A Sweet Retreat!

“Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind–permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 AMP

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV

These were the verses we chose for our retreat last weekend. Our theme was “Blending knowledge and creativity in the worship of our Lord.” My good friend, Mijean, designed our t-shirts. Together, we were looking forward to sharing our love of Bible art journaling with thankfulness in our hearts.

Mijean and Deb ready to begin the retreat

T-shirt design and theme for our retreat

Nearly a year in the planning, we were blessed to hold the two-day retreat at Mijean’s church, Harbor of New Hope Church, in Mason City, Iowa. The fellowship area in the basement was a perfect size to set up numerous tables and have plenty of room for our various activities. And the kitchen had all the amenities for the meals we prepared.

We had six participants Friday and eight on Saturday. A wonderful group of ladies loving their Lord through worship and enjoying fellowship with like-minded, creative individuals. Each participant received a goodie box with supplies, t-shirt, water, candy, some scripture cards to color, and other fun surprises.

Our formal sessions included a Bible art journaling basics overview, shading with watercolors, learning to emboss, faith art with mixed media on canvas, and an introduction to verse mapping. There was plenty of free time to continue working on individual projects and explore the craft stations.

Retreat participants spending creative time in the Word

Craft stations allowed everyone to try something new or make pretty enhancements for their Bible journaling entries. Mijean has quite a selection of die-cut punches and decorative edge craft scissors for adding fun embellishments. Paints and string were used to create beautiful Cala-lily-looking flowers. Materials available to make bookmarks included washi tape, colored cord, scrapbooking paper, and paperclips. I provided my gel printing plate, acrylic paints, and sketch paper to make some uniquely designed background pieces for borders and to place behind written notes. Hymnal pages could be quickly folded into repurposed page pockets. Additionally, I brought all my stencils, acrylic and rubbers stamps, stickers, distress inks, gelatos, and blending brushes for everyone to try out. I love the opportunity to share my art supplies with others in this setting so they don’t have to go out and purchase new items themselves just to try it.

String flower painting

Punches, decorative scissors, and many other supplies provided fun crafting techniques

Hymnal page pockets and gel printing press artwork adds to a Bible journaling entry

Hattifant’s Triskele Paper Globe activity was a huge hit! Mijean hand-lettered one of our themed scripture verses on a Triskele pattern and copied on cardstock for each one of us to color and assemble as a beautiful reminder and keepsake of our weekend together.

Triskele Paper Globe put together and ready to hang on my tree this Christmas

In addition to breaking bread together for two suppers, breakfast, and lunch, we partook in some popcorn snacks while watching an episode of The Chosen. Praising our God with singing and prayers of gratefulness were, of course, part of our time together as well.

This is the fifth Bible art journaling retreat I have organized, and I feel very blessed that for the last two years, Mijean has taken time out of her schedule to help out and take on some of the preparation tasks and meal prep. I often heard my grandpa say ‘many hands make light work.’ So true!

Here are a few other pictures from our weekend Bible art journaling retreat:

Already thinking about next year’s retreat 🙂

Paper Napkins are Just for Show

A sampling of pretty napkins in my collection

Don’t you just love celebrations? There’s usually family and/or friends, and definitely FOOD!!! If the host is feeling fancy, there might even be themed paper decorations which includes coordinating plates, cups, and napkins.

Our recent Fourth of July gathering was just such an occasion. The red, white, and blue was prominent and festive. Does the food taste better if the ambiance is right??

I remember a craft project my mom helped me with when I was younger that we did at Easter. She purchased several sizes of Styrofoam eggs, pretty Easter napkins, and Mod Podge. Fussy cutting out the design and adhering it to the egg made for some unique-looking eggs in the basket for our table’s centerpiece.

Shortly after I started Bible Art Journaling, I was introduced to the “napkin technique.” A coat of Mod Podge on the Bible page followed by applying a piece of a fancy napkin, and securing it with a top coat of Mod Podge produced a creative centerpiece on the page.

As you will see from my pictures, this technique takes a little practice and a little finesse. I have also learned that muted colors or pastels with more white areas work best. Another tip I want to share with you is that most luncheon/dinner napkins are three ply. The first ply is usually simple to peel away. To separate the second and third ply, if you make a small tear in the napkin, it is easier to find the layer to pull apart.

First attempt with this leaf-patterned napkin I did not get the third ply separated and found it to be too dark.

Second attempt with the same napkin, the inner ply, which I used, had a faint imprint of the pattern and was more transparent so I could still see the text underneath–which was my desired outcome.

Another one of my earlier attempts. The text I underlined is visible, but the brown lines of the napkin design are too dark.

I liked the idea of this napkin for the Fruit of the Spirit verse, but the overall color of the napkin was too dark.

Should have tested my pen with what the Mod Podge would do over the top of it, but I did really like this napkin design. The napkin was from a church ladies meeting where I gave an introduction to Bible Art Journaling, so it holds a special reminder of that day as well.

Can you tell I like butterflies!? I saw this package of napkins at a TJ Maxx and had to buy it! I can’t pass by a napkin display while shopping and not stop to see if there might be something worthy of using in a Bible Journaling entry. Napkins are as dangerous for me as art supplies. 🙂

Except for one wrinkle in the top left flower, I finally nailed the technique with this one! I added some Distress Ink and colored pencil marks around the edges as well as some green leaves and stems and really tied it all together.

Napkins aren’t just for laying in your lap, wiping fingers, and dabbing at the corners of the mouth. They have “depths of purpose and layers of meaning to saturate everything you do.”

Bible Art Journaling – Digital Style

The image below is my first digital Bible art journaling creation. I have been Bible art journaling in various physical Bibles for five and a half years. I have seen some other people’s digital journaling designs, so it is not a new concept, but it is new to me.

“Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her as she laughs with joy over the latter days.” Proverbs 31:25 TPT

This verse from Proverbs always reminds me of my mom. When I moved her to be closer to me in 2010, I worried about taking her out of her home town where she had lived her whole life. She was always the social butterfly, meeting friends for coffee or Bible study, and thoroughly enjoying conversation and fellowship wherever she went. After various health issues, she became less mobile and needed more care. Living two hours away, I couldn’t always get to her when she needed something, so I found a townhome just a few blocks from me and settled her there.

Mom was an avid letter writer and greeting card sender, but I wanted her to have more immediate access to some of the friends she had left behind. Against some initial protests, I brought her into the digital age with an iPad and a Facebook account.

I never thought of mom as being tech savvy, but to say she took to the iPad like a fish in water would be an understatement. There were still questions and several late night calls of, “I clicked on something and can’t see my post;” but for the most part, she loved it! She even named her iPad ‘Isabella’, and would occasionally remind me to ‘plug Isabella in.’

Not only did mom connect with old friends, but she made several new ones. She would genuinely be concerned with each person’s posts and comment accordingly. She became a digital encourager and cheerleader for her friends even though she couldn’t be with them in person. She never missed posting a daily Bible verse on her Facebook page.

At her funeral in 2014, strangers came up to me and introduced themselves. “I never met your mom in person, but we became friends on Facebook. She helped me through a difficult time in my life.”

This first attempt at digital Bible art journaling is a tribute to my mom. She made it into the computerized world after years of paper and pen, so I decided it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone and learn something new as well.

Using my iPad mini 6, I created the image using the GoodNotes app and Procreate®. I first downloaded the American Standard Version (ASV) translation of the Bible into GoodNotes. Positioned on the Proverbs page above within the GoodNotes app, I highlighted the verse and took a screenshot to import into Procreate®. In the Procreate® application, I then added color, journal notes, and the dress image.

We’re never too old to learn something new and can even laugh with joy over these latter days.

Only One Color

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” Isaiah 40:8

I recently watched a mixed media process video where the artist, Michele Bowden, recommended “abandoning outcomes.” She said, “When you are creating, it doesn’t always turn out the way you envisioned it.”

process + prayer + play > outcomes

Michele Bowden

Such an inspiring thought! And one I want to remember going forward. So many times, I have an idea in my head of what a finished page will look like. Sometimes it comes to fruition. Sometimes it surpasses what I imagined. But most of the time, it’s not quite the desired result. Such was the case in the above image in my Illustrating Bible by Dayspring when I colored the page for Isaiah 40:8.

In February of 2020, I participated in a Bible art journaling challenge. One of the Facebook groups I follow (Bible Journaling Tips & Tricks), posted a series of challenges. Members could participate at their own pace and share their creations within the group page. I like to engage in other groups’ Bible art journaling experiences to step out of my comfort zone and think outside my own practices.

Challenge #4, as it is labeled on my page above, could be on any verse in the Bible as long as the page was decorated in a monochromatic theme. I was fairly certain I knew what that term meant, but I looked up the definition to be sure.

monochromatic - containing or using only one color.

I used distress ink, stencils, washi tape, and markers of varying shades of green to create my monochromatic page. Green…the color of grass which withers. Green…the color of flower stems and leaves which fades.

Green is associated with nature and represents new life. I love spring time when the winter browns turn green and trees bud with fresh growth. It’s my favorite time of year when we seem to move out of that black and white movie into colorization, like when Dorothy gets to Oz.

I liked how the background of the page turned out, but I wasn’t enamored with the flowers that I drew freehand over the top. Occasionally, I wonder if God feels the same way about his creation. The background of our existence is created in His image. But as we go through life, our free will and sinful human nature obscure God’s intended vision for us. Fortunately, for us, ‘God REMAINS forever’ our only ONE. HE can take us out of any season of our life and color us with renewal to get us back on our intended path. We need only to be still, remain faithful, and stay in the Word.

Jesus is the Source of MY Energy

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; IT MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 NIV

Remain – Dwell – Abide…I do this by spending time with Jesus.

How do I spend time with Jesus?

Bible Journaling!

What is Bible Journaling?

• A creative, personal study of the Bible that helps me keep track of my faith journey.
• Spending time with God in a unique way that keeps me excited about being in the Word.

That’s the technical answer. The more in-depth answer is why I created this blog. Over the last 4+ years, I have been exploring the great world of Bible Art Journaling and want to share how it has impacted not only my prayer life and walk of faith, but how it has encouraged me to be the hands of feet of Christ.

Topics you can find in this blog:

• My unique process for delving deeper in the Word.
• How to get started with your own Bible Journaling experience.
• Tips and resources to keep you engaged.
• Process videos of some of my favorite art techniques perfect for any Bible or journaling notebook and any level of experience.

One of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — just like the different Bible Journaling groups I have led have evolved and grown. I look forward to connecting with many of the wonderful Christ followers I have had the privilege of getting to know through this activity as well as developing some new relationships.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel creative or feel intimidated by the artwork others create. This practice is not about comparing yourself to others! It’s about giving yourself permission to let go and let God. Invite Him to open your eyes and your heart to a unique time of worship and learning something new.