journaling problem: my handwriting!

I would like to include more journaling in my SBs, but my handwriting -- no matter how hard I try -- looks terrible, not at all like the writing I see in layout ideas and examples. Even when I think it looks OK and add to a page, it makes everything worse! Ideas? Thanks.

May be have someone else write it for you. Write down what you want and then ask them to transcribe it.

I have MS, and the first thing to go was my handwriting, so I do all of my journaling with the computer. There are some really wonderful fonts that can look very much like handwriting. I use Dafont a lot, since their selection is amazing.

Something to think about, though, is that most people won't judge your handwriting; they will just be thrilled that you included that small part of yourself in the page. You are your own worst critic, so maybe lighten up just a bit?! LOL!

Maybe you could use some hidden journaling ideas, like doing your journaling on a tag and slipping it in behind a photo.
I don't like my handwriting either, but I do use it.
I have birthday cards from my grandparents saved since I was born and I love that they are written in my Grandmas' handwriting. She is long gone, so it is nice to have that little something personal from her, if you know what I mean.

I do almost everything with my computer. But - you can change your handwriting! It just takes a little practics

I do almost all journaling with the computer, but on the back I sign and date it so future generations will know that I at least knew how to write :>) I also want to start playing around with the pens and the Cameo more. I've seen others use them and they look like fun to play with. I also have the pen/pencil adapters for both the Cameo and Cricut, but have never used them.

I'm not sure practice would do much on helping with the handwriting problems that go with MS and other physical problems. I have arthritis in my hands, making my once-beautiful handwriting definitely not so beautiful...plus it's painful to have to write very much. I know this probably doesn't apply to the OP, but it would to others who still want to include journaling on their LOs.

Carol, I didn't know that...you do such wonderful pages-you are uber talented!!!

I intensely dislike my handwriting on my pages past maybe a word or the date...I end up scrunching up everything I write. My computer is my best friend when it comes to this subject!

My handwriting goes from neat to messy...I work really hard at a decent personal font lol! I've been practicing a cool Heidi Swapp-like font...then my mother looked over a page I thought was pretty decent n she shot me down, saying "your writing is too close together and it's messy...you cant read it!" Boom...just like that. But she was a teacher, so...she's picky.

I have been told I have pretty handwriting even though my 6th grade teacher said it looked like hen scratching. (I really don't like mine ad know I can do better) When my mother died I cherished things she had written. Handwriting is not a talent it is practice, practice, and more practice. A computer will do in a pinch but to add the personal touch nothing beats handwritten journaling.

I agree with the others. Use computer journalling where it shows if you wish, but please, please include some of your own journalling in a hidden place. Many people don't like their own handwriting, but it will be treasured by generations to come, whatever your own opinion of it is.

I agree with Rosey, I don't care for my handwriting well maybe cause I write to dang big for layouts (haha) and hardly ever do any journaling. But, for sure in smaller areas I would try and write a small section of journaling.

All of my journaling is on the computer. I journal extensively - I love the story behind the pictures as much or more than the pictures! So does my family but my handwriting would ruin the layout. Computer only for me.

I do almost all my journalling on the computer. I try to include the odd handwritten date or name etc. but most of the long story is done on the computer.....

I think that as long as the journaling is being done, it doesn't really matter whether or not you hand-write it. If you want to preserve your handwriting, you could write a little something on the back of the layout. I usually write the names of everyone in the photos, since I don't always mention everyone's name in the journaling.

I think I will be adding more handwritten information to the back of my pages. i use mostly the computer, Silhouette or once in a great while a Cricut to journal on my pages. I can not get all I want to say in the space I allow for journaling if I hand write it. Besides there are a few fonts that can look close to hand writing and much better than mine.
When working with older pictures I appreciate whatever is written on the back to help identify the who what where, even knowing writing on the back of old photos is not the best thing to do. That being said, I would imagine people would like a little more information than what I sometimes add as journaling.

Practice! Practice writing until you are happy with it. That doesn't mean you need to write copy after copy of your journalling. Try keeping a notebook with you so when you have a few minutes you can sketch out the alphabet, letters, words, phrases.

Always sketch out some lines in pencil on your layout first to keep your writing even and straight.

I tend to keep my journalling fairly short, and I always write it in pencil first, and then go over in a Sakura Micron pen.

If you really, really don't like your writing, at least try including it on a few pages and hide it if you have to. I know I love finding something with one of my deceased relatives' handwriting on it.. great aunts, great-great grandmother, grandfather... and I hope my future family will enjoy seeing my handwriting someday, too.

I certainly think that computer journalling (or typewriter journalling!) is great and fantastic. But I'd love it if every scrapbook had at least one example of the maker's handwriting on it.

I don't love my handwriting either, though I think it does make a layout so much more personal. I usually journal on the computer.

Sometimes I do strip journaling as seen here. strip journaling example

Sometimes I run a journaling tag or graph paper through my computer and add the text that way as seen here: journaling using computer

Sometimes I use tiny alphas to create a long title or sub-title that basically serves as my journaling. alphas in lieu of journaling

If I do decide to use my own handwriting, I almost always write something really short! Like in this example: brief handwritten journaling

My handwriting is so bad I am actually embarrassed by it. My husband even fills out all forms, including information for doctor's office because my handwriting is not legible.

If I even have one word of my handwriting in my scrapbook it will ruin the page. I hate my writing that much.

I like to tell the stories that go with the photos and I do a lot of journaling but will never use my own handwriting. My journaling is usually pretty lengthy. I do not use hidden journaling because I don't want anything taken out of the protectors and handled. I'm strictly a computer journalist.

I have two points to make about this near and dear subject of journaling.
One is the big picture which is just giving voice to your story. Why are these pictures so important that you took the time to save them in this album? What is the backstory? However you can deliver that is what is ulitmately important.

Secondly, I do think that the text on a layout is as much as apart of the design as creating a title, choosing embellishments and adding texture. We spend time deciding if we should use chipboard, stickers or die cuts why not the same care in our design choice when sharing our story?

I am someone who has relatively decent handwriting. Yet, I make a conscious design choice on each layout if the text should be my handwriting or a certain font on the computer. In fact, I am finishing up a layout right now that calls for the text to be done on the computer. If I did handwriting the page would not flow as well. For me at this point in my scrapbooking experience journaling it is very much a design choice.

I am fortunate enough to have albums from past generations with their handwriting and it is nice, but the story is more important than the method in which it is delivered. I would be sad to learn a relative didn't share a story because there was so much emphasis on handwriting it. On the flip side it would be equally sad to not be able to read a story because the handwriting was so difficult to decipher.

In the end, despite my opinions or anyone else's, let's not forget the ultimate rule in scrapbooking is there are no rules in scrapbooking!

I do most of my journaling by computer as well. But when I do handwritten journaling I first do it in very light pencil. I can easily erase anything I'm not happy with. When I'm happy with what I have written I go over it with a Zig marker.

Perfect Jill! I agree with every word you said. It doesn't matter as long as the story is told!

You are so fortunate to have a nice handwriting and I love the layouts with a little bit of attractive handwriting on them. Am even a little jealous!

Well then we are even because I am jealous of your travel and the clean well done layouts with the perfect journaling spots. I often think given how much the world is changing your books might just record things that may not be there in 10 years or a generation.
and thank you for the compliment.

I really do enjoy the journaling Jill. I know I go overboard with it but I enjoy it so much.

Don't be jealous of my travelling. I never left the country until I was 57 years old. Now my husband and I have been travelling for 8 years. In fact, before that I had seen very few states.

I just married a man who loves to travel and drags me along. We are really enjoying retirement but until I was 57, I had not been anywhere. In fact I never had a real vacation until I married Bill - vacations were just to go to see family.