| Many people like to add words to their | | | | album is for and what information you want to |
| scrapbooks. Words help to tell the story behind | | | | add with your photos that will determine how |
| the picture. There are several ways to add words | | | | much journaling you'll do. |
| to your scrapbook pages. | | | | If your children are young, or your grandchildren |
| One way to journal is through premade words | | | | are young, it's fun to ask them to write |
| and phrases. You can find stickers, diecuts and | | | | something each year and include that in the album |
| word cutouts, all with different phrases. You can | | | | so they can see their writing as they grow up. |
| also use alphabet sets to create words on your | | | | Sometimes, if I have a lot to say, I'll type it on |
| pages. One page I did has my daughter's four high | | | | acid free paper and then cut out what I've typed |
| school pictures, one from each year. Down the | | | | and add it to the page. Typed words will allow me |
| middle of the page I put the letters DPHS. In 50 | | | | to say a lot more than if I write the words. |
| years, when she looks at the page, she'll know | | | | Often, we want to include a photo or article from |
| those 4 pictures were her four high school | | | | a newspaper on our scrapbook pages. My |
| pictures. | | | | suggestion is to copy the article onto acid free |
| Other folks enjoy writing in their albums. If you | | | | paper, as the newspaper will yellow and crack |
| are going to write on the pages, choose an ink | | | | with time. One friend has a son who was on the |
| color that matches the color theme of your page. | | | | high school football game during his 4 years in high |
| You can write directly on the pages, or you can | | | | school. He was often written up in the newspaper. |
| write on paper and then attach the paper right to | | | | She copied every picture and story written about |
| your scrapbook page. | | | | him and he now shares those stories with his own |
| How much, or how little you journal is completely | | | | son. |
| up to you. In some cases, I just wanted a year | | | | Another technique I use with journaling to cut |
| attached to my pages, so that my kids would | | | | shapes; ovals, hearts etc. and then journal on |
| have a general idea of how old they were at the | | | | those pieces of paper and then attach to my |
| time. In other cases I wanted a city name or | | | | scrapbook page. |
| building name to remind me of where I took the | | | | If you are making a scrapbook for a friend, it can |
| picture. In yet other instances I wanted to put | | | | be fun to share your thoughts, versus just telling |
| people's names and a little bit about the people in | | | | a story. For example, maybe you and a friend |
| the pictures. | | | | had a girl's night out and took some photos. You |
| I know some folks who included song lyrics or | | | | can share "I remember how much we laughed |
| poems with their photos. They believe the song | | | | and laughed this night. My stomach hurt from us |
| lyrics or poem truly tell the story of the photos | | | | laughing so much". This shares not only photos but |
| on that particular page. | | | | you are also sharing yourself with your friend. |
| I have several photos of my own grandmother. | | | | Acid free index cards are great for journaling. |
| On page one, I have just one photo of her, and | | | | They are just the right size to write on and then |
| then a lot of journaling, speaking of where she | | | | attach to your scrapbooking pages. |
| was born, what year she was born, where she | | | | There is no right or wrong way to journal. The |
| grew up etc. On other pages, I put many photos | | | | key is to have something in words to help tell the |
| of her, with very little journaling. It really depends | | | | story of your photo. |
| on why you are making the album, who the | | | | |