Good morning, sweet friends!!
I'm so excited about this post.....I've been counting down the days until I could share this beautiful new Bible and all the artwork I've been tucking inside it, with you! Today's the day! When DaySpring reached out to me and asked if I'd want to help promote their new version 2 of the Illustrating Bible, I didn't even have to think about my response. YES! I'd be honored! I mean, just look at it!! Isn't it pretty? This one has a new green cover and updated font/design elements inside. The title pages for each book of the Bible have smaller titles than version 1, giving you more space to create. And of course, just like version one, it's spiral bound so it lays flat which makes it so much easier to create in! And the margins in this Bible are fouuuuuur inches wide! Perfect for creating all sorts of artwork! And I love that the margins aren't lined.....so you can literally do anything you want in those big margins without a bunch of lines getting in your way! Also, like the first version, the pages are thicker than traditional Bibles, which cuts down on bleed through. I'll be flipping through my Bible in my Instagram Stories today, so if you want to see what the back of some of these pages looks like, so you can see the bleed through situation for yourself, just pop over to my Stories. I'll save it all to a Stories Highlight, too, so in case you miss it today, it'll still be there for you to reference at any time.
So, today is the first day that you can pre-order this new Illustrating Bible, and it officially launches on May 15. I've linked the Bible, so you can find it easily. And in the interest of full disclosure, please know that if you choose to purchase the Bible through one of my links, DaySpring will be giving me a small commission. This doesn't change the cost for you at all, but I just wanted you to know. As always, I'm totally grateful to each of you that choose to shop through my links and help me to earn a bit of income!
So, since this post is reeeeeally photo heavy (I wanted to share as many of my artwork pages as I could!), I'm gonna keep the chatter pretty minimal for each photo, but if you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section! I've got 15 pages of artwork I've created to show you!
One thing I want to be sure and point out right from the start here, is that my hope is, of course, to give you some Bible journaling inspiration and to encourage you to spend some time in God's Word, in whatever fashion you can! But also, I hope to give you lots of design inspiration.....design ideas that you might choose to use or adapt in your own Illustrating Bible, or ideas that you might choose to use or adapt in your card making!
Take this first layout for example.....you could EASILY grab a floral stamp set from your stash and create a card with a similar layout....stamp some dots or stencil some dots for your background. Stamp some leaves on the card base and add some flower die cuts on top. BUT, if you're making a card, why not stamp a few extra die cuts to use on a page in your Bible while you're at it.....or vice versa?! If you're creating a page in your Bible, you can easily whip up a card featuring all the same elements! There's no need to reinvent the wheel with every single thing you do. You can kill two birds with one stone and make a card and a pretty page in your Bible all at the same time.
For this first page, I used some Altenew inks and the Fleur Impressions stamp set by The Greetery! (Everything is linked at the bottom of the post.) I used the polka dot stencil I designed for Papertrey, to add the dots to the page.....I love this technique of just letting the pattern fade off around the edges. Makes it so carefree and non-fussy, just the way I like things. :) I stamped the leaves directly on the page, but added the flowers as die cuts and just adhered them with regular tape runner adhesive, like I would if I were putting them on a card.
I also added a bit of journaling that I just hand-wrote with a color coordinating pen.
Let me interject some thoughts about Bible journaling for just a minute. As I've shared my own Bible journaling over the years, it seems like there are a few common things that seem to hold people back from diving in to Bible journaling.....the number one thing I've heard, being that some people hate their own handwriting. If that is the only thing that's stopping you from diving in to Bible journaling, there are lots of ways to get around this!! Firstly, I don't think that just because you are reading your Bible and creating artwork in one, that you have to include handwriting ANYwhere. There are no rules here!! It's YOUR Bible and if you don't want to include your writing, don't! You can always add stickers or type some text on an actual typewriter or even print something off of your computer that says what you want it to. Also, DaySpring offers lots of different Bible journaling accessories like stickers and printed cards with text prompts on them, that you could easily add in your Bible, if you want to add some text without writing it.
I also don't think that every page has to have any words on it at all -- printed or otherwise! The whole point of this Bible for me, is to have a space to create some beautiful artwork that is just for me, artwork that centers around God's Word and encourages me in my walk with the Lord. While I'm creating the pages, I'm reading the verses there and I'm often thinking about the various verses that I'm trying to highlight.....and the practice of "hiding God's Word in my heart" is really the whole point, right?
Of course, this Bible for you may turn into a keepsake that you might want to pass down to your kids one day....and in that case, I would encourage you that even if you hate your handwriting, you might want to add a little here and there. I'm guessing that it will bless your kids or grandkids fifty years from now, to see your actual handwriting. I know how much I love to see my Grandma's handwriting in her Bibles that have been handed down. But again, it's totally up to you.....there are no rules in creating in your own Bible. There's no wrong way to do it!
It also seems that people are often held back because they're afraid they'll mess it up or create something that they're not happy with when they're done. Again, there's no wrong way to do this! So if it helps you to just add die cuts instead of stamping directly in the Bible, so there's less pressure or risk of messing it up, then by all means, just add die cuts! They've created this awesome SPIRAL bound Bible that grows with your artwork. If you add more things inside the pages, the spiral allows it to just get thicker. No worries!
I hope to show you with the huge variety of pages I've created, that there really are a jillion ways you can approach creating in your own Illustrating Bible, because it's YOUR OWN illustrating Bible! You can do it however works best for you!
One last thought before we move on.....I was sooooo excited to get this Bible and start creating! And then when it came and I sat down to create my first page, I had a few minutes where I just sort of stared at that open Bible waiting for me to DO SOMETHING, and I had some similar thoughts as those I just mentioned. And then I had to remind myself that it's MY Bible and if I make a page that I don't entirely love, that's ok! I'm not doing this for anyone else! And THEN, I reminded myself that for crying out loud, there are more than 900 pages in this Bible!! If I mess one up, I have a LOTTTTT more pages to try again on! Hahahaha! We put way too much pressure on ourselves sometimes. There are NO RULES! Repeat after me....there are no rules in Bible journaling!! LOL!
So for this next page, I used the circle die from The Greetery's Sentiment Suite: Basics set, to cut out the circles. I blended a variety of inks on each one and then stamped them all with the largest flower stamp from the Pure Florals: Peony set from Uniko, with some Oreo ink from Taylored Expressions. I added a couple of other little die cut tags from Sentiment Suite: Basics, to reiterate the Bible verse that I'd highlighted.
Ok, so this page is literally the easiest thing to make! Just get yourself some rainbow washi tapes -- I found mine at Hobby Lobby but you can find a similar set at DaySpring as well. I just laid the washi on the page one at a time, leaving the ends hanging loose. After all the washi was on the page, I went back and trimmed out all the edges, using a ruler to make sure the edge along the verses was straight.
Next up, I added more stamped flowers and a verse from the Comforting Commands stamp set -- both from The Greetery. I also used a couple of Altenew inks with that same polka dotted stencil, to add a variegated background.
All the flowers and leaves are die cuts here. To make these, I die cut them from watercolor card stock, inked up each stamp with ink and then spritzed it with a bit of water, before stamping it on the card stock. When you do that right away with the second and third layers, it creates a really pretty, watercolored effect! So easy!
Ok, so for this page, I added a bit of actual watercolor to the page with a paint brush. Now I'll tell you, this is obviously not watercolor paper in this Bible. So watercolor isn't going to move around on this paper, like it does on actual watercolor card stock. But, I used some pink and red liquid watercolors, as well as a bit of water, to lightly brush some color on the page. Then, when that was dry, I used flowers from that same peony set I showed you earlier on the page with the circles -- Pure Florals: Peony, by Uniko. By just stamping both of the two large flower images repeatedly in red ink, it created a really cohesive look over the loosey-goosey watercolor!
A little tag from The Greetery, a strip of washi from my stash, and some hand-journaling finished this one off.
(See my Stories on instagram, for a look at the back of this watercolored page.)
Next up, can you tell I'm in love with these flowers (Fleur Impressions) from The Greetery?! I've used them quite a few times in my Bible, which brings me to another little thought I wanted to toss out at you. Don't be afraid to use the same stamp set over and over in your Bible! Right now, it may seem like, "Sheesh, she used the same few sets several times each." Yes. I did. Haha. But remember that part about this Bible having more than 900 pages?! If I actually put something on every single page, that would require a LOT of stamps or die cuts or paintings or whatever! Once this thing starts really filling up, it's not gonna matter that some of the images are repeats!
Plus, I just love them! Flowers are my favorite, and to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't hate it if every single page of my Bible ends up with flowers on it! Gosh, now that I think about that, HOW PRETTY WOULD THAT BE???? Hahaha!! Maybe that's what I should do! lol!
So this time, I stamped the flowers, leaves and sentiment (Comforting Commands from The Greetery) directly on the page. Then, I added a little frame with some of that same thin washi. Side note: How amazing are these blues?!! Having so much fun with all these new inks I've gotten recently from Altenew and Taylored Expressions! (Linked below)
For this page, I pulled out a stencil from Taylored Expressions that my friend Heather designed. I loved being able to pair it with flowers and a sentiment that my friend Betsy designed! :)
These flowers were just stamped on white card stock.
More thin washi here, and another of the verses from Comforting Commands, paired with some of the gorgeous new BotaniCuts Succulents dies from The Greetery and a few Fleur Impressions clusters.
I cut those out from watercolor card stock and watercolored them with some Ecoline liquid watercolors.
For this one, I used the Fir & Foliage #1 stamps and dies from The Greetery, as well as the Pathway stencil and a few different Altenew inks.
I love that subtle fade of the blended inks on the water.
For this page, I stamped those Uniko Pure Florals Peony flowers in Sea Salt by Taylored Expressions and then did some no-line watercoloring with my Ecoline liquid watercolors.
Note that just like I said earlier, this is not watercolor paper so the watercolor isn't gonna move a lot on this paper. You can't work it like you can on watercolor card stock. This paper will also buckle a bit with too much water, so keep that in mind. If it's gonna bug you having slightly warped paper, this might not be the technique for you. I personally don't love the puckers, so I'll find other ways to add watercolor into my Bible in the future (like on die cuts). Just wanted you to see what it looks like, should you choose to add this to your Bible. I know this look won't bother some people and that's totally great. Remember....no rules. Your Bible. You do you! :)
I LOVE this pretty page! I used the Vintage Starburst Valance die from Spellbinders here, to cut out that pretty lavender doily. I anchored it with a bit of adhesive and a strip of washi from my stash, and then topped it with more die cut flowers. Some highlighting and hand journaling finished things off.
For this page, I stamped those peonies again (Pure Florals Peony from Uniko) with Ranger jet black ink on watercolor card stock, so that I could watercolor them again. This time, I fussy cut them and adhered them to a strip of striped vellum card stock, which I stapled into the Bible just along the top edge. This way, I can lift the vellum up to read some journaling that I tucked underneath.
NOTE: This is one way that you can "hide" your handwriting, if you want to include it but don't like the look of it!
And while we're on the subject of vellum, let me interject another thought about Bible journaling. For me, it's really important that I still be able to read the Bible text on all the pages. I know for some, the entire page is open for creating artwork on, and again....you do you! But I prefer to not have any of the text covered to the point that I can't read it. In this case, the vellum overlaps some of the text. But number 1, I can read the text through the vellum. And number 2, even if I couldn't, because it's only stapled at the top, I can lift it up to read the text underneath.
You'll notice that with all of the artwork in my Bible.....I always try to create in such a way as to not hinder my ability to still read all of the words in my Bible one way or another. That's just my personal preference.
Ok, so here's a fun one.....I added a piece of clear acetate card stock, on which I created some alcohol ink art! I did spray the piece with two coats of varnish before I adhered it in my Bible, just to try to preserve the art since it'll be getting rubbed around a bit inside the Bible. It's adhered both with washi and with adhesive behind the die cut succulents. The sentiment is another from Comforting Commands (The Greetery).
I love the bit of shine it adds to the page!
For this one, I created my own stencil with the Adoria Square Shadowbox Frame die from Spellbinders. Once I die cut the frame, I used it as a stencil with a couple of Altenew inks. FUN! Then, I stamped another Comforting Commands sentiment inside the frame, and topped it with some more watercolored flowers.
NOTE: In case you were wondering about my highlighters, I've linked them below.
Ok, last one for today and I think this may just be my favorite! A BIG page (9-1/4" x 9-1/4") of clear acetate with rainbow alcohol ink art! I again only stapled the page at the top, so even though the ink covers some of the text, I can lift the page up if I need to.
NOTE: Again, I sprayed this artwork with two coats of varnish before putting it in the Bible, but I notice that some of the artwork is rubbing off on the page it's stapled to. Doesn't matter, since it's laying in place. But if you lift it up, you can see a few areas where the artwork did come off a bit on the Bible page.....so all that is just to say that the varnish helps protect the artwork, but is not a guarantee.
Last bit of info I wanted to tell you is that this Bible also makes a lovely gift! It comes in a really classy, sturdy gift box. And even if you're just getting for yourself and not for someone else, it'll feel like a gift! When I opened the box it was shipped in, I was so surprised to see the pretty gift box inside! It felt like I was opening up a gift just for ME!
Ok, friends, if you've stuck with me all the way to the end of this huge post, you deserve a medal! Haha! But I hope I've given you LOTS of ideas for things you can do in your own Illustrating Bible and I hope I've inspired you to dive in and try some Bible journaling/creating for yourself! Did you spot a favorite page or technique here today? Something you want to try either on a card or in your own Illustrating Bible?
Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me and thank you again, if you decide to shop through any of my links! Pre-order your copy today, to be one of the first to get your hands on this gorgeous beauty of a Bible!
Much love,
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for all the latest updates.
(Affiliates Disclaimer: Just so you know, I sometimes use affiliate links here on my blog, which means that I participate in several affiliate programs, in which I may receive a small commission when you click one of these links and purchase a product at the corresponding product site (usually within a certain amount of time). There are no additional costs for you as a result of these links, but by shopping through these links, you are not only supporting me and the work I do here in the Raspberry Suite studio, but you're also helping me to continue to bring you beautiful content and inspiration here at my blog, for free! Please know that I share products with you that I use and enjoy and I make every effort to represent those to you honestly. Thanks so much, friends, for your support! I appreciate you!)
{Illustrating Bible Launch supplies -- click on thumbnails}
