Journaling on pages

The other day over at PersonalScrapper.com one of the message board members posed a question about journaling. She asked, "The thing I struggle with most when I do lo's is the journaling. I never seem to know what to write. I don't want it to sound cheesy or contrived.

How do you all approach your journaling? Do you do lots, just a little bit, mix it up? Up to now, I haven't done much, but I'd like to start doing more and I'm not sure what to even say!!"

I love journaling, and aside from the pictures this is my favorite part of the page. I do most of my journaling like I am either writing in my journal, writing a letter to someone (but without the salutations), or telling a story. For examples, in layouts about myself or a family activity I write like I am recording it in my journal. When doing pages in my daughter's album I write the journaling to her, using words like 'you'. And if it is a layout about something going on or a layout I am making for someone else I try to tell a story and include many details so that when they look back they get the whole picture.

I know that many people struggle with journaling because they aren't sure how it will look. For this I will refer to a tip I learned from Heidi Swapp in a class I took from her. Heidi is a huge supporter of using your own handwriting, but understands that not everyone likes their handwriting, so she says to always try it out in pencil first. I personally like my handwriting and don't really care if I make spelling mistakes because I am a bad speller and than is just a part of who I am, so I don't do this, but if neatness and correctness are important to you, try using pencil first.

Another thing that I think helps with my journaling is keeping cute journaling supplies together and close to me when I am creating a page. I have all of my pens of many colors together, a few sets of Heidi Swapp journaling spots and writers blocks, some random sizes of white cardstock cut up, some tags and cards ready-made by scrapping companies, and a few journaling block stamps and rub-ons. Having supplies ready for me to journal on makes it easier to do, and even if I make mistakes it isn't permanent on the page yet so I can start over.

No matter what you do though, there is no wrong way to journal. Sometimes a quote works best and other times a title says it all. Just try a few things out and see what works for you. It takes some time to find your voice and to write directly onto a layout, hopefully using some of the tips I listed above will help move many of you to this point.

If any of you out there have journaling tips, please list them in the comments section. THANKS!

I also went searching in the archives of Simple Scrapbook Magazine for some articles about journaling, so if you are interested check them out.

Write from the Heart Two-Minuter Memories

Tips for Improving your Handwriting Journal in your own Handwriting

Just the Facts No Photos? (No Problem!)

My Favorite Album: Family Quizzes (this is an article about my own album!)

10 Minute Journaling