By default Word a inserts a drawing canvas when you are inserting clipart, pictures or using the drawing tools. The drawing canvas establishes an area on your document in which you can place or draw multiple shapes. The drawing canvas groups the objects and allows you to move and resize them as a single component. While this tool is useful when you are managing multiple graphics in a document, it can be difficult to control particularly when you do not want to group objects together or are working with a single graphic.

Word provides the option to turn the default setting off and on as follows:

• Tools | Options | General Tab
• Remove the check mark from the “Automatically create drawing canvas when inserting autoshapes”

Shutting the option off does not prevent you from using the drawing canvas. You can insert the drawing canvas as needed manually as follows:
• Insert | Picture | New Drawing