ella e-book giveaway




Journaling That Matters

Journaling is hard. Even for professional writers, deciding what to say on a layout can be truly challenging, let alone figuring out how to make it authentic, creative, and meaningful. But struggle no more, because help is on the way!

When I first began my adventure in scrapbooking just a few years ago, I didn't tell stories. I put photos that had a story, and I knew the story myself, onto pretty paper, embellished the layout, added a title and called it a finished piece of 12x12 art. Back then I only created 12x12 layouts. It was an article featuring Wendy Smedley that changed how I looked at layout sizes. She shared one of her own family scrapbooks showing that she mixed it up...12x12, 8.5x11, 8x8, 6x6...all in one album.

Something didn't feel right about my completed layouts, but I couldn't quite figure it out. Then, slowly, I realized that if I didn't tell the story, no one would. It was up to me to capture the moments in words that were captured in the  photographs in our scrapbook albums.

If you have travelled that same path, or are still on it, Ella Publishing has a new e-book to help you with your struggle. 
Journaling that Matters is packed with 51 easy tips to help you write from the heart without breaking a sweat. You'll love the expert advice, inspirational layouts, practical tips, and timeless suggestions that are suitable for writers of all levels—from the most experienced journalers to the most insecure. Kelly, Angie, and their eight talented contributors will help you unlock important stories and tell them with confidence. Also featuring the work of: Linda Barber, Moon Ko, Donna Jannuzzi, Layle Koncar, Audrey Neal, Keshet Shenkar, Wendy Smedley, and Stephanie Wheeler.
I have quite a few 'page kits' that I've put together myself {papers, embellishments, photos, cardstock} that are laying in a stack calling my name. They want me to tell their stories. With Journaling That Matters in hand, I narrowed down the stories I most wanted to tell out my stack and got to work. I'll share the results with you soon.


For your chance to win a copy of Journaling that Matters to call your very own, leave a comment telling me what story you most need to tell but haven't yet. Winners will be announced on Saturday, November 13th.

25 comments

  1. I have many stories to tell, but I sometimes can't find the ways. I am so proud of my daughters, but I wish their father was still here to see how they have grown. I have a huge tendancy to be a bit sad in my journalling.

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  2. The day my mom passed away. It is something I really need to tell ... but just can't seem to do it. I am afraid I won't get it right.

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  3. I really need to scrap my son's birth - he's 8 months old and I haven't even started his book yet! On a happier note, I'm finally getting to my summer mini. I'll blog about it in the next few days and link back to you!

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  4. I have stories from my childhood, experiences that only I can share. I am also the keeper of stories from when my children were small. I must write the stories or they will be lost forever!

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  5. I have to tell the story of my life with it's up's and down's..the story of the love to my boyfrient..and the joy to be the aunt of a cool and sweet little boy.. but often it's to hart to find the right words..

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  6. I've not been into scrapbooking, mostly I make cards. But I feel the need to leave someething behind for my soon to be granddaughter (de in January). I have tons of health issues and feel I may not have the chance to let her know all I want. So I'm starting a scrapbook of random thoughts. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

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  7. I need to tell the story of my daughter Grace's homecoming. She was referred to us as a healthy child and ended up having significant mental and physical delays/disabilities. I have stayed away from journalling her story because it is still so raw, it is filled with disappointments, dreams not realized and I am not sure how to start so that it is not all depressing but also capuures the joy that she brings us and has brought us every day of her life.

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  8. I need to share the story of my son Jackson's surgery due to a neural tube defect. He was just a year old at the time and I still tear up a little thinking about it. I have the pictures printed and ready to go, I just can't bring myself to write down the story just yet. It was such a scary time in our life, it's hard to go back and revisit it. But it's a really important part of Jack's life and he deserves to know about it.

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  9. My husband and I have moved five times in the eight years we've been together. Now that we have a son, I would like to remember and capture the time before he arrived. I want my son to be able to read about his parents, before they were his parents. The tiny apartments and the noisy neighbors, the different cities and the special times in each new place.

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  10. my story, my feelings... i often cannot put them on paper.

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  11. I would like to do more pages about the long ago past... I would like to get more information from my parents and grandparent to write down things I don't know about them...
    Keeping my fingers crossed for this great giveaway! :D

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  12. That would be the birth story of my twin daughters born at 23 weeks 5 days weighing 1.4 and 1.5 lbs. It's a hard story to tell & I've never written it down on paper. They are 4 years old now, healthy & happy 4 year olds, I've just never mustered up the courage to put it on paper. *sigh*

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  13. I feel as some earlier commentors have... it is hardest to journal about the less happy times in life.

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  14. I did some painful journaling earlier this week. We lost my BIL unexpectedly and he left a young widow and 3 small children. The good Lord gave us 3 unexpected visits with him this year (he lived 6 hours away). I had the Easter visit photos on my craft table to scrap. Painful as it was. I scrapped them and journaled the happy memory and time together. Difficult? Yes. Wonderful Memories? Absolutely

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  15. I know I scrapped my oldest daughters birth w/ story, but I never did my 9 year olds. I really need to get that on paper. I have so many stories to tell, I really need to get out of my slump! Thanks for the chance to win this!

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  16. so guess what i need to journal???? my summer album!!!

    but im really just commenting to let you know i LOVE your new blog heading - i saw you were tinkering with it.. and love the colors you ended up with :))

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  17. Journaling are very difficult for me...
    I don't scrapped my life after my husband and my daughter for the journaling!
    thanks

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  18. SO many stories need to be told. I am better at the little ones, like how my daughter plays "It's a Small World" over and over again on the kazoo, and worse at the big ones, like the stoies of my kids' births, and the story of how I met my hubby, and of our wedding...

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  19. I need to tell the story of my decision to start working part-time after 25 years of working fulltime - which seems crazy at this point of life, but it needs to be told.

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  20. I need to journal about my Dad so that my sons will know him. I find it very hard.

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  21. I would still love to tell the love story of how my parents met. Thanks for a chance to win!

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  22. I have heaps of stories to tell, but I want to my mom that I'm so grateful to her for making me the person that I am.

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  23. I generally do not journal so I have lots of stories to tell.

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  24. I want to journal about my mom - she died 9 years ago and never got to know my 2 youngest children. I want them to know about their grandma who would have been so in love with them. I still find this hard after 9 years. Thanks for the chance and for all of your inspiration.

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  25. I want to journal/tell the story about my Dad's family. they have an amazing story of survival during a Revolution in their country. Sadly, my Dad passed away when I was 4, and I only have spotty details, though enough to share. I don't want their stories to ever be forgotten.
    Amy in CA

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