Use Your Stash : Story Card Album

In today's Craft The Story video (episode 33) I'm sharing an easy + fun way to use your stash of journal cards to get more of your story told. 

Like many of you I have a decent sized stash of 4 inch x 6 inch journal cards. As I was recently working on organizing my card collection (see more about that below) I was thinking about ways to use them for what they were meant to be used for: holding stories.  

Let's dive right in: 

And here are some additional details on this idea: 

Heads up that in the video I mention that we don't have any of the yellow album in stock but I was wrong - you can grab one here

When I break up my Story Kits™Stories By The Month™ kits I organize my cards into three categories: 

  1. Sentiment/quote cards (no room for writing)
  2. Journal Cards: specifically designed with room for a story or specifically prompting/inviting you to tell a story
  3. Pattern cards (great for adding label stickers or embellishments on top to create homes for your words)

Want to read more about how I break up my Story Kits™? Check out this post.

Want to read more about my recent organizing adventures? Check out this post.

STORY CARD ALBUM APPROACH IDEAS

  • Make it a daily project for a certain time period. Try a week or a month. 
  • Add a stack of 4x6 or 3x4 cards to your bag and pull one out when you have a few minutes of waiting (a great alternative to picking up your phone) and grab a pen and simply respond to a few of the cards. 
  • Grab a few cards and put them at your bedside table and write a bit before you go to bed or first thing when you wake up. 
  • Invite your family to participate by responding to one of the cards. 
  • I also love the idea of having this album out somewhere in your house where family members could grab a card and respond to one of the prompts. 

This is such a simple way to use what you have without it having to be chronological and without having to print photos (of course you can add photos if you want).

These individual cards all come together to create a bigger story of your life via words. 

Want to play along with me? Let's get some more stories told. 

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17 thoughts

  1. FL_Cindy says…
    09/17/2021

    This is a great idea, especially since I have SO many of these type of cards. Now, to find time to organize them all. 😉

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Elizabeth_Heinz says…
    09/17/2021

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea Ali. Sometimes it seems like I take so much time trying to pair photos with a story. This gives me PERMISSION to just focus on my words which is what I often want to do the most.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. nashonne says…
    09/17/2021

    Great idea! I need to break up my kits first though 🤣

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Untiedt says…
    09/17/2021

    I love this idea of using the extra cards and making it a daily practice. I'm going to create a My Stories album filled with random stories. I know what I'm doing this weekend. Thanks for inspiring me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. carolinerayman says…
    09/17/2021

    Thank you for this idea! I am literally sitting in the school car line watching this and wishing I had watched it earlier today! Not having the “perfect” photo for a story often holds me back from telling more stories. The opposite is sometimes true too, I have a great photo but think there’s “not too much to write with it”.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Jeannew says…
    09/17/2021

    Love this idea! This year, I intentionally cut back on my scrapbook subscriptions because I want to use what I have. I’ve been having fun pulling out story cards to use in my Project Life spreads (in addition to my current kits). Love the idea of just writing the stories in a story album too!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. swimfin says…
    09/17/2021

    Oh my gosh....this is such a brilliant idea. I can so picture doing this. I feel like this is a lightbulb moment for me! Thank You.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. KProffitt says…
    09/17/2021

    I love this so much!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. kimlarsand says…
    09/18/2021

    Love, love, love this idea Ali! As I watched the video I was thinking to myself "why didn't I think of this before" so thank you SO MUCH for sparking this idea. Off to dig into my stash and get started right now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. totteacher says…
    09/18/2021

    this is so simply perfect!! I will definitely do this! I think I"ll just stick 'em in my 12x12 album with all my other odd sized pages! I love the idea that there's "no pressure" to create...just... write! yes.. AND using that stack of cards! 😉 as always, thank you Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. AnnieCarignan says…
    09/19/2021

    I love this idea ! I have never thought of it. I write frequently in a journal, I could do the same with all the cards I have :) thank you :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Dawngee3 says…
    09/19/2021

    Smart idea! I love how it takes the pressure off me to have “every little thing” needed for a layout or album as a whole. I’m curious to see the ways you will use the pattern paper/filler cards with no prompts - I don’t seem to use these as much and will love to see ideas!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Jmkane25 says…
    09/20/2021

    Yep, use what you’ve invested in! I do this across all of my annual projects now - WITL, DITL, DD, OLW. Mixes things up a bit 🙌🏻 I set up an October Daily last week completely with past kit cards. Can’t wait to fill in the rest of the pockets 😁

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. PamBaldwin says…
    09/21/2021

    Oh my gosh, this is such a great idea!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. JeanetteE says…
    09/22/2021

    Yes! Already have 4 days done! So easy and a great way to use my stash.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. daslebenistbunt says…
    10/15/2021

    Yes, we should write down the stories NOW, before we forget them.
    Absolutely needed this reminder. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. SusanBowers says…
    02/09/2022

    Thank you so much for the inspiration, Ali!!! THIS is going to be my #the100dayproject for 2022.

    Reply 0 Replies

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