Bible Journaling: Book ends

Here are a couple of Bible journaling examples where the extra space at the end of a book can be used for larger illustrations. I felt that both needed a bolder background than I would normally consider as there was a lot of white space that made the text look particularly lonely!

used in these layouts

  • [amazon_textlink asin=’1473639913′ text=’NIV Black Journalling Bible with Unlined Margins’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’themanicstamp-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’ac45bd57-0086-11e9-a74d-41df2801a08f’]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B000UEAKC4′ text=’Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’themanicstamp-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’f0b495b8-0cf8-11e9-8c96-71a115136e83′]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B004AQODNU’ text=’Sakura Pigma Micron’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’themanicstamp-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’017908cf-0cf9-11e9-8699-2582b328a467′] black pigment pen (01)
  • That’s Crafty 6.5″x7.5″ Roses [TC7029]
  • Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencils Rays [THS003], Tiles [THS042]

Bible Journaling: Another November release

I’m not exactly busy in The Studio at the moment – I’m no longer doing TV prep and I’m not on any design teams, so I’m left to my own devices. I have plenty of time, as a result, to do my own thing. At the moment, it’s developing tangle patterns and Bible journaling – and prepping for my craft stall on Friday and Saturday (Lutterworth Town Hall, F: 5-9pm, S:10am – 4pm if you’re interested).

For this release of Bible journaled verses, I kept to my general style, but I have added a couple of sketches (one thanks to free-to-use Armour of God from ChristianityCove.com). I also added a motivational phrase to illustrate the verse – this is the first time I have used text other than the verse itself. As is now normal, I have used coloured pencils and fine tip pigment pens to avoid bleed-through.

Now seems to be a good opportunity for a plug… Starting on the third Monday in January, I will be hosting a Bible Journaling Session here at The Studio from 7:30-10pm, £5. We’ll look at materials and methods and then have themes for the evenings such as lettering, colouring techniques and using different media to decorate our Bibles.

Continue reading

Bible Journaling: Old & New

I’ve been busy Bible journaling, trying to get back into the habit of reading and reflecting on what it is I am drawing. I’ve found my own style now, and my process still begins with choosing the words or phrases I’d like the emphasis to rest on in my illustration. Next is playing with typography, something I now prefer to do on screen – the undo function creases the page less than trying to rub out pencil lines! Then follows adding illustrations where appropriate, before tracing and colouring into my Bible.

One benefit of working in this way is that there is a FREE downloadable version containing all five outlines for you to print out and do your own thing with… just click the button:

Continue reading

Bible Journaling: a few more examples

I’m still on a mission to journal in my Bible(s) at least once a day. And I’m still missing my own goalposts 50% of the time… Here are a few more examples from the times I did manage to sit down do some bible journaling. I’ve tried a few more ways of putting down backgrounds, experimenting with text styles and even allowing stamps and a bit of illustration to creep in.

Continue reading

Bible Journaling: Psalm 136, Psalm 139:14

It’s still busy at The Studio, as there’s a That’s Crafty! One Day Special on Hochanda on 8th/9th December. That means I have six hours of live TV to prepare for – samples, show prep and lots of mental rehearsal! There are moments, though, where drying time gives me the chance to have a bit of ‘me’ time – and I’ve done a couple more Bible journal pieces. I have a couple of favourite verses from the psalms – Psalm 139:14 is one. The opposite side is the refrain in Psalm 136, used for page balance.

Psalm 136 - Psalm 140

I experimented with a different medium for this double spread. By using [amazon_textlink asin=’B000PD3M8E’ text=’Derwent Inktense’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’themanicstamp-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’991cfa48-d2a1-11e7-a146-679050d7348b’] pencils on clear gesso/matte medium mix, you can direct the concentrated colour and use a dilute wash to create the background. For those unfamiliar with Inktense pencils/blocks, they are a richly pigmented colour pencil, which when wetted on or off the page become more vividly saturated and easy to blend. Once wetted and then dried they become waterproof – so much so they can be used to dye fabric too.

I topped off the text with some Stickles glitter glue to add a little glitz.
Continue reading

Bible Journaling: Isaiah 61 & 63

Whilst some things I am making, that I can’t tell you about yet (but it has something to do with upcoming TV appearances), are drying, I have started to dabble again with doing some art journaling in my NIV journaling bible. I turned to these passages in Isaiah and picked out a couple of verses to concentrate on. Today I had a little experimentation with things to seal the page to prevent bleed through.

Isaiah 61 & 63

For the left side, I used a wiped-on layer of matte multi-medium, heat dried. For the right, I didn’t prep the page at all. Add some pigment inks for background colour, and watch them slide right off the multi-medium… it just has no tooth at all. It did, however, seal the page very nicely and not too much bulk added. I got around it by applying some ink, drying with the heat tool and then reapplying the ink. I sealed the pigment in with a spray fixative before using a Posca pen to add the text.

Continue reading