Need some inspiration? Try playing music while you're scrapbooking or journaling.  Doing Christmas layouts? Play holiday music, even if it's in July.  Doing a party layout?  Play up-beat, dance-to-it music.  Scrapping a trip?  Listen to some music from that destination.  This can help you get "in the mood".  AND, it can help you with the words too.  A song title could be a layout title.  Lyrics may be just what you need for that journaling block.

Give it a try the next time you scrap.

I hope you will say YES! Yes to a weekend away. Yes to an uninterrupted weekend of Scrapbooking. Yes to the next Mansfield 48-Hour Scrapathon.








Spots are available on a first come, first served basis -- and they go fast! Reserve your spot right now and you could win accommodations in the Counsellor's Room, which has its own private bathroom!  Simply send me an email to justscrapit@sympatico.ca and I will send you the registration form and payment instructions.

I’m already looking forward to September’s retreat – I hope I can add your name to the list of friends who will be there. Register now.

Cute little card for my niece Teagan's first birthday.  Love the MM sketch cuz I love circles, and I got to use some very cute CTMH paper (Topstitch) and the birthday cake stamp set.  And it was a fun challenge to try and incorporate a recipe for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge -- a great place to be inspired by CTMH artists.

One more thing: it's hard to tell from the photo, but the Liquid Glass on the cherries looks AWESOME in real life.  :)

Take a look:

Sometimes, the reason why we have so much trouble with our journaling is that we are overthinking.  In our desire to be meaningful and memorable, we get bogged down in being GREAT.  But not all journaling needs to be an inspiring epic.  Instead, key words, gut reactions, thoughts from the heart (and not the head) are better at capturing the true spirit of the photo or layout.  So put aside your paragraphs and grab your watch.  Take 30 seconds and just write down the first 10 things (or 8 or 11) that come to your mind.  Don't think -- just feel and spit it out.

I’ve heard it many times, and experienced myself often: once I get started, the story just flows from my pen. But the key is “once I get started”. Sometimes those first words are absolutely the hardest. The blank page (or journaling block) can be so scary. But don’t let that stop you. When you need help getting started, pull out one of these Sentence Starters to kickstart your thinking and your journaling.
I think…

I feel…

I remember…

I believe…

I hope…

My favourite part is…

I want you to know…

I love it when you…

I like it when…

I laugh when…

And if you’re still a little scared about writing in permanent pen on that journaling block you’ve already glued to your layout, grab a piece of scrap paper instead. Try out a few different Sentence Starters, get your story the way you want it, and then copy it onto your layout.

Here's my example.  Take this picture of my Charlie playing soccer:

And here's the journaling that could go with it:

I laugh when I see some of the exercises that Coach Nigel makes you guys do.  No, this is not a rendition of Beyonce's "Single Ladies", but just a reminder of which way you're going on the soccer field.  From putting your ears on the ball, to "Chickens vs Coyotes", to relay races, Coach really has you engaged.  I love that you love playing soccer, and if you still don't get a goal this year, I don't care.  I just want you to have fun.  GO RED ROCKETS!


Now it's your turn.  Choose a photo or a layout, choose a Sentence Starter and just get started.