Easy Bible Journaling For The Beginner

Bible journaling is has boomed as a popular form of worship and quiet time.

Natural creatives find this a fun way to incorporate their artistic side into their Bible study, and people who don’t consider themselves creative at all find that we all have the capacity to learn simple new techniques that make this hobby fun for everyone!

One of the most searched-for terms on my blog is Bible Journaling ideas, so I’m pulling from the archives to answer some of the most common questions today!

Things like what supplies do I need, can I really do this, what if I mess up and where do I start?

The most popular post can be seen here. While I enjoy sometimes doing more intensive pages, the majority of them are completed in 20-30 minutes (or less!).

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog. Read full privacy policy here.

It can be intimidating knowing where to start for beginners, so this post will outline a simple and highly imperfect page.

Do You Need Special Supplies?

Short answer? No. Make do with whatever Bible and supplies you have or can afford. There is no competition ♥

The Bible in the photos is designed for journaling and has a wide margin. (Links at the end).

A year ago, I was just hearing about Bible Journaling, and couldn’t imagine doing it. My first pages were timid, and basically a few stickers and some writing.

Sometimes I only journal private thoughts and add a piece of washi tape or a small sticker. The variety is up to you, and there is NO right way or wrong way to do this.

This art form has really brought me back to focusing on God’s word. For the easily distracted, this is a tool. A process to train me to meditate on the message.

How to Start Bible Journaling as a Beginner

After choosing a set of verses, write them along the side. Simple is perfect.

I am not skilled at hand lettering, but there are so many artists out there who love to share. They generously share many tutorials for us to be inspired by.

You can make a more interesting look by simply varying the text with cursive and standard printing.

Simple Ideas to Try First

If uncomfortable writing out all the text freehand, sketch things out with a pencil and then outline with a permanent pigmented liner.

This eraser is my FAVORITE (Hi-Polymer) and an oft-used tool.

It erases perfectly and never smears the ink.

Creating Frames Around Your Favorite Verses

Around the text, draw a box. Mimic the shape with another set of lines to create a “frame”.

Don’t be afraid to stop the lines and pick them up again around text or drawings.

I promise you, this looseness will add to the charm of the overall page.

For Psalm 19:7-11, I chose to focus on the concepts of honey and treasure, with shades of golds and touches of purple for royalty.

Tracing Images to Boost Confidence in Bible Journaling

I’ll turn to the internet for images that inspire me and do my best to copy them. If you are uncomfortable doing this freehand, try setting a printed sheet of a free image under your page.

Hopefully, enough of the graphic will show to trace your picture from.

This little treasure box took a while, but if you don’t enjoy sketching, tracing paper works well.

Fixing Mistakes in Your Bible Journal

Don’t be afraid when things seem messed up. It can all be fixed.

Here is what it looked like after inking in the text and box, and drawing the small sketches. The highlighting was there from the previous day, but you can always incorporate things into new designs.

The highlighting was there from a previous day, but you can always incorporate previous things into new designs.

If something really won’t work, simply apply gesso over the spots and paint it.

Easy Ways to Make Your Pages Pop

Try outlining keywords in a bright color. Don’t worry about clean lines! Tie the colors in with any art or doodling. It adds a nice pop of color to the page, while still keeping it simple.

I use Prismacolor Verithins whenever possible.

Mostly because I bought them for homeschooling years ago, and they are just a great investment.

14 years and still going strong…but ANY colored pencil works.

If you are on a Crayola budget or need to use the kid’s crayons…it all works out.

Smudge the letters for a cohesive look

A fun easy, peasy tool is an inexpensive Prismacolor smudging tool. It is pencil-shaped, and blends colors beautifully, and seemed to intensify their pigment.

I ran it along the edge of the frame, used it to blend the gold/yellows of the treasure box, and also blend the honeycomb.

Trying out a Zig Journal & Title pen along the main letters, I followed their shape for a shadow effect. That is it! I hope this encourages you to get started.

Want MORE Bible Journaling Ideas?

For inspiration check out my Bible Journaling Pinterest board here. My friend Sharra Badgley did an intro post here you can check out, or see where my first inspiration came from with Shanna Noel at Illustrated Faith.

You’ll want to check out this SUPER easy journaling idea for creating transparent stickers from your personal photos to use while journaling.

If you need some ideas for supplies, please never feel you have to buy things to get started. Using what you have is fine!

Never compare yourself to anyone else, Bible journaling is a personal, creative journey.

Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies

(I’ve added a list of products with Affiliate links to Amazon to make it easy for you to find these things. If I receive a tiny commission, it does NOT affect your cost at all and will go toward the costs of blog maintenance. I only recommend things I truly love and use. But remember, use what is right for YOU!)

Wide margin Bible (or use any notebook). I also LOVE the Interleaved version that gives a full blank page opposite scriptures
Prismacol or Verithin colored pencils are my favorite
Staedtler pigment liners are nice. I’ve looked into many brands, and almost all have a small amount of bleed through no matter how advertised. If that happens I simply paint, use washi tape, or stamp on the other side
PITT Artist Pens are by far my favorite of all, I use them all the time and write well on paint
Hi-polymer eraser by Pentel. Might find in school supply sections
I really like the Prismacolor sharpener better than others. For the price of the pencils, I don’t want the lead to break. This has been my best option for that
Prismacolor Blender Pencil is how I smudged the colors
Zig Journal and Title pen is for the gray outlines
Any washi tape works well. If you are unfamiliar with this product, it is thin paper tape. I LOVE them.
Invest in some Clear Gesso if nothing else, having it on the page as a primer makes a TON of difference to prevent bleed through. Simply smear on with a used-up gift card/credit card. Make sure to put a piece of waxed paper under it to avoid sticking to other pages

There are countless more materials to consider, but these are the basics I used today.

A few other pages I’ve worked on this year, with bible journaling ideas for beginners

Oh dang, I really messed this up! I accidentally put a product on the Bible text and it was not sheer. Worse case, I had to add a piece of paper on top!

Not the end of the fun…

Confessions by Alanna Story was so impactful to me, it made my Cover Page.

Prepare to be blessed by voices…

Have you ever considered, or do you already do Bible Journaling? What technique do you most enjoy?

P.S. If you don’t want to journal directly in your Bible, Arabah Joy has great suggestions on how to use a notebook here

Beginner-Friendly Bible Journaling Supplies

These are just suggestions though, please use what you have , or experiment with something new. Most importantly, have a good time!

Crossway Journaling Bible Interleaved Edition
Beautiful Journaling Bible
Gesso (I used Liquitex which isn’t clear, but often choose Diana Wakely Clear Gesso)
Wax Paper
Pitt Artist Pens (medium is my favorite and I think these are the best pens for bible journaling)
Paint brushes (can get 40% off with coupon at Hobby Lobby)
Pelikan Watercolors (love, love them)
Miscellaneous letter stickers and ephemera
Disclosure: I only recommend products I do/would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog. Read full privacy policy here.