Worthy Written Words Blog

Hello Lovelies!

I’m so excited for my first tutorial and crazy excited to share the new FaithFetti with you. I'm going to show you how to use gelatos, napkins, and punches to customize your Faithfetti Word Strips for your scriptures or journals.

I have two kinds of study journals- one by chapter, and one by topic.  My favorite way to study the scriptures is by chapters. When I study by chapters I don't like to just read. I like to write down the things I am learning about so that I can remember it better and so that I can look back to recall it later. I feel it also shows Heavenly Father that I appreciate the message so many people sacrificed for to save for me.

Here is how I do it.

My daughter and her friends often walk into my craft room while I am working on my scripture journal. They ooh and ahhh and wish they had one too. So for Christmas I made my daughter her own coptic scripture journal that is available in the shop. But there was no way I was going to put the time in to make a bunch for her neighborhood friends. I also didn't want her to fill her journal up with 100 pages of emoji smiley faces, I wanted it to have real thoughtful journal entries about what she is learning about the gospel. But I knew she wouldn't just come up with stuff to write about on her own. 

So for her and all of her friends in Activity Days, I created this kit:

The idea is Activity Day Leaders can purchase the kit one time, and print out as many copies as they like for their girls. And it comes in 3 sizes, so you could make them out of composition notebooks, or if your budget doesn't allow for that, you can simply print them out on 8.5 X 11 paper and staple them together.

Here are some ways you can use it in a coptic notebook-

It comes with a cover that you can print and cut and glue right on the cover of the composition notebook. If you want to protect them further you could mod lodge the cover. But if you use an ink jet printer you will need to follow these steps to make sure the image doesn't smear:

"I want to Mod Podge computer printouts – how do I handle inkjet versus laserjet prints? Inkjet ink bleeds, laserjet doesn’t. Here’s what you need to know. First of all, don’t print anything on photo paper. Regular printer paper is best because it doesn’t have a coating on it. I use 20 lb. paper, but you can go thicker if you need to. Inkjet – Print the picture onto the paper and let it dry for at least ten minutes. Spray both sides of the paper with clear acrylic sealer (several coats) and let it dry. Paint with a thin layer of Mod Podge on both sides, then let it dry. Then you can craft as normal. It sounds like a lot of steps, but it’s not that difficult – you just have to make sure it all dries. Laserjet – no prep work necessary. I always user laserjet printouts, even if I have to go to an office supply store to get it done." -Mod Podge Rocks Blog

You can also see from the picture there are tabs. I didn't use all of them, the girls can pick which ones they want. There are also a few blank ones that they can write in custom labels.

Inside the kit is an entire page of these word labels that the girls can choose which best represents them. 

The kit also includes 25 journaling prompts. The big squares were designed to go in the middle of the page where the girls can make lists around them. The rectangular ones are designed to go at the top of the page where they can write out journaling below them. And then the journaling cards can be used however. Also there is an entire page of scripture speech bubbles where they can write about what they learned reading in the scriptures.

An idea for them to be able to store the journaling prompts is to glue an envelope to the back cover of the notebook and tuck all the cutout journaling prompts inside. Then when the girls want to write they can pick out a prompt, glue it in and go!

I hope you and your girls enjoy this kit! I made it with my own Activity Days aged daughter (9) at the time so hopefully it appeals to both age groups! I am over the Beehives at church and I plan to even use it with them!

Not sure where to start with scripture journaling? There are so many different ways you can document your scripture studies, impressions, testimony, etc in a scripture journal it can be very overwhelming. I am going to explain my 4 favorite different kinds of scripture journaling setups so you can figure out which way works best for you and your lifestyle. You will notice that many of my kits and templates come in different sizes and that is so that you can use them in whichever kind of journal you like. Lets start with the most obvious:

Bound Notebook or Book Journal

This is simply any kind of notebook or journal that you either buy from the store or create yourself. In my Scripture Journal Basics post I discuss tips such as to pick something that is durable, the right size to hold lots of information, and realistic for your lifestyle. Look for one that will function the way you want it to, and look the way you want it to. If you plan to keep it simple, pick a lined journal that you can do lots of writing in that has thick pages so your ink won't bleed through. 

I planned to be more artsy and wanted to decorate my covers using paint so I make coptic journals out of 11X14 size sketchpads. If interested in this option, you can see how to do this here. If you want the journal but don't want to make it yourself, I sell hand painted hand sewn journals by yours truly here. Here is one example of a cover you can choose:

I also sell a professionally bound book through blurb here. It looks like this:

This cover is also an option on the hand painted ones too. This notebook/ book bound type of scripture journal set up is my favorite and what I personally use. The overall point is, any journal will work.

Wide Margin Scriptures

Another extremely popular option to start your scripture journaling is by downloading the wide margin scriptures at www.bradjackman.com. He includes all 4 standard works. You can take the pdf file to a copy shop and have them print it out front to back and have it spiral bound. It will look something like this:

This beautiful bible journal is from www.alivelyhope.com. Isn't she so talented? With spiral bound its neat, smaller, and you won't lose pages. However if you mess up, theres nothing you can do about it and the only way to add things is using washi tape. 

The other option is to print it out and put it in a 3 ring binder. This is a little heavier, and there is risk of pages getting taken out and lost. However it allows for the ability to add all sorts of journaling in-between pages like conference addresses, inserts, blank pages for note taking, etc. Also, if you mess up you can reprint a page out and try again. 

Image provided by Tamara Zappe. Tabs in this picture can be found here.

Pocket Page Scripture Journal

A pocket page scripture journal is taking the popular scrapbooking concept- pocket page albums (you may have heard of the company Project Life that started the movement), and turn one into a scripture journal. The idea is you use a 3 ring binder and page protectors for your journal. However the page protectors are split up into pockets. In these pockets you put journal cards inside.

You can add images, or whatever else you like to the pockets as well. I have created some journal card kits for these types of journals as well as a tutorial for how to start one.

 Planner Size Journal

The last kind of scripture journaling setup I want to share is using a planner. Not all planners are used for planning your day and month. As a friend of mine says who uses about 6 planners everyday, "a planner is just a nice small binder that can be used for anything."

Because of their smaller size they are easier to carry around with you. Many of my kits come in A5 planner size for this reason.

So there you have it. 4 different types of scripture journaling set ups. Another one I didn't mention above but you may be interested in is the Traveler's Notebook Midori size (4.33in x 8.25in). The only kit I sell right now for this size notebook is my Sunday Notes Kit, or LDS Sunday Notes Kit Version. At a later time I may create more for this type of journal, but for now I would suggest googling it or looking at videos on youtube to see how to set one of these up.

So which journal set up is right for you?

Every once in awhile I will add a freebie to the shop. This is just a way to say thanks to you for stopping by! Here are the current freebies which you can download in the shop. I will continue to add more occasionally. I also have giveaways on my Facebook page or on Instagram so if you like getting free stuff you should make sure you are following us on social media. The latest freebie is an insert for your scriptures or your journal about the sacrament:

I've had this quote in the front of my Book of Mormon for years. I prettied it up a bit and now anyone can have it and do the same. You can download it in the shop.

Also some cool news! I just created a Facebook group INSIDE my Facebook page! Its called LDS Illustrated Faith. This group is a place to discuss scripture journaling specific to the LDS community. Come post how you use Worthy Written Word's products, or how you do your own scripture journaling. Ask questions, inspire others, and be inspired. This is not a place to advertise and I will not be advertising my products here either. Lets bring the Bible Journaling Community to the LDS Community!

I'm finally spending some love on my topics scripture journal and it feels great. A topics scripture journal is where you document your studies on individual gospel doctrines and principles as opposed to chapter by chapter studies.

"Studying by topic typically follows, grows out of, and builds upon our reading of the scriptures from beginning to end. ...studying by topic, using the Topical Guide and index to the triple combination, allow us to dig into and explore the depth of the scriptures and obtain a much richer spiritual knowledge. This approach increases the rate at which living water flows into our lives."

-Elder David A. Bednar

At Worthy Written Words, I have created some topic study kits to help make things easier for you. All you have to do is download the kit, print it out, fill it out, and paste it in your journals. Embellishments need to be cut out first. I also have a generic topics kit that you can use over and over for any topic you want. The first topic study kit I created was the Prayer Study Kit. You can see the blog post on that kit here.

A new Topic Study Kit has been added to the store. It all about the Pre Existence. It includes 11 embellishments, 3 scripture or scripture journal inserts, 1 color coordinating Topics Template, and a freebie that matches.  

Here is how I have used the kit in my own journal. I started off with using watercolors on the background and then splattering paint. Then I started adding the embellishments around the important information I wanted to keep. I attached the insert with washi tape. The cool thing is when you flip it over there is more information on the back.

Many times when we receive our patriarchal blessings, we are told information about the preexistence. I LOVE adding parts of my blessing into my journal when it is appropriate. Here I have added it behind the insert. I've blurred out the message for privacy reasons, but you can still get an idea of what I did. The embellishments are so easy to cut out and paste to add a pop of color to my studies.

I love the tab! With each of these kits I will make at least one matching tab. Eventually, my topics journal will be full of fun colorful tabs.

On this side of the layout I used a lot of the embellishments from the kit. I also threw in a couple of Wordy Bits on the bottom picture.

There are other parts of the kit that I didn't use in mine but you can see them on the cover image above. There is also a FREEBIE that goes along with this kit that you can get here.

Over the years I have made several coptic journals for myself and also for gifts for the purpose of journaling scripture studies. To purchase one click here. To see the video on how I make them click here. This post is to show some of the journal covers that I have made to give you an idea of how you can cover your own. A tip that I have learned is that paper even sealed with Mod Podge just doesn't last as long and eventually rips or rubs off and so I have had to redo some covers because of this. So here they are in no particular order:

This was the first scripture journal cover that I made about 6 years ago maybe. I use this for my 1 Nephi Book of Mormon Chapter studies. 

This journal is my favorite because of whats inside it. 5 years of hard personal testimony building work. I have a video about its contents you can watch if you want to take a peek. Its where I discovered my love for documenting my studies in a creative artistic way that hopefully makes it appealing to read and look through. The cover was made using a Tim Holtz white crackle paint and then inking the edges. I used 2 different rub-ons for the smaller letters and then thicker stickers for the Knock. The door knocker I bought off Etsy. The metallic corners were bought at Hobby Lobby, I can't remember the brand.

My second journal I have had to redo it 4 times! The first time because I used a fabric 3 dimensional butterfly element on it that fell apart and fell off. The next two covers on it were paper that as mentioned above also ripped and peeled off. So I just recently redid the journal for hopefully the last time. I tried to pull off the two layers of paper but it wouldn't come off all the way so I finally gave up, painted over the layered papers with white gesso and then painted over it with watercolors. It created a really textured top which I really love. I think the most durable way to decorate a cover is with paint and metal embellishments. So here it is:

This is labeled "Topics" because since my 1st journal deals with chronological Chapter study, this journal captures my more in depth studies on specific gospel topics and principles.

Here are several that I have made that are for sale up in the shop:

This journal cover was created off of the talk by Linda K. Burton "Certain Women" in April 2017 General Women's Meeting for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This journal I painted the front and back to make a combined layout. The boat is made out of a scripture page taken from the Book of Mormon of the verse from the cover so many of the words are things like wave, whale, vessel, sea, etc. It is sewn together and ready to ship if you want it. It is up in the shop. 

This journal I am still working on. It will be my second journal dedicated to chapter studying since my first one is full. This patina kit turned out awesome! However it was really chalky to the touch and left residue on your fingers so I sealed it with Mod Podge. That darkened it a little bit and also brought out the subtle lime green hues more. I still love it though. I want to put another quote on the front and one to go with the door handle. I am thinking Rev. 3:20- "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock..."

If you like it as is than you can purchase it in the store. Give me 3-5 days to sew it into a journal before I ship it.

This next journal cover I painted using this tutorial.

It was easier than I thought it would be. Its hard to tell but the background is gold metallic paint, not yellow. It is an option of one you can purchase in the store.

This is my new journal cover for my studies of 2 Nephi. I thought "line upon line" was so fitting as it comes from this verse in 2 Nephi 28:30- "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more..." You can also purchase this journal in the store.

These two journals are ones that I made for my nieces for Christmas back in 2013. The picture quality is awful and blurry but you can still get ideas from them. You can also see from these how the binding only uses 6 holes, 3 at the top and 3 at the bottom, instead of one hole every inch all the way down like my other journals. 

And finally just yesterday another cute niece of mine came over and I helped her make her first coptic scripture journal. 

She painted it with a copper acrylic paint and used Thicker Stickers.

I hope this gave you some ideas. Send me pictures of YOUR scripture journal cover!!!