Lessons in Storytelling: The Importance of Journaling Your Scrapbook Pages

We know so many incredibly talented memory keepers! Their layouts are masterpieces of color and texture. But they minimize—or eliminate altogether—personal journaling on their layouts.

Why?

“I can’t write.”
“I hate my handwriting.”
“I can’t think of what to say.”
“I don’t wanna.”

Sound familiar?

Here at Finders Keepers, we know that journaling can be a daunting task, but we stand staunchly by our belief that it is a vital and often overlooked part of memory keeping. So, over the next couple of months, we will be posting a few articles on journaling to help even the most writing-phobic amongst us. It’s our deepest desire that you will find these articles to be helpful and inspiring.

Here are our 10 best reasons for adding journaling to our memory keeping:

It helps us remember all the little details of that moment. It’s great to look back at photos and reminisce, but can you say honestly and for sures that you will not forget anything about it ever? It’s probably a good idea to write it down.
It helps people years from now know who is in the picture. I have a big box of old, family photos, but I have no idea who is who. Give future generations a break and tell us who is in the picture!
It documents your little stories. Some of the most powerful journaling we’ve seen focuses on the little moment–the quote, the everyday conversation–that for sure will be forgotten if not recorded.
It honors the people in your albums. When you reflect on the people in your life who are most important to you, or when you quote these special people, you are also saying to them, “I care about you. I listen to you. You matter to me.” And who doesn’t need to hear that from time to time?
It adds visual interest to your layout. The look of a handwritten note is timeless and beautiful (and we’re not talking about penmanship, thank you very much). It adds a texture that is very pleasing to the eye. Don’t believe us? Just check out how many decorative papers utilize handwriting as a background feature!
It adds your personality to your work of art. We really and for true don’t care if your handwriting is calligraphy or not. (Trust us–neither one of us is a calligrapher!) And, even more importantly, your most important people won’t care either! Have you ever found an old photo and found writing on the back of it? It feels so special!
Handwritten notes make an instant connection between the writer and reader. They are intimate. They are special because they take time and effort.
The whole purpose of memory keeping is to, well, keep memories. There is no better way to preserve your memories than in your own hand and with your own words.
Even a little bit of heartfelt journaling can make a good layout great and a great layout brilliant.
It’s not hard. We will show you. Please come back next month and we will begin.