Bible Journaling Series: Iva
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Share a bit about yourself, who you are – your back-story. Hello! My name is Iva, I’m from Bulgaria, but lived almost all my life in Spain. I’m a happy 30 year old mom of two (Noa and Luca) and crazy in love with my husband Andrés. I’ve been working the last four years in the Scrapbooking industry (owned a scrapbooking supplies shop, later an on-line shop and now also managing a Youtube channel with weekly tutorials).
On January 2017 I started also a Youtube Channel named “Walking beside Him” (Caminando junto a Él, in Spanish) dedicated to my adventure with God, where I show my Journaling Bible process, comment Christian books, talk about my own reflections, and so on.



Please can you explain a bit about your process? I’m very blessed to have in my home a studio for all my crafty projects, where I have also all my Bible Journaling supplies in a box, next to my Bibles. So when I found the 15 minutes I sit on my desk with my Bible and supplies and start creating. Usually I don’t need to check in my notebook what verse want to decorate, because when it touches my heart it stays in my head until I document it in my Bible. And yes, I like to pray before, during and after, because it’s a special moment to connect with God, to thank Him for His message, to tell Him how I feel about that verse and to ask for direction about how to implement that verse in my life. I also ask Him if there is something more that He wants me to be aware and He usually guides me to where He really wants me to be (maybe other verse in the same page, or a new vision about that same verse,…).
Why do you draw/paint/stick/letter in your Bible? When I started scrapbooking it was like a moment of disconnection from the real life, something like a therapy for my soul and I loved It. When I started making it in my Bible it gained a lot lot lot more significance, it just makes me feel the peace and presence of God, it’s only about Him and it’s my time and my talent just for Him. I can say it’s my way of worshiping the Lord.


What are your favourite supplies? I love using some acrylic paint, stickers or die cuts (I love the Illustrated Faith products), washi tape, stamps and lettering pens (as Tombow Fudenosuke, Dual Brush, Pentel touch…). Now I started to design my own die cuts and stickers because It’s almost impossible to find them in Spanish.
What advice do you have for new starters, especially those who are scared to start because they are frightened of ‘ruining’ their Bible? My advice would be: If you already have a Bible and you use It often to read, study, write notes and so on, go and buy a new Bible, so If you really make a mess It won’t be that bad. I actually use my Journaling Bible only for decoration and I have two more Bibles for my studies and reading. And of course, start with something that is comfortable for you. For my first verse I used a very tiny sticker alphabet and a pen, that’s It. It took me a while to start adding some paint and more embellishments. And I repeat, It’s important to enjoy the process, not to stress about the result, just start, ask God and He will guide you.
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