Step by Step Bible Journaling

Today, I’m walking you through a simple step by step Bible journaling page. The lyrics come from the Ellie Holcomb song Fighting Words. I chose to paint on the page of John 1:16, but you could choose any verse on grace.

Indeed we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness.

JOHN 1:16

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ appointed it.
Ephesians 4:7

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:2

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Titus 2:11

I used markers and watercolor to complete this entry page. This is a great beginner entry for those of you who want to start using watercolor in your Bibles, but are a bit nervous.

Want to know all the Bible journaling tools I love? Check out my guide here!

STEP ONE

I drew the lettering and border of the wave in pencil first. If calligraphy scares you or lettering is not your strong suit, I recommend keeping all the lyrics in the margin.

Journaling hack: Type up the lyrics on your computer using fonts you love. Lay your Bible page on top of your computer screen and trace!

STEP TWO

Next, I mixed a few different types of blue and started layering them inside the wave shape. There’s not really a wrong way to do this. The blue could be applied in streaks like mine or in “blobs” for lack of a better word.

STEP THREE

Continue to layer and blend the blue until you’re happy with it. The page will absorb the water and start to ripple, but it will flatten out again as it dries.

STEP FOUR

I haven’t learned calligraphy well enough yet to have the thick down strokes and thin upstrokes in one pass, so I fake it. I trace the letter in one thickness, then add the thick downstrokes the second time around.