Watercolor Tutorial | Leaning In – The Armor of God

I was so excited to play with the Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Bright and Brave kit for this post.

Who doesn’t want to be Bright and Brave in Christ?

Problem is… in our own strength, we have so little to offer.    I am so grateful that in Him and in His grace, the potential to be Bright and Brave is limitless!

I prayed and sorted through all the lovely pieces in the kit and the tip in “Stop Worrying and Pray” stood out to me.   I love tip ins because you can really complete a journal page by adding a bit of washi tape to the top and adhering it in the margin.   But for this post, I wanted to bring you some watercolor fun.

When I think about worry, I think about spiraling in my thoughts getting caught up in the messiness of whatever battle is before me.  I worry when I don’t go to the Lord for truth, for my direction, for my covering, and for my power to navigate whatever circumstance is upon me.  In short,  when a battle is before me I don’t take time to put on His armor and I don’t always pray!  I just jump in with my own emotions and equipment and try to do it on my own.  Translation: Why go into battle without Him?  Yep, not too smart.  It’s like heading out of the locker room without your uniform (yikes!) or trying to write on paper without a pen.

Ephesians 6:10-18 English Standard Version

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Yep, I found my journaling entry!

I started with my supplies.  Journaling Bible, a jar with clear water, #8 round watercolor brush, #6 flat watercolor brush (which I did not end up using), Illustrated Faith Watercolors, white board (for mixing colors), and one of my favorite purples, Daniel Smith Quinacridone Violet.

I painted a spiral shape with clear water to make a “path” for the watercolors to travel on.  More on that technique here https://www.illustratedfaith.com/watercolor-tutorial-leaning-teach-fly/

I dropped in teal and let it travel along the water path.

Then I dropped in green.

I dropped a bit of yellow in the green areas.

I picked orange with my brush and stroked down a few clear spiral waves inside the watercolor track.

I continued on adding colors to make a huge spiral.  Here is the Quinacridone Violet.

More green and blues.

Last touches of green.  You can see the orange flowing into the green in toward the center where a wet area met another wet area of paint — I LOVE this, it’s just what I wanted, a bit messy!  Watercolors can have a mind of their own.

The spiral completed.

A splatter of colors on top — yep, messy.  This technique is so easy!  Load your brush with lots of wet color goodness and tap the body of the brush releasing drops over your page.  Warning: you cannot really control the drops!!!!    You can see I added clear packaging over the opposite page to protect it.

A quick dry with the Ranger Heat Tool so the colors don’t continue to travel.

Isn’t this awesome?  Messy goodness.  This page would be beautiful just on it’s own.  Watercolors are so amazing.

Time to add my Bright and Brave pieces.  I started with sorting through a few favorite tip ins.

I used Bright and Brave letter stickers for “Put” and a combination of Homespun alpha and Big and Bold Black Eyed Pea alphas for “on”.

I used my Silhoutte Cameo to make the word “His” out of Bright and Brave 12 x 12 Thank You Jesus paper from the kit and black Homespun Alpha letter stickers for “armor”.

I ended up cutting apart the tip in so I could fit all of the words and added some adorable transparent heart stickers from the Bright and Brave washi pad.

Time for a tab!  Pink tab from the Bright and Brave collection.  “Do not Fear” from the Illustrated Faith Basics Collection.  “Be Still” from the Illustrated Faith Basics Mini Hexies Collection.

After getting everything arranged the way I liked.  I adhered it all down with the Illustrated Faith tape runner and added an arrow sticker from the Bright and Brave Collection.  And the journal entry is complete!

What a powerful truth friends!

Let’s remember in times of struggle, instead of heading to the spiral of worry, put on His armor, take up the shield of faith, and pray friends!  Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@designsbyamybruce) if you create a spiral of your own.  I love to see your pages!

So many hugs,

amy bruce

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Leather Illustrated Faith – Shanna’s Favorites – Watercolor Set Illustrated Faith – Genesis Kit Illustrated Faith – Tape Runner Illustrated Faith – 194-Piece Black Eyed Pea Alphabet Stickers Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave – 25-Piece Cardstock Stickers Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave – Washi Stickers Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave – 47-Piece Tabbies Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave – Tip-Ins Bella Blvd – Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave Collection – 12 x 12 Collection Kit Bella Blvd – Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave Collection – 12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers – Fundamen Illustrated Faith – 45-Piece His Promise Stickers Illustrated Faith – Apple of My Eye Mix – 53-Piece Mini Hexie Stickers Bella Blvd – Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Thank yo Bella Blvd – Illustrated Faith – Bright and Brave Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Jesus is

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Other Supplies
Princeton Neptune #8 Brush, Daniel Smith Quinacridone Violet Tube Watercolor, Ranger Heat It Craft Tool, Silhoutte Cameo Cutting Machine, White Board