Where have you been caught doodling? In class? On the phone? In a meeting? No matter where you do it, doodles are a telltale sign of what you are thinking or feeling. Rather than hiding your doodle pad, why not become aware of these little soul stories as they emerge and translate them into journaling on your pages and cards. And, never, ever toss your children’s doodles, as these are sure to become meaningful illustrations of their personal and emotional growth.  

Creating that hand drawn doodle look on your digital pages is as easy as opening up almost any CottageArts Page Pak and using your imagination. There are oodles of doodles just waiting to be placed on pages to help tell your story. Stitchies I and II downloads are great introductions to a hand-stitched, sketched look, but there are dozens of other swirls and doodles to choose from. On the pages at right, I changed the color of some of the stitched elements to black to give them a doodle effect. 

Whether you use them as space fillers, accents to florals, or as a journaling place, these swirls and dots are sure to add interest give that handmade touch. A curvy swirl is a perfect place for your journaling. To place your journaling on a curve, first choose a font that meets the mood of the layout and then place one or two words at a time on the curved line tilting as necessary. Or, in Photoshop Elements, use the Layer>Type>Warp Text function. 

So, the next time you find yourself doodling the name of your latest crush or your subconscious desire to be basking on the beaches of Tahiti, put your doodles to good use and incorporate them on your creations (scan and extract). You’ll be amazed at the results!