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.

Your handwriting may not be as neat as a printed journaling block from a computer.  Yet, your families will find it so much more meaningful and personal than anything typed.

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.

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.


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.

Always practice your journaling before you glue it to your page.  Write a draft on a piece of scrap paper.  Slowly, read it aloud. This helps you spot errors in your grammar and spelling.  If you have someone available, ask them to proofread it for you.  Always remember to test the pen on the paper as well.  Practicing on a draft first also lets you see if you have enough room available for all of your journaling.

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.


There are few things as personal as our handwriting.  Handwriting is unique.  Like our signature, it is a statement of who we are.  When you use your handwriting on your page layouts it adds character to your scrapbooks.  It will tell your family and anyone who looks at your albums about your mood and your personality.  Your family is sure to treasure your scrapbooks even more.  Let your handwriting add depth and emotion to your pages, not a computer font.

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

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