Getting Creative in the Word - Bible Art Journaling - How To Get Started

I love that I can take my hobby of cardmaking and paper crafts and use those same supplies to get creative in the Word. It's always a bonus when your heard-earned money spent on hobby supplies can be stretched even further into other interests.

Which brings me to ask...have you tried your hand at Bible Art Journaling? It takes "just" journaling to a whole new level.

There are actually a couple different ways I'd like to show you to get started in Bible Art Journaling.

One way is to purchase a journaling Bible and create your own art. A Bible that's specific for journaling is important as it will have extra space in the margins for your art/notes. Some people just stick to the margins with their art journaling while others cover the words as well when they are creating their art. I personally prefer not to cover my words as I like to read and study from this Bible as well.

Here is an entry I did a while ago that popped up in my FB memory feed today.

The second way is to purchase a journaling Bible that already has art in it for you! This is great for those times when you don't have a lot of time to create your own art, but just want to spend time meditating on the Word. Get some colored pencils and color in the art while you memorize/meditate on a particular scripture. If you do a search on Amazon for "creative journaling bibles," you'll find lots of great options.

This is the one I currently use and love it!

Here's a glimpse at a page on the inside that you would color.

Not every page has art on it, so there's still plenty of room for your own journaling notes and/or art work as well.

As far as what types of materials I use in my Bible, it's mostly stickers (because I have terrible handwriting despite many attempts at improving in this area), watercolor paints, craft paint, stamp and inks, colored pencils, etc. You do need to be careful with some markers as they'll bleed through. However, you can use a medium like Clear Gesso to prep your page first and reduce effects of bleeding through to the other side of the page.

If you're just not comfortable with the idea of "coloring in my Bible," another alternative would be to start in a journal or even note cards. Here, I've taken a statement that someone told me and I found to be exactly what I needed at that time in my life, so I knew I needed to "journal" it somehow. I did so on an index card so I could keep it tucked in my Bible or tape it to my computer to see it regularly and get it in my head.

I was blaming other people for my actions. For example, "Well, the kids were being this or that, so I got angry." NO! I am responsible for my own behavior. And behavior modification doesn't work...I need God ruling my heart to exact lasting change, and therefore I must expose myself to God in order for my behavior to change, to be God-like and God-honoring!

Better stop before I get to preaching! :)

Happy Stamping & Steeming!
--Cheryl

No affiliate links were used in the making of this post.