Trending: Journal Cards

Trending: Journal Cards, How to use them on non-Project Life pages

Whenever I see journal cards, it doesn't matter the colors, the theme, the style, I want them. There's something completely irresistible about those little cards. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but I just can't not love them. I want to use them all the time.

But how to use them? I have not joined the Project Life trend, nor do I see myself joining in the near future, although those pockets seem almost as irresistible as the journal cards. It's just so neat! I've started keeping track of traditional layouts that use journal cards to help me use them in my own layouts.

Travel the World by Kelly Goree
This totally looks like a layout I would make. It's not minimalist, it's not simple, she's used all her elements. But it still uses the basic grid shape popularized by those plastic pockets.

Not Sure I Can by Staciahall
Again, not a minimalist layout, but the emphasis still stays on the two journal cards, even without photos. I love the idea of using journal cards in an art journal layout. It seems like it would be a helpful frame for journal-challenged people like me.

My Ella by Stampin_Rachel
I've seen this template used several times and every time I love it. There's room for adding in elements and papers, but the simple journal card layout keeps the emphasis where you want it.

by Anna Backstrom
Don't forget to use the power of digital, and change the size! In this layout more does equal better.

For Project Mouse by Sahlin Studio and Brittish Designs
Simple and classy, this layout demonstrates good use of clustering while keeping the focus on the photo and journaling.

For more inspiration layouts, see my Pinterest board here.

To help you take better advantage of this trend, we've added a new embellishment type "Journal Card," so you can easily browse what's available here at DigitalScrapbook.com.

I want to end by highlighting our great free PNG files and digital papers for scrapbooking. We have a lot of great items in both categories, so take a browse and enjoy!

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journal cards

Recent Comments

Melo Vrijhof Thu, 05/02/2013 - 04:28

Awesome post Marisa! I have stopped downloading journal cards because I never make project life-like layouts, but your examples show that it is very possible to do traditional type layouts with journals cards. Really inspired now! *running off to download a bunch of journal cards*

Lana Fischer Thu, 05/02/2013 - 03:20

Thanks for explaining the journaling cards a little better. Maybe I will give them a shot on my next few lo's. I actually have a ton of them but to find the right one on the right page might be the problem. I need to do some studying on different ways everyone uses them I guess.

Meg Bertapelle Wed, 05/01/2013 - 19:50

I totally agree - I'm obsessed with them too - even though I highly doubt I'd ever do the pocket style stuff :) love the examples you found! :)

Lizanne Killian Wed, 05/01/2013 - 19:26

I haven't gotten into these yet, though I've seen them just about everywhere! Maybe some day I'll give these a shot... The way I operate, though, it will probably be when it's no longer the trend. LOL

Sarah Lewis Wed, 05/01/2013 - 17:49

Thanks for highlighting some ways to use journal cards that may be different that our usual ways. You picked some beautiful pages as examples. I prefer to put my journaling on a card, rather than on the page itself. I think it makes the journaling stand out a bit and help the story be told a bit better.

Lórien Rezende Wed, 05/01/2013 - 15:47

I am a journal card lover colector, but just couldnt do pl-style LOs any time I tried, although I really like to see them made by other people. So, I usually use journal cards as big tags on my layouts... those are great ideas to use them in other ways.

Lisa Lavery Wed, 05/01/2013 - 11:39

I love journal cards in traditional layouts as well as Project Life. I am new to them but have found them to be very useful in making pages for moments that the story just needs to be told!

Brooke Gazarek Wed, 05/01/2013 - 11:19

Note with the layouts Marisa shows - that just because they are called journal cards, doesn't mean they are to journal on. LOTS of journal cards are actually cool-designed cards that are used just by themselves as elements (that don't get journaled on). However, there are also LOTS that ARE for journaling :) I'm loving them too!

And if you need to do a disney page - the "shout-out" to Project Mouse is just a tiny hint at what all they have. Sahlin Studio and Brittish Designs have some awesome Project Mouse digital kits based on journal cards (I think I have most of them - trying to scrap my Sept 2012 trip).

Brandi White Wed, 05/01/2013 - 08:38

I tried to resist the project life/journal card trend, but once I started using them... I can't stop! It makes scrapping so easy, and I'm so lazy, that it works well. ;)

Jenn Star Wed, 05/01/2013 - 07:36

Love them- whether you are a project life creator or a "regular" scrapper, they are very usable!

Kate Teske Wed, 05/01/2013 - 07:21

I totally agree with you! Every time I seem them, I want them. Something about them just draws me in. Glad to know I'm not the only one! :)

Lana Fischer Wed, 05/01/2013 - 06:50

Journaling cards are probably my least favorite thing, I think only because I haven't stopped and really thought about using them in a layout. Don't get me wrong, I find some very neat lo's (like those shown about) but it seems hard for me to use them. I also am lousy at journaling and thus don't do much of it and I know I will be sorry some day that I didn't do more of it. Thanks for the 'journal option' now on PS!

Blog By

Marisa Lerin

About Me

Hi There! I’m Marisa Lerin and you’ll see me around at DigitalScrapbook.com a lot. I started this site in 2010 soon after I discovered a new love in digital scrapbooking. DigitalScrapbook.com has gone through some significant changes since that time and it’s grown into this lovely community site you are seeing now. I am daily surprised by the turn of life’s events that has led me down this path. If you're new to the site, welcome! Here are a few tidbits about me that I hope will help you get to know me better!

I’m originally from Minnesota, USA, but spent a good chunk of my childhood living abroad (in Bolivia and Hong Kong). I returned to Minnesota to attend university, got married and then moved overseas again (Korea, then Jordan and 1 year of traveling). My designs are heavily influenced by these many nomadic years. I am currently back in the USA, now living in the great state of Oregon!

I have no official training for what I’m doing, since I decided very wisely (haha) to study physics in university. I am always learning new things about digital scrapbooking, and this community has been immensely helpful for that!

If I manage to stop digital scrapbooking you will probably find me watching TV, reading or baking. I also enjoy writing for the blog here at DigitalScrapbook.com where I talk about whatever happens to be catching my fancy at the moment.