October Creative Challenge #2: Use your own handwriting

[Elaine]

Use your own handwriting on a page
I've always been envious of people who have super cool handwriting and are able to write directly on the page without even having to use a journaling "spot" of some kind. I just don't have that kind of handwriting. But I have become more comfortable with writing on my pages and I want to encourage all of you to do more writing by hand on your pages.

Reason being that someday, future generations will treasure having something written out by you. Just think about any handwritten things you have from your family members who are no longer with you. I have recipes written out by my grandmother that make me feel a connection to her much more than any typed recipe would.

There's a great book by Heidi Swapp that's called "Love your Handwriting". I just looked through it yesterday to refresh my memory and I want to share with you some of her tips and a couple of my own.

So whether you already handwrite on your page and want to polish your technique or have never done it before, these tips will help. Let's see one of your pages for a chance to win a $10 product credit! Pages are due Oct. 31st. Winner will be chosen at random.

Tips
1. Always think out your journaling before you start writing. (This seems obvious, but sometimes we get impatient and skip the prep work. I know I do.)
2. Write it first on a piece of scratch paper approximately the same size as where you'll be writing it so you can get the spacing right.
3. Always write in pencil first then go back over it in pen. Wait several hours to erase so you can be sure your ink is dry.
4. Try drawing light pencil lines on your page or journaling block to keep your journaling straight. Erase the lines when your done, but wait several hours so you can make sure your ink is dry.
5. To get your confidence up, first journal on tags or journaling blocks. Then if you mess up, you can always start over on a new tag or journaling block.
6. If you always have the feeling your journaling just doesn't fit it on the page (that's one of my biggest issues), design your page around the journaling. In other words, do the journaling first. This can also save you from the pressure of feeling like you'll mess up your finished page.
7. Hide your journaling in pockets or page flaps so that it's still in your handwriting, but not visible on the page.
8. If you just can't bring yourself to use your handwriting on your page, write out your story on a separate piece of paper and attach it to the back of the spread. Then at least it's there.
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[tammyc]

Great tips, Elaine! I must admit, that most of the time, I do hand-write my journaling on my layouts. But not necessarily because I like my writing...it's usually because I'm LAZY and don't want to take the time to print it out on the computer! LOL!

Looking forward to seeing your handwriting, ladies!
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~Tammy

Independent Consultant MW#48113

[Elaine]

[shillrtr]

Great tips Elaine! If you ever notice on my projects, I always (99% of the time anyway) handwrite my journaling. It personalizes the layout I think. It does give the person viewing your layouts a way to connect with you. I should follow those tips more. Sometimes I write on a journal spot and othertimes right on the layout. Sometimes I write out what I want to say on paper first then write it out on the layout. But most of the time I just start writing on the layout. That is why you will see sometimes some errors I try to correct in the journaling.
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MW#454542

[Elaine]

[dardalynn]

When I dig out an old recipe that was handwritten by my grandmother or husband's great aunt I just love to see that handwriting.I do feel a special memory connection with that person that may be gone now. Maybe someday others will feel that memory when they read our journaling in a scrapbook.
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Lynn Darda
MW Consultant 208545

[tammyc]

DEADLINE FOR POSTING PROJECTS/LAYOUTS IS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! (10/31)
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~Tammy

Independent Consultant MW#48113