Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

In this post, we're going over how I created a beautiful set of 12 monthly newsletter templates, an accompanying tutorial video, and a blog post using only my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Canva. 

Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Image spread of monthly newsletter templates by Cathy's Templates
Image: Set of 12 Monthly Business Newsletters by Cathy's Templates


Materials and Items I Used:
  • Canva Pro Subscription (Template Creation & Video Editing)
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Video Creation)
  • YouTube (Video Upload)
Table of Contents:


What is Canva


If you’re not already familiar with Canva, it’s a powerful graphic design tool that can be used on a browser, phone, or via a desktop app. No design skills are needed to get started with Canva. Anyone can begin designing with a Free Canva account, which offers access to thousands of stock images, elements, and other design features for free. 

Heavy Canva users like myself will prefer to use the Canva Pro or Canva for Teams subscription option, which provides access to a powerful array of premium features, such as Background Remover, premium images and elements, audio, and more. I wrote a separate blog about Canva’s pricing models and what they offer.

Creating Newsletter Templates in Canva Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Instead of a Computer


Cathy’s Templates™ is a design studio where I create digital design templates and printables among other things, which I then sell on my Etsy shop. My design templates cover a wide range of digital marketing niches as well as personal use categories. 

When I began working with digital templates, I created them on my desktop computer, which was more convenient at the time as it had a larger screen.

I had the mobile Canva application, but it didn’t work as well on the older phone I was using. There was a lot of lag, extreme loading times, and the screen was just too small to really be able to see everything I was working on at a glance. Also, using a stylus was not as helpful, as most styli have bulbous tips that aren’t the best for precision design work.   

Fast forward a few years, and I finally upgraded my old phone to a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which I was sure would be THE phone to make all my design work and processes easier. I decided to test this out by seeing if I could create all aspects of one template design project using just the phone. 

I wanted to be able to create the following:

  • All 12 design templates 
  • Create a tutorial and accompanying video
  • Write an accompanying blog post
  • Upload the video to social media channels for dissemination 

Full Video (Scroll to continue blog)


H3>Process of Creating Templates Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra


I began by opening a 600 x 1500 design in the Canva app and just got a vision for what I was going for. I set out to create a set of 12 monthly newsletters for businesses to use in their digital marketing initiatives, and I wanted to record myself making at least one of the templates. 

After the 6th template, I started recording. I went for a blue and white color scheme with a focus on “logistics” as the template style. Of course, these Canva templates can be customized to whatever the buyer wants, and they will quickly match the style and niche of your choice by just changing a few things around.

For example, I created a set of three different designs based on the original template I was working on. I changed the fonts, colors. Images, and added an element or two to really change it up. 

I came up with a pink and sienna feminine design, a funny and casual yellow design, and a more traditional green, gold, and white design. They are pictured below. 

Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Side by Side customized versions of the original newsletter template by Cathy's Templates. A template in pink and blue hues, one in yellow and sienna hues, and one in dark green and beige hues.


As noted, I edited these designs right in the mobile Canva app using my phone as a way to highlight the versatility of the editable Canva templates by Cathy’s Templates™.  


Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Side by side image of the original newsletter template by Cathy's Templates and a customized version. One is in dark green and beige hues with serif font in a traditional tome. The original is blue and white with sans serif font and modern style.

After creating the base design, which encompasses sectioning off the media portions, it was time to add in details. 

  1. I used the Neue Einstellung font for my text and alternated text colors based on where they were located in the design. 
  2. Then, I popped in some sample Lorem Ipsum text. 
  3. After that, I searched for images in Canva’s photo library to make the design come to life.

Canva’s element panel allows you to filter your searches using several criteria. For this, I filtered photos by color, opting for a dark navy blue. The results were the final images you see in the template’s 5 image box frames.

Frames are Canva elements that allow you to pop in any image and the image will conform to the size specifications of the frames. When using square frames, I like to use the singular grid option, which allows me to resize the frame to any dimension instead of having to stick to a predetermined aspect ratio.

Creating the Accompanying Video Using Canva and the S23 Ultra


Editing for the accompanying video to this blog occurred in two steps. First, I created the original video using the phone. Then, I used the Canva mobile app to edit the video and trim it down. 

1. Creating the Original Design Video on the S23 Ultra


The accompanying video for this blog was created using the Screen Record feature on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. After enabling the record option, I opened the Canva app and just began creating the design for my template using the S Pen. 

I didn’t use the “record audio and screen” option, as I wanted to focus on the design first and work on the voiceover later. 

2. Editing the Video in the Canva Mobile App


After I was done designing, I uploaded the video to Canva and began editing it. 

The original video is about 25 minutes long and covers only the creation of 1 template. But using Canva’s video editing tools, I was able to trim that down to just over 6 minutes for the design portion. I added a few more minutes of time for some voiceover extras, which brought the video to just about 8 minutes long. 

3. Using Samsung Voice Recorder to Record the Voiceover


After the video was trimmed down to the size I wanted, I used the Samsung Voice Recorder app to record my voiceover for this video. Then, I used the Split Screen feature on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to sync my commentary to the finished video, which was simultaneously replaying in the second Canva window. 

Tip: The Voice Recorder app by Samsung does not come pre-installed on some devices, but it can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Samsung App Store and used like a native app. 


Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Image: Voice Recorder and Canva in Split Screen Mode on the S23 Ultra
Image: Voice Recorder and Canva in Split Screen Mode on the S23 Ultra

Writing the Accompanying Blog Post Using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra


The second to last thing I had to do was write the accompanying blog post using just the S23 Ultra. I wrote my post using my preferred word processor app, and then I copied and pasted the text into my CMS app. Then, I filled in all the metadata, uploaded my photos, and screenshots, and published the post. 

Uploading the Final Video to Social Media


The final step to this project was to upload the edited video to social media. I used apps like YouTube to upload and host, and I filled in all the accompanying descriptions, tags, and data for the video. I also used the YouTube Create app to edit Shorts and Reel version of the longer video.

Why the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the Best Phone for Work


From start to finish, I used the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to create all aspects of this project. As I planned, I was able to:

  • Create 12 design templates 
  • Create and edit a tutorial and accompanying video
  • Write an accompanying blog post
  • Upload the video to social media channels for dissemination 

Processing Power and Battery Life


I’ve never been able to do this on a phone before, partly because the ones I was working with didn’t have the processing power to keep up with the battery and memory loss associated with working on complex and powerful applications like Canva in tandem with other battery-draining applications and processes. 

With the S23 Ultra, I was able to complete all aspects of this project in just 4 days, and on two and a half charges. The only reason I had to charge the phone again was because I was using it recreationally during my breaks. 

Screen Size is Convenient


The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 6.8-inch screen, which means I was able to see the entire template project within my screen at a glance. Maneuver around the design was seamless, unlike having to zoom in and pan across and vertically the whole time as is necessary when using smaller screens.

The S Pen Delivers Precision 


The S Pen has a super precision tip. This allows you to intricately resize, move, swap, and manipulate a design. That’s sometimes impossible with a regular stylus. The S23 Ultra also has a hover feature, which highlights what you’re hovering over with your S Pen using a small white circle or border. This makes it easier for viewers to keep track of what I was doing in real-time within screen-recorded videos. 

Overall, this phone is a powerful machine. In this case, it completely replaced my computer for an entire project. Would I throw my computer out now? Obviously not, but it gives me peace of mind to know that I can work on any project independently away from my computer, and the device will be able to handle it. It will also be convenient and easy to do so. 

This isn’t a sponsored post. It began as just an idea of a new way to challenge myself and my available tools. I wasn’t expecting to be able to do everything using just a phone, but was extremely satisfied with the results. For that reason, I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to anyone looking for an alternative to large tablets and laptops for on-the-go work. 

The 12 Monthly Newsletter Template pack in this post is available on my Etsy shop: Etsy.com/Shop/CathysTemplates

This Template Design is: "Notrim Logistics 12 Monthly Newsletter Templates" by ©Cathy's Templates™ 2023 (@CathysTemplates). This design is not for resale or commercial use

Creating a Canva Newsletter Template Project Using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Image spread of 12 monthly newsletter templates by Cathy's Templates

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