Make Your Scrapbooking Pages Personal: Use Your Own Handwriting

Scrapbooking has joined the digital age.  We can now make complete scrapbooking pages on our computers. Even those of us who prefer traditional scrapbooking tend to use the computer for our journaling to print clean, neat captions and narratives on our layouts.

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 do we hesitate to use our own handwriting in our albums?  There are a few reasons.  The most common one is concern that our handwriting is too messy or won't be able to be  read by others.  We should all try to get beyond this and realize how important it is to our family to preserve something as unique as our handwriting.  Think about those handwritten letters and recipes from a grandparent and how important they are to you now.

Another reason people resist handwriting on page layouts is fear that they will make a mistake that can't be erased.  There are many ways to correct a handwriting error.  First, use a paper journaling block to write on first. You can always use a second one if you make a mistake.  You can also correct a mistake by placing a new piece of paper over the error on the page, and write again on that piece.  Finally, stickers work wonders when it comes to covering up most kinds of scrapbooking mistakes.


Handwriting success depends on using the right pen.  You should first consider the type of paper you are using.  Choose a pen designed to write on that type of surface.  Some pens will run or smear on certain types of scrapbooking paper.  Width is also important.  Using a wide tip pen on a small square of paper is not going to be successful.

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.


There are few things as personal as our handwriting.  Handwriting is unique.  Like our signature, it is a statement of who we are.  When you use your handwriting on your page layouts it adds character to your scrapbooks.  It will tell your family and anyone who looks at your albums about your mood and your personality.  Your family is sure to treasure your scrapbooks even more.  Let your handwriting add depth and emotion to your pages, not a computer font.

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 tips and information on Mother's Day cards for scrapbooking.