Three Things : Lines (and a Designer Digitals giveaway)

My idea is to keep a journaling basket handy with everything I need in it. Ok, not so inspired, but I wanted to enter your drawing (shameless of me). Thx for your blog.

I love my clear ruler and my vanishing ink pen from American Crafts! It's the best purchase I've ever made.
Also, if I'm doing a page that journaling doesn't work, but there is a great story to go with the page, I flip the page over and journal on the back. It will give someone a nice surprise one day...

I love to add journaling! I use a lot of 7gypsies journaling cards, I stamp journaling cards using different stamps and then write on it, or I type out something on the computer and print out on the paper of my choice. I love having a story on my layouts...and just a hint - learn to LOVE YOUR OWN HANDWRITING. :-)

My girls love to help scrapbook, especially when it's their pictures. So to get words as part of the layout I have them tell me what they remember or liked most about the event portrayed in the photos. It makes the scrapbook a part of them.

I have a hard time journaling but will try to say a lot in the title. I find myself using tag stickers for journaling because the space is usually limited and I do not have to say a lot. Finding the right words for journaling is hard for me but I have been working on it.

I use 3 x 5 index cards. I keep them in my purse etc and when I am in a meeting (or an orientation like last night for the Olympic Trials) I just start writing down ideas and sketching. Sometimes I take the bound index cards and make a journal out of it for a week or two. Its all ready to go, and very portable. And the cards are lined and inexpensive.

I use either HS journaling stamps, or post notes a lot or just a lined piece of paper, inked and cut to size for my journaling! Or sometimes I'll just write onto the page around the pic :)

I find it hard to journal but I am getting better. Because I don't have large blocks of time, I generally work on a layout over several days. As I am working, I think about what I want to say. Everytime I work on the layout, I refine the journaling in my head as I work until I'm finally ready to type or write in out when the rest of the layout is done.

I always start my journaling before I begin the page. Then I just keep adding to it as I work on my page... looking at the pictures always bring back more memories!

I'm a little self-conscious about my journaling but if I make a hidden pocket, I'm more likely to put down all my impressions about the day. Love your site and the 3 things posts especially. Scrapping sites are usually about the latest & greatest - I love recommendations on the things that you've used over & over. Thanks & keep up the great work!

depends on the project. sometimes i have a notebook that i jot down the photo #s and journaling or comments.
sometimes i just do the page then do the journaling afterwards.
i love the idea of the journal jotters, either the sticky note pad or the cards. as you think of the journaling, jot them down and then add to the finshed page. simple!!
thanks for the great giveaway {and as ALWAYS~your inspiration!!}

I usually type the journaling first, but if I'm feeling stuck or not inspired, I at least do some sort of list or just words to tell the story.

Since I don't scrap...I make little mini albums...sort of scrapping. I don't like my handwriting so I type it up and then play with font and size until it will fit into my space!! Sometimes it's tiny...I have a lot to say! but always readable.
Congrats on your new partnership!

i like to do my layouts first...and while i'm in the process i think of things that happened that day and write them down on paper...then i'll proofread what i wrote then type it up on vellum or cardstock...i have to admit, there are times i forget to journal (a no-no) but i'm getting better at it...i want my grandson to know exactly what he did when the picture was taken and then when he's older he can laugh about it...LOL

That Karen Russell paper is one of my favorite scrapbooking products...one of those I've bought again and again (and every time I buy it I buy more than the last time!).
As for the journaling tip...
My favorite thing to do is incorporate my journaling as a part of the design of the layout. Maybe it's a line of journaling that also serves as an important design line, for example. The layout wouldn't look complete without the journaling.
One thing that I do for just about every layout, though, is scratch out my journaling on a scrap from my recycle bin before I start my layout. This way I know exactly what it is I want my layout to say (not just the journaling, but the entire layout) and I'm able to tell a complete story with the visuals as well as the journaling.

Ali I am so excited about you joining DD- it has been a wish of mine for a long time! As a digi scrapper I love the simplicity of getting the journaling done. My "tip" would be to just write it. Don't worry about getting it just right, just record the details and feelings - that is what your kids and others who look through your pages will really want to know!

I like to look back at the journaling I wrote about the specific day/event & use that as part of my journaling. Plus, whether I want to or not, I write something. Cause I never am interested in going back & adding the journaling later. Excited to check out the new templates & brushes!

I keep journals everywhere!! In my room, in my car, near my desk!! They have everything from funny conversations I hear my kids having to everyday things I want to remember. That definitely helps me with my journaling. And I have to say that I'm SO excited that you're the newest designer with DD!!

I love all that lined paper for journaling and all sorts of things on my pages. I guess that it's a teacher thing. I am sooooooooooooo excited that you are selling at DD! I wondered how long we'd have to wait for the FABO Ali to come to the "dark side" of digital designing.

I actually started a blog on Two Peas, and I try to put down the little stories of the "everyday" things that happen that I'll forget later on. I can remember better the stories from the big events-but the little moments seem to get lost.
I've also put a notebook in my purse to help jot down memories, and invested in a digital voice recorder as well. My new MP3 player I got for christmas also voice records, so I try to put down the quick sayings in there as well...

I'm a sucker for the "words" part of scrapbooking. The words are usually the first thing I work on.
Although I usually prefer simple blocks of text, I will sometimes use my journaling as a border. I'll write around photos, around accents, even around the edge of the page. I get a kick out of watching people tilt their heads and/or the layout to read it all.

The best way for me to make sure that I have journaling on my page is to start with the journaling before I begin with the 'fun' stuff. And the fastest way for me is to just print the story from my blog!

i try to write down the first thoughts that come to mind. normally they are the most sincere and heartfelt. also, i try to think how cool it would be to read my grandmothers words at my age and try to think forward. someday someone will appreciate fully the time i've put into this now.

Cute products! I love Cosmo Cricket journaling tags. My signature scrap style, is that I use song lyrics to express my sentiments, and a lot of the times, they say it better than i could! I just scrapped an old pic of my northern cal family and I in San Francisco in the eighties. I was a full on Madonna wannabe, so I titled it "Lucky Star", and the journaling said "You must be my Lucky Star, cuz you shine on me wherever you are" representing how much i miss them, but they are always with me in my heart! Great post!

I carry a little notepad (and my camera) in my purse for such occasions. I can write out the details and capture that special moment right there. Sometimes, I even take the page out of the notebook and put it right on the scrapbook page I'm creating.