Memorial Day gives us a time to remember our military heroes and their unmatched bravery. In our pens department, our goal is to share with you creative and practical ways to use archival pens in your projects. In honor of the service of our military women and men, this article will show you how to incorporate handwritten journaling with timeless style.



Before you begin any layout that will use old photos, do not work directly with the originals, make copies either scanned or with a copy machine printed on photo safe paper. This 12” x 12” layout was made using a black and white copy attached with photo corners on mattes of mulberry paper and cardstock. The first journaling piece to focus on is the date. The story of this petty officer was first handwritten on cardstock then individually cut to make “1949”. A Pigma Micron #05 Pen was used to write the story. This is a way to create unique patterned paper that not only looks nice but tells a story as well.



Here is a close-up view of Petty Officer Richter’s story also handwritten with the Pigma Micron #05 Pen, this time written on vellum. The brown ink of the pen matches the neutral tones of the background paper and cardstock. It is important to use a pen like the Pigma Micron that will last without smears, bleeding, or fading even after years of viewing.

Honoring those who serve our country is a priceless gift. They give their lives and as scrapbookers, we should do what we do best - capture their memory and tell their story for the world to know for years to come.

To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Browse our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.