Greetings Illustrated Faith Tribe!
Summer! Time for blooms, fresh air, and walks on the beach. I am a huge sensory processor. I adore taking in all the colors, smells, textures, and sounds of every season; and I am looking forward to this summer, walking among the flowers at the farmer’s market and digging my toes in the sand along Lake Michigan.
This week Illustrated Faith is featuring one of my absolute favorite design sets – She Blooms. I am so excited to play with the kit.
I love painting flowers. I decided I wanted to paint simple blooms in this journal entry to reflect my desire to move my heart, mind and life toward more simple living. As I thought and prayed about the entry, the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 came to my mind and I knew what I wanted to journal.
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…
As I strive to simplify, I never want to lose the scent of Christ. In fact, I want the fragrance of Him to be what people remember when they talk with me, read my writing, or view my art. I want them to “smell” the fragrance of love, peace, mercy, grace, beauty, generosity, freedom, harmony, and truth. And I want that scent to draw them into the loving arms of my King so they can experience it all personally.
Oh Lord, help me to walk in your Spirit and let me be the fragrance of Christ.
Let’s journal truth friends.
Gathering supplies – Illustrated Faith Watercolors, yellow and green; 1/2″ Loew-Cornell Oval Wash Brush; clean water; paper towel; and white board.
Add a bit of water to your pans of pigment and let them sit for a bit. You can use a spray bottle to bring moisture into the pans and activate the watercolor or just drop clean water in with your brush.
Once your watercolors are activated, load your brush with pigment by pressing slightly into the pan several times so the bristles of your brush can soak in the color.
Now you are ready to make some flowers! Simple blooms begin with simple strokes. The shape of the brush is going to bring a roundness to your strokes. Begin with the center of the flower and then work your way around like a spiral, but keep it loose so the flowers look natural. Vary the pressure you apply to your stroke to add interest. We are only going to use one color in this flower but here is an example of using multiple tones and shades of the same color https://www.illustratedfaith.com/amy-bruce-refuge/ .
Second bloom.
Third bloom. Sets of three are a beautiful reflection of the trinity.
Adding a bit of thinner strokes on the outside of the blooms by turning my brush on it’s edge adds movement to the flowers.
Before adding my greenery, I want to make sure I don’t smudge any of my blooms so a quick dry with a heat tool is in order.
Simple strokes of green beginning at the edge of the bloom and drawing your stroke down lightly. I am using the edge of my brush to make the stems thin. Make sure to load your brush with pigment so you have enough green paint to complete the stroke. Have I said before, this is my favorite green EVER.
Leaves are simple. Load your brush and put the tip down at the outer edge of the leaf. Stroke toward the bloom and gradually increase your downward pressure. At the end of the leaf, release your pressure. Let the brush do the work!
Adding a few more simple leaves.
Next up She Blooms goodies and alphas. I love to just search my “studio” (aka dining room) for all the supplies that draw my heart and lay them around my journaling page. Makes for a big mess but ohhhhh what a beautiful mess it is. I knew I wanted to use the She Blooms alphas and added the Wonky Puffy Bella Blvd Alpha for the word “be”.
I added “the” with the Illustrated Faith Typed Alpha in pink.
I wanted a bit of my own writing on the page so I used my own handwriting for “aroma of”.
I love EVERYTHING about this kit but I restrained myself and I only added a few phrases from the Treasures and Text Stickers sheet to the bottom of my page. An enamel heart stands guard over the words and another assists the R with its shape!
I used a few more pieces from the She Blooms Treasures and Text Stickers, “in the Word” from the She Blooms Art Prints page, and more enamel hearts to complete the top portion of the page.
I must say I love the mess I created around this page as much as I love the page itself.
Oh Lord, let me be the aroma of Christ!
I hope you try some simple blooms friends! They are so fun and so easy. Tag me when you do! I love to see your Bible Journaling pages (instagram tag @designsbyamybruce).
Blessings and hugs,
amy bruce
White Board
