So you want to learn how to Bible journal? Awesome! Bible journaling has quickly become a new way to get into your time with God by journaling your faith. But it can get overwhelming fast. Especially if you focus too much on all the images you see on social media. Let’s get started with some tips on how to illustrate your faith.
Hand Lettering
Table of Contents
One of the most visible things in Bible journaling is the very distinctive ways the words are written. Now you’re probably thinking, “I can’t write like that. ” Or, “My handwriting is nowhere near that good.” And maybe it isn’t (mine isn’t either). But I’ll let you in on a secret: hand lettering and handwriting are completely different.
Handwriting is the way you write normally whereas hand-lettering is a way of drawing letters. It is a more deliberate way of doing things and is in fact something that can be learned.
Really. You can learn hand lettering. And you can learn how to Bible journal.
Over the past few months, I have done a lot of research into hand lettering. And here’s the trick to learning: practice, practice, practice!
If you just spend a few minutes practicing each day, you would be surprised at how quickly your hand lettering improves. I have put links to just a few websites that have free hand-lettering worksheets that I have found helpful:
All you have to do is commit a few minutes each day and watch your skill improve. Another thing that can help improve hand lettering is to print the alphabet and short phrases in fonts you like and practice copying it.
A word of caution: Don’t beat yourself up if your hand lettering doesn’t look exactly like the font you are imitating. That’s okay. It should be your hand lettering. Celebrate your skill.
Another handy trick to getting interesting fonts in your Bible is to simply type the verse out in your favorite word processing program and print it.
This can then be glued into your Bible if you have a journaling Bible or into your journal/notebook if that’s your preferred method. Now, I haven’t tried this personally (yet) but other Bible journalers have indicated that this is one of their techniques.
Or you could print your verse and put it under your Bible page and trace it out. The pages of your Bible are so thin the printed words will show easily allowing you to recreate the writing on your page. This technique eliminates the need to introduce medium such as glue into your Bible.
Stickers!
A lot of those beautiful Bible pages have elements that are just stickers! In fact, it is possible to make a complete page with stickers if you have the right words.
‘But how do I find the right words?’ you may ask.
Well, there are a lot of Bible art stickers available for purchase but you may find that they are not quite as accessible as you would like…believe me, I have been combing the stationeries and bookstores for months looking for just one Bella Blvd sticker but alas! My search was in vain. So, I’ve innovated. Instead of looking to purchase stickers, I’ve decided to just make my own
It’s surprisingly simple. Just collect the words or pictures in a word processing software and print them out on sticker paper and then voila! Stickers! Check out this free printable Bible journaling sticker sheet.
Decorative Elements & Drawings
If you are someone who is a natural doodler or artist, this aspect of Bible journaling will be an easy thing for you. But if you’re not…then this could be a little bit of a challenge. My answer to you is Google!
Seriously, I am using Google, YouTube, and Pinterest to learn how to draw. Check out my Art Tutorial page on Pinterest.
Here’s something I have realized: drawing is not as impossible as I once thought. I won’t be Michelangelo, but maybe someday I’ll get over my cow-phobia and attempt to draw another one.
Design
The more you learn about how to Bible journal, the more you will realize that design is one of the more critical elements of the process. A lot of what you design will be determined by the amount of space that you have – when you have a limited amount of space, you’re forced–or encouraged–to get creative.
Your design might also be influenced by what the particular passage or verse is about.
Or, it may be determined by your message. Whatever the case, I encourage you to do what comes naturally to you. This is about what God has to say to you. It is about deepening your relationship with him.
Message & Meaning
The message that God is giving you will become more apparent as the meaning of the passage becomes clear to you.
Before you even attempt to illustrate, seek to understand the lesson God is teaching you during your time together.
The enemy is tricky. He will get you so caught up in making “pretty Bible pages” that before you know it you will have a lot of beautiful Bible art but you wouldn’t have hidden any of God’s Word in your heart.
Please, please, please trust me on this: Bible art journaling is not about creating museum-worthy art. It is about forming a beautiful, lasting relationship with the One who created heaven and earth and everything in it, including you and me.
Jehovah longs for a relationship with us and He craves that time that we spend alone with Him. He has much to teach us if only we would sit still long enough to really hear Him.
We serve an awesome God and I pray that you will use the time spent illustrating your faith as an opportunity to learn from a Great Teacher.
Happy Bible journaling!
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