Bible Journaling: Promise & Covenant (BJ-46)

I’ve created five new illustrations for my Bible journaling, based on a theme of ‘promise and covenant’. I had to look up the difference, as on the surface, they seem to be the same concept. A promise can be defined as a declaration of intent, whereas a covenant is a formal relationship agreement with obligations, expectations and enduring commitment. The Bible is woven with promises and covenants, holding God’s plan together – these verses are the ones I chose from the multitude that are available:

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Bible Journaling: Growth & Renewal (BJ-44)

Spring has sprung, so this month’s Bible Journaling theme of growth and renewal is entirely appropriate. I’ve just started planting seeds ready for the garden and allotment, bulbs are blooming, and buds are swelling – a perfect illustration of the metaphors used across the Old and New Testament verses I have chosen.

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Bible Journaling: Love & Compassion (BJ-43)

This month’s theme of love and compassion draws on five verses that reflect God’s love for his world, and how we are instructed to show that same love to one another. From the Old Testament through to the New, that commitment threads its way through Scripture — a constant from the very beginning, and just as present today.

Here are five new illustrations inspired by those verses.

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Bible Journaling: Hope & Promise (BJ-41)

This month’s ‘hope and promise’ Bible journaling theme felt particularly apt for Advent. The verses follow a thread of expectation and fulfilment, and I’ve carried that through the illustrations with a shared palette and gentle contrasts of light and dark. I’ve tried to avoid the usual seasonal motifs, though a few still crept in…

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Bible Journaling: Strength & Courage (BJ-40)

This month, we’re looking at verses related to strength and courage. I was lucky enough to have created the initial ideas on the seventeenth deck of a cruise ship in force 10 gales and 6 metre swell. It wasn’t pleasant, and gave an insight into having strength and courage! Of course, that pales into insignificance compared to the sort of strength and courage we are provided with by our trust in God. Here are five new illustrations for your Bible journaling. Don’t forget there is a free downloadable PDF link at the bottom of the post for you to print and include in your Bible.

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Bible Journaling: Peace & Refuge (BJ-39)

I’ve selected five verses on the theme of ‘peace and refuge’ from the huge number of possible choices from scripture. I tried out a few new tricks I have learnt on Adobe Illustrator whilst creating these, such as warping the shield with the dove on it to gain perspective and the ‘lean’. On the Psalm 91 verse, I also read ahead and incorporated elements from later in the verse in the illustration (the rampart and shield combo). As ever, the templates are available as a free download – scroll to the end of the post. And while you are there, check out what’s happening next month!

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Bible Journaling: Light & Guidance (BJ-38)

This month’s illustrations draw from a rich source of inspiration: light and guidance. There was a very real danger in the design process of repeating a predictable representation of light and darkness, one which I very much hope I have avoided. I’ll let you be the judge of that, let me know what you think in the comments below. Here are the five verses I have chosen:

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Bible journaling: Creation & nature (BJ-36)

Now that I have moved into my new journaling Bible, I’m able to choose new verses and revisit old ones with new illustrations. This month, I have selected five verses on a theme of creation and nature and created art journaling designs for each:

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Makes on Monday: Crocheted Coo

Facebook marketing works… I saw this pattern for highland cow amigurumi dolls promoted in my feed, and after an inquiry, I purchased it from Cottontail & Whiskers. Said inquiry was ‘Would you like me to make these?’ I aimed to crochet all three over three months, in time for a certain person’s birthday at the beginning of April. After several false starts (it was the first time I had done anything similar), I managed to get the largest (Tunnock) done in time.

Finished large crocheted Highland cow made using Cottontail & Whiskers pattern
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Makes on Monday: 3D Bible Journaling (commission)

At the end of April I accepted a last minute commission for a retirement gift. The brief was to make a piece featuring the recipient’s favourite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9. The time frame was tight, complicated by a long weekend working in London, but I got it done. I wanted to try out a technique I’d seen on various reels. I had ordered some solid wood pieces and they were perfect for this design:

3D Bible journaling featuring Jonah 1 verse 9, with carved two wood bas relief lion's head, gold leaf and coloured pencil text.
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