Reading Journal Prep 101: Book Covers, Stats, & Art in Canva! 📚
Thank you to Harry's for sponsoring this video! Make sure you check out the Shave and Suds bundle through this link: harrys.com/plantbasedbride and pick something up next time you’re at your favourite store. Let me know what you get!
Today I'm finally sharing a detailed tutorial of how I use Canva to do all of the prep work for my reading journal! From the absolute basics of how to use Canva, to how I source the images I use, to sizing tips (the exact size I make my book covers, for example!), and how I make the charts I use to show my reading stats. I talk through the kinds of things I search to find images on Google and Pinterest, how I keep files organized, and how I use Canva's tools as a template to save time! I hope this video is helpful and goes into enough detail for everyone who has asked me questions about how I create the pages I print to use in my reading journal set ups. Because this is a longer one there are chapters so you can skip around to what's relevant to you! If I missed anything please leave a comment down below so I can clarify ❤️
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
4:31 Canva 101
6:43 My Reading Journal Template
8:46 Book Covers
14:26 Making Stats Charts
25:57 Book Entry Images
35:33 Aesthetic Images
43:21 Downloading & Printing
If you've never seen my reading journal you can watch these videos to see my style:
📽 Watch my 2024 Reading Journal Setup: • 📚 2024 Reading Journal...
📽 Reading Journal Playlist: • Reading Journal 📚
📽 January & February Wrap Up & Reading Journal Setup: • January & February Rea...
💛 Join the PBB Patrons Squad on Patreon to get the Reading Around the World printable:
/ plantbasedbride
📸 Hang out with me on Instagram:
/ elizabethturn
SUPPLIES USED
*The following are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my channel!
- Archer & Olive Latte Love Square Notebook (Sold Out) (use my affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off all other notebooks): www.archerandolive.com?aff=20
Shop my favourite supplies here: www.amazon.com/shop/plantbase...
MUSIC
Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
MY FILMING EQUIPMENT
- Sony A6600 Camera: amzn.to/30W4GxE
- 16mm Sigma Lens: amzn.to/398gM7N
- Panasonic LUMIX GH6: amzn.to/3SFiOUp
- Lumix 25mm Lens: amzn.to/3FizE5S
SOCIAL LINKS
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📖 goodreads: / plantbasedbride
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🎵 tiktok: vm.tiktok.com/ZSQoWq9f/
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
💌 plantbasedbride@gmail.com
FAQs
What does your channel name mean? I picked "Plant Based Bride" for my blog when I started it back in 2015 as I was starting the process of planning my vegan wedding and wanted to document it. I have been vegan for 10+ years and married since 2016!
What's your real name? Elizabeth
Where are you from? I'm a Canadian from Toronto, Ontario, now living in the Canadian Prairies.
Are you a natural redhead? No, I'm naturally a brunette. I dye my hair using Herbatint 8R.
Are your nails natural? Nope, they're press ons and I do them myself (see how in this tik tok: www.tiktok.com/@plantbasedbri... )
What nail polish are you wearing? It's Beatnik by Cirque Colors
Thank you to Harry's for sponsoring this video! Make sure you check out the Shave and Suds bundle through this link: harrys.com/plantbasedbride and pick something up next time you’re at your favourite store. Let me know what you get!
Wow, you really said “DETAILS” I’m beyond impressed. Thank you for this.
Haha I didn’t want to do a quick overview that wouldn’t answer all the questions I get regularly in the comments! So I erred on the side of getting too granular 😂
HOORAAY!! a TUTORIAL IN CANVA!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! 💗🦊💕
You are so welcome! I hope I answered all your questions ❤️❤️
Right! I loved that part of the video
You are a true blessing, Elizabeth! 💖 I’m saving this as I know that I’ll need to watch this a few times. You have the qualities of a great educator. I hoped to try something with all the photos that I have taken over the past 30 years, which as of yesterday I cannot locate in my computer. I might need to send you a ✈️ ticket to YYJ! Hope that no retinas were permanently harmed during the production of this video lesson! Thank you so much for your gracious kindness, Elizabeth ❤ With deep gratitude, kari
What a fantastic video! I said to my husband (who watched a small portion of the video with me) that this is what a detailed tutorial looks like! I loved all of it and it's actually super useful for me 😊
Oh thank you! I’m so glad it was helpful ❤️ I also love hearing that people watch my videos with their family. I love watching KZhead videos with my husband, too 🥰
OMG the number of things I couldn't figure out in Canva that you just made insanely simple is mortifying, haha. Thank you so much for putting this together!
Haha well I’m happy to help! 😂❤️
I just want to give this about a million "thumbs up" and love!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH for doing this! ❤
Aw thank you! I’m so glad this video was helpful ❤️❤️
Took note on aaaalll the graphs and how to edit them. It was my last step on creating theeeee perfect reading journal!! Thank you!!!
Oh good, I’m so glad!! ❤️
I absolutely love canva. I struggle to find the perfect size for book covers. So im interested to see your process and hopefully find new tips and tricks♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I hope this video helps solve that issue for you! Please let me know if you have more questions❤️
So excited for the Notion Tour 🥹🙏❣️
ELIZABETH!!! I have literally been SO inspired by your book journal, I was gonna make one for my partner based off his Goodreads, and here you go. 🥹🥹
You almost have me convinced to make my own reading journal. I didn't need another hobby! 😂😂
yayy we finally got the stats tutorial!! thank you!! cant wait to see the notion one too!
You’re so welcome!! The Notion one is probably going to be even longer than this one 😅 I’m excited to share it with y’all, though!
Wow there's a lot more to this than I had thought 😍
Omg I’ve been waiiiiiiiiiiting for this and it did not disappoint!!!!!
This is fantastic, thank you so much!
This is something I’m looking for! Tyooo❤
This is fun! I’m starting a book journal so this has given me tons of ideas. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!
How exciting! I’m happy to help 🥰
On Canva I like to put white rectangles the size of the covers I want in my journals, add it across multiple rows, then duplicate the page a few times. It makes it easier for me to see what space I haven't used yet and it less confusing for me than adding covers on top of other covers. I've made too many mistakes doing that lol.
That’s a great tip, honestly!
It's so cool to see your process ! Love this little "Behind the scenes" ❤
It was so helpful, thanks for your work!
Awesome tutorial! Thanks for sharing your tips. I too have been inspired by all the journals!
Thank you so much! I've been wanting to try out Canva for a while, but I've found it kind of overwhelming - this was super helpful!!
This is a great video - thank you!
Thank you so much for this video. I use Canva a lot but you taught me a few things--charts--I haven't tried. 🙌🏾
Very interesting! Thanks for giving some of your time to help us have a nice reading journal. I always love your videos which I think are brillant.
I'm so glad you finally made this video. Thank you!!❤ can't wait to make these for my own reading journal!
❤Thanx for sharing this video on how to use canva😊lovely nail colour.
Awesome.!!!!!! my first intro to Canva....thank you so much ❣
Love it!!!!! I always wanted to do a cool reading journal in Canva!!
This is perfect! Thank you! I used to do this all in Word and in was such a pain. This is so much easier!!! ❤
Appreciated this! And will definitely be using this as a resource video whenever (or rather if ever) I would start my reading journal. btw at 41:41 you can just double click the image and the crop of the picture can be adjusted without compromising the previous size or shape of the image. thanks for this video~
Im trying to convince myself to switch from just having a digital journal. I suck a-s at drawing & being creative but this looks so tempting 😅
This is awesome! ❤️❤️
🥰
Excellent, very interesting video, Elizabeth❤❤ and yeah for a Notion one! My Notion reading tracker is a complete mess, so I need good guidance 😊🎉🎉
Absolutely loved this video!! Thank you so much! I really want to start a Notion, so I'm really looking forward to that video. 💜💜
You’re so welcome! I’m honestly ridiculously excited to share it with you all 😂 it’s so extra and I love it haha
This was very helpful, thank-you ❤💫
Happy to help! ❤️
Thank you this is so helpful
I'm so glad!
This was fantastic, thank you
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this! I know so many people use canva but have always found it a bit intimidating. I really appreciate this video. And I'm really looking forward to your video on Notion. I do quite a bit of ARC reading and have tried several different methods for tracking and cross-posting reviews.
Thank you so much for this tutorial, Elizabeth! I tried creating graphs and pie charts before but it gave me a headache, lol. I will have a go with Canva 😊
New sub from TT! I’m excited, which is rare.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
You’re welcome! I hope it’s helpful ❤️
Thanks for the super enjoyable video! I have been singing Canva's praises for years! It's been there for me through so many creative ideas and projects. I was watching your video as I finished my March reading journal (a wee bit late considering it's 04/20 lol). One thing I forgot even existed is Pinterest, I feel like I haven't used it in forever. Thanks for the reminder =) I think finding images there will be awesome for future spreads.
this was the perfect first video of my day with a nice cup of tea 🥰 Your voice is always so calming. I also love the colour of your nails 🤩 Canva is also wonderful pay for it as well, Its great! This entire video was just so wonderful for this rainy morning haha
Aw I love this! I’m glad my video contributed to a cozy morning ❤️
Elizabeth! Fantasticly helpful video! I’ve loved Canva since I used it to design all the bits and bobs for my wedding, but to hear an actual artist say it’s up there with the photo$hop…such a warm fuzzy…and I learned a bunch too. Why are they not sponsoring!? Canva! Hand this woman a cheque!!
Thank you so much! I use Google Sheets to track my reading stats and have made a dashboard, but Canva looks so much easier to edit with the images and the charts looks pretty straightforward too.
Yay, I’m so happy to hopefully streamline your process!
SO incredibly helpful!!! What type of paper do you use for your images, etc. ?
Thanks for the detailed tutorial! Very helpful! 😊 What printer do you use? Your images always print out so clearly!
Elizabeth, you are a goddess!!! Thank you so much for this outstanding video. I could never get why so many people love Canva, now I get it, and will get it! I appreciate all your videos and all you do to make them so good. Now, will you be able to make me a Notions girlie??…looking forward to that 🤩✨🌟🎉🤎
As someone who uses Canva on different devices, you can also drag the image into your project or just copy paste it if saving it isn't something you can do on the device you're using, and Canva will upload it to your images there so you can find it back
WOW, the process of it is sooo cool!! I've started my own reading journal this year and I've been wanting to set a vintage vibe to it and yours looks absolutely perfect!! Do you have recommandations for stationery that you use (scrapbooking, tape, stickers maybe) ? I never thought of it but stats seem very cool to implement as well, I'll definitely think about it! Thank you in advance!
I also love searching for fanart of my fave books to put in my reading journal. I try to also reblog them or retweet them whenever possible and write down the credit on the page im writing! As a long time participant in fandom, i feel it's important to give the fanartist credit and to show off their work! Elizabeth, do you read fanfic? 👀 that would be a very interesting video 🤣
That’s a great idea! I’ve actually wondered about the best way to do that before. Maybe I’ll try adding credit (if I can find it) to the description box 🤔 and no, I haven’t read fanfic!
Very interesting to see how you put your reading journal together - thank you so much for sharing! ☺ Can I ask if there is any specific reason you save the image files to your computer and then upload them to Canva, rather than copying them from the website and then pasting them into your Canva doc?
Very very informative. I’ve been curious how you do it and make it all tie together. However I have to admit, your notifications on Pinterest has me wanting to go in and clear it out! lol! I hate those notifications on anything!
LOL my ADHD brain filters that out. I didn’t even notice 😂
Now that I'm all digital I just prep by downloading the book covers it's much easier. With the boox note air 3c I've even got color on my eink screen and it's actually made me journal more.
I am absolutely a cricket on leg shaving day lmao. Thank you for making this video, I've been putting together my book covers in google docs, which works, but I have to resize every single image individually, and canva looks so much easier now! Google docs also forces a white border around every image, which is tedious to cut out each individual image around the white.
Haha right?? I knew I wasn’t alone! 😂 and I’m glad to offer an alternative! I imagine canva might make things much easier and faster for you ❤️
I really like your videos and you're style!! please! I'd like some outfits video! you look super aesthetic always! thanks a lot for your content (:
I like the insight to your process. May I recommend if you’re pulling fanart adding the artists credits in your setup vids if you don’t already? People work hard on fanart and deserve the recognition!
I agree that’s a great idea! I’ll try to start adding credit to the description box ❤️
You don't actually have to save the book cover to your computer in order to upload it to Canva. Copy image + Ctrl+V does the same thing. The uploads remain in Canva and you can come back to them whenever you need to. Also, resizing images is so much easier if you use frames. Just create a frame with your desired dimensions, duplicate it as many times you need and drag the book covers in the frames
Not sure if you mentioned, but what printer do you like best? And how are you managing the ink situation? I'm using an HP5005 and it's fine but the ink prices are exorbitant... Always looking for alternatives!
Would you reccomend printing the page out in a sticker paper? And have you read The Familiar? I tried but it was so boring and had pacing issues. Leigh lost her touch
I wish they would restock the square journal, it seems like it is always sold out 😢
Just a question - what paper do you print on? Do you use a photo paper or an adhesive backed paper?
I use regular printer paper! Though adhesive backed paper would save time 🤔
do you have any tool suggestions to give for those who aren't able to afford canva or any of the word engines?
Canva is free to use!
Totally loved the video, but would have liked a mention/warning about using copyrighted material saved from the web for anything other than strictly private use ❤
I had the same thought! I was wondering if you ever search in Flikr Commons or other public domain sources as even private use you're mostly banking on no one catching use of copyrighted images.
I sense a canva sponsorship in your future hehehe
Haha I’d be happy to work with them someday!
Don't you worry about copyright issues when you download book covers/fan art?
I must admit I find copyright rules very confusing (especially because they differ greatly from one country to another) but my understanding is that it’s ok to use images in your own personal journal that isn’t being reproduced and sold. It’s possible I’ve misunderstood, though! I’m certainly no expert. There are sites that provide free use images that you can use instead if you want to avoid any possible issues!
Plant Based Bride, You're fantastic! Let's be friends and have fun!
Never used Canva. Look pretty user friendly and have some features that I am used to in PowerPoint (cropping, resizing) but the ability to tamper with the colours of the pictures is really nice and the automatic resizing in existing templates looks really useful and a big time saver! I don’t usually do stats but it is so easy to set up that I might reconsider my stance on it (woobling😅). Thanks. Looking forward to your video on stats compilation
It really is very easy to learn and use! I find tracking stats so fun and interesting, so I’d definitely recommend 😂❤️
Your images always look so nice printed, what printer model to you have and is their specific paper that you find works best? My printer and I aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment and she needs to be replaced 😆🤣
I have an HP printer but I honestly hate mine so I wouldn’t recommend 😂
Thank you for this, it was very helpful. Question about the images being pixilated. That's been my biggest problem with printing out images. Do you find that you don't have an issue with the images becoming pixelated in Canva?
Usually images will look pixelated if they’re either very low quality to start with or have been stretched to a larger size. If you drag a picture into canva it should pop up at its full size, so as long as you’re keeping it at that size or smaller (and it’s not pixelated to begin with) you *should* be ok. I hope that helps!
Yay!!! Love this video! Thank you so much for sharing!!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤️