Illustrated Faith | Jaime Dougherty

Hi there! I feel so blessed to be able to bring you another amazing guest today! From the moment Jaime joined the journaling bible facebook group every one took notice, her art speak to the soul. In getting to know her over the past couple of weeks I see that she is talented but humble and that is something to admire! I will step aside and give Jaime the stage... 

Jaime Dougherty Designs | facebook 

Hi everyone, my name is Jamie Dougherty. I was born and raised in a small southern California town called Ramona, where I still live with my husband and two awesome kids. I grew up always believing in God but not really fully knowing the meaning that carried. I was shuffled off to Sunday school with family and friends but again, never fully understood what it all meant. We were those holiday church goers. I always had faith and a belief system but it wasn't until a few years ago when I found myself slipping deeper and deeper into a slump I couldn't dig myself out of, when I finally chose to look up instead in a mirror. I was centering everything around myself when I needed to center everything around my Lord and savior. The highs the lows and everything in between all revolved around me instead of HIM. I decided one day that had to change. I started to take my daughter to church with me––she showed interest and I wanted to nurture that. (my husband and younger son not as much) I continued to try and make my faith priority but it still didn't feel complete. Our church wasn't the right fit for who I was and I still struggled with where I belonged in God's plan. My husband's resistance also  deterred me from letting go and letting God take over. After fourteen years together, one day after watching a movie Fireproof,(funny how God works) something clicked inside my husband and he began to search out his relationship in God. From there it felt as if we were in this journey together and I have since found that the Holy Spirit has been working in me all along.

My art has grown leaps and bounds since I allowed God's direction in my life, and I try to give Him all the glory and praise for what I am able to achieve. Without Him I would still be that empty, lost self. I am forever grateful for where God's plan has lead my family and I. 

I am also grateful God led me to Shanna's amazing group on Facebook, where I can share my spiritual gifts in a way that might bring other's to God's word. I feel this could be just what God had intended for many of us all along a new movement to spread his Love and Grace. 

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my ramblings and I hope in someway they can help you in your walk with God.

Thank you so much Jaimie for sharing your beautiful talents with us, it is a gift God has given us and in turn you are sharing... there really is nothing better. I loved hearing your story, the part about your husband sent chills down my arm!!! THANK YOU JAIME!!

Jamie has been so generous as to share a free printable with you guys, and you will see exactly what I mean with this STANDOUT artist! 

download here

go.be.inspired.

Shanna

Journaling Bible | Put it in the cup

For those that have been following me for a couple months you know this year started off rough. I took some time away from my online commitments and really took the time to focus on family. During that time, I am not going to lie I struggled with God. My mother in law suggested (ever so slightly) that I listen to a sermon from Doug Fields at Saddleback church. The name of the sermon was "have I got a surprise for you"  and I LOVED it. I think sometimes it is difficult for church leaders to share where they struggle and they do in fact struggle with the exact same things we stuggle with. Doug did just that, in such a HUMAN way. I love that. The sermon was great, and I highly suggest listening to it yourself but my favorite part was when he talked about "putting it in the cup". He talks about how we pray to God, and then we worry. When we really need to hand it all over to God and trust him with our desperate prayers. Of course worrying is natural human process... but allowing God to work in your life  is a learning process (and sometimes harder than others). It was certainly something I PERSONALLY needed (need) to work on in this season of my life.

I wanted to share my start to finish process for this week in my journaling bible.

Lindsay Letters designs some of the cutest stamps for Studio Calico so I pulled those out as I love how they look when stamped in my bible. I also saw this adorable cup sticker that was perfect for the sentiment "put it in the cup".

I LOVE the BE BRAVE stamp and used my staz-on ink (my fave) right under the cup and then journaling "put it in the" with my favorite journaling pen.  I love making sure I add a mixture of my own personal handwriting along side stamps and alpha stickers!  

I have been sort of hoarding these adorable stickers from the Hola kit (sold out, but keep your eye out some cute alpha sticker in the upcoming kits!). Something I kind of think about when adding alpha stickers is how long the word is, and alternating styles (for example traditional or block letters). 

I love seeing how everyone is adding mist (I used Mister Huey's) to their pages and wanted to add a little unexpected color to my pages today. In this photo it is still drying but I wanted to show you all to NOT be afraid to get messy in your bibles! I just sprayed it on there and once it is dry and you close the book the page is still in perfect condition!

One of the last things I always do is add my tab. I try to think of a sentiment short and simple that will remind me what I will find inside. I used one of the tabs from Veronica's amazing (free) printables.  I also added a "2" from one of my favorite Studio Calico alphas from a past kit, but good news, if you missed out on those they are coming out with MORE and you can find them here. 

If you are new to the idea of using your bible in this way, or would like to find a community to find some amazing inspiration and some of the sweetest gals you will ever meet, please come join us on facebook in our new journaling bible group.  I have also taught a class through influence network called journaling bible: the basics. You can purchase the recording and get more info here. Hope to see you there!

go.be.inspired.

Shanna 

Journaling Bible | Kelly Bangs

I am so excited to have with us another guest for our journaling bible series! Kelly first started posted about her journaling bible on instagram and her excitment was contagious. I was crossing my fingers should would be willing to share on the blog and here she is!!

The first thing I felt when I saw a photo of a journaling bible was… “This is for me, I know it!” God created me exactly the way I am. The girl who loves color, adores patterns and gets real excited about typography. So I immediately watched Shanna’s video. At one point she said these words: “this matches the creative part of our brain with the spiritual side; our soul.” Yes! That’s what I want!!  

Another thing, I need to press in. I need to recommit to quiet time with my Jesus. I’m gonna be real honest here… I don’t always enjoy reading the bible. Sometimes it’s amazing! But other times, I’m either too tired, or I’m too interrupted, or I’m just not feeling it… but I’m feeling this!! 

The ESV Journaling Bible is gorgeous! I LOVE the size, I love the amount of space I have to be creative with, and it feels great. Hey, the price tag ain’t bad either ($20 on amazon!).

I dove right in the day I got it. I knew my first verse would be Luke 1:37. “For nothing is impossible with God.” This is an amazing truth. This past April my world began to crash down around me. There was nothing I could do but cry out to God and ask for a miracle. And after crying out to Him for a time, He did it. What seemed impossible became possible. I’ve been in awe ever since, really. God is just so good. 

Here’s my second Bible journaling… a great sentence from the sermon last weekend at my church :)

You can see I’m keeping it simple with pens and a few stickers. I’ll venture out soon with watercolor and such, but it scares me right now. :)  My plan in the near future is to use one of the plans on my iPhone Bible app. I’ll choose one of the scriptures or devotional nuggets to journal. Can’t. Wait.

What a blessing this is to me, thank you so much Shanna for sharing this idea with the rest of us! It seems so natural now, so simple. But I would never have thought of it. I’m thankful for the Body of Christ.

Thank you so much for sharing Kelly! If you would like to follow more of what Kelly is up to make sure to check her out over on facebook! Also, if you are doing a journal bible and would like to be a part of our facebook group please click here and I will make sure to add you! :) 

Also I have a winner from our Pamela Baldwin inspires blog post!! Thank you to all those who participated and our winner is: ANDREA!!! Congrats!!! Please email me at shannanoelATgmailDOTcom for you Studio Calico gift card!!!! xox

go.be.inspired! 

Shanna