A baby scrapbook helps the new mother preserve memories.
When a child is born, parents start thinking of how they'll preserve the memories. Time passes quickly when children are young and parents, having the best intentions, often don't get around to creating a special album chronicling the child's milestones. A scrapbook eliminates boxes of unorganized pictures and scraps of paper. Creating a blank scrapbook for the baby-to-be will enable the new mother to have a place where the firsts can be recorded and pictures are preserved.
Instructions
1. Tailor your supplies to a baby theme and appropriate colors.
Gather your scrapbooking supplies and choose an album that measures either 12 inches by 12 inches or 8 inches by 8 inches with refillable pages. The mother-to-be will want to adjust the pages based on her needs.
2. Colorful paper creates a backdrop for photos and writing.
Leave the first couple of pages for pregnancy photos and a heading such as "Before You Arrived." This is where the mother will paste photos of what the nursery looks like, ultrasound pictures, a test result of the baby's gender, memories of the her pregnancy cravings, pictures of her pregnant belly and sentiments the couple share about the impending birth. Use scraps of colorful paper and patterns that tell a baby's story and paste throughout the pages where the information can later be placed.
3. Use stamps to give your book a homemade touch.
Title the third and fourth pages "Showers" using rubber letter stamps. Press the stamp into the ink pad and carefully apply the letters onto the top of the page. Paste a long, skinny, ruled sheet of paper on the side of the page so that the mother-to-be can list her gifts. Decorate the page with colorful paper, die-cut presents and adornments, including one of a pregnant woman sitting in a chair opening presents, for example.
4. Dedicate a page to the baby's arrival day.
Create the next page for the baby's birthday. Tear pretty paper to create a textured look and paste onto the page to frame hospital photos once the baby arrives. On the side, creatively write "Stats" with rubber stamps. This is where the baby's weight, length and time of birth will be recorded.
5. Each page should capture a different milestone.
Add several pages for "Baby's Firsts:" The first trip out, bath, smile, solid food, sitting up, crawling, walking, hair cut and holidays, for example. Give each milestone and event its own page and place in chronological order. Embellish the tops with the title and paste photo mats on the pages so that pictures can later be added.
6. Use ruled paper for lists.
Include a page about the baby's growth. A newborn has many doctor visits, so dedicate a page to include the dates of doctor appointments and changes in weight and height. This page should mainly consist of pretty, ruled paper.
7. Glue different-sized envelops or pockets to store keepsakes.
Make plenty of pockets or adhere envelopes throughout the album. Place glue along the sides of whatever size paper you choose and paste along the very bottom of the page. Leave the top open, which serves as the entry to the pocket. The mother-to-be can tuck in baby's lock of hair or shower cards, for example. Glue an envelope onto the page if you want the pocket to have a flap. The envelope and pocket sizes depend on the layout of the page and its intended use.
8. Special moments from the heart are recorded on this page.
Embellish one page for family and friends. Title it "People Who Love Me" and leave plenty of room for pictures and captions. This is a special place to record what people say about the baby, the generous help the mother received the first few weeks or an explanation about a hand-knitted keepsake, for example. Use hearts and emblems that represent family and love.
