Reviews of The Faith and Lettering Journal, An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal, and Illuminate Your Story Journal.
Do you have a journal, or have you thought of starting one? An exciting new way to write is to use an illustrated art journal, and here are three you should consider. Every one of these volumes are great in their own right. They all have lovely, embossed hardback covers that feel really good to the touch and are nice to look at. Each journal contains high quality cardstock that should hold up to all kinds of ink without bleeding through to the other side. All have a substantial feel, easily stay open while adding thoughts, contain lots of pages devoted to journaling, and have a presentation page for the owner.
The Illuminate Your Story Journal from The Museum of the Bible, was inspired by beautiful manuscripts from bygone days. This journal will tell you how to make good-looking letters similar to the ones at the beginning of books from times past.
The first few pages of the journal tell the history of illuminating writing along with instructions to re-create them yourself. By following the pointers, and 
using the practice pages, you will learn how to add attractive, intricate letters and flourishes to your own special thoughts.
Sprinkled throughout the volume are inspiring quotations from the Bible along with other well-known figures. You will find a holder on the spine that stretches to keep your favorite writing instrument handy, as well as, a built-in bookmark to keep your place. This compact journal will be easy to take with you, and be at your fingertips whenever you have the urge to express yourself.
The Illustrated Word, an Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal, a Museum of the Bible Book, was inspired by drawings medieval monks added when copying scripture. Throughout the journaling pages, there are examples of intricate inked illustrations from ancient times. The book then includes recreations of those designs made so you can color them yourself.
If you like to journal or color, this book is for you because it combines the best of both worlds. There is lots of room to journal combined with many pictures for you to embellish. Working on this over-sized journal, you will produce
your own illustrated book that will be reminiscent of Camelot and other days gone by. You will create a treasure to look at, as well as, a place to read your 
thoughts and dreams.
The intricate embellishments on both the front and back covers of this journal feel really great when you touch them, and remind one of expensive literature volumes from days of old. This is the nicest and fanciest coloring book I have ever seen, and it is a great place to express yourself. You will really feel you have created a piece of art with this. There is nothing to learn in this book, just journal and color. Although you may be exposed to art you have never seen before.
The Faith and Lettering Journal comes from the hand-lettering artist and graphic designer Krystal Whitten. The guides, instructions, and tutorials Ms. Whitten includes come with the hope to inspire others to try their hand at something that has changed the author’s life. She explains how lettering things from the Bible opened a new way for her to the remember the word of God, a richer way than anything she had done before. God’s word became more real for her, and caused her to have a deeper relationship with the Him.
The author gives different examples of Biblical text 
in lettering form. There are columns to practice her techniques along with places to trace over her designs before trying it on your own. Other decorations such as banners, arrows, and doodles are included.
This book shows you fun ways to journal your thoughts, and Biblical messages. Even if you do not think you are creative, the author wagers if you give her instructions a try, you will be surprised at the things you can do. You will find uplifting Bible verses with splashes of color throughout this over-sized book. There is also a handy holder on the spine. By using it, you will always have the writing tool of your choice easily ready for you when inspiration strikes.
This over-sized volume contains a combination of pages that are either lined, dotted or graphed. This book will open up many ways to embellish and remember writings, as well as, scripture. Very detailed instructions will make it easy for even the most creative-challenged to be successful. The author makes it very easy to recreate her style, and the book itself contains such eye-pleasing pages and uplifting notes that it is sure to bring a smile.
Any of these three books will allow you to journal, as well as, try your hand at illumination. I highly recommend you pick the one that appeals to you the most, and then try it out. Writing in such nice books will give you the feeling of creating art. You are sure to have a new journaling experience no matter which one is chosen!
Ellie Claire Art Journals has provided bookreadingtic with complimentary copies of Illuminate Your Story Journal, The Illustrated Word, an Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal, and The Faith and Lettering Journal for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
You can find these journals at the following places:
FAITH & LETTERING
Amazon: http://amzn.to/FaithAndLettering-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/FaithAndLettering-BN
THE ILLUSTRATED WORD
Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-BN
ILLUMINATE YOUR STORY
Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-BN
