Simple Journal Ideas, Fashion Look Books and Stinky Zink!

Dear Scribblers

A little over two months ago, I posted photos on my Instagram (@TheCraftyScribe) showing a couple of boxes of my finished notebooks and scrapbooks:

https://instagram.com/p/6kIMayKwc_/

Then last month, I uploaded pictures of the inside of one of my Smythson journals from 2009, where I'd used magazine cuttings to form focus pages of goals, dreams and aspirations. A journal equivalent of an inspiration board, or even nowadays, Pinterest!

https://instagram.com/p/8TT1Cuqwax/

I've always liked using magazine snippings to add colour and life to journalling pages. However, if you are new to this, here's one way of inserting cut-outs into your writing in its simplest form. 

If you are like me and love flicking through the fashion magazines, like Vogue and Elle, for your favourite looks to come, each season, tear out the ones that catch your eye. Even if the designer prices are out of your league, when the styles trickle down into the high street stores, you've created your own look book, so you know what you're looking for come the next season. You may even save time and money once you go shopping, as you already know what styles you're searching for. Here's some of mine from Spring/Summer 2011!

It's also fun to return to, years after, to see if your taste has changed, and remember what you actually bought.

I even cut out a title, comment or tag line, if it resonates with me: 

I sometimes add my favourite makeup to the page, or even create a separate cosmetics/skincare look book, if that season warrants it. Here I glued in a Chanel nailpolish I wanted, and then when I actually bought it, I cut out the front of the packaging and stuck that in, too!

Black Pearl is still one of my favourites, unfortunately, it was limited edition, and is now discontinued. (I have a tiny bit left, which I'm saving for a special occasion, but I'd better use it soon otherwise it'll be unusable. Sigh!) The product may be no more, but at least I have the memory and proof of owning it all there in my journal. 

Another simple way I add colour and pictures to my notebooks is, of course, photographs! Sometimes, it's via professional prints, often it's from my own home printed snaps. 

I occasionally use normal A4 photo paper in my main home printer, adding a number of smaller pics to one sheet, ready to cut out and use. 

The old way I worked, almost on a daily basis, was with my tiny Polaroid Pogo pocket printer with 3x2inch sticky-backed Zink photos, as shown here:

That's a great way to add atmosphere to a page. All I've done here was take a quick snap of this beautiful coloured glass tea-light candle holder showing the light from the flame bouncing off the walls. I was writing about the winter crisp dark nights and how lovely it was to be snuggled in at home after a day's Christmas shopping. It seems to add extra dimension to the words. 

One note: when I've gone back to the books where I've inserted a lot of Zink Pogo photos, I've noticed a strong stale smell that similar books of a similar age do not! It's a little off-putting, and can only be coming off these prints. Has anyone else noticed that?

I'm now using a Canon Selphy CP910 photo printer for all my journalling and scrapbooking needs, which I'm really enjoying. Does anyone else use a different photo-only printer? I'd love to hear your recommendations. 

I understand these are only two of many quick and simple ways of going beyond words in your journals, and knowing my very intelligent and clued-in Scribblers, I'm sure a sentence containing, "Granny" and "Eggs" along with "Teach" and "Suck" will probably come to mind, but I really hope you've enjoyed seeing inside my notebooks, and I hope to share more very soon. 

Happy Scribing!

1. Please note that I am not connected to any companies mentioned in this post. I do not receive any products, funding or gifting from these businesses. All products shown have been bought by me, or gifts from family or friends. I mention the items because I like them or have my own private opinion about them. It's just little old me talking about ma stuff! ;-)

2. If you would like to see more of anything in this series, or would like me to discuss something else, please write a comment below, or 'like' and leave a comment by my Instagram photo, letting me know what you would like me to post photos and write about. 

3. If you like what you read, don't forget to bookmark this site, and please share it with your friends. 

4. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram - @TheCraftyScribe which I update regularly with all things crafty, scribbling, beauty, fashion, the cats, sci-fi, fantasy, and the ephemera of 42*................... 

*42 = Life, The Universe and Everything!