How to Use Your Handwriting on Scrapbooking Pages

Scrapbooking has joined the digital age.  We can now make complete scrapbooking pages on our computers. Even those of us who prefer traditional scrapbooking tend to use the computer for our journaling to print clean, neat captions and narratives on our layouts.

Your handwriting may not be as neat as a printed journaling block from a computer.  Yet, your families will find it so much more meaningful and personal than anything typed.

Why do we hesitate to use our own handwriting in our albums?  There are a few reasons.  The most common one is concern that our handwriting is too messy or won’t be able to be  read by others.  We should all try to get beyond this and realize how important it is to our family to preserve something as unique as our handwriting.  Think about those handwritten letters and recipes from a grandparent and how important they are to you now.

Another reason people resist handwriting on page layouts is fear that they will make a mistake that can’t be erased.  There are many ways to correct a handwriting error.  First, use a paper journaling block to write on first. You can always use a second one if you make a mistake.  You can also correct a mistake by placing a new piece of paper over the error on the page, and write again on that piece.  Finally, stickers work wonders when it comes to covering up most kinds of scrapbooking mistakes.

The right pen makes a big difference when it comes to handwriting success. Look carefully at the paper you are using, and choose the best pen for that type of surface. Many pens will smear or run on certain types of papers. Choose a pen with the appropriate width as well. Trying to write in a small space with a wide tip will be a definite handwriting challenge.

Practice, practice, practice.  Write out the journaling first on a scrap piece of paper.  Read it over slowly out loud.  This will help you spot errors in spelling and grammar.  For longer narrative writing, you may want to have someone else proofread it for you before you place it on your page.  Be sure to test the pen on a small piece of the paper you want to use. Writing a draft will let you know how much room you need to write on as well.

Do you write on a slant or uphill?  Many of us find it difficult to write straight on a blank paper. Try using lined journaling blocks.  These are available in your local scrapbooking stores or you can make them yourself with lined stamps or with a ruler and pen.  Try using the natural lines on your patterned papers.  Write with the stripes on your paper as your guide. Frames can be accented by printing along the edges.  You can even writes along the boundaries of your page borders.

There are few things as personal as our handwriting.  Handwriting is unique.  Like our signature, it is a statement of who we are.  When you use your handwriting on your page layouts it adds character to your scrapbooks.  It will tell your family and anyone who looks at your albums about your mood and your personality.  Your family is sure to treasure your scrapbooks even more.  Let your handwriting add depth and emotion to your pages, not a computer font.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has more than 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more beginner scrapbooking and information on Mother’s Day cards for scrapbooking.