DaySpring sent me the Illustrated Faith Praise Book, Pens, Stickers and Clips Set for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This article contains affiliate links.
I have been perusing DaySpring’s Illustrated Faith line for some time now. I love that this company creates stickers, washi tape, pens, paint and die cut prompts specifically for Christians that Bible Journal. Although I don’t journal in a Bible – I often write parts of Scripture inside my prayer journal. As I scoured over the website at all of the products geared towards prayer, I thought of how much I could do with them in my own prayer life.
I was so excited when I received the Praise Book, Pens, Sticker and Clips Set to review!
Seriously – it felt like Christmas morning! Since I had planned on doing more journaling for Lent, I decided to dedicate the Praise Book as my Lenten Journal.
At first, I was super excited about the stickers and die cut prompts, but a little skeptical about the binder.
Up until this point, my favorite prayer journal was the good ol’ fashioned Catholic school marble notebook (I’m sorry, Amazon calls these “composition books“). I had recently tried a notepad that opens vertically, and decided that I would never go that route again. So the binder – I wasn’t so sure about.
But, I dived right in. Before even entering one prayer, I was so grateful for the inside pockets. I often glue prayer cards to pages and write around them – so these pockets provided the perfect place to hold them. I loved that the pockets were in the front and the back of the binder.
The next step I took to personalize the Praise Book and make it my own, was I wrote “Lenten Prayer Journal, 2017” on the first page. I used one of the Illustrates Faith pens that came with the set. I’m being totally honest here – I think I said out loud after I wrote:
Wow . . . these pens write nice!
Then like a dumb, dumb, I left the lid off of the one until the next day. It was dry and I thought it was done forever. Luckily the next day it worked better – but warning – put the cap back on the pen when you are finished using it!
I love the two pens included in this kit. Each one writes with a different thickness, so depending on what your preference is that day and how much you plan on writing, one of the two will be the perfect writing tool.
My prayer life was given a lift before I even started the official “Lent Journal”. I loved how the prayer cards looked in the front pocket and how I decorated my title page so much – I had to stop and take a picture!
I mean really – I even posted it on Instagram!
My first entry was simple. I copied a prayer I found that really spoke to me, and used a colored pencil to highlight some powerful sentences. The next entry I was so excited to use one of the die-cut prompts. On almost every page I found myself using the stickers to be an added fastener for prayer cards and prayers.
Then I showed my husband the clips. These were new to me, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to implement them. He picked them up and started saying “these are great, you can . . .” and he started describing ways they could be used!
Then, a few days into using the Praise Book Set, something awesome happened!
The extra features that were included in this set that were new to me, allowed my whole prayer experience to be brought to a new level.
The binder includes transparency dividers that you can write on and give one of your pages an added layer of creativity. The first one I came across I took out and put in the back of the binder! I had no idea what to do with it.
But one night when I was reading Resisting Happiness, the author, Matthew Kelly, got me thinking about what my image of God is . . . He challenged the readers to really think about it and write down how we view God. I thought this would be a great journal entry, so I did it. When I was done writing, I looked at one of the cardstock sticker packs that were included in the set. Almost every sticker was a title that described an “image of God”. I took a transparency divider and put the titles over the words I had written. I then used the clips to put actual images over what I wrote. It was really quite a mediative and prayerful experience!
I am really enjoying using all the elements of this set. I feel like I have tapped into some creativity that I did not realize I had inside or maybe the materials themselves have allowed me to be more open to the Lord’s inspiration. Whatever the case, I am so grateful for this product! Using it has given me even more ideas to share with you! I am so excited!
And as for my pessimistic view of the binder . . . that went away the minute I realized I could take out a page I was working on and really get it to look exactly how I envisioned. That mobility provided by the binder makes it another positive feature of the whole set.
I love using this set and I am truly happy with the quality and diversity of the materials included in it! You can purchase your own Praise Book Set by clicking here: Praise Book, Pens, Stickers and Clip Set
What a neat way to implement the Dayspring materials into your Lent journal! I’ve also never considered a binder, but you may have convinced me to give it a try!
I’m so happy for you that your blog really seems to be taking off lately.
Thank you Leslie!! How are you!??
I haven’t started prayer journaling yet… it’s hard for me to get past the idea of “ruining” a beautiful journal. Nice pens would help. 🙂
Oh my goodness Alicia – you would only be enhancing it! You never ruin a thing in my opinion!
I’ve never been one to journal, but I have been thinking about starting a prayer journal. This would be an awesome way to start, thank you for the head’s up!
I’ve done a prayer journal off and on for a few years, but I’m trying to work on mine daily for lent this year and loving the prompts from your blog!!! 🙂
Awesome – so glad you are loving them!!!
Your journal pictures are beautiful! My daughter loves collecting prayer cards at church. This would be a neat idea for them.
I love that I found a use for them . . . sometimes they tend to to pile up!!
Entered, I would love to win this!!
Best of Luck!
I started on Ash Wednesday, because of your example and encouragement. It’s the one Lent thing I am definitely rocking so far. 🙂
Woohoo! That is great! Don’t put to much pressure on yourself to do “all the things”!
What lovely inspiration! I plan to journal but am never quite sure how to start! Prompts and stickers would really help, and special pens?….. be still my excited heart!
Love your enthusiasm! That starter kit is on sale – the sale ends tonight. Get while it is $15 off!
I keep a prayer journal in bullet journal 🙂 But the Praise Book looks absolutely lovely! I’ll share this giveaway with my Catholic Planner Girls Facebook group!
Awesome, thank you and best of luck!
Beautiful. I love how you’ve used the prayer cards!
I’ve never Prayer journaled officially. When I was younger I’d write letters… no recipient in mind, I got out of the habit but years later I recognized that I was doing a form of prayer. I’m intrigued but a little intimidated by Prayer journaling. This set looks like a beginners best friend though!
This looks like such an awesome giveaway!
Thank you Aleesa!
I’m glad to see a review from the Catholic perspective. I had looked so Illustrated Faith when it first came out. Was very disappointed to be unable to get Catholic Bible book tabs. I love the stamps,etc . I would love to see a devotional review from a Catholic perspective. I would so love to get a monthly devotional to use in my Bible.
Hmmm . . .tell me more! Maybe I can publish a monthly devotional!
I just started Prayer Journaling this Lent with the prompts you had shared.
This looks like a great giveaway! I am so excited!
Awesome! I hope you are enjoying it!
I just joined Blessed Is She a few weeks ago and received their Advent prayer journal, Put On Love. This is the first time I have journaled. The promps help a lot. I plan to continue after Lent, so this bundle looks like just what I need!
Awesome! Best of Luck!
Such a great review! I can definitely see the benefit of having a binder, instead of a composition notebook or ringed notebook. The plastic covers with words over pictures – awesome idea!
And, dollars to doughnuts, I would have done the same thing with the pen… Glad to hear it came back to life, though. That is always one litmus test I expect my pens to pass – the ability to come back to life.
I journal every day but you have taken it to a whole new beautiful level. I am truly inspired. I am presently using WINE: Women in the New Evangelization’s Walk in Her Sandals prayer journal along with the book for LENT; as Candy said the prompts are wonderful. I am enjoying the Scripture references and space to doodle while I ponder too!
This is beautiful! I am a big fan of scrapbooking and this seems like it incorporates the best of both worlds!
I do prayer journal. I have been doing this off and on for last year or so.
This is so inspiring! l love it. I love it almost as much as your blog name…. those are three things I certainly get behind!
PS I have been reading Resisting happiness everyday and have been so encouraged by it! Decided to join a group from my Bible study who are all reading it together! -Blessings!
Awesome! I am meeting with a group too – we are meeting for the first time Sunday and I am so excited!
Haha! Right!!??
I do not prayer journal, no matter how many times your posts remind me that I want to start! I will start soon, I will.
I’ve been waking up early – it’s the only way for us moms with young children I think!
beautiful!! I do not have it yet, I would need one!!
Hi Amy! I have been using your Lenten Prayer Journal Ideas for my prayer journal and started reading Resisting Happiness, s well for Lent. I thought after I go through your ideas, I’d continue after Lent with some of Matthew Kelly’s ideas! Thanks for all the great ideas! Love your blog 🙂
Hi Jeanne! Thank you so much! (It’ so nice to hear someone loves the blog!!!) I love that Matthew Kelly! I’m so glad you are finding the journal ideas helpful! I hope you have an awesome week!
I journal and I have short notes on what to pray for, but I think adding prayer journaling would really help me to focus and see the blessings that God brings.
Amen Carmen! It definitely helps me!
I’ve done a bit if orayer journaling but not much wiht sitckers and colors. But I have a bullet journal so this is probavlt something I would love to do!!
It really is fun! Best of luck in the giveaway!!
This is exciting! I struggle with journalling! I’m just not creative!
You don’t have to be! You can just copy a Scripture verse, or write a letter to Jesus!
This looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome!
I do prayer journal, but right now, it’s just a list of what I’m praying for. I’d love to do a better job of updating what I’m praying for!
Ooooh I’m loving this! I keep my prayer journal and my art separate, but you’re inspiring me to combine them today!
Woohoo!!!
Scrapbooking and journaling all in one sound AMAZING! I’m a doodler while I journal and this seems just beyond that. Excited to try this!!!
Awesome! You and I think alike my friend!
After reading this article (thank you Allison Gringas for posting it on facebook) I indulged and ordered my own faith journaling set. It was a challenge to figure out how/where to start, what with all of the stickers and paper and stamps… I finally started and now I can’t put it down! I’ll be honest, my Bible reading and prayer time was iffy at best now I can’t wait to get home from work to so my daily journaling and prayer time. I also found a TON of cool free printables (I print them out on cardstock and cut them out with scissors) to add to my Bible journaling supplies.
Awesome!!! I am so happy you are enjoying it AND looking forward to it! I really enjoy it too. Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know that you read the article and are enjoying journaling!!! xoxo