Handwritten Journaling

Handwriting is one of the most difficult things to do in your scrapbooks, but you should. You should always try and give a copy of your writing somewhere in them. Below are a few pointers for those of you who are trying to do it, but it just doesn't work out the way you intended. Hopefully we can help you out just a tiny bit with it.

*Use a journaling block that is not attached to your layout at first. This way if it doesn't work out then you have lost nothing on your layout.

*Keep pencil marks light. A heavy line will leave imprints on your page and be more difficult to erase.

*If you make a mistake, erase it, but be gentle. Remember you don't want to tear your paper.
Small, evenly placed characters look clean and precise, no matter how talented the letterer.

*If you want to use a ruler for straight lines, go ahead! You can draw your lines, but draw them lightly. I mean lightly, almost invisible! Next write just above the lines so that you have room to erase them. Remember you are using them as a guide and nothing else! You do not want them to remain on your journaling

*If you are journaling, then do just that! Walking away and coming back does not work. You want your lettering to look good, so take the time to do it right.

*Find a style that suits you. Are you someone who loves cursive? Do you write in all caps, all lowers, or a mixture of both? Make sure that your style shows off your best handwriting!
Sometimes the faster you go, the better it looks! Did I catch you there? Just making sure that you're concentrating. If you're trying for a carefree look, make your guides, pencil in your text for correct spacing, and then go for it!

*Use a straight edge for your verticals. If you're doing large letters for a title, or even for your journaling, use a ruler to make your verticals. This is a trick architects use to make their printing look prefect every time.

*Use shadowing for a great effect. It softens the subtle imperfections in your writing, making your letters look better. Grab a Black and Platinum Zig Writer and create letters that jump off your page.
*Last but not least! Its your handwriting, it should not be perfect! So don't give up, just keep practicing

Ok here is another way to get your handwriting for all you computer journaling people. You can get your own handwriting turned into a font! For $9.00 this company will turn your handwriting into your very own font. Here is the web address to go and check it out. http://www.fontifier.com/

Since scrapbooking has become such a great craft, perhaps handwriting can come back to be a intricate part of this craft. Good handwriting is a craft in itself. So practice, practice and more practice. I myself find it easier to just get on the computer and print them off, but I am making an attempt to try and do a little bit more of journaling in my own handwriting. Maybe if I practice hard enough I might even find myself with a handwriting like one of the above! Who knows?