Artistic Scripture Journaling: Koi Watercolors

I have been spending a lot of time studying and journaling about Lehi's vision in Chapter 8 of 1 Nephi. I have never before gone into it with so much depth. Although there is more about the vision I've journaled about, I wanted to dedicate one layout to the different symbols of the vision and what they represent. Here is how I did this page:

I got my inspiration from this digital scrapbook layout:

I love the concept of the boxes with doodles and journaling. Since my scripture journal has lots of text and little pictures, I thought this would be a great way to incorporate both. I had to make adjustments based on the size of my journal and the amount of information I wanted for each symbol. First I did everything lightly in pencil and then filled it in with black micron pens and colored pencils. Because my paper has ridges in it, there were darker lines showing and I wanted a smoother look. So I busted out my new Koi watercolor brushes that I have never used before. I was a little intimidated to use them and wasn't quite sure how they worked. I checked out some tutorial videos found here. They have a lot of different ones you can learn from. Here's an example one:

Finally feeling brave I gave it a shot. It was super easy and really fun! I felt like a kid in art class.

I also used other materials such as gelly roll metallic pens and perfect pearls. I took a picture with the light shining on the journal so you can sort of see the shimmery effect perfect pearls has on the tree when it is in the light:

and the glitter glue on the fruit:

This was a liberating experience for me because I am a true perfectionist and to freehand the boxes knowing they wouldn't be exactly straight was really hard. But I like it that way.

For the straight and narrow path, I made it straight, but I changed the texture along the way. Starting on the path to Heavenly Father can be rocky and difficult. Repenting isn't easy. As you make your way to baptism the path gets less rocky. And then the closer you get to the presence of the Lord the shinier, more beautiful and smoother the path gets. 

There are a lot of beautiful paintings that already exist of Lehi's vision. But this page is special to me because of the time I put into it. I will remember so much more from this experience. I hope it helps you to think outside of the box when journaling what you are reading about.

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Journaling Templates

This is my newest favorite layout in my topics journal. Its about forgiveness and the majority of it is from a talk that I found a long time ago that I have kept in the front of my scriptures that changed my life! Its called "The Healing Power of Forgiveness" by President James E. Faust. 

Some people have asked if I would be willing to sell my chapters and topics page templates. The problem with this is I have used purchased graphics that would cause copyright issues if I use them for more than personal use. However I have been tweaking some of them to make them downloadable.

Here is an example of part of the layout I did in my Topics journal using one of the templates you can now purchase. I had to change it a little bit so that it looks like this (without the watermark):

 

I am also offering the journaling page for your chapters journal where it has a column for verse by verse journaling. Here is an example:

Tweaked a bit, it will look like this when you download it:

They come in .pdf file versions. All you have to do is print them out and fill them in just like I do. By doing it this way it allows me to use them when I want the structure and to not have to use them when I want to do something more artsy

You can purchase both of these individually here and here in the shop.The template with the column for the verse can also be found as part of the Chapters Kit.

Enjoy!

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Free Printable for Stickers of LDS Prophets, Apostles and More

I am HORRIBLE at remembering names with faces. As hard as I try to know all the apostles names when I see them at General Conference, a lot of times I get them mixed up. Let's admit it can be confusing. In my scripture journals, I have been quoting them alot, and there have been times that I wanted to know what that person looked like. Then I got an idea. Why not make stickers out of the pictures online of the apostles and prophets and then I can put their picture in my scripture journal when I quote them!?! Duh! Then I can see their face whenever I read their quote and over time hopefully it will help me remember them and feel a more personal connection with them. 

Amazingly it was harder than I thought to find the chart I was looking for with all of the current LDS First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles. But I eventually found them on the church website and I added some people that I have been quoting alot in my journals. People like Marion G. Romney, Hugh Nibley, and prophets and apostles that have since passed away like Gordan B. Hinkley, Spencer W. Kimball, Neal A. Maxwell, Bruce R. McConkie and more. I imagine I will have to continue to add people and a second sheet may come in the future. But for now I want to share with you sheet one. All you have to do is buy sticker paper at your local Walmart or craft store, print them out on your ink jet printer and cut them out. Its really super easy. This is the brand I use and the paper is acid free and lignin free so you don't have to worry! Download the free printable by clicking here.

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