October 2025 Wk1 Scrapbook Page Layout
Journalling Options for Scrapbook Layouts
In my opinion, one of the most important elements of a scrapbook page is the journalling. Photos may capture the moment, but words give context, emotion and personal insight.
There are many ways to include journalling on a layout, ranging from traditional handwritten notes to more inventive techniques.
Exploring different options can help you find a style that suits both the story you want to tell and the overall design of your page.
Handwritten Journalling
The most personal option is to simply write directly on your page. You could use a journalling pen in a shade that complements your colour scheme, or even write over patterned paper.. Handwriting adds a personal, authentic touch that future generations will treasure, as it carries your personality and character in a way typed text never can.
Typed Blocks of Text
If you prefer a cleaner, more uniform look, typing your journalling is a practical choice. You can print text blocks on plain cardstock, cut them to size, and glue them onto your page. This method also allows you to play with font styles and sizes for added emphasis.
Strips of Journalling
A variation on typed journalling is to cut your text into strips. Each line becomes its own piece, which can then be spaced out across the page. This allows you to weave words around embellishments or photos without disrupting the flow of the layout.
Tags and Pull-Out Journalling
Hidden journalling is ideal if you want to keep your design uncluttered or include personal thoughts that you don’t want to display openly. Writing on tags, cards, or slips of paper that tuck behind a photo or inside a pocket keeps the page clear but still captures your words. Adding a ribbon makes it easy to pull the tag out when needed.
Journalling Shapes
Instead of the usual rectangular blocks, you could write or type within a shape. Circles, hearts, stars or speech bubbles could echo designs elsewhere on your page. This approach is especially effective on themed layouts where the shape ties in with the story or occasion.
Borders of Journalling
Using journalling as a border around your photos or even the edge of your page is another creative option. Writing continuously along the edges creates an eye-catching frame of words. Use handwriting, and the text becomes part of the page design.
Printed Transparency Journalling
You could try printing your journalling onto a transparent sheet or vellum and layering it over your photo or patterned background. This allows both elements to be visible at once, giving a soft overlay effect.
Stamped or Lettered Journalling
Using alphabet stamps for key words, or brush lettering for a single powerful sentence, makes the journalling double as an embellishment. It works well when you want your words to stand out boldly rather than sit quietly in the background.
Using Photos of Information Boards
When travelling or visiting historical sites, taking a photo of an information board can provide ready-made journalling. The details are accurate and often add facts you might forget over time. Printed small and added alongside your photos, these images help tell the story without extra effort on your part.
Pages from Tourist Brochures
Tourist brochures, museum guides, or event leaflets can be trimmed down and added straight into your album. They often contain maps, background notes, or descriptions that enrich your layout. You might cut out just a paragraph or include a whole folded page in a pocket for reference.
Comments and Thoughts from Other Participants
Journalling doesn’t always have to be your own words. Asking friends, family, or fellow travellers to jot down their impressions gives a multi-voiced record of the occasion. These can be handwritten on slips of paper, typed up in a block, or even collected as short speech bubbles across the page.