“Journaling” can be such a difficult word for scrapbookers. It can bring fear into the hearts of even the bravest! Journaling is one of the basics of scrapbooking, including also paper, photos, embellishments. It’s all about the words on the page. Here are some of the types of journaling that can be done.

There are titles. A title can say a lot when paired with photos that speak a thousand words. It may be a focal point on the layout. Or it may just be the beginning of the story. It can be one word or several and it may stay on one page or go across the two-page layout. It can be simple and quick.

There is journaling that tells the story. This kind of journaling is typically longer than just a title. It might tell about the day the photos are about or a favorite something. It might be about a birthday or a tradition. There is any number of possibilities for the story on the layout page. It could be an entire page.

There may even be hidden journaling. Sometimes the story may be very personal. Often times, this is when hidden journaling comes in very handy. It may be a sad story or something embarrassing or even funny, but it is something that not everyone should or would read. It can be disguised behind another piece of the layout and therefore, hidden. It doesn’t have to show to everyone things that may be intended to keep secret between the creator and the reader of the scrapbook.

Some journaling is done with quotes or song lyrics. Sometimes a quote says more than a long story ever could. Many people find meaning in the lyrics of a favorite song. These can add feeling when the words may not come to mind.
Journaling may be just names and dates. Sometimes the most important thing is to document the names and dates. It is possible that the scrapbooker may not know more than that.

Another type of journaling is doodling. Words just doodled across the page, especially words that have meaning to the layout. Maybe it’s a layout about love and all the doodles say that person’s name or they convey the meaning through hearts and flowers (which technically aren’t words, but still convey meaning.) It’s possible also to just use one word multiple times, maybe a name like a High School or a special date. There are even papers that can be made like this.

Knowing these types of journaling can help make it easier to add journaling and to stop the fear too! Journaling doesn’t always have to mean a big long story on the page. Sometimes a simple title or dates and names will be just what are needed. There are several good choices. Which is for you?