| Scrapbooking has joined the digital age. We can now | | | | of surface. Many pens will smear or run on certain |
| make complete scrapbooking pages on our | | | | types of papers. Choose a pen with the appropriate |
| computers. Even those of us who prefer traditional | | | | width as well. Trying to write in a small space with a |
| scrapbooking tend to use the computer for our | | | | wide tip will be a definite handwriting challenge. |
| journaling to print clean, neat captions and narratives on | | | | Practice, practice, practice. Write out the journaling first |
| our layouts. Handwriting on pages may not be as | | | | on a scrap piece of paper. Read it over slowly out |
| pretty as a computer font, but it is so much more | | | | loud. This will help you spot errors in spelling and |
| personal and meaningful to our families. | | | | grammar. For longer narrative writing, you may want to |
| Why do we hesitate to use our own handwriting in our | | | | have someone else proofread it for you before you |
| albums? There are a few reasons. The most | | | | place it on your page. Be sure to test the pen on a |
| common one is concern that our handwriting is too | | | | small piece of the paper you want to use. Writing a |
| messy or won't be able to be read by others. We | | | | draft will let you know how much room you need to |
| should all try to get beyond this and realize how | | | | write on as well. |
| important it is to our family to preserve something as | | | | Are you one of those people that write uphill? If you |
| unique as our handwriting. Think about those | | | | find it difficult to write in a straight line, use lined |
| handwritten letters and recipes from a grandparent | | | | journaling blocks. You can make them yourself, buy a |
| and how important they are to you now. | | | | stamp with lines designed for this purpose, or purchase |
| Another reason people resist handwriting on page | | | | pre-lined journaling papers. Another tip is to use the |
| layouts is fear that they will make a mistake that can't | | | | natural lines in your layouts. Write along stripes on |
| be erased. There are many ways to correct a | | | | patterned paper. Handwrite phrases around a frame. |
| handwriting error. First, use a paper journaling block to | | | | You can even print on the edges of your borders. |
| write on first. You can always use a second one if | | | | Handwriting is uniquely personal. It's also a form of |
| you make a mistake. You can also correct a mistake | | | | validation, like our signature. A page layout with |
| by placing a new piece of paper over the error on the | | | | handwritten journaling adds character to a scrapbook |
| page, and write again on that piece. Finally, stickers | | | | album. It's a glimpse into who you are. Your family will |
| work wonders when it comes to covering up most | | | | treasure your scrapbook pages even more, because it |
| kinds of scrapbooking mistakes. | | | | tells them about your personality and even reflects |
| The right pen makes a big difference when it comes | | | | your mood. A computer font can't add the depth and |
| to handwriting success. Look carefully at the paper | | | | emotion to your words that your handwriting can. |
| you are using, and choose the best pen for that type | | | | |