Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)

If my kids do something or I come up with an idea, I write it down in a notebook. I have several scattered through out the house, my purse and the car. Then at the end of the day or week, I type the stories I want to remember onto my computer. When I have pictures to go along with the stories I already have most of the journaling done. It is sort of like blogging but it is not posted on the web.
I am so excited that you are paring up with Designer Digitals. I can not wait to use some of your products!

Hooray! I love giveaways!
I've actually never won one, but maybe, just maybe, this is my time!

I write as I go. Now, I don't write on every single page, but most of them. Part of what helps me write is that my kids, now 18-20 & 22 love the writing the best! It's just the motivation you need to "do it".
I am totally clueless on the digital stuff, although I would like to learn.
I also do some of my journaling on the computer, but usually it's done by hand. It's quicker...and it's me! :)

Little tags or stamps that are made to journal once used. I need to puch myself to journal but it's the best way to remember... what happen or the emotions, the journey!

Wow...I love the mug! I always loved, love and will love cool mugs. That makes the whole coffee in the morning so much more fun. I usually use journaling stamps. If I don't want to use them I just draw little lines with a pencil on the paper and erase it afterwards. Have a great week!

When I get my pictures back from being printed I write down details about the pics and then put the journaling inside the picture package. When I start scrapbooking those pictures, I have a little 'cheat sheet'inside with the pictures. I also blog.

I have a word file that I add ideas for layouts and journaling into as they come to me. I used to jot things down in a notebook, but the computer is so much faster for me. I have a shortcut to the file on my desktop. I digi scrap and paste the journaling straight into layouts from the file or if it is a layout I haven't jotted anything down about, I just get it on the page as I'm adding the photos. My pages are really just photos and words so it's pretty easy.

Taking a tip from Stacy Julian, I have taken to library cards and cut up pieces of lined paper that I keep in a journaling tote. I have been able to write the stories I want to include on my pages and then I have it ready when in fact I begin to put my pages together. Now - the trick is to go back to all those other pages that are waiting for journaling ...

I don't ever create a scrapbook page without having something to say. Every picture tells a story, it's true. I always have the story formulated in my mind and use a notebook to jot it down, then transfer it to my scrapbook page. For some reason, the journaling is always the last element that I add to my page.

Since I do digital (and even on my hybrid projects), I just journal anywhere on the page - whether or not I have a dedicated spot for it. It's probably why I don't use patterned paper as much as I could, but it really gets me to make sure the words are laid down with the photos. :)

I keep a little journal in my purse, and I'll jot down thoughts, and stories that I want to scrap. It's very informal, I don't have a regular time I journal, my days are just too hectic, though I'm usually writing in the pick-up line at school :)

Hi Ali,
Thanks for all of the great inspiration. I try to jot things down or write them in my blog so when it comes time to scrapbook them, I already have something ready to be journaled. Lately I have been thinking of pages I want to make (while at work!) and typing some ideas or journaling blocks into Word.

I love lined journaling stamps. They don't give too much room for journaling which makes it less intimidating.
Exciting that you are starting to design stuff for designer digitals! Have fun with that!
Willemijn

My tip for journaling is to do it immediately. I find that whenever I think to myself "I am going to think of the perfect thing to write so I won't journal now.." I am on the road to a never-to-be-finished page. So I do not start another page until I am completely finished with the page I am working on including journaling. And what's interesting is that while my journaling is not always perfect--sometimes too wordy, sometimes not exactly the idea I hoped to convey--it is always very me and I think the journaling shows my personality more than anything else.

I love giveaways!!! I can't wait till the 15th!!!

I'm a fan of the words. So, I always start a page with both the photos and words in hand. That way I'll know how much room (or how many pages) I'll need.
For me, it's about getting them down in the first place. This starts long before the page is given life. I capture the words as they happen and through variety of ways: On sticky notes, in a spiral notebook, via my blog, and (now) via a digital recorder (in my purse for the car -- much safer than writing while driving, heh-heh). Then, I have plenty of words for my pages.
(Now, if I could just figure out a way to snap photos while driving that was a little bit safer...)
PS: Thanks for this opportunity to snag some Ali/DD goodies -- such a cool treat!

writing's the hard part and i do a combination of things. Since i mostly scrap vacations, i always have a journal and do things in the moment. For example, at a coffee shop, I'll get a napkin and ask my husband a question on the napkin (what's the best thing you did today) and he'll answer it on the napkin. I keep that and put it on the page. At hotels I always write reviews of the day on hotel stationary and then I'm done. I don't stress about misspelled words or incorrect grammar, but just go with the flow. I also have a journal and do a review after my trip in my journal, while i'm traveling back.
If I'm stuck, I will write a haiku or two or three. The structured(ness) and smallness of the haiku make it a fun challenge!

I always remind myself that whatever I DON'T write down, I will no doubt forget over time. That really inspires me to jot down all the info I have about an event, a moment, etc.
I am thrilled that you will be working withDesigner Digitals. It is (hands down) my favorite digi scrapping site.

I am so guilty of leaving the journalling and not getting back to it -- that whole perfectionist thing. I have been participating in a challenge this last week and that has got me FINISHING the layouts I'm creating for the challenge, which feels awesome. My tip would be to remember the reactions from people who take the time to READ your layouts, and how much pleasure they get from the words/fleshed-out story. Without words, in my mind, a layout is just a skeleton (or a fancy photo album page) -- it needs the story to make it live and breathe, whether the story is short or long.
Carmen.

Always journal when I do my layout...and look back at my blog to double check details or see if there's anything more to add!