Terrific Titles

A title defines the mood of your scrapbook layout. Because of its prominent placement on the page, it should be given serious consideration.

Before you start putting pictures onto the pages of your scrapbook take some time and decide which titles you will be using. You can also add in captions, poems and sayings to add even more personality to your scrapbook. The titles and other words you add create the theme of the scrapbook.

The title can be as simple as a date or word for an event. However you can convey the mood of your page and tell part of the story by using creative titles. To get an idea, here are some examples:

New Baby

Love at First Sight

Fresh from Heaven

We've only just Begun

Bath Time

Bubble Trouble

Makin' a Splash

Squeeky Clean

Birthday

Born to Party

Ready, Set, Blow!

Wedding

From Here to Eternity

I'm Yours

There of tons of resources on the internet for title ideas. Check out The Perfect Title.

If you put just a little extra thought into choosing the titles for your scrapbook layouts, they then become a true part of the story you're telling and not just large words at the top of the page. So think about the event your scrapbook layout is celebrating. And then think again. Look beyond the obvious.

Once you've decided on the perfect title, find a creative way to use it. It doesn't always have to be placed across the top of the page. Below are a few ideas:

-Stretch a long title across a two-page spread.
-Place the title beneath the pictures at the bottom of your page.
-For smaller titles, position your words directly above your journaling on the same block.
-Highlight some of the words in your journaling or quote and let that stand as your title.
-Turn things around! Vertical titles offer a wonderful change of pace.
-Place the letters in your title so that they overlap onto a photograph.
-Run your words across the middle of the page.
-Add a title to one side of a thick photo mat.
-Pick up any magazine or newspaper and flip through it for more title placement inspiration.

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Titles and Journaling

Scrapbookers often find journaling the hardest thing to do, whether it’s coming up with a catchy title for the page or writing a description of the events pictured. But, in my opinion, it is the most important part of the scrapbook.

I have a four year old who loves to look through her scrapbook. She often brings it to me and asks me to read ‘her story’. Without the journaling, the book would just be photos. Yes, photos can tell a story. But there are many benefits to adding journaling to your pages.

The simple fact is, you will not always be around to tell your children about the pictures in their scrapbook. And frankly, it’s hard to remember detailed facts about every event, vacation, and holiday for which your family has pictures.

I love sitting with my daughter and reading ‘her story’. It brings back memories of the special time it was for our family when she was born. In fact, I recently submitted a story about her birth, and without the scrapbook to remind me, small details that enriched the story would have been forgotten.

When you are looking for ideas for fun and creative journaling, browse through magazines and jot down any quote or title that appeals to you. Look up quotation sites on the Internet. Also, don’t overlook your favorite songs and poems. I’ve seen lots of darling scrapbook pages that included a meaningful poem for the journaling. If you blog, or email stories about your children, these are great places to find journaling ideas. You can even simply copy them directly and put in your scrapbook.

If you think your handwriting isn’t good—don’t worry about it. The personal touch handwriting lends to the page is very important. You handwriting is part of you. When you create scrapbooks for those you love, you are essentially sharing a part of yourself.

There are tons of fun ways to add journaling to your pages. The most simple way is to write directly on the page. You can also write or print your journaling on paper and mat it with another coordinating paper that matches your layout. You can make pockets and create a journal card, attach ribbon to the top, and slide it into the pocket. You could also make a card with journaling inside, or a journaling window with flaps folded like shutters over the journaling. The ideas are endless!

Have fun journaling and scrapbooking this week. If you have any fun journaling ideas I didn’t mention here, I’d love to hear about them.

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