Journaling Question

RitaFaye94

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
186
Working on my first 12x12 album and have a question about journaling. My first album was small - 5 x 7 - so I didn't have room for much journaling - only some photo captions, so having all of this space on a page is a bit intimidating!

Do you usually scrap the page then find a space for your journaling & make it fit to the page, or make the page fit to the journaling? I'm going to do a combination of both typed out (the day's stories) and hand written (picture captions, going around shapes, etc.)

Thanks for the input!
 
I would say I mix it up, depending on the layout. For example, I might have a two-page spread with one journalling box in the layout. Then I might go 2 more pages with just hand-written captions, or bullet point type info. I try to include one major journaling box in the layout for each day at the park, with a synopsis of what happened that day. (ie, Day 1...Magic Kingdom! Blah Blah Blah about Magic Kingdom and the best parts of the day and the fact DS got pinched on the cheek by Jasmine, then turned to me and said, "She is very beautiful, Mommy."

Then I might throw in a few more, planned into the layouts of other pages, for DS's favorite ride, or something I wanted to remember about that day. But I don't plan a journaling spot for every page. That's just me, though!

What's important is that you are happy with it and it tells your story :)
 
First off, it's ok to leave empty space on a page - so I only say what I need to say, however much room it takes.

That being said, sometimes, I have so much to say that I have to add a little "book" to the page with a story in it. (I cut a slit in the page protector, insert the back page through the slit and adhere it to the page).

Occasionally, especially if I've written a trip report, the typed pages go in document protectors inserted in the album between the relevant pages or all together in the front.

Sometimes, if there's not much to say, I lay the photos out, shuffle them around and then figure out what's left. Either typed, formated to fit, or hand written into the space.
 
I journal a lot! I never used to do this, but I find the more I do it the more I am drawn to do it. Not to mention, when I am gone, I want my album to still be able to tell the story. I do all sorts of journaling, but my most common is directly on the page (I would die without my trusty white gel pen! :goodvibes) Generally I sketch the layout including a spot for journaling. After I have the layout all done I write everything I want to journal on a scratch paper, that helps me collect my thoughts, then I transfer to the page. Here are some ideas for journaling:

Around the outside of the page
Around each of your pictures
Front and center with the pictures being the accent
In a bulleted list
In a shape
Behind each photo for more private thoughts (this can be done on a pull tab or you can make your photos have hinges)
 




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