Don't Make These 5 Mistakes in Bible Journaling

I clearly remember September 13, 2015—the day I was first introduced to Bible journaling.

I had been taking notes and making doodles in the margins of my Bible since I was a teenager, but when I discovered there were other people creating art in their Bibles—and that there were wide-margin Bibles designed specifically for writing—I was hooked!

First, I joined every Bible journaling group on Facebook. Back then, there were only 32. 🙂 Then I pulled out a notebook and some paint to create my first “real” entry. I said, “I’m jumping in.”

And I did.

Eventually, I was invited to co-author what became an Amazon best-seller, The Complete Guide to Bible Journaling, with Joanne Fink. Through that process, I had the opportunity to test a lot of different products.

Unfortunately, I made some mistakes early on and damaged my Bible in a few places. So today, I want to share how you can avoid making those same mistakes.

1. Don’t Use Wax-Based Supplies

Writing utensils like crayons are inexpensive and readily available, but the wax in those products can quickly seep through the pages of your Bible if exposed to heat—such as being left in a car after church.

You won’t know it happened until it’s too late, so it’s best to avoid crayons and other wax-based writing utensils altogether.

A great alternative is Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils. Just make sure you’re not buying the Twistable Crayons. The packaging looks similar and the names are close, but the colored pencils are longer.

2. Don’t Use Vinyl Tape

When washi tape first became popular, many companies created decorative tape, and it was hard to know which ones were safe to use. You want to stick with thin tape that has a similar stickiness to masking tape or painter’s tape.

I don’t recommend using narrow Duck Tape in your Bible—even if it has a cute design. It’s fine for an external journal, but it’s thick and heavy on delicate Bible pages and can easily tear the paper if you’re not extremely careful.

I learned that the hard way. 🙁

3. Don’t Use Cheap Gel Pens

There are many types of gel pens available in a wide variety of colors, which makes them appealing for Bible journaling. However, not all gel pens are created equal.

For ink to stay on top of thin Bible paper without bleeding through, it needs to be thick enough to sit on the surface until it dries.

The inexpensive gel pens you find at the dollar store often contain thin ink that quickly bleeds through Bible pages. The best way to test your pens is to try them on the back page of your Bible first.

The one brand I’ve found that does not bleed is Sakura. They are more expensive, but it’s worth it to avoid having your artwork show through multiple pages.

4. Don’t Close Your Bible Too Quickly

This warning pairs perfectly with the previous tip.

When you use gel pens with thicker ink, you must allow enough time for the ink to dry completely before closing your Bible.

The ink won’t feel sticky, and your pages won’t stick together—but if you close it too soon, you may transfer ink to the opposite page.

If you hold the page up to the light, you’ll notice the shiny surface of the ink turn dull once it’s fully dry.

5. Don’t Compare Your Bible Journaling to Someone Else’s

While comparison won’t physically damage your Bible pages, it will damage the treasure you’re building in your personal journey through God’s Word.

The purpose of Bible journaling is to create entries that remind you of the truths God is teaching you. You want a place to return to during hard seasons—when your heart needs those reminders most.

If you compare your artwork to someone else’s and feel discouraged because yours doesn’t look like theirs, you’re more likely to quit. That’s damage you definitely want to avoid.

If you’re ready to build consistency in your Bible journaling and create a treasure you’ll revisit again and again, consider enrolling in theBible Journaling Idea Kit.

With your membership, you’ll receive a weekly video that includes both a devotional and a tutorial.

You’ll get to watch over my shoulder while I journal, which makes it incredibly easy to follow along. PLUS, I’ll provide all the graphics (including designer tape) that I use so you can journal right along with me.

The idea is that you can follow as closely—or as loosely—as you’d like, and then branch out on your own when you’re ready. It’s such a relief to have everything at your fingertips when you sit down to engage with God’s Word.

Side note: Four beautiful Story Stickers (tall, narrow journaling stickers) are included in the Idea Kit every month. They work wonderfully to cover bleed-through, mistakes, torn pages, and other “oops” moments you might encounter.

My Bible is full of Story Stickers—and no one will ever know what’s hiding underneath them. 😉

Happy journaling!