Bible Journaling Throwback and Supply List

Since I started blogging again, I thought it'd be fun to look back at some of my first Bible journaling entries and some of my favorite supplies to use!

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OK, on to the fun stuff....

Above is my very first entry! I had stumbled upon Shanna Noel's "Illustrated Faith" sometime in the summer of 2015 on Pinterest, I think. And I was hooked. It combined my love for God with my passion for being creative. Because it was fairly new, it took a while for me to find a reasonably priced journaling Bible. Since most stores were out of stock online, people were selling them for hundreds of dollars on eBay and such. Finally in the fall, Crossway released more of their ESV journaling Bibles and I snatched one up.

I tested some of my supplies in the back of it so see how the paper reacted to my pens and watercolors (more details on those below). There was minimum bleed-through so I continued on to add my quirky doodles to the pages of my Bible. 

Of course I doodled more flowers next to the actual "consider the lilies" verse in Matthew 6.

"Consider the lilies fo the field, how they grow: they neigher toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (verses 28 and 29)

And on to the book of John! I love sheep! Sheep make yarn and I love to gather yarn and crochet fun things. So I love all of the sheep/Shepherd analogies in the Bible. Jesus says in chapter 10 verse 11...

"I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

Amen and forever grateful that He did! 

So these were just the beginnings of my Bible journaling adventure. I was a bit over 3 months pregnant at the time and super sick. I lost almost 25 pounds my first trimester so these little pictures were a great accomplishment at the time. 

Now on to my tried and true supplies. The following items were what I had on hand at the time and turned out to work very well.

- Bible: Crossway ESV Journaling Bible
- Pen: Faber-Castell PITT pen XS (this set has a great variety of widths/brushes, but you can also get them individually or in smaller sets)
- Watercolor Pencils: Staedtler Karat (my set is over 20 years old, but they are great. Last year I also added Prismacolor watercolor pencils to my supplies) 
- Waterbrush: Pentel Aquash

my current go-to supplies (easily portable)

I know how art supplies can add up. Like Stephanie Ackerman of "Documented Faith," I'm a firm believer in using what you have. Then as your budget permits, add quality supplies that will make creating easier, more fun, and more enjoyable!

Now go get in His Word!
:) Ann

Bible Journaling Proverbs 19:14 a Prudent Wife

Proverbs 19

"A prudent wife is from the Lord..."

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)

To be honest, when I started this page, I was just doodling and not really reading. I wanted to try some new flowers, but I'm still getting used to watercolors and a paint brush (as opposed to watercolor pencils and a waterbrush). So dots is was... especially since I was too lazy to get up and dry my page between colors, I had to keep the colors separated. Anyhow, I like these colorful dotty flowers and it got me reading Proverbs 19. 

"House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord."

When I got to verse 14, I looked up "prudent" in the dictionary (because... Mom brain!) and it means: acting with or showing care and thought for the future. And I thought, yes that is how flowers are too. One flower carrying dozens of seeds in it to multiply itself in the future. 

And as wives, isn't that what we try to do? Carefully plan for the future of our seeds? Whether it's our seeds of children, profession, business, ministry, or hobby, we care for and try to provide a good future for all we set our hand to do. God, help us to be prudent and care for all that You have given us.

Keep on keeping on and coloring in the Word, my friends!
:) Ann

Bible Journaling Proverbs 17 Joyful Heart

Proverbs 17
"A joyful heart is good medicine..."

A stressful week calls for focusing and making more time for reading God's Word and painting bloppy flowers.

And get in His Word we must if we're ever to be transformed. I pray He gives us all joyful hearts despite our circumstances. Crushed spirits and dry bones are absolutely no fun at all. 

Look for the good today, friends!

:) Ann

Bible Journaling Psalm 133 Dwell in Unity

Psalm 133

"...for there the Lord has commanded the blessing..."

Dwell together in unity... even when your giant cat lays down on the wet paint in your Bible! Fortunately watercolor is a little forgiving and the cat cleaned up nicely.

When I started Bible journaling, I was very neat and tidy (I'll post some prior work soon). I would sketch an idea out on paper, copy it to my Bible, ink it carefully, then use finely sharpened watercolor pencils and a water brush. Lately, I've only had a few minutes here and there and feel the need to just get some sloppy color down. Just something creative. Anything. So recently I've been playing with an actual paint brush, a glass of water, and lots of bloppy flowers.

It has been fun and a great way to get into some different passages of scripture. Hopefully this inspires you to get into God's Word.

Keep painting!

:) Ann

Supplies:

ESV Journaling Bible
Paint: Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set
Brush: cheap craft round brush
Pen: Faber Castell PITT pen - XS

Check out THIS post for affiliate links to these supplies on Amazon! Thank you!

Bible Journaling Hebrews 4:3 Enter His Rest

Hebrews 4

"for we who have believe enter that rest..."

I've dealt with fear, worry, and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I may not have know what to call it when I was little, but it was there all along and I have slowly let it take over my life. I do fight daily (hourly, minutely...) and confess God's Word, but sometimes I just get worn out from the battle. 

I think it was Monday night that I listened to a Joyce Meyer message and she referenced Hebrews 4:3...

"For we who have believed enter that rest..."

All I have to do is believe and I can enter His precious rest. It may not always be easy, but it will get easier and before I know it, He can transform my mind.

So yesterday I wanted to just let go and do some sloppy painting in my Bible (which is totally not my style... I'll share more of my Bible journaling soon!). I kept remembering a mixed media art journal tutorial by Mary Brack with colorful circles and thought I'd try it in watercolor. Click HERE for her original tutorial. 

What a freeing, fun, restful time I had slopping some paint down. A few minutes here and a few minutes there. Today I finished it with some outlines and a touch of white acrylic paint watered down. 

Maybe today you'll enter His rest too and have a colorful day!

:) Ann