Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)

I love all the journaling product out there too. The lined paper and office supply lines are just perfect. I'm finally getting into making sure to journal and a page doesn't seem complete to me anymore unless the story is being told. So Thanks!

"Just do it" seems to be the perfect hint :). Unfortunately I'm not the notebook type of girl, mostly I hope the pics inspire me to tell the story. I mix handwriting and computer printing, but have to admit, I should write more than I do.
Thank you for your inspiration!
Anne

i just write and write... oh and also i put dates on the back of pics i get from the lab staright away so its there when i need it, no need to go looking

Before I work on a layout, I write a little story about the pictures that I am going to work on. That way, I can make the words a priority instead of just an afterthought.
I also started a blog to record these moments. It really helps just being able to pull these stories off the computer. Now I have a "fresher" take on the stories I want to tell.

When I first started scrapbooking I didn't journal at all. Then I noticed in all the scrapbook mags the lo's were more complete because of the journaling. Mine were just matted pics on pretty paper with a few stickers no story or memory most of the time not even a date.
So I started to print my journaling and add it to the lo's. Mostly just the date, what was going on in the pics no real substance.
I have always kept a journal with me @ all times. So when my tinies started getting old enough to talk & really interact through conversations I had to start writing them down.
Now my pages are more complete with the pics & the story or the funny qoute one came up with. I am no longer afraid of my own handwriting especially with products like these 3 yummy things.
Tip: When we went to Disney I had a journal with me. So when we stood in the lines waiting for the rides I'd journal. I journaled in the A.M. when I got up & had coffee on the balcony while watching the animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'd journal on the bus rides to & from the parks. I journaled on the plane ride home.
The result was a 2 vol. scrapbook which we are able to re-live that fabulous family vacation.

I'm alot like you! I love anything lined that invites journaling and even make a point of letting my LSS know to put aside new items for me that come in with lines. They know I love my journaling!

I tend to ramble so my favorite thing to do is keep a journaling book and when I'm ready to do my lo I'll pull out the most important things I'd like the 'viewer' to remember. Then, I tear out the journaling page and either tuck it inside a pocket on the page.... or hide it behind the page entirely. That way everyone isn't bored with my rambling but I'll cherish the memories on down the road.

I love to cut out my words with my cricut, or stamp lines ala your technique Tuesday stamps. Sometimes I even journal around the photo with a thicker pen. It just depends on my mood. I do have some Making Memory journaling blocks that I haven't used yet. Hmm...Maybe I need to dig those out! LOL. Thanks!

Keep a pad and pencil by your bed and jot down ideas that keep you awake or wake you up. Emily

I use paper strips and short descriptive sentences. I find it's easier than trying to write a whole paragraph or story.

Variety is what helps me, i get bored with just one thing. Someimes it's journling blocks or paper, sometimes handwriting and sometimes printing something on the computer. I believe journaling is the most important part of scrapbooking, it is our family history!

My best advice is to try not to be afraid. It doesn't matter if what you write doesn't come out "perfect" and the best way to become a better writer is to practice. Write without thinking too much. If you're afraid of writing and making mistakes - pretend that you are only taking notes and that you are going to write "properly" later on. But then include the first thing you wrote on your layout. Writing a little something - however it turns out - is better than not doing it...! :)

LOVE THE LINES! I have to journal RIGHT THEN--no waiting allowed (or I'll never do it). I've also found that I need to handwrite it--again the waiting issue. If I "plan" to type the journaling, I don't do it.

I try to pick pictures when scrapbooking that I have some words or stories I want to add too. If I see a good photo, but don't know the message I want to convey, then I usually sit it out on my desk until something comes to me.
Thanks Ali,
Katie

I keep a journal at hand and write down asap, the thoughts that are running through my brain. Also, I love using transparencies for journaling and the empty space of my pics.

Before starting work on my doctorate I kept journals and every morning over coffee I would get up and write. Now I BLOG, it helps me keep my sanity! I also keep a notebook by the computer to write down my thoughts.

I used to think I always HAD to use the computer to get my journaling done. Now I handwrite alot of things even though I'm not crazy about my handwriting. And I've been trying to always write the date somewhere on the page.

Once I know what story I want to tell, however vague, I jot it down on scrap paper... not worrying about the grammar or spelling, just feeling the story. Then I read it outloud to try and get the feeling of how it will sound to someone else. If it SOUNDS good then I'm happy!

My suggestion is to just do it...I look at the picture and think of the all the thoughts and emotions and go with it!! My thought is will my family look at it in 5 yrs and say oh mom...you can't even spell. NO!!! If someday I am not here and all he has to remember me by is this book and thought...the last thing he hopefully will think about is my poor grammer!!! If all else fails I will have given someone a good laugh for the day.
Have a blessed day,
Tracy

My suggestion is to just do it...I look at the picture and think of the all the thoughts and emotions and go with it!! My thought is will my family look at it in 5 yrs and say oh mom...you can't even spell. NO!!! If someday I am not here and all he has to remember me by is this book and thought...the last thing he hopefully will think about is my poor grammer!!! If all else fails I will have given someone a good laugh for the day.
Have a blessed day,
Tracy

Can I just say that first of all I am just blown away by 568 comments that you have so far. WOW!
I am a mom of 1 little sweet boy who is 3 and I'm realizing how more and more it is important to journal all the little things he says and does. Sometimes I'm not even sure what to write, thinking I've got make it sort of long...but I so see that journaling can also just be a few words that just come in mind when you look at your page, or if I can say photo. Photos speak volumes and I think it's good to remember that there are more words than you think that can make up a page. So my favorite tip would be just look at your photo and let your imagination flow with whatever word or words you have to say...don't be afraid what others might think of your words. What matters is that it just expresses your creativity!

My words will just spill out onto the paper. I worry about grammar and spelling and formatting once I get what I want down. It needs to be real and true and be like Im talking it. Then I go back and work out where it goes, correct the spelling and somewhat correct the grammar, but bearing in mind I want it to sound like me talking... and well I don't often talk using full stops and commas, LOL.

I journal as I complete the page. This is easiest for me. Lots of great tips though. And I always try to write the date somewhere on the page.

I seem to do best when I can just jot things down in my own handwriting - it's fast and I like that it gives things a hand-made vibe. I too love lined papers and stamps and your famous trick... writing around the perimeter of the photo or the page!
Thanks, Ali!
A.

I love all these things with lines - even as a kid I worked in an office supply store - there's just something about them? Love that mug too!