Good Journaling is Easier Than You Think!

For many scrapbookers journaling can sometimes feel like the hardest part of scrapbooking. But it doesn't have to be! At the very least, your journaling should include the who, what, when and why of your subject. In addition to these basics, the best journaling captures the emotions of the moment, the essence of personalities, or the heart of a layout's subject.

So, how can you make journaling great and easy to do at the same time? Here are some easy steps to help get past the "We had a great time" rut and create journaling to tell the stories of a lifetime.

Just write.
Allow yourself to be free with your ideas and thoughts and let them flow either on paper or on the computer. After you've accumulated these thoughts, you will have a pool of ideas to draw from.

Use adjectives and adverbs.
Colorful words make for interesting journaling. Embellish your journaling with words just like you do your scrapbook pages!

Use lists.
Make a simple top ten list of the favorite things about an event or person. Have your child list the top five things he liked about school or your family vacation. You'll be amazed at the information you can get in a simple list!

Give it your all.
Creating scrapbook pages takes a different mind set than journaling. Realize this and save your journaling until another time if you need to. Clip your notes or list of ideas for journaling to the page until you have time to finish it!

Pre-plan.
After you've developed a roll of film, date your photos and jot down your thoughts while the events are still fresh. Write the adorable quotes of your child, feelings you had, or behind the scenes stories. Capture the little things that you don't want to forget later!

As priceless as your photos may be, they can't always relay your innermost feelings, beliefs and dreams like journaling can. What a treasure your journaling will be to your future generations. Time invested in great journaling is time well spent for your family and generations to come!