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 basically just don't let myself put on the page protector until I've added at least some journaling. It's still hard though - mainly because I really don't like my handwriting!
:) Becky
http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/
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I always leave room for journaling. Whether it be handwritten or a space where I can print on a piece of cardstock for later. I love to use my Autumn Leaves stamps for just the right journaling spot.
I've recently started a blog to keep track of little daily things that go on. I find that sometimes I can't always remember the day to day things that went on- just the events.
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It's hard for me to get all of my journaling down because I always have too much to say. (eek!) Working digitally is easier for me to get the words on the page, but I still don't like all of the clutter, so I'm brainstorming other ways to add journaling without making pages look messy.
Can't wait to see your new stuff.
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I hate my handwriting but I just always jot it down on anything I can add later....that way if I make a mistake I can just redo it!!
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I hate my handwriting but I just always jot it down on anything I can add later....that way if I make a mistake I can just redo it!!
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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
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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
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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I usually punch a square or circle and write my journaling on it. Thanks Ali! I'm excited about you entering the digital world!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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I love the 97% Complete ATC Cards for quick journal cards. Looking forward to your digital line.
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