I love to come up with fun, creative, and easy photoshoot ideas for my birthday. This year I made a custom newspaper on Canva, and figured out a great hack to print it for the low. I looked up custom newspapers online, and it was kind of pricey to get an actual one printed. I designed a version that I was able to get printed the next day at Staples, and it came out great. Check out my TikTok below for a step by step tutorial on how to make your own custom newspaper.
Update: Want me to design Your newspaper for you?
After watching my tutorial, a few people asked me if I could make their newspapers for them (to save time, etc.). So, I created some easily customizable newspaper templates that can be edited in Canva. All you have to do is change the pictures to your own, and the text to say what you want it to say before you download it to print.
I listed my custom newspaper templates for $7 each here on Etsy.
If you’d like to make it yourself, here’s how I made my first one for this photoshoot!
How I Made My Custom Newspaper (Canva Tutorial)
- I started by finding a premade newspaper template on Canva that I could easily customize. I chose this one.
- To make sure that the final newspaper would be the right size, I re-sized the design to 24 X 18 inches. This was important so my design would be landscape. I googled newspaper sizes to make sure my final printed product would be similar in size to an actual newspaper.
- Next, I added my pictures and customized the text to say what I wanted it to say in my newspaper. I also made sure I left enough room for a border, and to fold the final product in half.
- Finishing touches are important, so I also added a barcode to the bottom corner, just like a real newspaper. You can find barcodes on Canva by searching “barcode” under the elements tab, and selecting one from the graphics section.
@flyfiercefab Replying to @Loubi Here’s how I made my custom birthday newspaper in @Canva ! ?✨. I got it printed for like $16 at @Staples . #birthdaynewspaper #birthdayphotoshoot #photoshootideas #canvatutorial #blackgirltiktok #canvatips #canvadesigntips ♬ original sound – Theresa Seyi | Outfit Ideas
Tips to Print the Custom Newspaper
@flyfiercefab Replying to @Hannah Yes! Here is how I set up my custom newpaper to get printed on the @staplesstores website ?✨. I have written instructions over on my blog too (? newspaper). I hope this helps, and lmk if you have any questions ?. @Theresa Seyi | Outfit Ideas #birthdaynewspaper #customnewspaper #birthdayphotoshoot #graduationphotoshoot #newspaperphotoshoot #canvatips #canvadesigntips #photoshootideas #blackgirltiktok #lovemystaplesprints ♬ original sound – Theresa Seyi | Outfit Ideas
- To start the printing process, I exported my final design from Canva as a PDF. I then uploaded it to the Staples printing services website. Check out my TikTok above to see how I set it up.
- On Staples’s website, I selected a custom poster print (same-day printing), standard heavyweight paper, size 18 x 24 inches. When I uploaded my design, I made sure to select the landscape orientation to match my Canva design. In the end, everything should be in landscape orientation / horizontal.
- ETA: You can also print your newspaper on blueprint paper and get great results (I tested it). This is significantly cheaper, as I had mine printed in color for around $3. Blueprint paper is thinner and feels more like a newspaper, poster paper is more sturdy. The choice is yours.
Be sure to proofread everything and double check the dimensions as you go along. In total I paid $16.50 for my custom newspaper.
My setup for my birthday photoshoot was fairly easy. I knew I wanted it to be two things: pink and bougie lol. So I wore my favorite pink feather trim robe from SheIn, and an old rhinestone crown I had on deck. I decorated in my dining room with pink heart balloons from the dollar store. I also got some Valentine’s Day heart shaped donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Hobby Lobby had a pink plastic tablecloth for $0.99 so I grabbed one of those too. Additionally, I got heart shaped pink plastic cups from Target for $1.
I also incorporated the pink floral bouquet I made (check out my tutorial here), and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. Check out my TikTok below to see how my birthday photoshoot looked in person.
My Birthday Photoshoot
@flyfiercefab It’s my birthday! ?✨ Thirty Two, what it do baby?! I wanted to do something fun for my birthday photo shoot this year, so I made a custom newspaper in Canva and set up a little birthday brunch #blackgirltiktok #pink #birthdaygirl #birthday ♬ how i love being a woman – editdiaary
Overall making the custom newspaper, and setting up for my birthday photoshoot were really easy. I actually did the photoshoot on the morning of my birthday, and had the newspaper printed the day before.
Would you try making a custom newspaper? For what occasion? Let me know in the comments!
Stylishly Yours,
Theresa Seyi
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