Now that I have the sketches with photos all set to go I can plan out the stories for my pages. I journal in a variety of ways – sometimes I just tell about what we were doing, where we were, etc. Other times I relate a funny story or tidbit of conversation from the boys. Sometimes I write about the boys’ emotions, their development, etc.
I have always had a hard time journaling at crops. I can’t concentrate on my journaling and talk to my friends. So I have a two-pronged approach to how I journal for crops. Some of my journaling I type up ahead of time and bring with me. The rest I complete at home leaving room for the journaling somewhere on my page.
When I pre-plan my journaling, typically I use the computer. With the sketch, the photos and my list of stories I want to tell, I type up the journaling in Word. I make a note near the journaling of the number that corresponds to the sketch/photos.
One easy way to add journaling at crops is strip journaling. I type up my journaling and then set the width of the lines. I usually type the journaling with the line spacing at 1.5 – this gives me room to cut the journaling into strips later. The strips can easily be added at the crop.
materials: patterned papers (October Afternoon) + stickers (October Afternoon) + letter stickers (American Crafts) + Font (Another Typewriter)
Another way I journal for crops is block journaling. This takes a little more finessing and guessing the size you’ll need for the text box. I use text boxes in word for this.
materials: cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned papers (American Crafts) + fonts (Fling, Century Gothic) + Digital Brush (Scrap Girls)
All of my preplanned journaling is printed on inexpensive acid-free white flat cardstock from Staples. I find that printing on flat cardstock is crisper and the fact that it is inexpensive is guilt-free if I decide to wait until I get home to reprint the journaling on a different color of cardstock.
I do send some layouts to a crop without journaling. These are usually the type that just explain where we were and what we were doing. When I get home I add journal strips and/or blocks. I added the strip below after the crop.
materials: cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned papers (October Afternoon) + die cuts (October Afternoon) + stickers (October Afternoon) + button (Buttons Galore) + brad (American Crafts) + letter stickers (EK Success) + punch (Fiskars) + font (TW Cen MT)
I have always handwritten on my pages. I try to have about a third of my pages with handwriting on them. I’m not a huge fan of my own handwriting, so I probably don’t share a lot of these! I save my handwritten journaling for home after the crop. I do draw lines on my layouts with pencil before I journal. As well, I frequently use journal spots adding them at the crop and writing later. You can easily make your own journal spots or download free printable ones. I created a set for an article in Simple Scrapbooks last year. The set is still available and below is the layout I created for that article.
materials: cardstock (Bazzill) + letter stickers (American Crafts) + rub ons (American Crafts)
You can also print your journaling directly on lined journal spots. It’s a bit of a process and you’ll need a scanner and Photoshop. I posted some directions on my blog awhile back. Here is a layout using that technique.
materials: cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket) + chipboard (American Crafts) + buttons (American Crafts) + sticker (Sassafras Lass) + journal spot (Elle’s Studio) + ribbon (American Crafts)
Now that the journaling is complete, the gathering begins. Product - my favorite part! On Friday, I’ll show you how I pull product, give you a peek at how I organize my stash, and give you some easy tips on how not to bring your entire scrap room with you when you go to a crop! Be sure to check back tomorrow for another giveaway day - it's a goodie!
