Bible Journaling Supplies for a Beginner
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to click through and make a purchase.
“I am ready to start bible journaling, but which supplies should I get?””
This is one of the most frequent questions I receive when a woman has made the decision to start her journey in creative worship.
Now, keep in mind, before I dive into my favorite supplies for a beginner, I want you to remember that all you REALLY need to start bible journaling is a pencil, eraser, and a pen. You do not necessarily need any fancy or expensive supplies to have fun and get started. Bible journaling (at its core) is all about putting your unique creativity within the margins of your bible while connecting to God’s word.
But if you are a fan of getting art supplies that will stretch your dollar and bring you the most versatility to your journaling experience, then check out the ones that made the cut!
Journaling Bible with 2-inch Margins
There are many journaling bibles on the market, but this NIV ‘Journal the Word’ Bible by Zondervan is a great one to start with.
Each page of text contains lined, two inch margins to write notes, handletter, or doodle on.
For many, the thought of writing in their bibles is unheard of and it is a practice that may take some time getting used to. If this describes you, never fear! You can still purchase a separate sketchbook or notebook to create your journaling entries in.
Pencil & Journaling Pens
When it comes to pencils, any #2 or HB pencil will work just fine. But when it comes to bible journaling, no two pens are necessarily equal.
Bible pages are very thin and many worry that their pen will bleed through once they attempt to write on them. So if there is one art supply I would splurge on, it would be on a great set of pens.
My absolute favorites are Sakura Pigma Micron Pens (sizes 03 & 05) and Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens (sizes S & M). Both brands are water resistant and contain archival ink. This means that when you paint over them, the ink will not bleed or smear and they are resistant to fading. And of course, they do not bleed through your thin bible pages!
Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are wonderful to use when you want to highlight verses in your bible or if you want to start adding color to your entries. They are light enough to never fully cover the words and most of us can find colored pencils at any store. Beginners will love the Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils as they come in a variety of colors and you never have to sharpen them. You just twist up and start creating!
Acrylic Craft Paint
Okay, I know. You’re probably thinking, ‘Acrylic paint? Are you crazy? Won’t that bleed through?’ Surprisingly enough, they actually don’t! And you can use any inexpensive craft acrylic paint from the store to play with. Acrylic paints can be used to create fun textures and backgrounds to your bible journaling entries. And when I first started bible journaling, acrylic paints were my “go to” art supply to make my entries really stand out.
Small Alpha Stamps
Most bible journaling entries involve writing or “lettering” a bible verse (or part of one) within the margins of your pages. It is a great way to highlight what you’d like to remember from your bible studies or a part of the bible that spoke most to you. For those of you who’d like another option other than your normal handwriting, small alpha stamps are the perfect alternative!
Alpha Stickers
And if you can’t get enough of the small alpha stamps, try out these fun alpha stickers. You can find them in different sizes and colors in the sticker or scrap booking aisle of your local craft store. I actually found these in smaller sizes in the planner aisle! They are perfect for adding verses or words that you’d like to meditate on from your studies. And best of all, no fancy lettering skills are required!
StazOn Ink Pad in Jet Black
I have tried many different ink pads over the years and this one still is my absolute favorite for bible journaling. The StazOn Ink Pad in Jet Black is rich in color and shows up very well on top of paint. And because it is a solvent ink, it does not bleed through the thin bible pages.
Washi Tape
Oh how us crafters and creatives love our washi tape! And as a bible journaler, you will grow to love how versatile these colorful spools can be. You can use them to create fun backgrounds for your margins or tape up the edges of your pages to easily find each book of your bible. I would recommend to get a few different colored washi tape spools and in different widths as well.
An Old Rewards Card or Gift Card
Do you remember how I mentioned that acrylic paints are one of my favorite ways to make my entries stand out? Would it surprise you that when I teach beginners in bible journaling, I always show them how to swipe acrylic paints on their margins with an old gift card that they can find lying around their house? It really is the easiest way to add paint to your page without any brushes and without covering the words completely.
Prismacolor Art Gum Eraser
With bible pages being so thin, you really have to be careful as to not tear them. The Prismacolor Art Gum Eraser is amazing at completely removing all of your pencil sketches but being gently enough to keep your pages from ripping.
Small Ruler & a Sheet of Cardstock
And lastly, you’ll find a small ruler and a sheet of cardstock are very useful to keep nearby. The ruler is great if you’d like to measure your spacing out when planning your entries or if you need to make straight lines. The cardstock is perfect to put behind the current page you are working on in your bible. It prevents any paint or ink from accidentally getting onto the pages behind it.
So there you have it ladies! All of the supplies I would recommend for a beginner in bible journaling.
Here is a quick list of them all with links on where you can get some:
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens (sizes 03 & 05) and Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens (sizes S & M)
An Old Rewards Card or Gift Card
Small Ruler & a Sheet of Cardstock
PLEASE remember that you DO NOT NEED to grab all of these supplies all at once. See what you have at home and slowly add to your art supply collection. Bible journaling is not about the supplies you use. In the end, it is all about using the unique creative gifts God has given you to connect with Him.
Have fun and enjoy! ❤
Here are some pictures of past entries that I have made using just these types of art supplies:
Want to know where you can find all of my favorite art
supplies & home goodies all in one place?
Check out my Amazon Storefront!
The Latest & The Greatest
