Bible journaling is not about the art, but the art sure is fun!
What Bible Journaling Supplies Do I Need?
Ok. So, as I talked about in my guide to Bible journaling, we know that Bible journaling is about the time we spend with God in His Word and not about the art…..
But the art is super fun and exciting and such an amazing outlet to be creative with our Creator!
With that in mind, I’d like to share with you my personal favorite Bible journaling supplies to have around!
My Top 10 Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies
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I’ve tried a number of things, but have narrowed down to a relatively small amount of products that I find can create beautiful art without taking up an entire art room.
In fact, all my supplies fit in a single bag with my Bible.
1. A bag to stay organized and journal on the go
I found my bag at Michaels a couple years ago, but they no longer carry it that I could find. Amazon has an identical one, only it’s gold which I think is absolutely beautiful! It’s perfect for carrying my journaling Bible and all my favorite art supplies!
Inside, there is ample storage and even comes with 2 detachable, clear, zipped plastic pouches perfect for my pens, water brushes, washi tape, and more.
There are 2 sides to this bag. One has the detachable pouches and the other side has a large, clear, attached, zippered plastic pouch perfect for storing watercolors and stickers, or anything that may leak.
2. A Journaling Bible
Obviously, your main Bible journaling supply should be a Bible!
My first Bible was an ESV single column journaling Bible and I adored it. The cover has embossed leaves on it and it’s size, although small, made it very carry friendly.
The other thing I like about single column Bibles is the extra margin space that you get in some of the books, like Psalms. I’ve seen this Bible at Hobby Lobby near the check-out, but I purchased mine at Christianbook.com.
Mine isn’t sold anymore, but this is the large print format of the same Bible. Christianbook.com has an amazing selection of journaling Bibles at great prices!
I also have purchased the following Bibles and love them all!
For more information on choosing a journaling Bible, check out this post by Scribbling Grace.
3. Pens that don’t bleed
It took me a while to find my favorite pens but I did, and these Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are the bomb.
They don’t bleed through a Bible’s thin pages (although there is shadowing–which is just faintly seeing the pens through the other side of the page. The Bible text also shadows so it’s very natural.)
I have a really large brush pen of these and it doesn’t bleed through either!
Amazing, really.
Side note: Any pen will bleed through if you go over and over and over them. So, as long as you’re not too heavy handed and layer pen upon pen, these will not bleed.
I use these pens on basically every page I do. They are definitely one of my most-used Bible journaling supplies. Here’s an example using the regular brush size.
4. A white eraser
I like to draw my designs in pencil first so a good white eraser is a must. The white doesn’t leave marks like a pink or black eraser might.
I really like my retractable one because it fits nicely in my pouch, is easy on my hands, erases in tight spaces, and lasts a long time.
5. White pen for lettering and details
Speaking of white, this Uni-ball Signo white gel pen is my favorite for white lettering. It’s richer than most white gel pens and flows nicely. The trick is to go slow to let it flow and making small, tight circles with it.
This pen was used on the lettering on both of these pages: The Lord is my Light and Blessed with Children.
6. Colored pencils
A good colored pencil really does make a difference.
I tried Crayola when I first started journaling and the colors were pretty light on a Bible’s thin pages.
Prismacolor colored pencils are a richer, smoother application because of the soft core. The thicker lead resists breakage too which is great for making them last.
Mine are still nearly new looking. I have the set of 48, but the small set would be great for starting out if you didn’t want to spend as much.
This page was done with colored pencils if you’d like to take a peek.
Pencil Sharpener
Part of what keeps my colored pencils looking new is the Prismacolor Premier pencil sharpener.
Trust me, it really does make a difference.
When you invest in nicer colored pencils, it’s wise to invest in the best sharpener to keep them that way. This sharpener not only gets them sharp, but it does so quickly without shaving too much of the pencil away.
7. Watercolors
Neocolor ii water-soluble crayons by Caran D’ache are quite frankly, amazing!
I tried quite a few watercolor paints before taking the plunge and splurging on these. Let me save you the hassle and encourage you to go for these! They are versatile and extremely portable, which is a big plus for journaling on the go.
You can see mine are very well loved. I like to used the metal lid to mix some colors together sometimes.
I started with the set of 15 but really wanted more colors after discovering how much I like these, so for my birthday, I got the 30 pack! I gave my 15 pack to my mom because I got all the same colors plus 15 more.
You simply color like a crayon and then apply water with a paint brush or waterbrush. You can also use them like a regular paint cake, placing a wet brush directly on them and then painting the page with the brush.
There’s basically no mess which is also a huge plus for any Bible journaling supply!
To see these in action, check out this journaling page.
8. Water brushes
These are the water brushes that I use with my Neocolor ii water-soluble crayons. You simply fill them with water and then gently squeeze near the neck (mine have a little button) and water is dispensed.
You don’t need a lot of water, in fact, don’t dispense a lot or you risk ripping the page you’re working on.
Again, these are so portable, no need for a cup of water or extra brushes. I love when products are all-in-one and low mess.
Note: There is not color inside of these brushes. They come empty and you fill them with water yourself.
This pink set is cute! It’s the same thing, only pink!
9. Wink of Stella brush
Another fun supply that I have and use here and there is a Wink of Stella brush. It’s similar to the water brush, only it dispenses……..wait for it…….GLITTER!
It comes pre-filled and ready to go! There’s a little work in the set up, but once it’s ready, you can add glitter to any page!
I have the clear one because you add it on top of a color anyway so if you only buy one, get the clear. There is no mess with this brush and the glitter dries quickly without getting on anything else. It just adds a bit of shimmer 🙂
10. Washi Tape
The last item I have in my bag of favorites is washi tape. I use this to mark the pages I’ve completed by attaching a small piece folded over to the top of my finished page.
I’ve also used the tape to decorate a page and to tape over misspelled words or mistakes. It comes in a ridiculous number of styles and colors and adds a lot of fun!
Some people even use it to mark books of the Bible by attaching it to the edges of each book’s first page.
Click on the photo for that specific set or tap washi tape to browse a plethora of designs.
Use Your New Bible Journaling Supplies to Have fun, experiment, worship, & create!
There are so many products you can use and part of the fun of art and creating is trying new things. So, look for sales and try what you want. My favorites may not be yours.
One fun thing about Bible journaling is that when you may not feel like being in your Bible, trying a new product can sometimes spark joy and a desire to be in the word again.
Much like getting new Windex sometimes helps me want to clean the windows. It feels fresh and new and fresh things can spark excitement.
One Last Tip for Testing New Bible Journaling Supplies
My suggestion for new products, even the ones I suggest, as every Bible could take differently to products, is to test a page in the back of your Bible.
A simple line or medium sized dot placed on the page with your product will quickly tell you if it bleeds through or looks nice.
Enjoy and remember, art supplies are fun, but growing in your faith through being in the Word of God is the most important!
Browse My Bible Journaling Posts
Need help getting started with Bible journaling? These posts are for you.
Want a little inspiration? Check out my Bible journaling devotionals.
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