The publisher was kind enough to provide me with a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own and honest.

I am not Christian. Why am I reviewing a book about Faith Journaling then you ask? Because I am spiritual and this book does not require someone to believe in a deity to provide inspiration and insight to create your own faith journal. This book is very well laid out, taking the reader though different aspects of how to create a faith journal, ideas of what to include, and techniques on how to create beautiful art. Even if you didn't want to write about anything spiritual at all, you just want to journal, this book still has an amazing amount of creative ideas for everyone. I love the beautiful art work and colours in this book. Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist really is a step-by-step guide that anyone can follow. I look forward to creating my own faith journal to help me stay focused, inspired, and mindful.

Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist is a stirring book that prompts inspiration in creating journaling art. If you’re a journal girl like me, this will be a valued addition to your art shelf. Also, if you study inductively then this may be inspiring with that as well. Enjoy!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Great reference book for those who do bible journaling.

This past Christmas, I received an empty journal from a friend and several rolls of washi tape. She has been into creative faith journaling for a few years, and has been quite enthusiastic about using her artistic talents to express her faith as she reads, studies, and reflects on what she has learned from the Bible. She didn't know that I had Stephanie Ackerman's "Faith Journaling For the Inspired Artist," in my reading queue, so receiving these gifts has been rather timely.


I found "Faith Journaling For the Inspired Artist," to be a book about artistic technique where the author uses and demonstrates her art as examples of what readers could do in their own journaling. The book is not a devotional book, nor is it a book that speaks comprehensively about the practice of having devotional time with the Lord. Instead, it mainly presents an artistic approach that could be used when having devotions or quiet time.


The author starts off with a couple of chapters discussing the purpose of faith journaling. She emphasizes that people who practice this must focus on meeting with God, reflecting on the Word, and not get side tracked by the art itself. Ms. Ackerman also tries to encourage readers to strike out on their own. She states that there is no right or wrong way in practicing faith journaling.


The majority of the book focuses on techniques to use from lettering, drawing, painting, mixed media, and scrap booking. The author models the techniques, providing examples and templates in the book. There are practice squares and spaces for readers to try out various artistic techniques. There are sample verses, where some are examples for readers to view, and for readers to try out on their on own in utilizing the methods outlined in the book.


The author refers to her website for readers to view some of her work, and also as a possible resource to help them in their artistic endeavours in faith journaling.


I found the book to be interesting to look at, but it might not necessarily speak to all people who keep faith journals. However, this might be a good book for people who would like to try this type of faith journaling, but who don't have a strong artistic background. "Faith Journaling For the Inspired Artist," might give them a good introduction to various techniques that they could try and also provide them inspiration from Ms. Ackerman's examples.



Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist by Stephanie Ackerman from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

This colorful attractive how-to book is more for a beginning ‘artist/crafter’ than an ‘Inspired’ one. (If you were an inspired artist, I doubt you’d need the book.) The book is inspiring in that it encourages a ‘try-it’ attitude and suggests there “is no right or wrong way” to faith journal. The journal can be attached in to one’s bible, drawn directly in, or be a prayer journal.

Ackerman’s book starts with the basic tools needed and some lettering styles. It also covers stamp carving, mixed media, documenting faith, and hymns, and inspiring words to journal. The flourishes and doodles are very cute, but also very feminine. I would have like to see some more varied styles of embellishments.

Plenty of space is included for practicing/ copying some of the elements. I felt including blank colored paper was stretching the book. Such items are easily purchased at local craft stores like Michaels or Joanns. I don’t think many journalers will be carving their own stamps either. Many are currently available at the aforementioned stores.

As an experienced bible verse journaler, who regularly shares with a small group, I would have like to see a wider range of styles presented other than the currently trendy “cutesy” style. Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist is a good introduction for someone new to faith journaling, but they would benefit from seeing more diverse examples.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for granting access to an arc of this book for an honest review.

I was a little in two minds about this book as the theme, if you can call it that, uses the bible and Jesus as its starting point. But I quite like this book, it does talk about the bible and Jesus, but it can just as well work by targeting your inner self, and anything that is inspirational in your life, poems, sayings, extracts from books and so forth. The bible being used in this instance, follow what most of the Christian world live by, our laws and what we are taught right and wrong from; but this book is more then that it is looking into your inner self through art, design and how we look at the world and how the world look back at us.
But if you just want a book on how to create a journal, ideas, tools and methods of decoration this will do that too.

I was looking forward to getting started with this on a snowy day. However, by the time I got to opening it, it had expired. Would love to have the opportunity again to try this.

One of my New Year's resolutions has been to start journaling. This book is a good source of inspiration for me as I'm not one who can come up with creative ideas all on my own. I've enjoyed reading through it and beginning to put some of what I've learned into action.

Nice book. Would be good for even just journaling; art journaling; scrapbooking; etc.....
loved that it gave not only faith/bible journaling, but also stamp carving and mixed media techniques.

Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist by Stephanie Ackerman is a fun, interesting look into the world of Bible Journaling. Pen and paper art does not seem to be my forte, but I would think this would be extremely helpful to someone who is about serious Bible art journaling.

Ms. Ackerman starts with the highlighting techniques (which even I could do) before moving on to the more complicated “doodling” aspects of faith journaling. I found this fascinating even if it was beyond my capability. I did like the emphasis on having fun with the journaling while gleaming Bible truths from the Word.

For this novice, it looks to be a complete step-by-step, how-to for the creatively journaling and reflecting on your faith journey. Inspired artist is part of the book’s name for a reason; artist ability is not just helpful but needed to accomplish the more intricate designs within the book.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

There is a constant influx of journals to buy to guide a congregant in studying the Bible but have never seen anything that combines the love of doodling, drawing, or another medium with improving one’s faith walk. Awesome idea!

In the past, I always thought I wasn't very talented as an artist, but lately I feel a desire to let loose and try my hand at some creative endeavors. This book appealed to me because I have tried journaling in the past, but after awhile I gave it up because so much of my life is filled with daily routines that I didn't honestly think I had anything new to say everyday.

What a rut of my own making I have been in for a really long time now! I do spend time with a devotional in the morning, and for this coming year, I'd like to spread my wings with a blank book, not dated, (that's too much pressure) and try some new things in my morning quiet time.

This book is a treasure for Christians everywhere. The author has added prompts that would help with journaling and artwork that I feel even I can attempt to make a Bible more personal. I highly recommend it.

I love this book! From the moment I looked at the cover I knew I would love it. Detailed information about why’s and how and what if’s are clearly presented in a well thought out easy to follow manner. Lots of beautiful pictures and illustrations, examples and ideas fill the pages. It makes this art form accessible and easy to replicate by even a beginner. It’s inspiring. Makes me want to create. I loved this book so much that I’m planning to purchase a print copy.

This is a well done introduction to artful journaling in general with a focus on a Christian application. The book itself is not the journal, but a place to practice techniques it describes and gather inspiration. It describes many interesting ways to add efficiency to your bible, or study book, and teaches different stenciling styles to decorate with. It would be an excellent gift for a crafty Christian friend.

Good book for people looking to begin a journal using a spiritual way.

This was great. I have been looking to getting into this style of journaling. This book was good for tips and ideas.