Monday, August 31, 2015

Matthew 13:24-30


This was the first instance where I couldn't isolate just one verse but needed to include a passage. As it turns out it isn't the prettiest of pages, visually, but I love it.
I LOVE the parables of Jesus.
I love that they are simple and clear enough for everyone to understand.
I also love how they hurt my brain when I think about how deep and complicated they can be.
I am also reading CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters so the mention of the Enemy planting seeds of weeds in the Master's fields, takes me right to the conversations I am reading in the book.
It brings me great joy to know that God called me. 
I have a contrast in my life's vision of what I thought, and who I was before God called me; and what I think, and who I am now. It is such a gift to be able to be in Christ!

The watercolor of wheat was inspired by another's painting. It was really the combination of colors that struck me. Mine did not really turn out they way I had envisioned but I learned a few things along the way.
I did a freehand sketch of the wheat using my pigma micron pen. I water colored the image and let it dry completely. I found that I had lost much of the detail in the picture. I went back over the image with colored pencil adding details that I had lost. 
The lesson: don't be afraid to use whatever you have to create the art you envision.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

1 John 2:6


I just finished a 12 part study on James. 
There were many things that stood out in the study but the thing that resonated with me most was how our mouths reflect what is in our hearts. If our hearts are rooted in the world rather than in Christ, it is evident in the way we speak.
This verse echos that same sentiment.
If our identity is rooted in Christ, it will be evident in our lives - our walk, and talk.

I love using the negative space to create an image. I colored around the shoe prints using gray, silver, and black colored pencils. 
It is fun to take advantage of the large space provided at the end of a book. This image was perfect for the space.  

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Bible Art Journaling 101 part 6


My local class was unable to meet yesterday so we haven't had our last lesson yet but I wanted to go ahead and post online for those of you that have been following along. 

If you click on the picture below you can download the last handout for Bible Art Journaling 101.


You can click on the picture above and download the 6th session PDF. I thought I would post the lesson here in the blog post as well.

Bible Art Journaling 101
Week Six
Since our last class you should have done the following to be prepared for this week’s lesson:
  • Find a new verse and complete it from start to finish –sketch in pencil, outline with 005 pigma micron pen, erase your pencil lines, add weight to letters with a 03 pigma micron pen, and add color using one or more of the techniques learned.
  • Continue to look for Bible Art Journaling examples and save for inspiration.
  • Try a new coloring technique

This week we will use ink pads to color our verses. We will discuss the difference in using ink for coloring and stamping in your Bible.
In the example I will show you I used a stamp, hand lettering, and sponging ink on to color the image. Additionally I used post-it notes to mask areas of the verse to allow different colors used to color. I will go through the process step-by-step so let’s get started.
I am using the verse 2 Timothy 4:17. On that particular page in my Bible (page 997 in the Crossway ESV Journaling Bible) there is a large space that I utilized for this verse.

I started by drawing a 3” x 4” box to place my verse. I placed a line to mark where my stamped “Lord” would be placed and then I sketched the rest of the verse in pencil. I used my 005 pigma micron pen to ink in the pencil lines and then I erased the pencil lines.



I then used my 01 pigma micro pen to add weight to the letters. 



At this point the verse is finished but I wanted to add color to it. I wanted to use three different colors. I used Stampin’ Up Classic Ink pads: Baja Breeze (retired color), Pear Pizzazz, and So Saffron.  In order to do that I needed to mask off the area I didn’t want colored. I used post-it notes to mask the areas.




After masking, I used a wedge of sponge and an ink pad (Baja Breeze) and began adding ink to the outside corners leaving the center portion uninked so I could add the next color. I attempted to follow the 60-30-10 design rule and used mostly Baja Breeze, then Pear Pizzazz with just a touch of So Saffron.



I took a picture of the next page to show you the bleed through of the ink. I have found that sponging leaves no bleed through but stamping does. For the stamped “Lord” I used Memento Tuxedo Black. As a last touch I used my Stampin’ Up So Saffron Marker brush tip and added just a few shadow details on the banner.



I did one other verse in the same way except in addition to sponging the main area; I used an aquapainter (waterbrush) and a blender pen to add a touch of color. What I found was that the aquapainter didn’t bleed through in small areas, but if used in a larger area, it bleeds. I didn’t have any bleeding with the blender pen, but it wasn’t used in a large area.



The heart in “heartily” was done with a blender pen, all the other hearts were colored with an aquapainter.

This brings Bible Art Journaling 101 to a close. My hope is that you have learned some hand lettering techniques, and coloring with colored pencils, watercolor paints, and inks.
There are a ton of products and materials you can use in Bible Art Journaling. My goal was to show you that it doesn’t require a lot of materials. You could get a lot of bang for your buck by limiting your supplies and finding creative ways to use them.

I thank each one of you for allowing me to share this faith art with you. It has blessed me in many ways. I pray that as you progress in your own Bible Art Journaling you will find great joy in this creative form of worship!












Monday, August 24, 2015

Romans 5:18-19


The importance of one. 
One act of kindness or unkindness 
One kind word or rude reply
One person making a difference in a life... in a good way or not so good way

This verse is so very powerful. 

I sketched the large 1 in pencil and wrote the verse 3 different times before I just wrote it out in my own hand and didn't try to do something overly artsy.
I used a pigma micron pen and colored pencils to finish the verse.

Today is the first day back to school for my kids.
Praying for students and teachers alike as we begin this new school year.

Tomorrow is the last class in Bible Art Journaling 101 
The last handout will be posted on Wednesday.
If you missed the class, you can still download all the lessons and work them at your own pace. 

Wednesday I will post them all in one place for easier reference. 

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Psalms 3:3


I love the words "lifter of my head"
it is so true! He is my shield and lifter of my head and He heard me from His Holy Hill when I cried aloud.
Such a great reminder that our Lord hears us when we cry out to Him
He lifts our head 
and 
He is our shield
If I were a better artist I would draw a hand tipping up a child's chin
for it is what I see when I read this verse
The shield evokes strength and power and protection
but the Lifter of my head evokes tenderness and love 
Love those contrasts in Scripture strength & tenderness.

I sketched this out in pencil and then used my 005 pigma micron pen. I erased the pencil lines and added weight with 01 micron pen on some of the words.
I used my big pack of crayola colored pencils to color the verse.

Have a blessed weekend, friends!


Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Colossians 1:15-16


Hello fellow Bible Art Journalers!
I have been a little under the weather these past few days so I had a lapse in posting.
This is a page that I started while in church a month ago. I started doodling the verse on an offering envelope and it was in my Bible waiting for a time for me to sit down and work out this wordy verse.
I really like a good wordy verse and this one is a powerful one.
My mistake was taking this on while I had a fever.
You should know that I am the world's worst speller. Seriously. 
Generally, I catch my errors but today I did not.
I spelled invisible i-n-v-i-s-A-b-l-e.
what a dope.
I not only did it once, but I did it again.
So last evening I am showing it to my 15 year old and he began to tease me.
How bad is it when I had the verse right there and I still spelled it wrong!
I share this embarrassing moment to tell you that I used one of the spare pages in the back and cut a bit of paper and glued it over the errors. 
I will know that my true self (world's worst speller) is visible on my Bible pages -warts and all.
I LOVE this verse. 
It is so powerful and pacts a great visual image when read aloud.
I love that!

On another note, thank you for the comments. It really helps hearing from readers. 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015






We had our 5th class yesterday. These are a few pictures from the ladies in the class.
This week's lesson is about water coloring.

Using water color paint requires some practice. It will change the texture of your Bible pages, I have ironed a few of mine after they have dried to help with wrinkling. 
If the wrinkled pages will bother you, you might want to skip water coloring. 

Click on the picture below to get week 5 download



Monday, August 10, 2015

Hebrews 10:23


Okay, y'all, confession time... I have had this one done and waiting in the wings for several weeks. Truth is I really dislike my coloring.
Love the verse and the green part, and the yellow -but what isn't working is the purple/pink part.
So there you have it, sometimes I don't like the finished work very much.
But I decided at the onset of this blog that I would share what I love as well as the stuff I wasn't loving as much. 
This is real life. In real life we don't have success 100% of the time.
I have had to let go of the feeling like I am letting God down if HIS verse isn't displayed perfectly every time. LOL God knows all of my imperfections already :-)
Anyway, my hope is that you will embrace ALL of your verses.
If you are still reading this, I have a favor to ask. 
This is my 39th post.
I have had nearly 11,000 page views
22 comments
2 followers

If you regularly come here to see verses or if you have a comment, suggestion, or question,
would you leave me a comment or follow?

I would like to get to know those of you that are visiting regularly!

Thanks and have a great day!




Saturday, August 8, 2015

Psalm 61:2


It is easy to become overwhelmed.
I was talking this week with some young women about this very thing.
This is a simple verse with a powerful reminder.

I was inspired by a beautiful watercolor painting. The painting had a background of pinks with just spots of yellow. The yellow looked like water droplets of color. I wanted to use my colored pencils so I took a more literal approach to get the same feel.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

John 8:12


I had wanted to color with my new pencils but had no pictures in mind to go with Scripture. I had this pin on my ArtsyFaith pin board for months and wanted to do it but just never felt ready. I now had the tools to do this art piece justice.
Linda does Scripture art and her work is charming. See more of Linda's work HERE

What a great verse and the perfect visual to commit the verse to memory.

Have a wonderful day!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Proverbs 15:1


I love this verse so much! So much! 
I am not loving my choice of coloring as much BUT I didn't want it to be in competition in with what was on the same page


I got to use my new colors in my box of 50 crayola colored pencils (gold & bronze yellow)

I think this is the first time where I have had two verses (not connected) on the same pages.

I usually find a verse that is speaking to me and I turn to it and find empty pages... this time I found a verse already done on one side of the book. 

I have really prayed this verse this past week. 

Happy Monday to you! Thanks for stopping by :-)


Saturday, August 1, 2015

Colossians 3:2


I have mixed feelings about this time of year. The few weeks leading up to the kids going back to school is great because school supplies go on sale, but I don't look forward to the kids going back. I love having them home.
So while I was shopping in town the other day (our small town doesn't carry anything like this) I found a Crayola Colored Pencil pack of 50!!!
AND it was on sale for less than $7.
I had to get it.

My other issue with this time of year is time. Or rather, the lack of it.
A lack of time takes away from my creative time with God. I have been blessed this week in so many ways, I really wanted to sit down and spend time in the word and new pencils.

Like a kid with a new box of crayons, I wanted to color. I looked to pinterest for inspiration and found it.
This page was inspired by a black & white printable, which has the perfect image for this scripture!
I used three blues to color the sky: Cerulean, Sky Blue, & Turquoise. I used the darkest of the three (Cerulean) closest to the objects (clouds, & balloon) and then used sky blue as I moved away from the objects. I finished the sky with Turquoise lightly fading into the page.
The balloon was colored with Pink, Magenta, Raspberry, Maroon, & Black (shading).
The basked was colored with two of my new favorite colors: Bronze Yellow, and Harvest Gold.

I know there are wonderful supplies out there and I own tons of art supplies, but I want to show that Bible Art Journaling doesn't have to be expensive. If you already own great art pencils, by all means, use what you have. Most of what I am sharing is to encourage those that don't think of themselves as crafty but love the thought of Bible Art Journaling. 

Have a blessed weekend!