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Who do you follow? The little devil on your left shoulder tempting you to put all your time on pretty products and a beautiful scrapbook page? Or the guardian angel on your right, whispering for you to focus on the story?
I used to slap that little devil off of me and follow my guardian angel, but not anymore…
Can’t have “pretty” and “trendy” pages if you have a fair amount of journaling?
Can’t tell a good story if you want to use lots of fun product and layering?
I was getting tired of always sacrificing form for function to fit my writing. We like to have it all, don’t we? And we can…
Would you like the journaling step of your scrapbooking to be easier?
Say hello to Photo Stories 2012 – a Paperclipping blog series.
Click to read more…
I’m committing to something.
I’m committing to talk more about what has become one of the most important aspects of memory-keeping for me.
I’m committing to share more about how it fits within my own system of scrapbooking and how it might fit within yours.
One year ago I shared The Most Important Word for You to Learn for the year and How You Really Can Tell All of Your Stories.
If you weren’t around here at that time, I hope you’ll read both of those linked articles. But the gist of it is that you can add your thoughts, journaling, important information to your digital photo files! They become part of the information of the photo and they’ll transfer with your photos, too.
That means that someday when you’re gone and your adult children or grandchildren are shuffling through your most important photos, they’ll have your words, too.
Above is a screen capture of a photo I took in December. To the left in the caption box is my journaling.
The other day I mentioned my curiosity to know whether any of you had started and continued documenting your photos. Here’s what Tammy said:
Just wanted to let you know that I did start adding info into the caption section of my photos (in Picasa). I haven’t kept up with it completely, but love the ones that I did. I also love that when I upload to Facebook, that info automatically becomes the caption there as well. I do still put the info into my Project Life, or traditional pages — what struck me most was when you said that there isn’t any way to know how future family members will view photos, and that the printed photo is not the only copy anymore, so you don’t have to be as worried about what you do with that one print. I figure it is possible that some of the digital files will end up in one place, and the scrapbooks may end up in another, and that is all good. Thanks for the metadata journaling tip! I’m definitely going to do more of that this year. –Tammy Brandt
I’m so happy to hear this!
If you’re curious to know more about the diverse and awesome benefits of adding your words to your photos, plus a simple way to do it, please read these two articles:
This process has transformed my thinking about scrapbooking.
Who wants to join me this year in adding our words to our photo stories?
Please leave a comment with your commitment.
I’ll do random periodic check-in’s with you to keep us remembering and feeling excited, and to help you make it mesh with your scrapbooking!
So who’s in?
I know you’ve experienced this…
You have a great page going. Then you add the journaling. And now you don’t like the page.
You probably assume your handwriting is the problem, right?
Sure, the handwriting may be part of it. But there is another cause that is just as common. In fact, if you fix this other problem, then your handwriting probably won’t affect your page, even if it is, ummm…
Okay, I’ll just say it…even if your handwriting is ugly.
Not everybody can make their handwriting gorgeous. But everybody can learn to fix that other most common problem that takes a page from fabulous to not-fabulous, and mask the handwriting, too.
I’ve just released a new video tutorial that explains the real problem with journaling. You’ll learn the different ways that you can make your journaling fit with your page, and even make the design better!
I hope you enjoy it!
The video is only for members. If you’re a member, you can go watch it now.
If you’re not a member yet, click here to learn about a membership.
What will it be like when you send your oldest or youngest off to college away from home? What was it like, if you’ve already done it?
Cindy Wick had designed the left side of this page with all these wonderful pictures which give a comprehensive view of the sending off of her daughter. Notice the variety of visuals –from the Motel 6 to the sub sandwiches to the shopping cart full of stuff to the goodbye’s — that will trigger very specific memories for Cindy and her daughter forever.
Once Cindy got all the photos and the fun design on her page, she realized she had a big story to tell with lots of mom-feelings to share, but not enough space. The page sat on her table while she tried to figure out what to do, and then…
A super hero of the day flew in in the form of Paperclipping Episode 173 – A Journaling Design technique!
(I realize the above statement is as un-humble as it gets! I hope you don’t mind a little bit of boasting!).
I am really proud because I read Cindy’s journaling and it’s so moving. What a shame it would have been had she decided to condense it to make it fit, or remove some photos instead!
And of course, the icing on the cake was that by using the tutorial’s idea she was able to have fun and share her own feelings of pride and celebration for her daughter through the visual design and all the wonderful little details.
Turns out you really can have it all!
Doesn’t her design show celebration and growth all at once?
So I wanted to share it with you.
Cindy said some pretty great things about her Paperclipping Memberhsip, too, and I hope it’s okay for me to be a proud mama of my videos and quote some of what she said:
While I’m at it, I should say that I am a member of paperclipping and I really have gotten so much out of my membership. I consider myself a decent page designer, but I still learn new things from Noell all the time! She has a way of introducing things in a new and fresh way ~ it always gets me thinking creatively.
That’s probably because her way of teaching design is to get you to think of design principles as flexible, instead of using more concrete methods…Her videos are SO different, creative, and well thought out, I’ll probably be a fan for life.
(Thanks so much, Cindy!).
Okay, gushing moment over.
If you haven’t read Cindy’s journaling yet, please do! It’s an awesome example of how to share your own wonderful human emotional stories!
To see a larger version, click here to see her blog post, then click on the layout itself.
Want to see what all the hubbub around the Paperclipping videos is about?
(Did I just say hubbub?).
Click here to find out and maybe you’ll get the solutions you need to your scrapbooking dilemmas! >> http://www.paperclipping.com/membership
Do you ever have stories that require lots of journaling, but your idea for a page doesn’t leave you enough room?
This happens to me all the time. I’m a journaler. And I love the artistic part of scrapbooking, too.
It suddenly occurred to me one day that we can mix the two more easily with one simple solution: Combine a 12×12 page with a 6×12 page, which is what you see above.
I feel so free now! I no longer have to expand my layout to a full two-page 24×12 inch spreads whenever I have a few pictures, a fun idea, and too much to say!
It all started with this layout…
I wanted to compare my childhood swing sets with current ones. I had four photos and the story. Plus I wanted to give an explanation for each photo.
I really didn’t need two 12×12 pages, but a single just wasn’t going to cut it, even with the simple clean design.
Suddenly it became my easy fix, even for more artistic and free layouts…
I decided to design this first as a single page that could stand alone.
And then I designed the journaling portion to work with it. The balance of the design works either way! I get to share it as a single page or a double, depending on the situation. And, in fact, I’ve already shared it both ways for various reasons.
All you need are 6×12 page protectors. I use American Crafts.
Here is a closeup of the front and back of my journaled page for the top layout:
In this week’s episode for the members I show how to make this journaled tag page, along with my tips for easier journal strips.
You can watch this episode and many, many more videos right now when you sign up for your Paperclipping Membership! Click here to learn more!
Turns out today is the last day of the world. So I thought I’d provide you with a list of “Lasts” prompts for a page about yourself. Better hurry if you’re a slow scrapbooker!.
You can also print it up and give it to each of your family members for a fun little mini-book. Or, perhaps you’re having a Last Day of the World party tonight? You can give the list to each of your guests for a fun activity!
(Why didn’t I think of that before?)
Along with my own answers.
Check these out…
Scrapbook About Yourself: 47 Journal Prompts
Scrapbooking About Yourself
Did you know that when you sign up for a Paperclipping Membership, you’ll get instant access to almost 170 scrapbooking video tutorials, plus two more every month? Find out more here!
Sometimes I just write a quick journal note into my photo metatadata, but then write something different for the actual scrapbook layout. More and more, though, I find myself really thinking through my journaling while on my computer, as if I were scrapbooking. Then my journaling is ready for me to use on a page when I sit down to scrap if I choose to.
This way, I capture my thoughts and feelings ahead of time so I don’t forget. But it also makes it easy for me to print my journaling without breaking my paper-crafting flow because I’ve already typed it.
Here’s an example of what I did last Monday with photos from the weekend:
Trinity’s First Dance Competition
Preparing for Trinity’s first competition.
With six dances, I wanted to be sure Trinity had everything organized so she wouldn’t have to worry about what she needed next. I put her costumes in order, tucked the accessories in one of her costume hats, put the shoes in a small bag, and her hair and makeup pieces in a pocket. Last, I added a checklist of all her numbers and important items.
We were all so excited, including Trinity herself. We were so proud of how hard she worked and how amazing she was.
I love watching her dance — she is such a joy. But I also enjoyed the mother-daughter bonding that developed from having spent an entire day with her: watching her dance numbers and feeling so, so proud; running back after the first few to make sure she didn’t need my help with her hair changes; scrounging up change for the vending machines when we realized there would be no break for food, and helping her make the best possible decisions from the unhealthy options in order to sustain her energy.
This day made my Top Favorite Mom Memories list.
I don’t think I found the words to accurately express the level of emotion that I feel about this day with Trinity. I hope I’ll be able to use design to make up for what is lacking in my words.
Photos + Journaling in the Metadata
Blake got Izzy’s old iPhone around the end of summer. He’s on it a lot, mostly texting, I think. It’s still a surprise to get a text from Blake and I love it, even if it’s just a quick mundane note that I need to pick him up.
While Blake blasted music from his iPhone in the kitchen to do dishes, Aiden and Trinity got out a few costumes and played around the living room.
David and Danny spent a few days at our house while their parents (Uncle Russ and Aunt Nuria) were in Asia. The kids took a walk to Basha’s to buy snacks for themselves with their own money.
This is a regular trek that the kids do on their own, with their friends, and with their cousins whenever they stay with us.
They’re on Cheshire, the road behind our house.
This morning I saw I had a message from the owner of the dance studio. We’been adjusting to the chaotic life, constantly changing schedule, information overload, and overall demands of Trinity being on the company team. I was worried she needed to have a talk with me about the rehearsal we accidentally missed on Saturday because we’re still learning how to get it all organized.
But when I listened to her message, she said, “I’m calling about an opportunity for Trinity and I want to give you December to think about it.”
When I called her she began explaining the group of dancers called Power Elite that are even more serious than the overall ranks of the Company dancers.
“There are those few dancers that can’t get enough dancing,” Tina told me. “They want to be at the studio all the time. They want to be dancing every day.”
That’s Trinity, I thought. Trinity is a true dancer, all the way to her core.
“It’s hard on the families,” Tina continued.
And I knew that, too. Right now Trinity dances between 6.5 to 8.5 hours a week, and more the week of recital. She is at the studio 4-5 days a week.
The first couple of years Trinity’s teacher urged us to let her audition for Company, we were positive we couldn’t handle the schedule. When we finally did it this summer, and she got in, we realized we could make it work.
She works hard and slow on her homework (the curse of a perfectionist), and sometimes she’s up late working on it, but she gets it done. The dishes are another story, and we realized we have to rearrange her responsibilties around the house because she just can’t get them done on her long dance days, no matter how hard she tries.
That’s why I thought, “maybe next year,” when Tina said she wanted Trinity on the elite team, despite my exhilarated and racing heart. It would require another two hours of dancing on Wednesdays and two hour every Saturday. We would take her out of her extra tap class, and possibly her extra jazz class as well.
“I’ve been watching Trinity,” Tina said. When she first joined Company in August, she definitely wasn’t ready for it yet. She didn’t have quite the confidence in all of the styles.”
No, she didn’t. Trinity had only ever taken ballet until she made company last August. Suddenly she was thrown into tap, jazz, lyrical, and a little bit of hip-hop. But she progressed fast! I kept hearing about it whenever I went into the studio.
Tina continued to explain, “But I’ve been watching her again — watching her dance next to two of the Elite girls I saw that she was right there with them! She’s got that confidence and the ability.”
She also has the passion.
I told her I would talk to my husband, but we’re still trying to adjust to Company life — we might need to wait until the next opportunity.
When is it all too much? Trinity would have an off-balance life. But as I thought about it, I realized some people need off-balance lives. Some people can do that — can specialize in one thing, throw their life into one passion. Those are the people who become truly great at what they do.
As soon as I told Izzy about the invitation, he jumped on it. He was ready to shuffle everything around for Trinity to be able to take the opportunity.
So we asked her. And she was giddy all day about it. So was I. And when we walked into the studio that evening and told both of the Tina’s — the owner and the dance manager — they acted giddy about it, too.
I’m so proud of that girl. So happy for her.
Just a quick note to newer readers around here — I have two articles you can read about the simplest possible way to attach the stories and details of your original photo files. That way you can write the stories down immediately, share them (attached automatically!) with others, have them permanently linked to your pictures so you never have to go looking. You can read the articles here:
The Most Important Word for you to Learn This Year
How You Really Can Tell ALL of Your Stories