Welcome to “Thoughts for Thursday”… a new feature of my blog where each Thursday I (and various guest bloggers) will highlight or express thoughts on creativity and life. This week my TFT comes from Mary Ihla, a memoir writing consultant, who also happens to be a fellow artist in some online crafting groups I belong to.

Sometimes I am sad when I look through the scrapbooks of my own and friends that have wonderfully embellished pages using the hottest new “blingy thing” or technique, but there is not even a date on the pages, let alone a story. I want to know more!

Thank you Mary for your wonderful insight!

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The Importance Of Journaling
By Mary Ihla (Used with permission.)

Journaling is what sets a scrapbook apart from a photo album. It’s what makes a spectacular layout more than simply a work of art. In addition to the basic “who,” “where,” and “when,” the words on your scrapbook pages perform a variety of functions, including:

* Telling the stories behind the photos.
* Expressing thoughts and emotions.
* Documenting events and activities.
* Recording personal and family history.
* Delving into the details of everyday life.

A catchy title, a name, and a date are seldom enough. So, how do you know if you’ve done a sufficient amount of journaling? If you add oral commentary when sharing your scrapbooks, you probably need to do more writing. Remember, you won’t always be around to talk about your pages.

Your challenge this week is to stroll through your scrapbook pages and see if your pages speak for themselves.

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart…”
~William Wordsworth