Bible journaling is a beautiful way to connect with scripture through creativity, but finding the right format can transform your experience from frustrating to fulfilling.
This blog post will explore the five most common methods of Bible journaling outside Bible margins.
Get the Free Bible Study Tool Kit with six Bible Worksheets from the bottom of this post.
My Journey Beyond the Margins
When I first discovered Bible journaling, I fell in love with how it brought scripture to life through art. But as my creative inspiration grew, those narrow Bible margins became frustratingly confining! I found myself constantly compromising my artistic vision or shrinking my lettering to fit within those limited spaces. My creativity was literally being squeezed into the margins.
Whether you prefer working in small, manageable pieces or need expansive space for artistic expression, there's a Bible journaling method perfectly suited to your unique style, time constraints, and creative preferences.
The beauty is that you don't have to choose just one method—you can select the perfect format for each spiritual season or creative mood! Let's explore the different Bible journaling methods and help you discover which one might be right for you.
From Scrapbooking to Bible Journaling: A Creative Evolution
Today's Bible journaling movement has fascinating roots in scrapbooking culture:
- 1990s-2000s: Marielen Wadley Christensen revolutionized memory-keeping with creative scrapbook pages, eventually leading to approximately 4,200 independent scrapbook stores nationwide.
- Early 2000s: At its peak, four million women in the US considered themselves scrapbookers.
- 2004-2005: Faithbooking emerged, combining traditional scrapbooking elements with spiritual themes and scriptures as manufacturers released faith-themed supplies.
- 2005-2010: Traditional scrapbooking declined as digital methods gained popularity, resulting in a significant reduction in physical stores and manufacturers.
- 2015: Shanna Noel began experimenting with scrapbook stickers in her Bible, sharing her creations on Instagram with the hashtag #biblejournaling—sparking a global movement that continues to evolve today.
5 Bible Journaling Methods to Match Your Style
1. Faithbooking: Expansive Creative Freedom
Faithbooking is Bible journaling on a 12x12 scrapbook page, combining traditional scrapbooking elements with spiritual themes, scriptures, and reflections. I'm created more Faithbook pages now because it's faster and easier than most other methods when you start with a layout template.
Why you might love this method:
- Unlimited creative freedom on a generous canvas
- Access to countless layout templates from the scrapbooking world
- Abundant free resources and digital elements available online
- Perfect for deeper scripture exploration with room for detailed notes
- Can include photos, memorabilia, and life experiences alongside scripture
The freedom of a full 12x12 page transformed how I interact with scripture, giving me room to both create and reflect deeply.
Practical Tips:
- Print at home on 8.5x11 paper (resize to 8x8) or have pages professionally printed
- Store completed pages in traditional scrapbook albums (available in 12x12, 10x10, or 8x8)
April Discovering Inner Peace Bible Journal Class
Don't miss our upcoming April Bible Journal Class featuring a Mixed Media Bible Journal Kit.
Each of the 22 lessons include:
- An In-depth Bible Study explore biblical wisdom on self-control.
- A Faithbook (Scrapbook) layout example
- 10 Bible Journal Prompts
- Actionable steps to transform the way you respond to anger and frustration
- Facebook Group
2. Travelers Notebooks: Portable Faith Creativity
As I created the Bible Journal Classes, we experimented with various formats starting with Travelers Notebooks—those versatile, slim journals with elastic bindings that allow you to customize multiple inserts.
Why you might love this method:
- Perfect for on-the-go scripture reflection
- Provides enough space for artistic expression without overwhelming
- Combines portability with creative flexibility
Many of my students make their Traveler's Notebook pages digitally in Canva or Photoshop, print from their home printer, then paste them into physical notebooks—combining the precision of digital design with the tactile experience of a handcrafted journal.
3. Treasure Journals: Scripture-Focused Creativity
The Bible journal kits we offer were created to Bible journal in a Bible, or to create what I call "Treasure Journals." Based on the same principle as Travelers Notebooks but with a little more room, a Treasure Journal offers the perfect middle ground between compact journaling and expansive creative space.
In our Psalm 119 Bible Journal Class I teach 10 different Bible study methods using the Treasure Journal Pages.
Why you might love this method:
- More space than traditional Travelers Notebooks
- Easy to print and put into a notebook (11x8.5 pages)
- Combines the beauty of artistic expression with focused scripture study
- Creates a dedicated keepsake of your faith journey
- Perfect for those who want a cohesive journal rather than individual cards
I started calling these "Treasure Journals" because they're essentially junk journals with scripture—but we would never call a book of Bible study "junk," so "Treasure" better reflects the precious nature of what's inside! These journals become beautiful repositories of your spiritual insights and creative expression.
Treasure Journal Resources:
- Treasure Journal Pages my Etsy Shop (digital and printable)
- Treasure Journal Tutorial Videos
- Bible Classes using Treasure Journal Pages
4. Memory Dex Cards: Bite-Sized Bible Reflections
Our Bible journaling community fell in love with Memory Dex Cards for their simplicity and convenience. These compact 3x4 inch cards pack a spiritual punch despite their small size!
Why you might love this method:
- Print four cards per standard page (economical!)
- Perfect for capturing a single verse or brief reflection
- Terrific for quotes you want to remember
- Less intimidating than a blank page
- Can be displayed, gifted, or used as daily encouragement
I make my Memory Dex Cards digitally then print them to keep in special rotating organizers or bound together with rings, creating beautiful collections of scripture that I can access anytime.
Memory Dex Resources:
- Memory Dex Cards in my Etsy Shop (digital and printable)
- Memory Dex Cards Videos
- Heidi Swap's Memory Dex Cards physical supplies
5. Pocket Journal Cards: Organized Scripture Collections
Another format that revolutionized my Bible journaling approach was Pocket Journal Cards, directly inspired by Becky Higgins' Project Life method. When I discovered how scrapbookers were using these 3x4 and 4x6 pocket cards to document everyday moments, I immediately saw their potential for scripture study!
Why you might love this method:
- Creates organized collections by theme, book, or season
- Beautiful for Verse Mapping
- Works for short study sessions (just create one card at a time)
- Builds into impressive collections over time
- Perfect balance of creativity and structure
The brilliance of this approach is its simplicity and consistency. I created digital templates for Bible journaling pocket cards that could be printed at home, filled with verses and reflections, then slipped into pocket page protectors in a standard album.
My students particularly appreciate how this format allows them to work in small, manageable chunks while still creating something visually impressive when assembled together.
Pocket Card Resources:
Digital Bible Journaling
Digital Bible journaling isn't a method; it is a medium through which any of the other Bible journaling methods can be created and expressed. It's the digital canvas and toolset that allows you to design Memory Dex cards, Pocket Journal pages, Faithbooking layouts, or even Treasure Journal entries using technology rather than physical supplies. The digital approach gives you flexibility to try various methods, make edits freely, and then either keep your creations digital or print them for physical journals.
Why you might love digital:
- Unlimited undo button (make mistakes without worry!)
- No supply mess (perfect for limited craft space)
- Easy duplication and sharing of your creations
- Create anywhere with just your tablet or computer
- Economical (use the same elements repeatedly by just changing colors)
Whether you print your digital creations or keep them entirely digital in a virtual journal, this method offers flexibility and convenience that traditional methods can't match.
Which Bible Journaling Method Is Right For You?
Consider these questions to help determine which approach might best suit your needs:
Time Considerations
- Just a few minutes → Memory Dex Cards
- 15-30 minutes → Pocket Journal Cards, Travelers Notebooks, Faithbooking
Creative Confidence
- "I'm not creative" → Start with structured templates in Pocket Cards
- "I enjoy creativity but need guidance" → Travelers Notebooks
- "I love artistic freedom" → Faithbooking or Bible Margin Art
Purpose of Your Bible Journaling
- Scripture memory → Memory Dex Cards
- Verse Mapping or topical study → Pocket Journal Cards
- Artistic worship → Faithbooking or Bible Margin Art
- Sermon notes → Travelers Notebooks
- Deep scripture analysis → Faithbooking with space for detailed notes
Getting Started Today
No matter which Bible journaling method resonates with you, here are some steps to begin:
- Start small - Don't feel pressured to create masterpieces immediately
- Gather basic supplies - Each method has different requirements, but simple pens and paper work for most
- Find inspiration - Join our Bible Journaling Facebook Group
- Focus on the Word - Remember that engaging with scripture is the primary goal
- Experiment - Try different methods to discover what works best for your faith journey
- Join us for the April discovering Inner Peace Class
Your Turn to Create!
Bible journaling is about connecting with God through creativity, and finding the right method can make all the difference. Which approach resonates most with you? The portable convenience of Travelers Notebooks? The organized system of Pocket Cards? Or the creative freedom of Faithbooking?
📌 Found this helpful? Share this guide with friends who might be looking for their perfect Bible journaling method!
Free Bible Study Tool Kit
Includes:
- Six Bible study worksheet templates
- Both print and digital formats (PDF/PNG/Canva)
- Guidance to get started immediately
Deepening your relationship with God is truly the most meaningful investment you can make. I hope these worksheets help you take that first step with confidence. Download from this page.
