Memory Journal Cards

Happy New Year, crafty friends! We made it to 2021! I am really looking forward to the new year and all of the hope it brings for new beginnings. Each year I like to start with a few “words of focus” and a small collection of quotes or memories. This year, I’m choosing to put those goals on a few memory cards again. This is a quick way to document memories without the large commitment of an entire journal. It makes me feel accomplished. So, let me show you how to make a few for yourself!

The first step is deciding a theme – and what you will write on your memory cards! I chose 3 focus words this year and I’ll be writing things on the back of my cards as I find moments to remember or quotes to collect. The words I’ve chosen will help me to be more present in 2021: laugh, love and smile. These words need a bright and cheery color scheme and the Astrobright Pulsar Pink was the perfect color for this!

Along with the Astrobright Pulsar Pink, I’m using Classic Crest Solar White Linen and Basis Black for the card bases. This color scheme is vibrant and peppy – just like I hope 2021 will be! I’m using a die cut from Heidi Swapp, called a MemoryDex card, which is stored in a rolodex-style bin. However, another good option is cutting your CutCardStock to a 3.5′ by 5.5′ card and punching a hole in the corner, then hanging them from a key ring. You can also connect them using journal planner disks sold in many craft stores. I assembled several of my background die cuts from my stash, like these houndstooth and circle patterns, and cut layers in the Basis Black and Solar White to lay over the Pulsar Pink. These add texture and a pop of color!

I had quite a few embellishments that coordinated with these colors, like ribbon, buttons and script dies to choose from. Laying everything out on a table is the best way for me to choose color schemes and themes. I realized I wanted a bit more girly-bling (official term!) in my cards, so I also started cutting some shapes, like hearts and flags, in Curious Metallic White Silver. Just upped the glitz factor! And, I found several stickers by Tim Holtz that would add more journaling to the front as well.

Here’s a close up view of the flag and heart using the Curious Metallic White Silver paper. On this card, I used a pop dot to raise the flag banner up for more dimension. Everything is secured using a clear setting glue and allowing it to dry.

On the “love” card, I added a pink and black paint splatter with a toothbrush to a polaroid frame and then stamped a few hearts on the card. It still needed a little bit more dimension, so I took a fine tip black pen and drew hearts, dots and borders in as well.

This project has brought me so much joy! It’s already feeling like a great start to the year, and I’m wishing that for you all too. Are you setting goals or journaling this year? Make sure you pin these ideas to your Pinterest boards for future inspiration – and of course, check out the cheery color options on the CutCardStock site too. Cheers!