Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)
Tags:One of the easiest ways I have found to add journaling to my projects is to incorporate products that include lines just waiting for words. They invite words.
[ Or I can always just pull out the pen + ruler and get those lines on there myself. Whatever is least complicated at the moment tends to be my choice. ]
Here's a look at some of my favorite products that showcase the simple beauty of lines:
Karen Russell Narratives Scalloped Lined Paper : Probably one of my all time favorite lined papers (next to the old Making Memories Ledger paper). I love that bit of scallop around the edge.
Technique Tuesday's Storyteller's Ledger Stamp : A great stamp for jotting down information and telling bits of a story on layouts, cards, minibooks, etc. Completely versatile.
Luxe Simple Lined Double-Sided Paper : Quickly becoming a favorite, this lined paper is a part of Luxe's Simply Luxe line (essentially lines + dots). Check out the grid, ledger, and pinstriped verisions as well.
Mug Memo Notebook from Fishs Eddy : This mug inspired the line theme this week. Such a happy mug. And watch out for lots of other cool things in this shop. Check out the other memo/line-inspired mugs and trays here.
In addition to Three Things today I am exicted to offer a giveaway of my first collection of layered templates and brushes from Designer Digitals. Leave a comment below with your favorite tip for getting words down on your projects (and not leaving them blank for a "someday-down-the-road-I-will-add-the-journaling"). A winner will be drawn at 5pm Pacific on Wednesday.
[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]

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682 comments
Hi Ali,
To capture my journaling, I jot down thoughts while putting the layout together, and then once it's finished I journal.
Post-its definately come in handy for those quick layouts, when you know you are gonna get right back to them and do your full journaling.
Happy Summer!
~Anne
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When I am selecting my photos I write down my journaling and title ideas first and then go from there!
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My simple tip is simply... don't put it off. Get the words down asap. When I procrastinate on the journaling, I often lack that initial inspiration that drove me to create the page in the first place.
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Ohhh Id love love loooooove to win! :)
I am a note jotter, writing on EVERYTING, I make marks in margins, take notes from movies, write down lyrics, am forever the friend that sends the MOST post! I love it! I jot EVERYWHERE and would looooooove to have just a little more structure. to keep it simple! :) I love love love!
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I love to scrap about the picture that talks to me. Then i know just what i need to journal about.
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My pen and I are good friends. I have overcome the "journal it later" option and am loving it. Very freeing!
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My tip for journaling - JUST DO IT! Do it now, don't put it off. Don't worry about it being perfect or typed, grab a pen and go.
I LOVE this giveaway. I am a first grade teacher and I am obsessed with handwriting lines. Use them all the time and even draw my own.
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My tip is a solution of space for journaling. I sometimes design a layout and get so caught up in the design I fail to leave room for journaling. Or sometimes I use so many photos on a page I don't have room or I might just like the look of a layout without the journaling. At those times, I add the story tucked in behind something with a little tab so that it can be pulled out.
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Since the stories behind the photos are the most important part of scrapbooking to me, I almost always begin a layout or project by doing my journaling. Then I have a good idea of how much space I need in order to tell the story and whether the journaling will be a large block or whether the story can be told in small captions or through some other element of the design. So naturally, using the words as the starting point means I never end up with blank spots to be filled in later!
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For me, I definitely have to have the words first, then find the picture to accompany the story I want to tell. I find that most of my journaling comes directly from my blog. I blog more regularly than I scrapbook, so the journaling is 'in the moment'. I can choose to handwrite and edit my blog entry for clarity... or I can format the typography in word or photoshop to give it an interesting look.
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I keep a journal where I jot things my son does or says that I want to remember. When I scrap a page, I can flip through the journal and find the text for the images. Journaling is soooo important. Maybe I say that because I've kept a journal since 7th grade. But it's frustrating to look at old pictures of my grandmother with no words to tell me what she was feeling, where she was, and all of those other juicy details that tell the story behind the image.
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Ali- I try to journal ahead of time to tell the story then fit the pictures to the story or journal right at the moment the pics go on the page- on them, around them or whereever it will fit. The words are my favorite part of any layout.
Loved meeting you at CKU (I am the loud one who made you kneel with your hands on your head). I had an absolute blast and I working on CPR.
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I'm a fan of tucked away journaling. I like to tuck the story into a library pocket or envelope. It gives me much more room to tell the story.
I am SO excited that you are going to be a designer for DD--it's my favorite digi-place to hang out.Can't wait to see what you've come up with.
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Always try to journal before the layout is considered done, I do alot of strip journalling these days, easy, can use point form or tell the full story, as well adds visual interest.
Like using word stickers to add to journalling, these days Making Memories Kraft ones are a favorite!
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Hi Ali - when I find myself stumped for journaling, I look for an appropriate quote related to the subject matter, occasion or location. That always sets my writing into action. Thanks for the giveaway.
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My advice is to journal immediately in your own handwriting... Otherwise, you'll forget what you were supposed to journal on the computer later!
Christine*
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I like to write on an index card about the event or picture or whatever so I will have it when I'm ready to scrap my photos. I have a file box with different categories (one for each child, holidays, extended family, events, etc.) where I file the index cards.
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if I want to scrap, but I don't have the time or the energy to drag out and play with my "stuff," I'll open Word and write down my stories. I love to do this at work, when I need a mental break, but can't leave my desk.
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I don't consider a page "finished" until I journal.
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Not a very big fan of journaling but when I do I use journaling stamps mostly from Cats Life press. Would love to have the ones you have. Pick me, pick me!
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