The Secret Recipe for Telling Your Story, Your Way
A few simple ingredients transform your journaling or scrapbooking into something deeply and totally you.
Hi friends, when I’m sitting down to make my Daily Pages, I’m not always trying to create something finished or polished. A lot of the time, I’m even using those pages as a place to brainstorm the bigger stories I want to tell—stories about who I am right now, what’s changing, and what I want to remember later.
Sometimes that looks like a list. Sometimes it’s a photo collage or a messy page full of random visual stuff like papers or embellishments. But when I flip back through those notebooks, I can see the patterns of my life take shape. The ingredients are always there: pictures, words, creative supplies, and little bits of life.
That’s what this week’s post is all about—figuring out your own story ingredients, the ones that make your documenting feel meaningful, personal, sustainable and totally you.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this email:
How pictures, words, creative supplies, and bits of life each tell a part of your story
Why your combination of ingredients is completely unique
How to document what matters—without trying to capture everything
Ready to dive in? Let’s mix up your story recipe.
Pictures: The Visual Layer of Your Story
Pictures are invitations. They show us what matters without needing any explanation. Whether it’s a selfie, a photo of your desk, or the shadow of your coffee mug, every image carries a piece of your life.
Try capturing:
Everyday objects that represent your routines
Moments of emotion rather than posed perfection
Found or symbolic imagery—textures, patterns, colors
Your photos don’t have to be technically perfect. The blurry ones count too—they often hold the most truth.
Your Turn: What’s one photo from your camera roll that tells a story about your life this week?
Words: The Heartbeat of Your Story
Not every story needs paragraphs. Sometimes a single word or a quick list can hold everything you need to say.
You might write:
Lists — your Currently List, favorite things right now, small joys
Captions — a single line under a photo
Freewriting or poetry — when you want to go deeper
Borrowed words — quotes, lyrics, or bits of text that resonate
Inside my Feminist Scrapbook School, we use lists and short reflections to get into the rhythm of storytelling. It’s a reminder that your words don’t have to be big—they just have to be yours.
Your Turn: What kind of writing feels most natural to you right now—lists, notes, reflections, or something else?
Creative Supplies: The Playful Layer
Your supplies are more than tools—they’re your creative voice in color, shape, and texture. They help you express what words can’t.
Experiment with:
Color palettes that match your mood
Textures like collage, paint, or layered paper
Minimal or maximal design—both can be powerful
Mixed media—try blending your materials just for fun
There’s no rulebook here. Use what you already have. Play until it feels like you.
Your Turn: What supply or creative technique brings you the most joy right now?
Bits of Life: The Tangible Details
This is where the magic of memory lives—in the scraps, fragments, and leftovers of everyday life.
Save what sparks recognition or emotion:
Ticket stubs, receipts, or packaging
Notes or handwriting—yours or someone else’s
Pressed flowers or found papers
Magazine clippings or stickers that feel like your aesthetic
These little artifacts tell the real story of your days. They remind you that you’ve been here, living and creating.
Your Turn: What small, ordinary thing could you tuck into your next page to remind Future You of right now?
The Secret Ingredient: Intention
No matter what mix of ingredients you use, the most important one is always intention.
A good self-documenting project isn’t about having the “right” supplies or perfect photos—it’s about paying attention to what feels important to you.
Instead of asking, What should I document? try asking, What do I want to remember?
That one shift changes everything.
Download the Worksheet Below
Want to explore your own story ingredients? I’ve made a printable worksheet to help you list out the creative elements that feel most like you.
🖤 Paid subscribers: Download the “Your Story Ingredients” worksheet at the bottom of the page and start filling it in.
💌 Free readers: Upgrade today to get the worksheet (and access to the full Your Story Matters archive).
Here’s what we covered today:
Pictures, words, creative supplies, and bits of life all tell part of your story.
Your mix of ingredients is personal—and always evolving.
Intention turns documentation into connection.
Action step: Choose one ingredient that’s calling to you and make a page with it this week.
Talk to you next week!
xoxo,
Kristin
P.S. If you’re enjoying these newsletters, please consider sharing this edition with a friend who might need a little creative boost today.