Have you, like me, been stuck in a non-journaling rut lately? It can seem so tricky and intimidating! But journaling is important to scrapbooking, and can help those looking at your layouts understand what is going on in the pictures and who is in them.
It doesn't have to be so hard! Here are a few tips to get you in the groove with journaling:
1. Wait until later to do it.
When you start to write do you find yourself frozen with nothing but a blank stare while you struggle to come up with something to say about the layout you just created? That might be because when you create pages, you're using your right-brain activity. When you are writing, you're using your left-brain activity. It can be so hard to switch back and forth between the two! Don't stop your creative layout process when you are on a roll. Simply make a space for your journaling and come back to it later. (But don't wait too long or you will forget important details about the event or forget to do it altogether.) A good idea would be to wait until you are done with your layouts from that particular event and then go back for the journaling.
2. Use a dictionary and a thesaurus.
Sometimes it's as simple as using a particular word for your title and then putting the definition of that word under it as your journaling. It's a basic and quick way to add a bit of wording to your layout, especially for pictures that don't need a lot of explaining or details. Here is a layout I found at
A Cherry On Top for example:
Using a thesaurus is always helpful in finding more descriptive words to replace ones you might use too often (like I do!) or ones that just aren't quite cutting it.
3. Just document the facts.
You don't have to struggle to come up with a clever or witty way to describe what is happening in your photos. Simply jotting down the facts will do! A good way to make this more visually appealing is to use bullet points or strips of paper for each sentence. Don't forget to include the date and who is pictured! Here's a layout from
Simply Special Crafts for inspiration:
4. Use song lyrics, poems or quotes.
This is a wonderful "cheat" when it comes to journaling. A great source of inspiration can come from your favorite song or poem, and quotes can be perfect for capturing the feeling of a photo or event! There are plenty of resources out there available for purchase, but I find the best source is Google. ;-)
5. Do an interview.
Some of the most amusing journaling spots I've seen are interviews with the person(s) pictured. This is especially cute when it's with children! Get the "Who, What, When, Where and Why" and you can either copy it down word for word or use it as your inspiration.
6. Don't sweat it!
Scrapbooking is supposed to be a fun stress reliever, not something to worry about! If you find yourself really straining to come up with something to write down on your layout, maybe that particular page doesn't NEED any journaling. When I'm deciding what to write and I can't think of anything at all, I ask myself, "if I wasn't around to talk about this layout, would the person looking at it know what was going on? Does it need any explanation?" If a layout simply doesn't need journaling to accompany it, just let the picture do the talking. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Once the content of your journaling is decided, you'll want some creative ways to display it. I like hand written journaling best, since it gives the page a more personal feel. If you are unhappy with your handwriting, practice on some scrap paper first until you get used to it. I like to practice first just to get my spacing right. If there is just NO way you want your own handwriting on your layout, you can always type it up and print it off. This is especially handy for the longer stories you want to document. But keep in mind a loved one would be thrilled to see the personal touch of your own writing, no matter how YOU think it looks. :-)
Here are some creative ways to display your journaling:
*Use it as a border, next to or in place of a strip of patterned paper or ribbon.
*Write around a photo.
*Journal in a shape (a basic heart or circle is great, or use a more funky shape, like a child's handprint)
*Use pre-made journaling tabs, mats or stickers.
* Journal inside or around a stamped shape, or use a lined stamp made for journaling.
*Create a hidden journaling spot on a tag or scrap of paper that gets tucked into a pocket or flap. This is especially nice for mini albums that don't have a lot of room for both the photos and the journaling!
Remember, there are no mistakes in scrapbooking, just opportunities for embellishment. So if you've goofed up your writing, look at it as practice and cover it up with another piece of paper! :-)
I hope this has given you some tips and inspired you to write more on your scrapbook pages!
Click here for more great tips on journaling.
Happy Scrapping!
-Jess
