Hand lettering.
Sounds intimidating.
But it doesn’t have to be! That’s something that I have been learning through my bible journaling journey.
When I first started bible journaling a couple years ago, I was really intimidated by all the pretty lettering I saw in other people’s bibles. To be completely honest, my perfectionist ways were really what was making it intimidating. I knew that it would take a lot of time and practice to make it look how I wanted it to, but I wanted it to look professional now!
Well, almost four years into my bible journaling journey, and I’m still no expert at hand lettering. Especially not at brush lettering. But I wanted to share a couple tips that might encourage you to jump in, even if your a beginner or really don’t like your handwriting.
Be kind to yourself.
Some people are blessed with a natural talent for these things. But for the rest of us, it’s going to take time and patience to learn. Be nice to yourself through the learning process. Leave perfectionism behind and embrace learning something new. If you stick with it, you will get better.
Take it one letter at a time.
I find that as I’m writing in my bible I’m the least satisfied with the end results when I rush through. When I take it one letter at a time and think about the form of each letter, I’m much happier with the way things turn out. It also helps to write your letters out in pencil first and then go over with pen.
Start Simple.
Start with something that’s easy to master. Jumping right into writing complicated calligraphy type letters can be discouraging. Start with trying different normal fonts or try fancying up your normal handwriting. Once you’re comfortable with this you can try something a little harder and so on.
Practice outside your bible.
This is advice I haven’t really taken myself. But if you want to get better quicker, practicing more than just the times you journal in your bible is helpful. There are tons of resources for getting better at hand lettering. If you search on Pinterest you can find a ton of free worksheets to print or you can purchase hand lettering books at your local craft store.
In the last fourish years bible jounaling, my handwriting has dramatically improved. And I haven’t spent any extra time working specifically on getting better. This is proof that it’s possible to get better, it just may take a long time.
If you find yourself in a place where you’re just not ready to learn or you just don’t have the time, that’s okay. Break out your alpha stickers and stamps and get journaling. Never let the lack of a skill stop you from diving into your bible! I’m sure we’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again. It’s not about how great your page looks, it’s about connecting with the Father.
Hope these tips help if you’re needing a little bit of encouragement. Have any other tips for hand lettering? Let us know below.
