Scrapbooking Your Handwriting: The Personal Touch
Scrapbooking as a hobby has changed along with the digital age. We can use digital software to create beautiful scrapbooking pages completely on our computer screens. Even the most traditional scrapbookers love the neat, professional-looking type of computer fonts for their pages.
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.
We all hesitate to use our own handwriting on our scrapbooking pages for different reasons. A few reasons are common. You might think your handwriting isn’t neat enough for others to read. Consider how your family views your handwriting. You can get beyond your concerns if you realize how much your families will value that you preserved something as personal and unique as your handwriting. Remember how important those handwritten family recipes or letters are to you now.
Are you worried that you will make a permanent mistake with your journaling? Handwriting errors aren’t difficult to correct. Try using a paper journaling block first. You can use a second one if you mess up the first. If you’ve already attached it to the page, just glue another one over it. Use other page elements to cover your errors. Stickers are a simple way to cover a handwriting mistake.
Handwriting success depends on using the right pen. You should first consider the type of paper you are using. Choose a pen designed to write on that type of surface. Some pens will run or smear on certain types of scrapbooking paper. Width is also important. Using a wide tip pen on a small square of paper is not going to be successful.
For handwriting success you need to practice. Make a draft of your journaling before you glue anything to the page. Read it to yourself and out loud. This allows you to spot any errors in spelling or grammar. Having someone else proofread your journaling is especially helpful when you have a long, narrative block of writing. Be sure to test your pen on the page you intend to use for your final journaling. Making a draft also lets you be sure your paper is large enough to handle all your journaling.
Are you one of those people that write uphill? If you find it difficult to write in a straight line, use lined journaling blocks. You can make them yourself, buy a stamp with lines designed for this purpose, or purchase pre-lined journaling papers. Another tip is to use the natural lines in your layouts. Write along stripes on patterned paper. Handwrite phrases around a frame. You can even print on the edges of your 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.
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Filed under Photography by Christine Perry
