guest blogger: Stephanie Howell

I've "known" Stephanie through 2Peas for quite some time, and like many of you, I've followed along as she blogged about life with her two girlies and a husband who was deployed in Afghanistan. There's just something about Stephanie that I really like: a kindness, a genuine glowing spirit. She's the kind of girl who can laugh at herself, but still carries a sense of vulnerability about her. She just strikes me as a great mix of t-shirts and pearls, or ratty jeans and high heels. And her smile just makes me smile -- I like that about her. Almost as much as I like what she has to share with you all today. :) Enjoy.

Journaling from the Heart

 

 My layouts are not complicated. They don’t showcase in-depth techniques. I don’t sew, stamp (much), or do paper piecing. I’m not a professional photographer.

While I think all of these things are fantastic (and wish I could be better at many of them!!!), they aren’t the focus of my layouts.

 

The focus of my layouts is getting the story down. Sharing photos that are important to me, and writing how they make me feel. 

 

I have many old photos from my family…what I don’t know is the emotions or story behind them. I’d give anything to know how my mom felt when she was falling in love with my dad. To know that  some days, she didn’t know what to do as a mother. That some days she was frustrated and overwhelmed…but full of love for her babies.

 

Those are the things I try to translate into scrapbooking pages. My pages are love letters for my children and my husband.

 

How do I journal? Simple. From the heart.

 

 My journaling is very stream-of-consciousness. I don’t have much of a filter. I kind of just write what I’m feeling. I look at the photo(s) I’m scrapping, and I write about how they make me feel. Things I want my family to know.

 

I want my girls to grow knowing they are treasured. And one day when they have babies of their own, they can rest assured that every mama goes through what they are going through (or at least their mama went through it!!).

 

My advice? Keep it authentic. All of your pages do not have to be schmaltzy, cheesy, or deep. Some might be and that’s great. Some might be light-hearted and funny. I love telling funny stories on my pages. Some pages might be introspective and a bit sad. Some will be hilarious. Just do what feels real to you.

 

Write what is in your heart.

Stephanie has been published in Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbook and Cards Today, Scrapbooks Etc., Memory Makers and Scrapbook Trends magazines. She designs for Lily Bee and Jenni Bowlin Studio and has guest designed for a multitude of wonderful companies. Stephanie lives in Georgia and is married to Jimmy, who is a Captain in the army. She is also a stay-at-home mom to Harper Elizabeth, who is three, and Sadie Caroline, who is almost two. In her spare time, she loves antiquing, reading, and watching reality tv (her dirty little secret). She dreams of learning to sew, embroider, knit, quilt, and cook (well). But most of all, she loves just being together as a family, and she relishes those moments…as they are few and far between.

Comments

[Mary Jo]

Gorgeous layouts!!!

[Julie O.]

You have described Stephanie so perfectly! I love her style too and her fun and humble heart. She was one of my first inspirations back in the day before she was ever published. Thanks for the advice on layouts and continued inspiration!

[Melissa]

I am so glad you featured Stephanie! She is one of my top- if not top- inspirations :)