Picking back up with our list of alphabetical prompts for Book of Me scrapbook pages, here are some ideas inspired by the letter ‘C’ – 70 more reasons to Go Scrap Yourself!

1. What were your favorite classes in school?  What class(es) would you like to take now?
2. What is your favorite color? Has that changed over time?
3. What was your first car?  What car do you have now, and why did you choose it?
4. What is your dream career?  How close have you come to it?
5. Define character.  Who embodies specific strong character traits for you?
6. List 10 Good and 10 Bad choices you have made.
7. Do you believe in 2nd chances?  When have you granted one?  When have you received one?
8. Describe any childhood summer camp memories.  How do you feel about camping now?
9. If you went to college, do you still follow any of the campus events?  Do you return for Homecoming?
10. If you didn’t go to college, what did you do during that time instead?
11. Do you believe in coincidences?  Or are similar events a matter of Fate/Destiny? Do you have any personal examples?
12. What is your biggest challenge?  What is a challenge you have overcome?
13. What makes you cry?  Sappy movies? Pride in children’s accomplishments? Hurtful remarks?
14. List some of your cravings.  Do you often give in to cravings?  Describe a time when you denied a craving.
15. Describe how your creativity presents itself in your life. What examples of your creativity do you find around your home?
16. How do you react to change?
17. Describe someone in your life who embodies courage.  How/when have you been courageous?
18. Describe your first crush, and how you felt when you were near that person.
19. List various crushes you have had over the years, in a timeline format.
20. If you celebrate Christmas, what are your favorite parts/elements of the holiday?
21. If you celebrate Christmas, journal about your favorite Christmas ornament(s), including their history.
22. What do you remember most about your childhood?
23. How do you celebrate small successes in your life?
24. How do you feel about chores/cleaning?  Share any unique tips you have gathered throughout the years, including the source.
25. What about you is contagious?  What have you “caught” from other people?
26. Were/Are you a fan of any cartoons/comic books/strips?  Which ones?  What did you like best about them?
27. Compare & contrast your life 10 years ago, and now.
28. Where do you enjoy a feeling of community?  How does that group help others feel included?
29. What is your favorite candy?  How often do you indulge?
30. Are you a “cat person”?  If so, describe what makes you so.  If not, describe someone you know who is, and how you are different.
31. Compare & contrast “cat people” and “dog people”.
32. What do you think of the word “can’t“?  What did your parents think of the word?
33. In what area(s) do you have a “can-do” attitude?
34. Have you ever had to go to (judicial) court? Why? What was the result?
35. Have you ever been courted (as in wooed)? How would someone ideally/properly woo you?
36. What role does clutter play in your life?
37. What is your comfort level with chaos?  How do you avoid it?
38. List your creature comforts.
39. Describe any work you do with charities. Do you have a “pet” charity?
40. Do you have any collections?  Did your parent(s) or grandparent(s) have a memorable collection?
41. Describe someone you think has charisma.
42. List any national/global catastrophes that have occurred during your lifetime.  What do you remember most about them?
43. When are you bad company?
44. Do you like entertaining company in your home?
45. Describe how a medical condition (yours or someone else’s) has affected your life.
46. What makes a good companion?  Who has been good companion(s) to you?
47. Have you ever been a part of a cast of a play or musical?  What role did you play?
48. How do you react when someone gives you a compliment?  Do you often give compliments?
49. What disease would you most like to see cured in your lifetime?
50. Think of your life in terms of cycles.  What cycles, or phases, have you gone through?
51. What are some signs that someone cares for you?
52. Describe a day that turned out to be a comedy of errors for you.
53. Name your favorite comedy movies, or comedians.
54. Chocolate – yes/no? In what forms?
55. Describe your feelings about your country.
56. Would you describe yourself as a city or country person?  Why?
57. Are you a person that values control?  How does that play out in your life? How well does it work for you?
58. How and when has someone shown you compassion?
59. Describe a time when “circumstances beyond my control” applied for you.
60. What type of climate do you prefer?

Free Association Word Bank – “C” words

• Calm
• Candle
• Carpe Diem
• Ceremony
• Champagne
• Church
• Choir
• Children
• Clean
• Cookie

Find the full alphabetical archive of Book of Me journaling prompts here: Book of Me, From A to Z! Scrapbook Journaling Ideas by the Letter

This list was originally published the now-defunct ezine Illuminating Visions, produced by ScrapAngels.com.  It was compiled with the help of forum members at ScrapAngels.com.  Thanks to all those who contributed.

If you want to know more about your mother’s or grandmother’s (or aunt’s, or friend’s…) life, there’s an easy way to ask.  Give her  her own copy of The Book of Me!

The Book of Me - Learn how to scrap All About Me pages!

This 80-page book is the “textbook” for documenting one’s life and creating scrapbook pages with meaningful journaling.  The journaling prompts, photo ideas, and layout examples walk you through how to “milk” your life for juicy details, and getting them documented.

Give Mom or Grandma this tool, and you will be encouraging her to tell her own stories, reaffirming that you *want* to hear her stories, in her own words.  Give her this gift, and she’ll give you one right back – the gift of herself.

Learn more about The Book of Me and order signed copies direct from the author here: The Book of Me: A Guide to scrapbooking about yourself.

P.S. Mom and Grandma might also like Growing Up Me and The Book of Us, too! You can get a special discount when you order all three books!

I’ve stumbled across several new-to-me Book of Me scrapbooking challenges on various message boards, so I thought I would share the links here:

• Scrap N’ Art has a short Book of Me series going on their blog – check out post 5 of 6 on “Wise Investments“.  Scrap N’ Art is a bi-weekly traditional and digital scrapbooking, card making and paper crafting magazine, available by PDF.
• ScrapMatters has an ongoing challenge called “My Story Matters” (found via My Memories Suite’s blog).  There are about 18 challenges posted so far.
• The Cricut message board has a couple of Book of Me challenge threads – a current challenge, and an archived one.  This blog post by Miss Dee shares some layouts inspired by the current Cricut board challenge.
• The Modern Molly Mormon blog has a hopefully recurring category for Book of Me posts/challenges – here is Book of You, Part 1 and Book of You, Part 2.  The My Inkstand blog posted some journaling inspired by the first MMM post.
• Scrapbook Elements has an ongoing challenge thread, with several months’ challenges archived and lovely inspiration in the layout gallery.

Feel free to share a link to any ongoing challenges you know about.

And don’t forget to check out the book that started it all – The Book of Me: A Guide to Scrapbooking about Yourself.

Celebrate Me!

© Angie Pedersen

The core of a Book of Me scrapbook is the journaling.  It’s hard to tell your stories without words.  But that doesn’t mean that telling your stories has to be hard.  Journaling can be easy – just use lists.  You can quickly and easily create short albums about yourself based on themes – your dreams, your goals, your favorite things, childhood anecdotes.  Just jot down some quick lists and you’ve begun to tell your story – the story only you can tell.

Here are some quick ideas for list topics you can add to your Book of Me scrapbook:

Three Things – Make a “Me” album

• Three screen names you have had
• Three things you like about yourself
• Three things you don’t like about yourself
• Three parts of your heritage
• Three things that scare you
• Three of your everyday essentials
• Three things you are wearing right now
• Three of your favorite songs
• Three things I want in a relationship
• Three things you can’t do without
• Three places you want to go on vacation
• Three things you just can’t do
• Three Celebrity crushes

Ten Things – Make a “Me, X10″ album

• Ten Things I Love about (a person, i.e. my husband)
• Ten Things I Love about (a place, i.e. my hometown)
• Ten Things to do in My Lifetime
• Ten Things I Love about being a (role, i.e. a Mom, or a Christian)
• Ten Movies I Love
• Ten People Who Have Influenced Me
• Ten Places I’d Like to Travel
• Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Me
• Ten Favorite Books
• Ten Things that Tick Me Off
• Ten Blessings
• Ten Favorite Music Artists/Groups
• Ten Things that Have Helped Me Grow
• Ten Favorite Family Recipes
• Ten Things in My Purse

Once you wrap your brain around scrapbooking about yourself, you can find Book of Me scrapbooking ideas just about anywhere.  I discovered one yesterday morning in church.

The minister is working his way through a sermon series on “Indispensable Relationships”, based on Dr. Leonard Sweet’s book of the same name.  And while the book (and obviously the sermon itself) is Bible-based, I think the concept could be applied to anyone’s situation, regardless of one’s chosen spiritual following.

Dr. Sweet’s book (and thus, the sermon series), uses eleven figures from the Bible to highlight key personal attributes that make up “God’s Dream Team” for one’s life.  According to Amazon, the book encourages you to not only seek out such people, but to find your place in the lives of those around you.  Interesting concept.

The sermon focused on the biblical character of Deborah, a prophetess & judge from the book of Judges (specifically Judges 4:1-10).  I’ll admit to not really knowing the story too well, and being a little hazy on the actual political details of the battle(s).  Thank goodness for Wikipedia:

The victory to which the Bible refers is the victory of the Israelites over the Egyptian supporting forces of Sisera the general of Jabin the king of Hazor. Barak agreed to this only after Deborah agreed to accompany him into battle. Judges 4:9 recounts Deborah’s assent to Barak’s request: “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kadesh.”

The key idea – and relationship attribute – to take away from this character is one of a “Back Coverer”, as in who’s “got your back”?  The minister offered several examples of when you might see examples of this attribute in people in your life.

• When someone says, “I will pray for you.”
• When someone encourages others to listen to you or to take action
• When someone guards your blind side, and takes up after your shortcomings (we all have them!)
• When a running back runs interference for the quarterback
• When someone stands up for the need of another, such as through charitable works
• someone who acts with the ethic of caring and sheltering another

As I listened to these examples of how to uncover the “Deborah” in those around us, I thought about what an interesting Book of Me layout that would make.  So I encourage you to dig deep into your memories, and uncover your own Deborah.

• Who stands by your side and has ‘got your back’?
• Who takes up your cause and champions it as their own?
• Who helps you find your own courage to stand up for your beliefs?
• And when have you been a Deborah?

I also encourage you to be aware of noteworthy personality attributes of other book characters you ‘meet’ – whether biblical or in your favorite novel.  When have you recognized those characteristics in those around you?  This concept would make an interesting theme album – character attributes brought to life, in your life.  I’d love to hear what you come up with.

Continuing with our list of alphabetical prompts sure to get your journaling juices flowing, we’ll move on to words that start with the letter “B”.  Here are 31 more reasons not to put off writing about YOUR life!

1. Do you have any brothers?  Do you wish you did/didn’t?
2. What are your religious beliefs? How have they changed throughout your life?
3. Name some specific places where you find beauty.
4. How do you deal with bereavement?
5. Have you ever been to a live ballet performance? What did you think of it?
6. Document some memorable baptism ceremonies you have attended or participated in.
7. What is your favorite way to spend your birthday?  Do a page about your most favorite birthday memory.
8. Describe some things to which you have given birth (people, creations, ideas, etc).  What was the birthing process like?
9. Document a moment of bravery you have witnessed or experienced.
10. Do you have any memories related to bowling or baseball?
11. What do you like about babies?
12. Share your thoughts about boys.
13. Do you have any particularly poignant (or embarrassing) boyfriend moments?
14. What do you remember about baking from your childhood?  Any favorite recipes for baked goods?
15. What makes you breathless (or takes your breath away)?
16. List your blessings.
17. Name your favorite bands.
18. What are your favorite books? (of all time, or your current reading list)
19. How would you like to decorate your bedroom?
20. List your favorite brands (of clothing, or food, or that your grandmother always had on hand)
21. What bothers or bugs you?
22. What board games did you play growing up?  Do you play any now?
23. Describe a memory of a blind date (or just a bad date).
24. What do you do when you’re bored?
25. Have you ever broken any bones? (yours, or someone else’s?)
26. What do you do to keep balance in your life? (Or where do you most need to find some?)
27. Do you have any memories of boats?
28. Who taught you to ride a bicycle?  Describe your childhood bike.
29. Describe your favorite memory of the beach.
30. To what do you have bragging rights?
31. Write about your favorite babysitter (or the kids for whom you most loved to babysit)

Check back soon for more Book of Me scrapbooking inspiration from the Letter C!

Find the full alphabetical archive of Book of Me journaling prompts here: Book of Me, From A to Z! Scrapbook Journaling Ideas by the Letter

This list was originally published the now-defunct ezine Illuminating Visions, produced by ScrapAngels.com.  It was compiled with the help of forum members at ScrapAngels.com.  Thanks to all those who contributed.

Book of Me Topics by the Letter

© Angie Pedersen and Tammy Thomas

The next time you’re wondering what page to do in your Book of Me scrapbook, just turn to the alphabet! There are unlimited possible Book of Me scrapbooking ideas!

Consider these questions when looking through these lists:

• How am I _____?
• What is my greatest ______?
• What is my favorite _____?
• What was my most memorable _____?
• How do I experience _____ in my life now?  How have I experienced it in the past?
• What/Who does ____ make me think of?
• What makes me _____?
• Who have I done this with/to/for?

Let’s start with the Letter A!

Scrap your:

• abilities
• achievements
• addictions
• athletic pasttimes (or complete lack of inclination!)
• attitudes

Who are your favorite:

• actors
• actresses
• authors
• ancestors
• artists (musical, paint, sculpture, scrapbooking, digital, etc – in fact, how do you define art?)

How is your life abundant?

How do you handle arguments?

What are your common or long-standing appointments?

What do you appreciate in your life?  What makes you feel appreciated?

What do you consider an “adventure“?

How are you an activist?

Do you have “Anger Management” issues?

Have you ever been arrested?

What are some of your lesser-known anniversaries?  Do you celebrate them?

What are your aspirations?

Find more Book of Me scrapbooking inspiration from the Letter B!

Find the full alphabetical archive of Book of Me journaling prompts here: Book of Me, From A to Z! Scrapbook Journaling Ideas by the Letter

This list was originally published the now-defunct ezine Illuminating Visions, produced by ScrapAngels.com.  It was compiled with the help of forum members at ScrapAngels.com.  Thanks to all those who contributed.

Book of Me Topics by the Letter

© Angie Pedersen and Tammy Thomas

The next time you’re wondering what page to do in your Book of Me scrapbook, just turn to the alphabet!  There are unlimited possible Book of Me scrapbooking ideas!

Just open the dictionary to a random page, and choose a word.  Consider these questions:

• How am I _____?
• What is my greatest ______?
• What is my favorite _____?
• What was my most memorable _____?
• How do I experience _____ in my life now?  How have I experienced it in the past?
• What/Who does ____ make me think of?
• What makes me _____?
• Who have I done this with/to/for?

We have compiled some word ‘banks’ for you to help stimulate your journaling juices, arranged in alphabetical order, of course!  You’ll find an archive list of posts, after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Journal Jar

It would be easy enough to give someone a book on memoir-writing, and tell them to just start writing. And that might be motivation enough.

However, a whole book can be overwhelming to some people, or they may just not take the time to read the whole thing. Another way to get someone (including yourself!) writing about his or her life is to give them a “journal jar”.

Step 1: Make a list of questions you would want to know about that person’s life. Consider all the things you want to know about your great-grandparents, for instance, the questions you never got answered.

Step 2: Write these questions down on paper, and cut the paper into little strips, one question per strip.

Step 3: Place the strips in an empty jar, either pretty glass or even a cleaned-out empty peanut butter jar.

Step 4: Instruct the gift recipient to remove a slip of paper each day/week/month, and respond to the question. Each question is meant to evoke a memory, hopefully encouraging the person to WRITE THAT STORY DOWN (or at least share it verbally).

Step 5: You can make the jar pretty by covering the lid with fabric and a ribbon. What a wonderful gift!

Don’t hesitate to make one for yourself too! Any way you can encourage YOURSELF to save your stories is wonderful! And remember, each of these journal jar prompts can be the subject of a scrapbook page! You will never lack a subject for a page again! (Read more about using prompts as inspiration for scrapbook layouts here)

And don’t worry if you don’t have a picture for the memory that comes to mind — read more about scrapping with few or no photos here.

Here are some links to sites that offer hundreds of questions to include in a journal jar:

• Journal Jars at Young Women Connection
• Journal Jars at The Young Women’s Corner (some Bible-based prompts here)
• How to Make a Journal Jar by Merle O’Brien
• Gifts in a Jar: Journal Jar at HolidayOrganizer.com
• Sego Lily
• David Kellin’s writing prompts
• Journal prompts for children
• More prompts for kids (could be fun for adults, too!)
• Biography Assistant at Genealogy.com

Go ahead….save some stories with the gift of a journal jar!

Here are some recent “tweets” I’ve posted to my Book of Me Twitter account.

• February Book of Me Challenge at SBElements.com – A Most Unforgettable Evening
• Writing tips from author of Making History: How to Remember, Record, Interpret & Share the Events of Your Life
• Have you heard of Story Circle Network? Women exploring their lives by exploring their personal stories. http://storycircle.org
• Did you know WritersDigest.com offers journaling prompts? http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts
• One of my favorite journal prompt books – List Your Self:
  Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery
• On the Hodge Podge Art blog, a pictureless layout challenge
• Get thought-provoking journaling prompts from this list: Weekly
  Journal Exercise
• “Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine…the true poetry of life. — Sir William Osler What things/events/people contribute to the “true poetry” of *your* life?
• February Book of Me Challenge from Ali – Scrap your 10 favorite things (not people) – see an example layout here
• New Book of Me challenge starting at Australian site ScrapbookDivas
• Printable journaling boxes in a variety of colors
• Keeping a spiritual journal or scrapbook by Rev. Patrick Comerford
• Freebie digital download – Layout Template by Lindsay Jane Designs – great for several photos or lots of journaling!