Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway : Get It Scrapped, Transparent Touches, & Blue Moon Scrapbooking

I think I still struggle with this. One thing I know is I refuse to embellish a situation and I tend to keep my journaling brief.

I usually type it out first or write it in pencil, then I write on a journaling block, which then goes on my page. I learned this after I did my very first scrapbook page with Christmas pictures of my kids the following February, so of course I wrote Christmas + the current year on the page.

I find the best way to journal is to write exactly what you would say when you are explaining the photo to a good friend or family member. There is an excitement to what you are saying and you give them the facts you would like to remember.

The best tip I could give for journaling/writing is put the pen to the paper and let it flow. Don't stop - don't overanalyze - just write from the heart. It's the most authentic and will be the most appreciated down the road.

Make notes right away, on any scrap of paper available. That way if you don't have time to scrapbook the event, you will still have something to reference to take you back. It's easy to forget details. I then throw the notes in a labeled folder with the photos. When I have a few minutes, I select papers. Then when I am ready to scrapbook, I have most of what I need to jump start.

My best journaling tip is one my neighbor shared, "Stream of consciousness". Just sit and write and let it flow. I have been doing this for quite some time and find wonderful tidbits for scrapping that I wouldn't have come up with by sitting and sweating. It has been a great way to build a back log of ideas and stories.

I carry a little notebook with me everywhere (along with my camera) to capture all those important moments. Whenever I take a photo or think of something I want to capture for later I write it straight into the notebook with the date - that way everything is more or less in chronological order.

I like to take my journaling right from my blog. It's great because it's "real-time" journaling, but you can create your page at anytime!

I write goodies that I want to remember on our posted calendar and if I need more room I use the back. These are filed in a yearly folder and I use this to remember dates, events and some journaling bits for later. It is enough to at least get me started. I enjoyed reading all of the posts, really some great ideas here. Thanks for sharing these!

Also I like my kids to journal their own pages sometimes. I like being able to tell whose writing it is even without names, and seeing how it changes over time. It beats a folder full of papers from school.

My tip for writing would be to have an image, whether it be real or in your head, and describe what you see.

I'm on the Bluemoon design team so please don't enter me into the contest, I just wanted to share a journaling tip.
When I journal, I take a piece of vellum and place it over the journal spot. Then I write what I want on the vellum and make sure it fits. Since it's a little transparent I can see the lines and make adjustments before writing on the project.

I keep little journals handy to jot down notes and quotes as they happen so that I don't forget details.

When I don't know how to journal, I imagine myself showing the pictures to someone who wasn't there.... it's amazing how much more you have to tell if you do so!

It always works better when it's a more recent event so it's fresher in my mind. If there's a story behind the story, I write it out and highlight the particularly important points....I try to remember how I was feeling that day and how I feel later, when I look back at it.

I have so many ways to try and remember what I want to write. Small notebooks in my purse, coat pockets etc. Jessica's Stories in Hand to bring past memories to mind. Stacy's LOM method of index cards with color codes for US, People we love, Things and Places. I use these alot for ideas I get from other scrappers. All of these have a place in my scrapbook journaling.
Incredible give-aways today Ali!

My best tip is "be not afraid". Just do it. Just write and speak your mind. DO NOT worry about anything except getting the story down. You will thank yourself when the journaling is complete.

i keep a notebook in my purse & by my bed. in each, i write down memories & thoughts that come to my mind. this is how my pages usually start & sometimes i have to go take pictures to go with the memory. it's really a fun way to scrapbook - so much better (for me) than starting with the photos...

Start simple - write simple - pick one word and a great pen and just go for it! Also write for 5 minutes straight and you'll come up with all kinds of stuff!

The best thing you can do is keep a notebook with you!