Bible Journaling

**LATEST UPDATE:  You can find my online Bible journaling class HERE.  Current funds are going directly to help us fund our adoption of our son from China who has several complex heart defects.**

So I’ve been getting some emails and comments asking about information on my Bible journal…like where I got it, what kind of pens I use, supplies, etc.  I thought a quick post would be fun with some details.

I believe God creates everyone in really special, specific and purposeful ways.  He wires us differently.  Gives us different gifts and talents and loves.  And I think we all learn differently as well.  I know He created me with a creative bent…a love of color and creating and drawing with an artistic flare.  So I decided when I was really going to commit to read through the New Testament that I wanted to make sure I learned what I was reading.  And for me, adding an element of creativity would definitely enhance my ability to grasp what His words really mean…what all those parable are about…plus the added help from Google.

I ended up buying an ESV journal Bible from Amazon.  There are a lot of different options.  I loved the wide margins for notes, words, drawings, etc.  I wanted to pull out the things which really spoke to me.  I wanted to emphasize them and spend a longer amount of time looking at them.  The large margins had me at hello.

I draw, paint and color directly onto the pages and then sometimes I use plain white copy paper to work on, cut it out and then glue it to the pages.  I highlight and pull phrases and words that speak really loudly to me.  If I don’t understand something, I google it.  There are always 5 bazillion commentaries on what the passage means.  I read here and there and then make my own best judgment.  And move on.

Everyone is created so differently, but I’ve found this works for me.  I am retaining more and more information tapping into this quirk of mine.  I’m learning.  I’m remembering.  And I am enjoying spending time with His words.

Sometimes your fruit turns out looking more like a butt, but that’s okay.  It’s set in pen, so no erasing…I think God probably has an impeccable sense of humor though.

So here are the supplies I use.  There are tons and tons of options out there to work with.  These are just my choices…the ones I like to work with.

*ESV Journaling Bible

*Sharpie Highlighters

*Koi Watercolor Field Set (I bought this field set for Josh Kelley years ago on Amazon, but I’ve seen them at craft stores.)

*Pencils

*Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils (pretty much any where)

*Micron Pens (bought mine at Joanns, but I’m sure they’re at most craft stores.)

*Sharpie No Bleed Pen (also at Target) I love the medium tip.

*And an eraser

I still love Flair pens, but just didn’t dig them on this paper surface.

And I keep everything (minus the watercolor set) neatly in my Timbali zip pouch so I can grab it and go.

That’s it.  Super profesh right?!?!?!  You know, those Crayola twistables just scream “I’m an adult.”  Hahahahaha.

Hope this helps and answers some questions.  If you have any other questions just leave them in the comments and I’ll answer them as best I can.   And maybe you have a journaling supply item you love to use…feel free to share it with us.

Happy Wednesday.

**UPDATES**

I did a few updates within the post, but also added this area just in case you missed the main things I get asked a lot about.

I use the ESV Journaling Bible  I purchased mine on Amazon a while back.  It’s the plain black cover, but I painted it with acrylic paint and it’s held up well.

I now use the Timbali Costmetic Bag instead of their zip pouch to hold my supplies.  It’s bigger, but not too big and will hold all my supplies…even my watercolor set.  You can read about it HERE.

My watercolors are the Koi Watercolor Field Set (Hobby Lobby has them as well…use their 40% coupon)

I also teach Bible Journaling classes from our home once a month.  All the money from the classes goes towards doing some kind of good in the world.  I also will come to you and teach the class.  If you are interested you can message me HERE or email me at pitterpatterart at gmail dot com and I can get you all the details.

I’ve also started a Pinterest board with all my journaling pages.  You can check it out HERE.

*amazon affiliate links

55 Comments

  1. Candygirl says:

    I love the Sharpie GEL highlighters….no bleeding through! Great for onion paper Bibles!
    http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Pages/gel-highlighter.aspx

  2. I’ve been doing something similar for my prayer time. I saw a book on prayer doodling/ journaling for kids and thought “hey, that’s my speed!” Ha! But I’m like you, God made me with a love of color and creativity. While my doodles look like a kids journal next to yours 🙂 I don’t do it for public viewing. It has helped me focus when I pray, and it has also helped me give myself more freedom and grace creatively (nothing like a perfectionist adult having to learn how to doodle! Ha!). I’m really enjoying it!

  3. Christine Bakker says:

    I love this! I would love your creativity too. How cool it is making God’s word more alive to you. PS your fruit does not look like a butt!:)

  4. Absolutely beautiful work! What makes it more powerful is that it is God’s word. you make me want to create. I was cleaning out yesterday and my kids wanted to look through all of art portfolios from high school and college and I realized how much I love some of my pieces and that in miss creating. I always try to paint when the kids do but i need to do it more

  5. I love this and I can’t wait to order one! Where do you learn your beautiful scripting?

  6. Thanks for sharing and letting us enjoy the creativity God has given you! I too have the twistables for inductive study – pretty much the most genius art thing ever! 🙂

  7. What I would do for you to send me a copy of every page! I LOVE your creativity! I’m going to order a bible with margins asap I need to do this. I Have NEVER Read the bible fully through. I think this is the encouragement I need! I love to doodle I just lack creativity 🙂

  8. Im so excited. I have notebooks full of drawings ive made while studying the Bible…or at church during Pastors message….definately doing this!!!! my head fills with all of these beautiful ideas and thoughts and pictures when I am immersed in Gods word…so awesome to find I am not the only one that does this!

  9. Laura, do you run into any problems with the watercolors crinkling the pages? Does the water “bleed” through?

  10. I love this and bouht a journaling bible for my birthday. So just getting started. Do you try to do every page?

  11. jane dean says:

    What if you can not draw? I am not an artist or creative but I study and love the Word?!?!

    • I don’t think you have to be able to draw…Bible journaling is so personal and unique to each person…it’s more about your relationship with God VS being able to draw. Just do your own thing and it will be awesome.

  12. Check out where Bible Art/Journaling originated in 1989 on my Pinterest page by watching my video from 1990. Bible Art by Vicky Murphy.

  13. Thanks for your inspiration ! Very helpful , as I’m not an artist. I love your pages! Blessings!

  14. 1. I just got a journaling bible, and I found this blog post on Pinterest. Your journaling is beautiful!
    2. I knew I had to comment when I saw that you use a Timbali bag! I spent last fall in Africa, and one of my days in Swaziland was packing up boxes of Timbali bags to send to the states. So I was super excited to see one!

    • So awesome. I love Timbali. We sponsor a carepoint in Swaziland too through Childrens HopeChest and AIM. We try and go every year if you’re ever interested in going 🙂

  15. Do you freehand all your words or do you use a template and/or light box?

    • Hey Pam…I do freehand all my lettering, but try and use really simple fonts…and I practice a lot. I’m know there are some great stencils, stamps and stickers out there though 🙂

  16. Maybe you’ve commented about this already, but what if you’re not creative like that? I still am interested, but wouldn’t know where to begin or how to create those side works? Bible journaling is new to me, but I’m interested in it because I’m which a visual learner!

Trackbacks

  1. […] margins. I think that will help me meditate and remember throughout my day.  I’m inspired by THIS BLOGGER (who is also a rad foster mom!) and the way she goes about art journaling. I need to take THIS […]

  2. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  3. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  4. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  5. […] Journal in a Bible specifically for them. Again, I just started this one. My hope is to go through the entire Bible before I get married and annotate, doodle, and paint different verses through the lens of a godly marriage. Here are two super cute blogs to help you get started: Homegrown Hospitality and PitterPatter Art […]

  6. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  7. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  8. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  9. […] skipped a beat when I got to sift through all the Timbali cosmetic bags.  If you recall from my Bible Journaling Supplies post, I have been using one of Timbali’s zipper pouches to hold all of my supplies.  The […]

  10. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  11. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  12. […] Picture credit: http://pitterpatterart.com/bible-journaling/ […]

  13. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  14. […] I love the classic black. If you are wondering about Bible journaling supplies I use you can read THIS POST which I’ve added some updates […]

  15. Friday!! says:

    […]  I have several Bible journaling things…a) I’ve updates my Bible Journaling Supply post so everything is all neat and tidy.  I get the most emails and questions about supplies, so […]

  16. […] person will bring their own supplies.  You can read about the supplies I use on THIS POST, but please feel free to bring the items which work for you.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE […]

  17. Oh Happy Day says:

    […] it look like I was recently fingerprinted…I love for my Bible journaling time to be simple.  I use very simple supplies and it’s a lot of no fuss.  I always talk about this in my class because there are so many […]

  18. Sweet Views says:

    […] (I use this pouch for my Bible journaling supplies.  You can you see my complete supply list HERE) […]

  19. […] The videos will talk about the process of Bible journaling and I will share how I go about this each day.  We will also talk about supplies and tips, tricks and techniques I use.  You can see all the supplies I personally love and use everyday HERE. […]

  20. […] The videos will talk about the process of Bible journaling and I will share how I go about this each day.  We will also talk about supplies and tips, tricks and techniques I use.  You can see all the supplies I personally love and use everydayHERE. […]

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