Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)

I can't wait to see your digital products! I use your font all the time on my digi layouts! For me a good way for me to journal is to use little journaling cards.
Melissa

I *TRY* to write down my thoughts/story when I get my pics back from developing...that way when I scrap them I have no excuse to put it aside and journal later. Because more often than not, it's easy to do.
Liz T
NC

Journaling is usually difficult for me...can't seem to say what I'm feeling or thinking. I usually "brainstorm" by jotting down my thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper and then let is marinate for a few days in my head. If I don't have that kind of time, then I just force myself to write anyway!

I start by deciding which story I want to tell with the photos. Is it a story about the event... or a character trait I want to remember ... or even a funny story? If I know the direction before I create the LO I plan my journaling into the design and I don't declare the LO as "finished" until the journaling is complete on the LO.

Two things I like to do, one is write my journaling around the edge of my layout (a trick I picked up from you) and two is using the Autumn Leaves journaling stamps. I stamp several times on white cardstock and cut them out. That way whenever I'm ready to tell the story I can pull out one or more. Several grouped together looks really nice and is easy. Thanks for the giveaway.

Well, let me think...
I love office products (especially my labeler) to make spaces for me to journal, add random words. Journaling blocks and tags are great ways as well. I am in love with journaling stamps and tiny letter stamps.
And as always, I am so inspired by the way you use words on your layouts. I just want to do more after seeing your work.
<3.

I have a big planner which I use for work. But right in it -- in the middle of all the appointments and errands like "Meeting at 10" and "Buy milk" -- I also jot down things my son said, "What I learned today," a quote that moved me, or "5 things I'm grateful for today."
I also have an envelope of small scraps (some just 2 x 3 inches) on my desk. If I have A LOT to say and no space, I grab a piece and stick it right on my planner's page. (I can remove them later to stick on an actual layout. Or leave it there -- it's pretty and makes me smile.)
Basically this system works for me because my planner turns into a scrapbook of sorts: a diary of both the mundane, the wonderful, and the REAL. At the end of the year I can look back and know EXACTLY what happened in each week, even if I never have time to scrap it.
I use up my smallest leftover paper.
I turn an "ugly work tool" into something fun.
And I journal about the stuff I'd never think was "worth writing about."
Thanks for letting me share!

I gave up on "perfect handwriting". When I started scrapping I hated my handwriting, so I would leave all these journaling boxes empty, to add typed/printed journaling. Of course that never happened. Now I embrace my imperfect handwriting and write "from the gut", so to speak. Not always perfectly neat, not always perfectly thought out, proper grammar, eloquent, but darn it... the journaling is getting done.

I'm a digital scrapper, so I use some type of journal tag/label/piece of notepaper as a design element. If that doesn't fit in with the overall design of the layout, then I either journal as a block in one of the corners or around the perimeter of either the photos or the background paper. It's very rare that I don't include journaling somewhere on the page.
I also want to tell you how excited I am that you are entering the digital world! I'm looking forward to seeing your designs at DD!

Mine is so simple. Even if i don't plan to scrap that even today, i write all the details in my little scrap journal, then i can go back to it, and remember what to write even months down the road!

I usually punch a square or circle and write my journaling on it. Thanks Ali! I'm excited about you entering the digital world!

I always journal last because writing really isn't my favorite thing. :)So, I just fit it in where I can on the layout either in an area that I have stamped or on a journaling tag. I prefer to use my own handwriting.

One big thing that I have learned about journaling (and have finally accepted)is that you don't have to have a phototograph of a subject in order to create a scrapbook page about it. You can use a special memento as the focal point for the page instead of a photograph. This could be a postcard, card, handwritten note, swatch of fabric or just about anything. Then add journaling to capture the special memory.
Thanks for this fun topic!

The hardest part for me is just getting the words to come out. I started looking at who is in the picture, then type like I am talking to them, explaining to them why I took the picture, what it means to me, when we took it, and where, lastly, how much they mean to me.

I love the 97% Complete ATC Cards for quick journal cards. Looking forward to your digital line.

I always keep an index card file with all my photos. They are stored by date & event. I always jot down the main things that happened on the front index card for the group of photos/photo I'll use in a layout. Things such as: where we were, who were there, the date, feelings, etc. I never leave a page un-journaled, it's not complete in my eyes without the journaling. To me, that completes the whole page.

I totally suck at journaling. I find my main inspiration to be your blog.In the fall I will be getting my very own creative room and I plan to set up a jounaling station to keep me on track.Thanks for all your sharing.

My trick? I tend to do the journaling before everything else...although I do keep a private blog, I also keep a small journal and pen in my bag, and I jot down notes while waiting at the doctor's office, before bed, or when I get an idea. Sometimes, I make lists of page "themes" or titles of pages I would like to scrap. That way, if time is limited and if ever I need a little inspiration to get me started, I can simply refer to the list.

Ali,
Thanks for your site and all the wonderful things you inspire me to try! I'd love to see your new digital collection... so cool!

For me, its more about the story than the photos or product, so I start with what I want to say and build the rest of the LO around the journaling. That way, too, I know I always have enough room for everything I want to say!

the thing that's worked for me is to get down the journaling even before the design is made for the page.
I go through a small stack of photos and write the stories, then begin designing my layout.
love these products!

I tend to do the journaling last and forget to leave room for it, so I end up writing notes on the background paper itself. I like to write around the edges of embellishments and pictures, but I need to do a better job of planning a journaling spot.

My favorite tip on getting the words down is to add the basic necessities to journal writing: month, year, title, emotions,memorable thoughts, and what was the inspiration on take those pictures that day. I use this list helpme gather my thoughts when I am writing the bare necessities of journaling.

I was excited to see the Fish's Eddy mug on your blog! My husband and I love that store and now that I live in PA, I've had them ship things to me and they always do a great job. Everything is always packed nicely and it ships so quickly.
They have such great stuff there!

I like to write my journaling right along the edge of photo or elements. I also love journaling stamps. If I have a really important story I will often write it first and then scrap with it. This way if it takes a while to scrap the page I don't lose the story I wanted to tell.