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.

Your handwriting may not be as neat as a printed journaling block from a computer. Yet, your families will find it so much more meaningful and personal than anything typed.

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.

Handwriting mistakes a common reason why people hesitate to use their own handwriting on their scrapbooking pages. You can use different techniques to correct your handwriting errors. First, use a paper journaling block. These are inexpensive, and if you make a mistake on one, you just try again on another. If you spot your mistake after the journaling is attached to the page, just glue another paper block over the one with the error. You can use stickers to cover your mistakes as well.

The right pen makes a big difference when it comes to handwriting success. Look carefully at the paper you are using, and choose the best pen for that type of surface. Many pens will smear or run on certain types of papers. Choose a pen with the appropriate width as well. Trying to write in a small space with a wide tip will be a definite handwriting challenge.

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.

Do you write on a slant or uphill? Many of us find it difficult to write straight on a blank paper. Try using lined journaling blocks. These are available in your local scrapbooking stores or you can make them yourself with lined stamps or with a ruler and pen. Try using the natural lines on your patterned papers. Write with the stripes on your paper as your guide. Frames can be accented by printing along the edges. You can even writes along the boundaries of your page 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.