Bible Journaling Equipment list.
This is the ‘Basics’ equipment list that we recommend to get you started in your journaling bibles. You don't need everything at once but we've tried to cover a range of budgets and for different techniques. All products are listed with an Amazon affiliate. Using this link will not cost you any more money but may provide a small earning for us. Thank you to anyone who uses these links.
When buying a journaling bible, I usually ask people two questions. Do you like colouring pages? Are you afraid of a blank page? If you love colouring, then we recommend you go for one of the bibles which have some pages to colour in. If your not afraid of a blank page then go for one of the bibles with blank margins, it doesn't matter if they've got lines or not. Here are the best sellers favourites, but if you want to chat about other translations just pop us a message on Facebook.
or use if you don't want to work directly in a bible try a sketch book - here’s a few
https://amzn.to/2w77TxM https:amzn.to/3cYjGPB
Pencil. Scissors. Ruler and Pens. We highly recommend you test all pens in the information pages at the front of your bible, before using them on your pages. These are the ones we recommend and they don't bleed. Bic fine biro.
https://amzn.to/390SkoG
Sagura Pigma Micron or Uniball fineliners black pen different sizes .005, 01, 02, 03, 05, 08. These also don't bleed when you work with watercolours, either before or after application.
https://amzn.to33gpwY8 https://amzn.to/33oZ6Dx
Uniball Signo white pen. This might seem a strange choice but you'll be surprised how much you'll use it.
https://amzn.to/2U5dr3Q
Gold and silver are also great additions.
https://amzn.to/39QbRt7
A very new addition to us but Clear Gelly Roll pens are lovely to add a special shimmer over other colours.
https://amzn.to/3aWNVEJ
To go with your pens, we then recommend using one of the following to add colour to your bible pages. Choose either colouring pencils, watercolour sets or pencils, Neocolours or Gelatos.
Colouring pencils come in lots of varieties and prices. To be honest we usual just recommend the Derwent Inktense ones listed further down but if you'd prefer just colouring pencils then here's a few.
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Water colour paints - no bible page preparation is needed for watercolours in your bible but you can paint over a primed clear gesso page if you prefer. You can use any quality from children’s to more expensive brands. The higher the price usually means the higher the pigment colour content and less chalky. Derwent Inktense travel pans, Van Gogh Brights or Prima classics, tropicals and pastels.
https://amzn.to/3aX0EHt
Water brushes will quickly become one of your favourites, as there’s no need to carry a separate water pot around with you. They can be used with both watercolour pan sets, watercolour pencils, Gelatos' & Neocolour Crayons.
Watercolour colour pencils. No bible preparation needed to use these. Ranging from children’s quality. If you love colouring we’d really recommend the Derwent Inktense as they offer a great range of strong bright colours – and, no, they don't bleed through bible pages.
Neocolour crayons and Gelatos, or copy type Gelatos. Again no bible page preparation needed for these.
https://amzn.to/2Ja1Gnt
For working in church we recommend the above but if you are crafting at home then acrylic paints can be great fun to use. Be warned don't get them on your clothes they don't wash out. Acrylic paints don’t bleed though the bible pages and you can use a wider range of pens on top of them. Again we'd recommend testing these in the front of your bible over some acrylic paint.
Once you have your bible, pens and colouring bits, you need to decide whether you are bothered about bleed through. If you are using the paints and pencils listed above, you won’t need to prepare your page. However, some people like to be completely certain and prefer to prepare. For watercolours or acrylics you don't need to. If you decide to prepare your pages, then you need clear gesso. The ones we recommend leave a smooth surface to work on and don't leave a gritty texture, like the usual artists gesso does.
Art Basics or Dina Wakley Clear Gesso (Priming bible & napkin technique)
Windsor and Newton Matt medium (Napkin technique) https://amzn.to/2QiyEX1
Non essentials but you might like to possibly add them to wish lists.
No one needs washi tape, but you’ll soon discover you’re collecting it and using it to decorate your pages and to stick things into your bibles.
Washi paper tape. All sorts of colours and widths
Quickie Glue pen can are useful and we find Scotch glue sticks are the best.
Posco white or coloured pens
https://amzn.to/3d3rmjG
Tombow pens are lovely to use in journals and sketchbooks, but they do bleed on bible pages, so several layers of gesso are required - test them with gesso in the front of your bibles first.
Babywipes to use with acrylic paints, Neocolours or Gelatos. Use them to wipe the paint on or to smudge the Neocolours or Gelatos.
https://amzn.to/2WeAWdr
Napkins have amazing pictures - anything from flowers, animals, to fun words, using just the top layer of the napkin they can be applied with Clear Gesso or Matt Medium https://amzn.to/2U85JG4
Tissue paper - the bleeding kind. Available at ‘The Works’ does a big packet with lots of lovely colours
Spritzer bottle - needed to do the tissue technique and helpful for spraying inks or to refresh a watercolour palette. https://amzn.to/2QlnG2N
Stencils - great to use with acrylics,
gelatos and neocolours.
Stamps – alphabet letters, flowers, trees, feathers, anything that you like
https://amzn.to/2Qi3pen https://amzn.to/2QkkLau https://amzn.to/3aYxfwy
Warning stamping ink can bleed through if applied straight onto plain white paper, so gesso is recommended. If, however, you use them over the top of a ready prepared background of gelatos or Neocolour, they are fine.
Stamping Ink - black and any other colour you fancy e.g.
Distress oxide. Versa colour,
Our next blog will list all the journaling books we recommend. We look forward to greeting you again soon.
