In a few simple steps, you can be on your way to designing a handmade baby scrapbook. Then the fun begins, adding photos of your brand new baby girl or boy! There are many pre-made baby albums available where the layout pages are already completed and you just add photographs. Make the scrapbooks more personal with creative touches of your own.
Step by Step
Organization
As your child takes their first baby steps, you will be there with camera in hand to record the momentous occasion! It will not be long before you have quite a collection of photographic moments. The first step in creating a handmade baby scrapbook is organizing all the pictures.
Plan
The second step is to create a framework for setting the scrapbook pages in motion. Decide on the title, cover page, introduction, and each individual section to include in the book. Planning an outline helps visualize which materials are needed and avoids using duplicate copies of photographs.
Page Layout
Choose the size, color scheme, and theme for the handmade baby scrapbook. Coordinating colors and embellishments help tie the designs together nicely. The small details turn an ordinary scrapbook into a treasured heirloom.
Types of Paper Kits
There are all sorts of paper kits available to make handcrafting a baby scrapbook easier. Browse online and in craft shops to find kits, which fit your project. Small, inexpensive paper kits usually contain color coordinated stickers and cutouts.
Larger, more costly kits include the works such as adhesive, scissors, album, rubber stamps, and everything you need to design a handmade baby scrapbook. Packages containing rub-on transfers, lettering, and numbers help assembly pages with ease.
Ideas for Handmade Baby Scrapbook
Try calligraphy handwriting by using special pens. This style of elegant writing gives flair to the scrapbook and shows artistic talent (even if you think you do not have any!) Kits are available at most bookstores.
* Use scrap paper you collect or delicate handmade paper.
* Your child's hand-made drawings in crayon, chalk, marker, or finger paints bring a sweet touch.
* Paste coordinating envelopes of various sizes on scrapbook pages. Put cherished items inside such as hospital wristbands, hair bows, and first haircut.
* Use a baby footprint stamp and colored ink to decorate pages with baby feet prints and handprints.
* Write baby a letter to express your excitement over their arrival and what being a Mom means to you.
* Stain blank white paper by soaking it in tea or coffee to make a new page look old.
* Save all the welcome new baby cards received and holiday greeting cards your child receives to put in the handmade scrapbook.
* Dry the flowers that you are given after the birth and press into the scrapbook.
* Writing your thoughts, hopes, and wishes for baby adds meaning to the scrapbook.
* Put in newspaper clippings from current events for when your child was born.
Tips for Baby Scrapbook
* Invest in a good pair of scissors and a paper trimmer.
* Safeguard photo prints with acid-free paper.
* A tape runner that fits in the palm of your hand is a handy tool.
* Mat paper give pages a 3D effect.
* Make different sized pockets to store memorabilia on the pages.
* Assorted colors of card-stock paper make colorful handmade photo frames.
* Do not glue anything until you are sure of the final placement!
* There is no need to rush through and stress over "getting finished". Your handmade baby scrapbook can grow larger as the children do!