Journaling: In your own words | Marcy Penner

Why is journaling on your layouts important to you? I want to remember. I want to sit down on my couch in 30 years, open up an album and be transported back to the moment. I never want to forget the moments of my life… at any stage. I want to freeze time… and this is the only way I know how.

What is the most important thing about capturing the story? Well, being a photographer I’ll say a great photo! 😉 But honestly, that doesn’t matter. It’s about being real. Writing down what you’re thinking… in all it’s truth. I’m not about sugarcoating. If it was a rough day it was a rough day. Tomorrow will be better. It’s what you make of it. So I take that same approach with my journaling. It is what it is.
How do you decide how much or little of the story to tell? A lot of how much I decide to include has to do with the page design. If I can fit a lot in and still have the page looking how I want it, then I will. More often than not it’s a couple of sentences.

What do you find the most difficult about journaling? I struggle with journaling. I don’t usually scrapbook events. It’s moments. Sometimes it’s just writing down what’s happening in the photo. Sometimes it’s just repeating a version of “I love you. You rock”. So I struggle with keeping that interesting and different from page to page.
Take us through your journaling process: I used to scrapbook totally different. Back in the day I used the computer for journaling. Or I would measure out lines, pencil everything in and then go over with a pen. I had perfect printing. (I was the girl who recopied all her school work). Then I had a couple more kids and time got precious. I learned to let go and just create. So now I create my page and keep in mind the place where I’d like to journal. When it comes to adding the journaling I try not to think about it too much. I just write what I’m feeling.

Any tips or techniques you’d like to share with us? Lately I’ve enjoyed splitting my journaling up on the page. Not that it changes my style of journaling much. It just keeps all my pages from looking the same! 😉 I also keep all my journaling tags in a basket. That way I don’t have to dig around for them or forget that I have them.
Supply List: Paper – Sassafras, Making Memories, We R Memory Keepers, My Mind’s Eye, SEI, Crate, Scenic Route; journaling tag – Elle’s Studio; ticket – Jenni bowlin; pin – Little Yellow bicycle; stickers – American Crafts, KI Memories, Scenic Route; flower button – Making Memories; brads – Making Memories, Doodlebug; rub-on – Basic Grey

ABOUT MARCY: I’m a 4th generation artist and started scrapbooking about 7 years ago. I haven’t looked back since! It’s just the perfect blend of my three greatest passions… art, photography and my family!

In my everyday life I’m a photographer and mama. I also have a little scrapbook shop in our neighboring city, that I also design for. And, I just joined the design team at Cartwheels On My Mind! I live with my little family of five in a 100 year old farmhouse on 22 acres in Manitoba,Canada. It’s a work in progress, but really… what isn’t. 😉 When I have the spare time (ha!) I love some good tv, hanging out with the kiddos, sewing, crafting and decorating.

Find Marcy at her blog, store, etsy, twitter, flickr and tumblr!

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