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
I recently switched to mostly digital scrapbooking, and this is what has encouraged my journaling. I have found that I "just do it" with more regularity than I did with paper scrapbooking.
Would love to try out your new products!
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I created a text box template as a Word document and that makes it very easy to complete a page with journaling. ~jennieb
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I like to add journaling hidden behind a photo or a folded tag. But the biggest motivator is going back thru albums that I didn't journal and trying to remember.
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I keep a magnetic tablet on the fridge for funny comments my kids say or words they mispronounce. I jot things down with a date and often build a page around those memorable quotes. Tonight I interrupted the bedtime routine to write a new one down—"Ow! Ow! It burns!" Which is what one of my eight year old boys told me when I was kissing him goodnight!
They grow up so quick. Thank goodness his twin still loves to cuddle—and admits it.
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I find it helpful to jot down on a little spiral notebook the words and things that I want to add to my scrapbook pages. When I get an idea or words come to me about something I know I'll include in my albums I write these down immediately so I won't forget.
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I find it easier to journal if I go back to the basics of Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. Sometimes I do it just like that, just jot down a few words. Other times, I'll write complete sentences.
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I admit it I am hopeless at getting the words on the page - usually if it gets done it is because i have typed the journalling on strips and cut it up and paste on i find this the easiest way to get journalling on the page, however as I take photos in raw I am now making an effort to write the journalling in a little book as i process or print the photos. . .
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I always have a notebook and couple pens in my bag and jot down the details, but journaling is easy for me so all my LO have it, hiden or in plain sight :)
I think once you get the habit going it's natural to just write little notes to yourself ;)
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I was a newspaper journalist before children, so my problem is usually what NOT to put in - takes a lot of skill to make a story short, zippy and succinct enough not to daunt the viewer! I prefer writing journalling first (typing of course because it flows better for me)as there is no restriction on length. Looking back through my albums frequently reminds me it's the journalling that adds the most to a LO.
It's all still about writing stories, only these ones are my own.
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I carry a little notebook with me and write down what inspires me. I also write myself an e-mail from work to my personal e-mail at home. If I don't write it down one way or another, I am bound to forget. Thanks!
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I love tags for journaling. And lists. And using quotes that I have written down...the sweet and funny things that my 4 girls say.
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journalling is part of my everyday..
i always have a notebook and pen in my bag!
thanks for everyday inspiration...
love and peace
xo
Susanna
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Ways to get my journaling down include having a pen sitting right next to me when I scrap or if I feel a bit lost about what to write, I call in husband and son and ask them to tell me what is happening in the photos (since most of the time the photos are about them). It is pretty cool hearing there stories rather than my own.
I can't wait to see what you come up with for DD.
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Last summer my husband and I took a great camping vacation to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Prior to the trip, I printed cards (similar to some Fontwerks stamps from last year with space for date, place, people, then lines for writing). At the end of each day (or other times--like rainy afternoons), my husband and I each wrote a journaling card about what we had experienced that day.
We captured details we would have otherwise forgotten. And heck, my husband participated in a scrapbook project! (This is very unusual in our house.) As an added bonus, the dimensions of the card provided a great starting place for making sketches for pages and a uniform feel to the whole project.
Definitely one of my best journaling strategies to date!
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I always journal in my own handwriting and I love that my daughter will see it someday!
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Journaling is hard for me. The best way I've figured out to do it is pour myself a margarita and pull out the pages. I go in spurts where I feel creative with words.
Linda
29 Palms, CA
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I have a book I write in. I freewrite in it... I just scribble what my experience of something is while it is really fresh in my mind. I summarize these writings & use it for my journaling.
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1. Write on a separate piece of paper to decrease the worry of making a mistake.
2. Just write. It doesn't have to be perfect. I would love anything my great grandparents wrote-even a grocey list.
3. Speaking of lists. They are the best. They decrease the need for perfection. Just jot down favorite memories of the day. Funniest memories, worst memories, sweetest memories... of the experience.
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I love to make travel albums from my trips, and when I do, I always keep my travel journal right beside me. It's amazing how many details and feelings I've forgotten by the time I get to scrapbooking the trip! I used to journal in my 'primary teacher' printing, and my husband always jokes that it's my computer font. Now I use my own 'real'writing because I feel that it's more personal than perfect primary printing. (Lots of P's!)
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I really love using stamps or journaling spots (like the ones from every jot & tittle! :) to get my thoughts down.
If all else fails, some hand drawn lines will do the trick as well!
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