Thanksgiving Napkin Technique- Beginner Friendly Bible Journaling Tutorial

Have you heard of the Bible journaling “napkin technique”? It’s a very common technique in the Bible journaling community, and for good reason! It’s easy to do, not all to expensive, and you can create beautiful pages with endless designs.

I did an in-depth tutorial on the napkin technique a while ago, (find that HERE), but I hadn’t really touched napkins since! I tend to stick with my paints and pens. But when I found some cheap but cute Thanksgiving napkins at Walmart, I knew it was time to branch out again.

The Tutorial

Watch just how I created this thanksgiving page with a napkin below.

The napkin technique is super easy to do.

*This article contains affiliate links. CLICK HERE for my full disclosure*

1. Pull apart the napkin layers until only the top layer with the image/pattern remains. (Most commonly paper napkins are two or three-ply the layers usually come apart rather easily. I just use my fingernail to separate the layers, but I have been told that using tape on either side of the napkin pulls it apart quickly.)
2. Next, tear off the portion of the napkin that you want on your Bible journaling page and plan out where you want it to go. Working with small sections, one at a time can be easier than trying to do one giant sheet.
3. Apply a layer of clear gesso to the Bible page. I use a flat paintbrush, but you can also use a sponge or sponge brush.
4. Stick the napkin (just that top ply layer that you pulled apart) to the page while the gesso is still wet.
5. Then apply another layer of gesso on top of the napkin. I recommend working from the middle of the napkin outward.
6. Trim off any excess napkin. I like to dry my page and then trim the excess with scissors, but my friend @dotsanddust recently showed how she simply tore off the excess napkin while the gesso was still wet, so that is an option as well.

Take note: I always put a sheet of printer paper underneath the page I’m working on to protect the pages below it. But when working with gesso (or acrylic paints) you have to be sure to lift your Bible page from that paper occasionally while creating to be sure the pages don’t stick together. They can be hard to get apart without damage if they dry together.

Supplies Used

*This article contains affiliate links. CLICK HERE for my full disclosure*

ESV Double Column Journaling Bible

Napkin (I got mine at Walmart. I couldn’t find the same one online, unfortunately, and other similar napkins online were way over-priced IMO. I suggest having fun looking for napkins! The options truly are endless and you can do so much more than just a Thanksgiving page like my example!)

Clear Gesso

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen

Craft Heat Gun

Large Flat Paintbrush (Link is for a set of paintbrushes that I like, you can also use a sponge or sponge brush. You don’t need anything fancy.)

Other Helpful Tutorials

• Bible Journaling With Napkins Tutorial
• Watercolor Citrus Tutorial– On the backside of this page
• Eight Must-Have Bible Journaling Supplies
• Brush Pen Calligraphy Basics
• Brush Pen Calligraphy- Bounce Lettering
• Faux Calligraphy Tutorial- Three Simple Steps To Beautiful Hand Lettering
• 10 Simple Hand-Lettering Styles (Plus a free cheat sheet)