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.

Handwriting on pages may not be as pretty as a computer font. Still, it is so much more personal and meaningful to our families.

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.

For handwriting success you need to practice.  Make a draft of your journaling before you glue anything to the page.  Read it to yourself and out loud. This allows you to spot any errors in spelling or grammar.  Having someone else proofread your journaling is especially helpful when you have a long, narrative block of writing.  Be sure to test your pen on the page you intend to use for your final journaling. Making a draft also lets you be sure your paper is large enough to handle all your journaling.

Many of us need a straight edge to handwrite or we tend to write on a slant.  Pre-lined journaling blocks are a useful tool for those you often write uphill.  You can make these using a pen and ruler or you can use a lined-journaling stamp made for this purpose.  Your local scrapbooking store will also have pre-lined journaling blocks usually with decorative accents.  Patterned paper can work as a guide for your handwriting.  Try writing along the lines in striped paper.  Print along the outside of a frame.  You even can write along the edges of scrapbooking borders.

Handwriting is uniquely personal.  It’s also a form of validation, like our signature.  A page layout with handwritten journaling adds character to a scrapbook album. It’s a glimpse into who you are.  Your family will treasure your scrapbook pages even more, because it tells them about your personality and even reflects your mood.  A computer font can’t  add the depth and emotion to your words that your handwriting can.

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 ideas and information on Mother’s Day cards for scrapbooking.