Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)

I really have a hard time adding journaling to my pages, but when I do, I like to journal around the edge of the photos. I learned that from you. Thanks!
So excited that you're going to be working with Designer Digitals. I love their "stuff".

I know if I don't get the details down right away, I forget things. So, I keep the post its on the top of my desk with my pens/markers, journaling type stamps and lined paper. I try to do the journaling right away, sometimes it's first, but at the very least, I write everything down on the post it and then put that on the page. I usually go back and get the journaling on the page in a more pleasing way, but just in case I don't, at least I have the story behind the photos!

I love to have my daughter place a handmade drawing or doodle near photos as an embellishment and then journal around them very small near her lines. It looks like shading from far away and leaves great little ideas, memories or shared info. You have to look for the secret areas on layout pages and she just loves that part. Makes her read the journaling so much more and a great way to put "Sweet Notes" to my girl for later views in our albums. Thanks for the great website... love to learn with "A"!

I am crazy about journaling and I love ledger anything! What more is there to say?

I use Cats Eye Press stamps to help me get down my thoughts. I love their stamps with lines. They provide enough space to jot down thoughts without requiring too much writing. As a mother to four, I appreciate any help I can get.

Love that mug!!
To make sure the words are always part of the story, I like to have a variety of writing and word-related items handy. Always have my favorite pens handy, and I really like the small typewriter letter stickers (from Making Memories, I think). Having some larger, interesting rubons or stickers for titles makes it easy to add key words or really focus on one word. I also have a small notebook of old-school lined paper for my go-to when I want to write more and not think about product at all. I love words, but anything that keeps it fun & interesting is even better. :)

My all time favorite is the 7 gypsies circle punch stamp. I have several variations, but always love the lined blank one the best! I wish I had more rhyme or reason, but it just makes me smile. I love it. I even brought it with me to Houston last week for my Evolution album!

It's hard for me NOT to journal on a layout before feeling that it is finished and putting it aside. I always leave a space for journaling on a LO or journal a tag and incorporate it into the LO.

Hi, I love the Heidi Swapp journalling spots, they go with any style and are so easy and you get loads in a pack! Perfect!
Love that CI Paper too,
Rachel

I ask my husband to write down his thoughts on the back of photos. When I go to scrap I always have a laugh or two at his notes (sometimes a cry) and find that his words and my memories make for easy and meaningful journalling.

I try to write from the heart. I also ask my daughters to write their feelings for layouts where they are featured.

Truly, the best strategy I (try to) put into use is to "just do it"--not to overthink it but to go with the thoughts, feelings, story that have been rattling in my head since I started thinking about the layout.
When I scrap socially, I have a hard time journaling because I usually don't have the "head time" I need...but I've found if I just get the essence down on paper I am usually pretty content with that...and if not, I can change it in my spare time! I also like to take snippets from e-mails I send or my personal blog entries...sometimes I am so thankful for those in-the-moment emotions I would have otherwise lost!
I do love a good story!

Ali, I'm just SO excited you'll be dabbling in digital elements...I'm an avid shopper of designer digitals and I think it's a fabulous partnership!
Usually I write first, and everything follows; but one time, I had a rash of pages where I didn't journal any of it. I think it was because I was scrapbooking with a group, and I can't write with the chatter that invariably happens when you get a bunch of scrapbookers together! :) So I just treated the late journaling as a project, and did all the journaling at once to catch up. I felt much better after I did that, too. :)

for me, the way to get words on paper is to start with the story and find the pictures (evidence)that made the memory real.

Hey Ali, your blog always makes my day. Winning your designs would be awesome!! I have recently started to journal everyday so i am hoping that this will make journaling in my scrapbooks easier.

I like to pre-stamp and cut out journaling spots and keep them in a jar. Then when a thought comes to me, I can journal and save it for a future page/project.

I try to ask the kids what happened and not edit the words

I like to ask my 2 sons about their memories from the picture. They usually have a different take on the day or a funny quote that I can use for the title.

I'm so excited about your relationship with Designer Digitals.

Wow 680 comments -- amazing! For me, I usually start with a story, and make a layout around the story. Not always, but mostly, prob. 99% of the time. The pictures support the story and it flows from there. I want my niece and nephew to remember the story, not just to enjoy the pictures, because the stories can be retold over and over even after the pictures fade.