Scrapropos

For many scrapbookers it’s all about the photos (and the paper, and the stickers, and whatever other supplies we can get our hands on). After all, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, right? But years from now when a distant relative is looking at these great pictures on wonderfully decorated pages but has no idea who is in the picture, what they’re doing, and where they’re at then I guess that picture isn’t speaking so well anymore. This is why journaling is so very important.

Journaling tells the story of your pictures. It is the who, what, when, where and why. For many scrapbookers that I talk to, it is their least favorite part of scrapbooking. Perhaps they are too worried that they will be judged by the words they put down. What you need to remember is this is a scrapbook, a record of your memories, and not a novel that you hope to win a Pulitzer Prize for.

If you are truly struggling with what to write on a page then just stick to the basics. Tell who is in the picture, what they are doing, when the picture was taken, where the people in the picture were and why. I love using journaling strips, especially in situations where I don’t have a lot to say. Simply cut strips of paper that coordinate with your layout and answer those easy questions.

In the layout below I’ve used coordinating paper to jot down my journaling. A fast and simple process to get that journaling done.

If you’re not crazy about using your own handwriting for your journaling then go ahead and type out your journaling, using larger spacing so that you can cut your sentences into strips. This is how I’ve journaled in the layout below. I used inking on the edges of the journaling strips to make them stand out.

Another simple journaling technique is to make lists, and journaling strips work great for this. For example if your layout is about making Christmas Cookies your journaling can be the numbered steps that match your pictures. Or if you have some great pictures of your kids but no real stories to go with them then make a top ten list on what they’re into at this age. In the layout below of my daughter’s 2nd grade I just listed her favorites from that year.

I don’t like to walk away from a page until the journaling is finished. It’s a great habit to get into, otherwise you end up with piles of pages that are just waiting for you to journal on them. Remember, just keep it simple and tell the story of your pictures so that years from now your pictures can still “talk”.