Make Your Scrapbooking Pages Personal: Use Your Own Handwriting | Arts and Crafts

By ChristinePerry
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The digital age has even affected the scrapbooking hobby. Digital scrapbooking software lets us make entire page layouts on our computers. Traditional scrapbookers who may like the more tactile materials on their pages still like the neatness of computer fonts for their journaling.

A computer font may be prettier than handwriting. However, it lacks the personal touch and meaning of our handwriting when our families view our pages.

Why don't we use our own handwriting on our scrapbooking pages more often? We all have different reasons. You might be concerned with how messy your handwriting is or that others may not be able to read it. Remember those recipes written by a grandparent or handwritten letters from a loved one? Those are more meaningful to you now because they are personal and unique. Your family will feel the same way about your handwriting in your scrapbooks.

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 choice is crucial to successful handwriting on your scrapbooking pages. The type of paper you are using determines the best pen choice. Many pens are not meant for slick or glossy papers and will smear. Others don't work well on porous papers and will run. Check the width of the pen. Wide tips pens work best on large journaling areas.

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.

No two people have the same handwriting. It is unique and personal. Like a signature, it is a form of validation. Handwritten journaling on a scrapbooking page adds character to your albums. It tells your family who you are, what your mood is and is a glimpse into your personality. Your family will treasure your pages when they see you have preserved such a personal side of yourself. A digital computer font lacks the depth and emotion that handwriting your words can have.

About the Author

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

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