Jog Your Memory

Dream Team Member, Jana Morton

Hello, Jana Morton here.  I will admit that my memory has much to be desired.  Last week my husband was talking about a football game that we watched together 12 years ago.  He knew the score of the game, the weather conditions and the name of the kicker who scored the winning field goal.  Chances are good that I couldn’t tell you who we watched play the day before.  I think this is one of many reasons that I am such a diligent scrapbooker.  There are so many details that I know will be lost if I don’t write them down or document them in some manner.

One of my most favorite ways of documenting the details is to take 10-15 minutes and write down as much as I can about my subject.  I like this journaling style because it is fast and I can document a lot.  With a new year upon us, I recently created a page about 2012 by journaling in this manner.  I wanted to record as many details about our year as I could before they were lost for good.  I love having so many details recorded on one page.

Credits: Katie Pertiet (Hey There Kit, Almost There Kit, Clean Stitched Circles, Little Shores Kit, Hinge Pack, Time Clusters, Filed Stacks, Fineline Borderlines, Word Labels: Love)

I also use this method of journaling when documenting the various stages of my children’s lives.  Every year I create a page for each of my three children.  I write down every little detail that I can think of from what stuffed animals they sleep with to the types of music they prefer.  I often say “I will never forget that” but the truth is that I often do.  These are my favorite pages to look back on because it brings me right back to each stage that they were in.

Credits: Cathy Zielske (Booberry Paper, Word Art) Katie Pertiet (Vintage Book Paper Pack No. 03, Crowning Affair: Vibrant Kit, Stuffed Edge Journalers No. 01, Carte Post Kit, Clock Parts No. 06, Fastened Frames No. 04, Sealife Memories Kit, Flagged Sentiments No. 01, Lifted Wings No. 05, Twisted Stitches No. 02) Maplebrook Studios (Jelly Alphabet No. 31, Jacinda, Kit)

What details would you like to preserve about 2012, a loved one or even yourself?  I encourage you to take 15 minutes and write everything that you can think of that pertains to your subject.  Years from now, you will be so happy that you took the time to do so.  To make this page come together even faster, I’m providing you with a template based on my page for 2012.

You can download it here.  Grab a pen, a piece of paper, a stop watch and start writing.  Ready, set, write!