85+ Journal Prompts for Scrapbooking Childhood Memories - Memory Journals, Bujos and Year Books

Would you like to put together a scrapbook of your childhood memories but not sure what to write about. In this article I provide you with more than 85 journaling prompts that you can use as starters to get you writing about your treasured memories of growing up. Don't let anxiety about what to journal and how to journal hold you back from starting your scrapbook of childhood memories today.

Scrapbooking your childhood memories into a memory album can be one of the most rewarding scrapbook projects you might ever undertake. There is a little bit of the child still left in all of us and scrapbooking about your life growing up will bring you close to that child who still resides within. Plus you will preserving those precious memories of your life story for future generations to enjoy and wonder about.

If you are new to scrapbooking or would like some tips on scrapbooking childhood memories into a memory book or album then consider taking a look at my earlier scrapbooking article in which I provide an overview of how to get started scrapbooking your childhood memories

Tips for Journaling Childhood Memories in a Scrapbook

• You don't have to be a writer to journal
• Give yourself freedom to write whatever comes to mind. Edit later
• Trust that others will be interested in knowing about your early experiences
• Keep your stories in the one place for easy access as you write them down
• Remember the basics: when, where, what, who, why and how
• Include your feelings about the event or people not just what happened and when. Let others know what you felt about what was happening.
• Include the everday stories not just main events eg daily routine
• Write the longer version of your story first then cut it down to include in your scrapbook journaling blocks. The stories of your early life can have more than one use eg in a memory journal or part of a written account of your life. Who knows even a book?

How to Use the Journaling Prompts

Start With One or Two Journaling Prompts
To get started just pick a couple of prompts from the list and work on writing about these. Some people like to start with the photo as the memory jogger and others write the journal note first. With a bit of practice you will soon work out what works best for you. And who knows what forgotten memories might surface?

Use a Notebook, Computer or Google Docs
I suggest that you start a notebook if you are writing by hand as it will help keep all your stories together so they don't get lost. If journaling on the computer make sure you back up your stories once you start recording them. If you have a Google account you might consider using Google Docs for easy online access across devices and to other services like Google Photos and Google Drive.

Group Similar Stories Together and Envisage the Journaling on Your Layout
Grouping stories about people, places or activities can be helpful in writing about your early life. For instance if you were to write about the places you lived growing up think about how your might group these in your scrapbook memory book layout. Would you need a page for each story about a place or would you envisage putting all your photos on a two page spread and journaling around these?

85+ Journaling Prompts of Childhood Memories - Mega List of Journaling Starters for Scrapbooking

Make sure you check out my mega list of journaling prompts for scrapbooking your childhood memories set out below. There are more than 80 journal prompts to help you access childhood memories and get you journaling. Over time I will be adding more to the list so check back often for updates.

1. Your earliest memory (what makes it still so vivid?)
2. Family members - immediate (who are they? your relationship growing up, who were you close to?)
3. Family members - extended (who were you close to? grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts)
4. Best friend (who? still friends now?)
5. Friends
6. Memorable People
7. Pets
8. Cities, towns you lived in
9. Your house or houses (what do you remember about the rooms, temperature, light quality, near tothe smell, sunny, dark, warm, cold?)
10. Your room
11. Your personality (character traits eg shy, precocious, studious, bossy, a star, different etc)
12. Looks (what did you look like? eg tall/short for your age, wore thick specs, gangly, spotty)
13. Bullying (what did you get teased for and why?)
14. Holidays and vacations (where did you go? what did you do? who did you meet? who was with you?)
15. Memorable places (smells, visual memories etc)
16. Family traditions (what were they? and why?)
17. Family secrets (what and why?)
18. Neighbours
19. Schools (which ones? for how long?)
20. What you liked and didn't like about school
21. Teachers (was there a teacher who was influential)
22. Role models (who and why?)
23. Visitors
24. Achievements
25. Awards and Certificates
26. Competitions won
27. First dance
28. First crush
29. First date
30. First kiss
31. First times (eg owned a watch, on an aeroplane, saw snow, went to school by yourself etc)
32. Embarassing moments growing up (what happened, why was it embarassing? what did you do next?)
33. After school job
34. Favorite sayings and expressions
35. Favorite hobbies
36. Favorite pastimes
37. Favorite musical instrument (what did you learn to play?)
38. Favorite gift / gifts (what and why?)
39. Chores
40. Morning routine
41. Pocket money (how much? what did you spend it on?)
42. Clubs
43. Service Groups
44. Church
45. Sports
46. Playmates (who did you play with? siblings? friends? neighbours?)
47. Times when you were sick
48. Time when others were sick
49. Favorite foods (what was special about these?)
50. Least favorite foods (what didn't you like)
51. Favorite foods to cook
52. Favorite time of the day (what happened then? why?)
53. Favorite thing to do
54. Favorite games (who won and why?)
55. Favorite school subjects
56. Favorite arts and crafts
57. Favorite songs
58. Favorite books
59. Favorite movie or movies
60. Favorite cartoon and cartoon character
61. Favorite toys
62. Favorite collections (what did you collect and why?)
63. Favorite day of the week (don't forget to say why)
64. Favorite belongings (what these things important to you?)
65. Favorite hideaway (eg treehouse, hut, in the bushes)
66. Favorite places
67. Favorite clothes (what did you like, not like)
68. Haircuts and styles
69. Dressing up
70. Family outings and activites (where, who with, why)
71. Weekends (how did you spend these? what was happening around you?)
72. School trips
73. Birthday parties (when and who?)
74. Running away (where did you go and what happened?)
75. Failure (what happened? what did you learn? how did it help you?)
76. Bad habits (what were they? did you ever grow out of these?)
77. Things you did even though you knew it was wrong (what happened?)
78. Liked doing the most
79. Disliked doing the most
80. Things you made (eg knitting, sewing, crafts etc)
81. Most embarassing moments
82. Things you were afraid of (eg spiders, mice, dogs, birds etc)
83. An event or incident that really scared you
84. Greatest life lesson
85. One thing you learned in school that stuck
86. What would you differently if there was a do over

#journalingprompts #scrapbooking #childhoodmemories


I hope you enjoyed this list of 85+ journaling prompts to spark childhood memories that you can use to accompany photos in your childhood memories scrapbook. If you would like to print the list of journal prompts for scrapbooking childhood memories as a PDF for future reference just click on the print button below or on the print icon in the bank of floating buttons on the right-hand side (PC) and bottom (mobile).




#scrapbook #journalprompts #childhoodmemories

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10 Ways to Add Handwritten Journaling to Scrapbooking Pages

Today's scrapbooking article is on the subject of scrapbook journaling. Here are some 10 creative ways to include more handwritten journaling on your scrapbooking pages.

Getting Started with Scrapbook Journaling

1. Get Over Yourself

   In order to get started with handwritten scrapbook journaling you will need to get over yourself. Most people feel a little self-conscious seeing their own handwriting on page layouts. Perfectly normal!
   
   I myself used to have a lot of angst about my poor handwriting skills but I have learned through the art of scrapbooking and keeping a memory journal to keep the bigger picture in mind.
   
   When I look back on my past scrapbooks and journals it is not the perfectly typed journaling that my eye gravitates to but the blocks of handwritten journaling where I have taken the time to write something that reminds me of a feeling back then or gives others insight into my life and who I am as a person.
   
   Here's the thing stop worrying if your handwriting is untidy or a bit messy what is important is that you tell a story or write something about you and your experience. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through with some handwritten touches to your scrapbooking layouts.
   
   
   
   The thing to keep in mind is that handwritten journaling gives such a personal flair to pages that it would be a shame for future generations looking at your scrapbooking pages to miss out on this unspoken legacy. Rest assured they will treasure your handwriting just as much as your photos and memories you share.
   
   

2. Gather Your Supplies

   Archival Quality Journaling Pens

   First off will need a food journaling pen. Don't skimp on this as you need one of archival quality. These can be purchased at scrapbooking stores, good stationery supplies shops or online at Amazon.
   
   I like to have a range of scrapbooking pens to work with including white for layouts with black pages or inserts. Exactly what pens you choose will be down to personal preference but give yourself some options.
   
   

   Other Essential Supplies

   A stapler, adhesive, ruler, eraser are all going to be useful items too.
   
   

3. Choose a Layout to Work On

   Start Small

   Pick a page that is simple and that you can add some of your own handwriting to, even in a small way, to make a difference.
   
   

   Decide What to Say

   Think about the experience. What do you want to say about it? what do you want to convey to anyone looking at the page? If you need inspiration take a look at 85+ Journaling Ideas for Scrapbooking Memory Pages.
   
   

   Practice Your Handwriting Skills

   Practice your handwriting on a scrap of paper first to improve your confidence before writing on the actual page. You will see what it looks like ahead of time so you can correct any mistakes. Plus you can check the text properly fits the space where you want to include your handwritten message.
   
   
   
   

While this scrapbooking article is written with scrapbookers in mind the ideas are equally useful if you are creating a memory journal, smash book, Project Life spread, visual art journal, bullet journal, planner or any other kind of diary or record of your days on planet earth. I know with Bullet Journaling and Planners, in particular, there is an emphasis on efficiency and getting the job done but there is always room for more handwritten personal touches and descriptions about your activities or thoughts, feelings, reflections, gratitude and everything else in-between.

How to Add Handwritten Journaling to Scrapbooking Pages

1. Dates, Place Name or Event Name
   If you are not used to including handwritten journaling on your scrapbooking pages then it may seem a bit daunting. I suggest to get over this hump you start small. Add the date in your own handwriting or perhaps the place name or name of the event. If you are not ready to put the whole of your journaling in your own handwriting then a combination of handwritten journaling and computer text on a scrapbooking layout can look good too.


2. Write on the Background
   Create your own patterned scrapbooking paper by writing on the background or in the blank spaces around your photos.




3. Write in a shape or line
   If you want to add visual effect to your scrapbooking pages write in a shape or line. A handwritten line that wanders across the page can look stunning. Handwriting on circles, swirls or other fun shapes is visually pleasing too. Turn the paper as you write for a whimsical effect.



4. Write on a Frame or Mat
   You can add extra flair to your pages by framing the photos on a page with your own written words. Try this technique by writing on a photo mat, frame or the white border around the photo.



5. Include a Handwritten Letter, Poem, Musings or Personal Narrative
   Write a letter, poem, or personal account of an event or happening in your own handwriting that can be included right on the scrapbooking page.


6. Include Pockets, Folded Cards or Matchbooks
   Using scrapbooking pockets, folded cards, matchbooks are all space saving ways of adding more handwritten journaling to your scrapbooking layouts. Write your journaling by hand on a piece of coordinating cardstock and place it in a pocket on the page. Make a matchbook out of double sided cardstock and staple your handwritten message on coordinating cardstock inside the matchbook. Your journaling will remain hidden from view unless viewers of your scrapbooking pages remove the pocket or open up the card or matchbook. More on how to create a matchbook


7. Write an Index Page
   A handwritten index page at the start of your scrapbook is a way to add more of your handwriting to your pages. Include facts like where, when, what, how, how long and of course who. Adding a handwritten index page is a simple way to include more of your handwriting in a scrapbook.


8. Write a Dedication Page
   Like an index page a dedication page can contain a lot of extra information that you may not want to include on your scrapbooking pages. A dedication page appears at the end of your scrapbook pages and includes details about the dates the album was mades, who it is dedicated to and the name of the author.


9. Transform Your Handwriting into a Computer Font
   If you want to do a lot of journaling on your pages yet keep your lines straight you can still preserve the human touch by turning your handwriting into a font using an online program such as Fontifier


10. Add Handwriting Using Free Cursive Fonts
    Scrapbookers who want to personalize their scrapbooking layouts can use computer generated cursive fonts that mimic handwriting. You will find free cursive fonts to download at websites like scrapbookingfonts.com.

#scrapbooking #journaling #handwritten #easytoscrapbook #scrapbookjournaling


I hope you enjoyed this article on ways to add more scrapbooking journaling using your own handwriting. If you are interested in getting ideas for journaling try 85+ Journaling Prompts for Scrapbooking Memory Pages.

Related Links

Scrapbook Memory Page Title Suggestion List
Start a Scrapbook Tutorial - Beginner's Guide to Scrapbooking Your First Scrapbook Page
Scrapbooking Best Friends Layouts - Guide to Journaling Ideas, Best Friends Quotes and Page Titles