Canva is a great tool for creating stunning visuals without graphic design expertise. With Canva, you can create anything from social media posts and birthday invitations to professional logos, flyers, and presentations.

Take a look at these professional—and expensive—looking design assets you can create with Canva in mere minutes.

1. Book Covers

Screenshot of creating a book cover in Canva

Authors can create covers for eBooks and print books in as little as an afternoon. To get started, select a Canva layout from the many free options available. From cookbooks to romance novels, you are sure to find one that fits your needs.

Click the layout you want and then select the text elements to add your own details. If you like the layout but prefer a different image, you can simply add your own.

2. Event Invitations

Screenshot of menu of options to create invitations on Canva-1

Canva offers terrific invitation options for weddings, birthday parties, charity events, and dozens of other personal and professional occasions. We especially appreciate the option to create a virtual invitation, which is all the rage in this post-pandemic world we live in.

As with the book covers, select a layout and then click the elements to adjust the text. You can change the font style, size, color, and formatting for anything you design. You can even adjust the letter spacing, line height, alignment, and transparency.

Another nice feature of Canva that comes in handy with invitations is the sharing options. You can post your event to select social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, or copy the link to distribute electronically as you wish.

3. YouTube Channel Art

Screenshot of creating YouTube art in Canva

If you have a YouTube channel and want to create eye-catching art, Canva has you covered. Check out layouts for music, beauty, nature, food, gaming, and other popular vlog niches.

Every element in the design can be changed, rearranged, or removed. This gives you total creative flexibility. Once you're happy with the design, download your YouTube artwork as a JPG, PNG, or PDF file. Then upload your custom artwork directly into YouTube's Channel Art section in its settings menu. You now have unique branding on your own professional-looking YouTube page.

4. Etsy Shop Covers and Icons

Screenshot of Etsy cover art template in Canva

If you sell your goods on Etsy, draw some attention to your shop with a cool cover or icon. Canva offers both of these for selling products such as gifts, accessories, clothing, and fragrances.

The platform's design size guide is one of Canva's many hidden gem features. If you search for "Etsy Shop" or similar, the correct dimensions for each Etsy-specific design need will appear in the search bar menu.

The templates for Etsy shop covers and Etsy shop icons match the selling platform's current dimensions. So, just tweak the wording, colors, and illustrations as needed, and you're set to upload to your Etsy store.

5. Business Cards

Screenshot of business card template in Canva

Many applications, including Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop, can handle business card creation. However, Canva is by far the easiest platform for creating memorable, professional-grade business cards.

From casual to elegant, you can pick from a large variety of business card layouts. If you send your cards via email or post them on social media, the link feature is ideal. Just select the design element, click the Link button from the top navigation, type or paste your URL into the box, and hit Apply.

6. Infographic Resumes

Screenshot of Canva infographic resume template

If you are in an industry where an infographic resume would benefit you, take a look at Canva's offerings. The layouts are clean and professional, and they highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments.

For example, you can choose a resume layout that shows off your skills using a one-to-five scale. Or, you can pick one that has a set spot for awards received. And remember, if you like a layout but not the placement of the elements, just click and drag to rearrange them.

You can select entire blocks of elements to move or use the Ungroup button from the top to separate what's inside. If you ever make a change you regret, just hit that Undo button on the top-left navigation.

7. Gift Certificates

Screenshot of Canva gift certificate template

Maybe your business sells gift certificates, or you simply want to treat your significant other to a romantic getaway. Whatever your purpose, you can design unique, fun gift certificates for dining, drinks, product discounts, and other gift vouchers.

You can also create coupons to hand out to your customers. For example, if you are offering a discount on your services, Canva gives you a great way to advertise it. Then, you can just as easily order prints directly from Canva. Pick your print format, choose your print options, and begin your order. You will see the pricing right up front, which is another awesome perk.

8. Yearbook Covers

Canva yearbook cover template screenshot

Canva is one of the best design apps to use when you're on a budget. So, if you are in charge of your school's yearbook cover, for example, you're in luck. Canva has layouts that your yearbook committee will love.

Choose your layout, add content, upload photos, and you're ready to print. You might opt for a completely ready-made yearbook theme design, which includes a table of contents, photo spots, and an autograph page at the end. However, keep an eye out for the crown logo in the bottom-right corner of the template: This indicates it's a Canva Pro theme, which is not free.

9. Music Album Covers

Screenshot of Canva music album cover template

Whether you're targeting Spotify or Amazon Music listeners, or sticking with classic CDs or even Vinyl, the perfect album cover is essential for musicians. Canva has layouts for all music types. Pick from many genres, including symphonies, metal, lullabies, or country.

The sharing options could come in handy for getting your fellow band members' opinions on your design. Click the Share button from the top, add the email addresses, and then assign permissions: Can edit or Can view. This is a wonderful way to collaborate with others on the album art design.

10. Restaurant Menus

Screenshot of restaurant cafe menu template in Canva

From decadent desserts to tasty ales, designing your restaurant menu is easy with Canva. Since you can edit or delete each element, group or ungroup components, and rotate or resize every detail of the design, you have total flexibility. For longer menus, you can click the Add page button to keep on creating.

Create menus that match the atmosphere of your establishment and share them with customers by printing or emailing them directly from the Canva website.

11. Feature Images for Social Media Posts

Screenshot of Canva social media post template

Bloggers and freelance writers can use Canva to stand out from the monotony of posts on the internet. Before you publish your latest article, make sure you have a feature image that will grab the attention of your followers.

Canva has templates for many types of social media platforms, and you can even create a template from scratch if necessary. Choose your base theme or background image, add text, and export the newly minted feature image as a JPEG file. You're ready to publish your latest blog post with an eye-catching opener.

Get Creative With Canva

As you can see, Canva offers much more than designs for logos, social media posts, collages, and banners. And the best part is that you don't need any kind of design experience. The tool is so simple to use that you can create professional-looking designs in an instant.