Trading Places

As you are beginning to see, the options are endless. There is little room left for excuses as to why you can’t add journaling to your pages. Even manufacturers have taken notice of the importance of adding narrative by including journaling spots as a part of their collections. But why just use just one when you can combine several to make a unique place to add your journaling. Even better, use the negative of the sheets that your punch them from to create frames. Look at Nicole’s eye-catching sample below for inspiration.

How about creating a hybrid or digital layout where you can easily experiment with placement choices? You can create a sketch of a page and then move text boxes around to figure out what looks best. Moving in the opposite direction involves using your own handwriting on your layouts. Consider making journaling lines or just freely finding an empty space and sharing your thoughts. Handwriting adds a personal touch and makes a page more casual. Janneke and Beata show us examples of these approaches on their beautiful projects.

At Least a Million by Nicole Harper

Supplies: Paper: Studio Calico, October Afternoon, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts, October Afternoon, Flower: K & Company, Journaling Spots: October Afternoon, Paint: Making Memories, Pen: Zig Writer. Tools: Punches: Martha Stewart, Other: sandpaper.

Design Notes: The frames are actually from the October Afternoon die-cut Journaling Cards. They come on a 12x12 sheet to punch out, and I used my scissors to cut around the negative that was left to make them.

Journaling: It's funny to see how much you enjoy the library...I was the exact same way at your age. Your routine is to choose 3 new books, then bring them back ASAP & choose 3 more. As we walk into the library, you mentioned...'Mom, i like to think about how many words must be in this joint...i'll bet it's like...at LEAST a million'. :) (April 2010) xoxo

Peace by Janneke Smit

Supplies: Cardstock: Canson, Transparency Film: 3M, Buttons: Buttons Galore & More, Marker: Color Workshop (P&M Products), Other: tissue paper. Digital Supplies: Kit: Peace, Love & Happiness by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Brush: Obsidian Dawn, Font: Baby Boston, Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Design Notes: This is a hybrid page. I used a digital kit to create the background and to print out embellishments. I printed the background paper out on tissue paper for extra texture, and then adhered it to cardstock for strength. I printed the embellishments separately on cardstock. I printed the title and journaling on a transparency sheet and cut the transparency into strips. Before I printed the title, I added a drop shadow to the letters to make it look like they have some dimension.

Journaling: Peace means making friends and being good to people. Larissa Summer 2009

No Hospital by Beata Massey

Supplies: Chipboard Alphabet: Colorbok, Alphabet Stickers, Buttons: Oriental Trading Company, Glitter: Ranger, Pens: Stabilo, Other: paper, surgical tape, band-aid, dew drops, twine, cardstock, sewing machine.

Design Notes: I used real surgical tape, a sticker and a Band-aid to match the story that goes with this page.

Journaling: You were playing between the benches in the day care’s changing room when suddenly you lost your balance and fell down hitting one of the benches with your chin. It split wide open and there was a lot of blood and screaming. I decided that we had to go to the emergency room to have it stitched and that was when you started screaming, “No hospital!” I think that everybody at day care heard it. Eventually we ended up in the hospital and a nice doctor put your chin back together with special band aids. Fortunately, you didn’t need any stitches. The next day you didn’t want the kids at day care to see the cut so you asked for a Hot Wheel band aid. Nobody saw anything.