Monday, October 12, 2015

Bible Journaling Part 2 .... The Tools


Okay! You asked for it.... 
This is my post about the tools that I prefer for bible journaling. 
Before we get started: I just want to make it clear, I'm not
an expert, artist or theologian. These are just some insights 
into what I have tried that has worked. And a lot of what you see
in my journaling are concepts that I got from bible studies. So don't be thinking that 
I'm so exceptionally smart. I'm just making notes so that I can remember later.

You should know that I have had some epic fails to, trust me! 
To name a few:
The brush pen - LOTS of people use it but I can't figure it out to save my life. 
Watercolor paints - Bleed  through and cause the paper to wrinkle beyond belief.  
(My bible is not like the newer journal bibles that have the onion paper. Mine
are much thinner.)
Micron and Sharpie - bleed through

So these are techniques that I have gone back to and 
like best. 

Let's get started, shall we?


Here is a recent entry from a study that we are doing in Philippians at my 
church on Sunday mornings. 
Adopting a Christ-Like Attitude means Serving, Sacrificing and Glorifying God. 
You'll note that I misspelled glorifying in my bible (sigh). Oh well, it happens. 
By the time that I noticed it, I was in the ink stage. (ugh!)

Note to self: there is no spell check on the page. 

So that's the finished product.
Let's step back and have a reality check. Okay, NO JUDGING!


This is actually what my craft table looks like in mid project.
I think I saw a pin on pinterist "I craft, therefore, I hoard."
It applies.


It's true, I like having all my stuff out and available. 
I also like a work lamp. It makes seeing the pencil marks much easier as well as doing shading.


Here are the my favs:
a soft lead pencil (alway draw as lightly as you can)
a polymer eraser (because it seriously removes all pencil marks)
a Uni-ball Signo 207 ultra micro pen
a Uni-ball Signo 207 micro pen
a ruler
And
a pencil sharpener


Lined paper is handy to use under the page to keep your writing straight.


I also like to use color pencils alot. For me the Prismacolor brand is best but 
Crayola works well too. I have tons of them in as many colors as I can find.
I recently purchased some watercolor pencils and a blender that 
I'm anxious to try. It's supposed to give you the look of watercolor
with the convenience of a color pencil. We'll see. 
Washi tape is also a very fun element to add your page.


So I'm a beginner and I'm looking forward to learning more techniques.
I hope this has been helpful for you.
Let me know if you want to see more bible journaling.
And of course leave me questions... I'll try to answer as best I can. 

Have a great week!



Friday, October 9, 2015

Christmas .... Here We Go.....


Hey! 
HI!
Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?


It just arrived last week. Its from the 2004 Hallmark
Keepsake, Nello Williams signature
Christmas Collection. 



I think you can still get one on Amazon or Ebay.
There is also a matching refrigerator that I have.
My husband got it for me a few years ago and I've wanted
this little stove ever since then.


The light comes on in the oven and it has a little
air freshener so that you can put a cookie flavor scent in.
It hooks up to your Christmas lights.


Oh my goodness....

Are starting to think holiday yet?

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Bible Journaling Part 1 .... My How, What, When and Where



Okay.... this is going to be a long one. 
Get your tea, coffee or soda and get comfy!


If you follow me or check in once and awhile, you will notice that I share my bible journalling with you occasionally.  (If you go on to my Instagram page you can see all the pages that I have done. I have a button on my sidebar that can take you directly to my page.) 
In the few posts that I have shared, there have been quite a few questions regarding the bible that I use, and how and why I do the journalling that I do.  
So here is that promised post that explains it all.



What is bible journaling? 

Bible journaling is a method that has been around for a long time but has become very popular in the last year, predominantly by these 2 ladies Stephanie Ackerman who started the Documented Faith plan, and Shanna Noel who created the Illustrated Faith method.  Both of their web sites have tons of tutorials and inspiration. It really is just a way to meditate on God's word through art journaling.  

Why do I bible journal and how did I get started? 

I have ALWAYS had an affinity for bibles. I LOVE them. I HOARD them and ADMIRE other people's bibles.  I am the same way with  journals. LOVE them! The problem is that I never use them. I never journal in journal.  Same with my bibles. I take my bible to church and bible study, but the truth of the matter is I didn't really open it in between.  It bothered me, but not enough to do anything about it. 

Then last May I hosted a table at the Ladies Tea at our church and the speaker was Pam Kanaly. Her theme or topic was "Love Letters". She shared how the bible is a love letter from God to us. Then she showed her bible. It was huge. It was old. The gilding on the paper's edge was gone. The spine of the book was cracked and the leather cover had worn marks from being carried and the pages were crinkly from being searched and thumbed through. There were copious notes in the margins.  She went on to tell that there were tear stains that were circled and dated where she had prayed and cried over her children and loved ones. Scripture was highlighted, underlined and dated where she had prayed God's promises into her life.
It was amazing and beautiful. 
It made me want a lifetime bible like that. 

Then when I was working on my planner, I came across some bible journaling images on Pinterest and Instagram. I was more than intrigued.  I went on line and every Journaling Bible was sold out and on wait lists. Then I remembered that my husband had used a journaling bible for a little while a few years ago.  He had set it aside because he wasn't crazy about the translation. I asked him if I could have it. He said "of course" and that is how I ended up with the journaling bible that I have. 

I watched a bunch of you tube videos on lettering and I also watched the videos on Stephanie Ackerman's web site for journaling. They are wonderful and I learned a ton and am still learning a ton.
So that is how I got started.

What is a Journaling Bible?


Simple! It is a bible with wide margins for notes and journaling. Lifeway has a great selection as 
does Amazon.  Lifeway even has a fun little video. 


How I bible journal. 
Bible journaling is just as individual as any journal can be. You make it your own. The biggest thing that I would want to convey is that you are really focusing on God's word and not the art. You absolutely don't have to have any artistic ability to bible journal. Ask yourself: What is it that spoke to me? What do I want to remember? Is there an image that I think of when I read the passage?  It's the learning and taking it into your heart that matters. 

When I am at bible study or listening to a sermon I use my study bible and a note book 
like this. Sometimes my daily devotion is an inspiration for more study too.



I still highlight and write in the margins of my study bible, but I also take extensive notes. I think about big ideas and small details. I write it all down. Then I go home, I pray about it, I review my notes and then I go to my journaling bible open it to that same passage.




I then use another little notebook for rough drafts and design.  It's a messy process but this is what works for me.  I am way to tentative do a rough draft right on the bible page.





I then transpose it onto the bible page with pencil.



Then I go ever it all with ink and color. 


It ends up something like this. 


"Prayer does not equip us for great works. Prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers
Trust me! I'm not an artist. I never took any art classes in high school or college. If I can do this, you can do this! And I hope you do!




In my next Bible Journaling post I will show you my favorite tools that I use for journaling.