Greetings Beloved Illustrated Faith Family!
Amy Bruce here! It’s been a while since I popped on with some inspiration. I have missed you. This summer I have been like a turtle in my shell.
It seems like forever ago that God called me to Illustrated Faith and the world of blogs and social media. At the time, He pressed on my heart the need to pour into community. He whispered, “enter in…there is family out there…LOVE big…give BIG…Be transparent…pour into the Body of Christ behind those phones and computer screens… tell them they aren’t alone…tell them they are LOVED.”
God calls us to step out. To be in community. To be in fellowship. We were never designed to be alone.
This summer God called me to be still. To leave all my art supplies and pour into my family. To retreat into my turtle shell and listen without projects and deadlines. So I did. But Fellowship and Community followed me! Jesus sent a reminder that I had to come back out of my shell. He sent me Llanet Fernandez and a few other sweet voices to remind me my withdraw is temporary. I am still not sure what this new season will look like, but I do know that I am passionate about community. I am passionate about finding the person who might need a word, a hug, a truth, a safe space, a creative inspiration. So just like a shy turtle I am popping my head out and releasing one foot at time. I wonder where God’s path will lead!
I love that He confirmed all of this with Llanet’s devotional on Fellowship in Illustrated Faith’s Revival Camp Kit One. When I got home and opened the box, I just smiled. He is just like that. Tying all the pieces together. He used my sweet friend this summer to send me messages and happy packages and then He used her again to confirm my passion for Community with her devotional writing for Revival Camp.
The scripture that stood out to me in Llanet’s devotional was Ecclesiastes 4:12. I love the New Living Translation.
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Let’s journal truth my friends!
Tutorial
Gathering Inspirational Supplies – I love the extra care that went into Revival Camp Kit One – I mean seriously – a TRAIL MIX Bag with buttons??? And that washi! I can’t wait to see the next kit friends!
I started a deep clean of my “studio space” aka dining room when I returned this summer and discovered a little treasure of a paper towel that I used as a rag while I was painting. It must have impressed me at the time because I kept it in my “use later stash.”
I love using things that other people might throw away, essentially turning trash into something beautiful. True Community holds a place for everyone. No one is discarded. No one is marginal or excluded. How appropriate to use this little scrap in my entry dedicated to Fellowship and Community.
So let’s begin!
Most paper products have several layers.
I only want one layer of this paper towel so I started by peeling the layers apart.
Carefully continuing to separate the layers.
My goodness! You could use either one of these! I may set all the scraps aside and use them throughout Revival Camp.
Llanet poured into my heart this summer through fellowship so I cut out a simple half heart.
I am using Golden Matte Medium to secure the heart down. Any brand will do. I just prefer Matte Medium because it doesn’t have a glossy finish and there is less danger of my pages sticking together with slick surfaces.
I slipped my Bible Mat behind the page and secured it with the Revival Camp washi. I put the Revival Camp washi around the paint brush and even my heat tool. I kinda love it. It will be a reminder of a new season of Community and Fellowship.
I dipped my brush right into the bottle – just need a tiny bit!
Painting the medium on the back of the heart.
And then a bit directly to the page underneath.
And then a thin coat on top.
A good dry with my craft heat tool.
You can see an additional post where I use a paper napkin in a similar technique https://www.illustratedfaith.com/bible-journaling-tutorial-love-napkins-stamps-matte-medium/
Next I removed the Bible Mat and trimmed the edges. I left the washi in the corners.
I made a little pocket for Llanet’s devotional with the wax paper envelope that the trail mix came in. I trimmed the top with Zig Zag scissors (aka Pinking Shears).
I also zig zagged the top and bottom of the devotional just to add interest.
I added a piece of the wash to the side for a pop of color and positioned the trail mix label on top.
Secured with my tiny stapler.
Oh so cute!
I love that the Revival Camp Kit comes with a palette of colors so you can match markers, paints, and pencils easily. I decided to use colored pencils to highlight some of Llanet’s devotional.
So good.
This pocket! I can’t even!
I added the Fellowship badge to the paper towel heart and followed the zig zag theme by cutting out my tab for the top of the page with my Zig Zag scissors. Poor Shanna, I always cut up her intro cards LOL.
I secured the badge and tab with my tiny stapler and added the adorable buttons that came with the kit using clear glue.
I also added a cute paper clip that Llanet sent me from Simple October that reminds me of the time and love she invested in sending me happy mail.
I underlined the key scripture.
Added a date stamp.
I added a note of thanks to Jesus for Llanet walking out Fellowship and Community in my life.
I love these pages! In a time when I really don’t know what the next season of my life will look like, they remind me I am not alone.
Praise Him!
Show me how you use scraps and bits in your journaling! Tag me on Instagram @designsbyamybruce. I LOVE to see what you create.
In fellowship and love,
amy bruce
Other Supplies Used
Golden Matte Medium | Simply Simmons 1″ Brush, Ranger | Heat It Craft Heat Tool | Tim Holtz Tiny Stapler | Pinking Shears | Prisma Color PC905, Prisma Color Electric Blue PC1040 | Faber Castell Leaf Green 9201-112, Faber Castell Geranium Lake 9201-121, Faber Castell Cadmium Yellow 9201-108 | Scotch Clear Craft Glue
