online tools
How to take your regular logo and put it on a transparent background in four minutes or less
Learn the most essential and useful tools in Canva
Learn the most essential and useful tools in the Canva-alternative, Stencil
Absorb the most important design principles as we work together making real social media graphics for a real client
Understand how to better choose and organize type, images, colors, and layout in your designs
See how to schedule and deliver graphics through the free social media post-planning tool, Buffer.
Get a birds-eye view of the design process from concept to final product by following step by step case studies.

This course was created especially for complete beginners as well as people who fight with technology who want to gain new and valuable digital imaging skills that can be used every day. You can watch and follow along with me as I show you through case studies for an actual client how I make professional-looking social media graphics and web images using the free online tools Canva and Stencil.

I'm a practicing award-winning multimedia artist and a former tenured Associate Professor of Digital Media and Program Director of Film & Digital Media at The American University of Rome (2006-2016). I'm currently an Associate Professor of Digital Media at American University of Myanmar in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).

Since 2000 I've been teaching students all over the world using my tried and true custom approach (turning complex information into something simple, memorable, easy-to-understand in as short amount of time as possible) to ensure that you get the most important, relevant, and useful information that can be applied immediately.

New bonus lectures and resources will continue to be added and timely design advice will be provided in the discussion forum. I love to help and always respond to inquiries and discussions ASAP.

Empower yourself now by enrolling in this course and join our growing learning community! Click the "Take This Course" button in the upper right corner and let's get started building your new image creation skills using Canva and Stencil today.

Who this course is for:

Complete beginners, design novices, and traditional artists looking to add digital skills to their toolbelt will get a lot out of this course.
Entrepreneurs, crowdfunders, authors, and small business owners who don't have the time or budget to pay others to create web and social media graphics should take this course.
This course was designed especially for busy people who want to be up and running ASAP
People looking for an in-depth Canva or Stencil course that covers every tool and feature should NOT take this course. Here, we are only using the most useful tools and techniques for getting started quickly and easily.

Make Easy But Powerful Social Media Graphics: Canva |Stencil

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction and Overview2 lectures • 5min

Creating Web and Social Media Graphics With Canva8 lectures • 41min

Extra: Using a Post Planner. Mini Buffer Crash Course1 lecture • 9min

Create Social Media Graphics Using Stencil3 lectures • 22min

Resources and Extras5 lectures • 24min

Conclusion, Thank You, and Next Steps2 lectures • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: