Handwritten Journaling on Scrapbook Layouts - Made Easy!

HI! I am Gretchen McElveen and I am excited to be doing my first blog post here as a new member of the Creative Memories design team!

To get started, I'd like to share one of my recent layouts. I absolutely adore the Reflections line and I could not wait to make to make something with it! So I made this layout about a couple of our best friends.


Here are a few closer views of the layout...
I used Foam Squares to adhere the title block. I like how it adds some dimension to the page!


I am a big fan of these sweet paper flowers! I used the epoxy stickers from the Divine collection to add centers to the flowers. (sneak peak alert!)


I like to cut the big designs out of a piece of patterned paper and use them as an easy embellishment on a layout. The leaves below were cut out of a piece of the Reflections Designer Print Paper.

Since this is my first blog post here, I also thought it would be fun to share my favorite (and oh so simple) journaling tip. Even though I do use my computer for a lot of journaling, nothing beats the personal touch of hand-written journaling. The biggest challenge with hand-written journaling is that it is SO easy to make mistakes!! So here is my journaling tip for you: use a pencil first!

This is how I did the journaling on this page:
1. I used a ruler and a pencil to draw out the lines for my journaling first.


2. Using those lines as my guide, I wrote out all of my journaling in pencil next.


3. Then I went back over the pencil marks with a Black Dual-Tip Pen.


4. Once dry, I erased all the pencil.


This method isn't 100% mistake-free but it sure has helped me to eliminate a lot of errors. And maybe it will help you too!

Thank you for letting me share my layout with you!
Have a great day and happy scrapping!

- Gretchen

Comments

[Lois]

Loved the ideas...cutting the leaves out of the paper and the journaling time is a great one since we no longer have the journal topia. Thanks for sharing.

[Karen]

Great idea on the jounaling. I have written out the journaling on a piece of paper first then added it to my page...I will try your suggestion! Thanks for the great tips and ideas.

[Leslie G]

Great job - great pictures to go along with well-written instructions. Like the other consultant, I use the templates and practice on a separate paper so that I only end up having to erase the very light lines. I have gifted my customers white erasers in the past on NSD so that they would have a good eraser for this purpose. I use very soft bristle paint brushes to remove all the erasure left-overs.

[LinhC]

Super cute layout, Gretchen!

[C Bertram]

Love the layout! Can't wait to see more from you! :)

[Anne]

I use the same technique also. To draw lines, I use the CM templates that are already premeasured to make things a little easier.

[Donna]

Good job on your first blog, good job on your lay out and thank you for the great tip!!

[Dianna]

I like to journal on velum. I use the lines on my personal trimmer to keep my writing straight and then attach the velum to my page with frosted splits. Makes it easier for me to journal since I'm not worried about messing up my page.

[Jill McLeester]

I am a CM Consultant and I have used this journalling technique since I started scrapbooking back in 1997. I always tell people to use a pencil with very soft lead, make sure the point is not sharp, and write very softly...all to avoid indentions on the paper that will not erase away.

[Darlene Gadzala]

Hi Gretchen! I will be looking forward to more tips from you! Thank you!

[Leslie]

Great hint for writing! It's exactly what we used to do when we were hand drawing architectural drawings on mylar, back in the day before all the drafting was done on computers. :D

[Krista]

Good tips on using paper and journaling! Thank you!