Scrapbooks have been around since printed matter began to flow into the lives of ordinary people, a flow that became an ocean in nineteenth-century America. Though libraries can show us the vast archive-literally thousands of dailies, weeklies, monthlies, quarterlies, and annuals were flooding the public once mass-circulation was common-we have little knowledge of what, and particularly how people read. Writing with Scissors follows swimmers through that first ocean of print. We know that thousands of people were making meaning out of the swirl of paper that engulfed them. Ordinary readers processed the materials around them, selected choice examples, and created book-like collections that proclaimed the importance of what they read. Writing with Scissors explores the scrapbook making practices of men and women who had varying positions of power and access to media. It considers what the bookmakers valued and what was valued by the people or institutions that sheltered them over time. It compares nineteenth-century scrapbooking methods with current techniques for coping with an abundance of new information on the Web, such as bookmarks, favorites lists, and links. The book is part of a developing literature in cultural studies and book history exploring reading practices of ordinary readers. Scholars interested in the burgeoning field of print culture have not yet taken full advantage of scrapbooks, these great repositories of American memory. Rather than just using evidence from scrapbooks, Garvey turns to the scrapbook as a genre on its own. Her book offers a fascinating view of the semi-permeable border between public and domestic realms, illuminating the ongoing negotiation between readers and the press.

The ultimate guide to journaling, packed with prompts and ideas to spark creativity. For many people who want to keep a journal, the fear of the blank page can be a very real stumbling block, but is definitely something that can be resolved. In this essential guide, journaling expert Helen Colebrook offers up all her knowledge, tips and tricks to ensure you get truly bitten by the journaling bug. Through 101 layout examples, Helen shows you how to approach the design of a myriad of different journal pages, from mood trackers to gratitude spreads, monthly cover pages, daily, weekly and monthly planners, lists, project planners and more. She also covers ideas for junk journaling, adding watercolour to your journal and other ways to develop the artistic side of your journaling. This is a book that will be a constant companion, that you can use for inspiration whenever you need some new ideas for a fresh layout. But it's not just about the aesthetics of your journal - alongside the layouts Helen gives helpful prompts that will make you think about what you are journaling as much as how. These include thoughtful prompts and exercises to get you started on self-reflection and help you make writing a daily habit, alongside creative prompts to get your creative juices flowing. There are no end of ways to get creative in your journal and it can become a hugely relaxing and rewarding part of the process. The beauty of journaling is that there is no right or wrong, but sometimes we all need a little help and inspiration to help us get the most of this fulfilling hobby. This beautiful book is the perfect companion to Helen's debut book, Journal with Purpose, and alongside her YouTube tutorials and blog, will ensure you have all the tools and ideas you need to make your journal a thing of beauty and personal truth. With 101 layout ideas and 500 journal prompts... there's nothing stopping you from journaling with purpose too!