30 Days in 1 Page

I enjoy looking back at our calendar and seeing what our family did during the month. The little notes and list of "things to do" bring back memories of the things I experienced that month. Scrapbook pages can provide the same reminiscent journaling. By designing a page that focuses on the notes of that month, you can remember a month more clearly.

One way to review a month is to feature journaling that tells the story of the month. Here's how to create a layout that reviews the events of one month.

1. Choose a Month. You may wish to do this for an entire year or just for one special month. Pick a month that has several special activities but also some more "normal" days to get the flavor of a typical month.
2. Gather Sources of Information. Gather your sources of information for that month. Appointment calendars, school newsletters, e-mails, photographs, etc. can all give you a reminder of what happened that month.
3. Record Activities as a Rough Draft. Using your information, journal about those days on paper or on a computer as a rough draft. Name the day such as "May 1: Drove to Pepperdine University with friends." Some days may be just a brief entry like "May 16: I'm sick."
4. Journal Final Draft. Using the rough draft, create your final journaling entry. It can either be a handwritten entry or a computer-created one. Include more details than in the rough draft, if you choose. The journaling can be laid out in several ways - a long list, a couple columns, a box for each week, etc. Organize your journaling and create its final form, then attach it to your layout.
5. Finish the Scrapbook Page Design. While the journaling is the main emphasis of the layout, also work on creating a fun, attractive page. Add a title. Do you have room for a photograph or two? If you want to include several photos, consider printing out small 1" or 2" photographs for the page.
6. Date It. Make sure you include the month and year on your page.

In my layout, I wrote about the month of May, which always seems so busy for me. I wanted to record why it tends to be very busy. I included a photograph and a large title.

Recording your month is an attractive and informative way to remember your day-to-day life.

Supplies from DesignerDigitals:

Jesse Edwards: Clean and Serene Solids, Little Tags Brushes
Katie Pertiet: Edges Brushes-n-Stamps
Mindy Terasawa: Pink Sonata kit (Alpha, ricrac, flower sticker)
Ali Edwards: The Story Brushes-n-Stamps

Supplies from Pixel Canvas: Quote Word Art