JOURNALING WITH PURPOSE
Art journaling has become not only a source of relaxation, it gives me a creative way to express what is in my heart. One of my favorite ways to create is collage.
When I put words on a collage I like them to be meaningful and encouraging.
My Collage Journaling Process
Sometimes I already have a theme in mind. Other times I thumb through magazines cutting out words or pictures that stand out to me. I might also use various other materials like washi tape, stickers or patterned papers and cards.
First I try to arrange the pictures to decide which to keep and which to save for another time. Today as I was looking through my materials I found a poem my mom had cut out of a newspaper. In simple rhyme it described how we can be content because God knows the future.
Then I found a paraphrase of Philippians 4:19 on a card I had been using as a bookmark:
I will meet all your needs according to the riches of My glory in Christ Jesus.
As I read over the verse and the poem, I thought about how God is always with me no matter what happens. Slowly a theme began to come together. I gathered other pictures and some stickers and kept arranging them until I was satisfied with the result. Then I glued everything down. Finally, I added washi tape in different places for a finishing touch.
The caption above is what I wrote when I shared the photo on Instagram. It wasn’t until later I saw the word FRIENDS behind the words now and forever. I thought to myself how appropriate that word is, because Jesus is my forever friend. For that I am grateful.
I’m linking up with: #weeklyBiblejournaling, #TeaAndWord, #MomentsofHope, #HeartEncouragement, #FaithOnFire, #FreshMarketFriday
Thanks for sharing about your art journaling process, Gayl. It’s intriguing, inspiring and helpful for those of us who are keen to give it a go but don’t really know how or where to start. And I love what your thoughtful, prayerfully considered process has produced! Well done on having the most clicked #LLMLinkup post as well!! That’s an honour for you and the Beloved Prodigal team as a whole. Keep up the good work, my friend. xoxo <3
I hope you do give a go to art journaling, Joy. I’ve found it to be refreshing and fun. Thanks so much for your encouragement! Yes, I think that is two weeks in a row that the Beloved Prodigal post got the most clicks! I hope many are encourage and blessed by Beloved Prodigal. Blessings and love to you, dear Joy! xoxo
Certainly easy to see why your post was the most-clicked last week. We all need that kind of reassurance.
Blessings to you, Gayl, and thanks for sharing your creative heart in so many ways.
Michele, thank you so much for always encouraging me! You are a blessing to me. Have a wonderful week filled with love and blessings! xo
Dear Gayl,
I am so glad that you gave us a peek into your creative process for art journaling. Isn’t it so amazing how He reveals Himself to us as we are in the midst of creating? I love how He revealed His friendship through that phrase that you had cut & placed! And I am so blessed that your post at Beloved Prodigal was such an encouragement to so many, and was the most clicked on here last week. God is truly so present in our sharing with one another. May you be blessed and encouraged this week dear friend and sister! xoxo
Dear Bettie,
Yes, I love the many ways He makes Himself known to us through our everyday activities. We just need to be looking and expecting. I am blessed and encouraged, dear Bettie. God is so good! Blessings, love and hugs to you dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo
Thanks for sharing another inspiring post and lovely collage, Gayl!
Thanks for being here, Bette, and for your sweet encouragement. Blessings to you! xo
You’re so creative, Gayl! You add beauty to the Kingdom through the way you express yourself.
Thank you so much, Lisa! I appreciate your encouragement. Blessings to you!
I love this! I just realized that my MIL does the same kind of collages! She has them hanging up all over her house. Every few months she changes them out, but I think they are wonderful to look at. Thank you for sharing yours with us!
Thank you, Dani! I never thought about hanging them up. Right now they are all in an art journal, but I could take the best ones and frame them. That’s an idea I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for coming by and for your inspiration. Blessings to you!
Gayl, I linked up today because my blog is about my new book! I found a poem of my mom’s also and it remains in my bible! The little card in your collage, with the feather? I wonder if I sent it to you in a card? I have those tuck-in cards and use them all the time. xo
Susan, nice to have you visit! Yes, that little card is one you sent me! It’s a great reminder. 🙂 Thank you. <3 I'm heading over to read your post soon! Blessings to you, dear sister! Love you! xo
yes a collage is so special because it is unique to the person.
You are right, Sandra. I love how the designs we can make with collage are pretty much unlimited. Though some of mine are similar to each other, they are still unique and express some of my own personality. Blessings to you and thanks for visiting!