You’ve got loads of adorable baby photos, and even more cute anecdotes and memories of your baby’s antics. But the big challenge is finding a free hour to sit down and actually make a layout. While these tips on how to find time to scrapbook can help, the trick may be to take on a shorter mini album instead of a 12×12 page.
Chipboard mini albums are great for short, thematic projects that you can finish in one or two sittings. Use with a pre-coordinated kit (with papers and embellishments), or take advantage of the smaller layout to finish leftover paper. Here are some ideas to get you started.
1. A day in the life…
Document your baby’s regular routines! Include photos of a bath, a trip to the park, a meal time (like those messy attempts to master holding a spoon and gripping finger foods), favorite games and toys, and nap time. You can also include journaling on your child’s milestones (like the first day he ate solids) and personality quirks (like the food he loves and hates).
2. Me and my family
Choose your favorite photos of your baby with different members of the family: mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, relatives, and family friends. For journaling, you can ask each member to share an anecdote or an observation, or you can write about what they like to do together. ‘You love it when Daddy blows raspberries on your tummy.’ Or, ‘Your brother likes to sing Eensy Weensy Spider to you.’
3. Pick a song
Do you always sing a particular song to your baby? For some reason, my son would always calm down when I sang ‘Rainbow Connection’ to him—and the lyrics are very significant to me, too, because I want him to dream and to believe that the world is magic. Why not build a mini album around the lyrics of a song that you love? For my ‘Rainbow Connection’ mini album I picked photos of him looking out the window, holding a flower, smiling with wide-eyed wonder. At the end of the album I inserted a letter in a little envelope, explaining the song choice and my hopes and dreams for him.
4. Pieces of you
Go up close and take pictures of your child’s features: his smile, of course, but don’t forget the chubby fingers, those kissable toes, and that adorable butt. Use black and white or sepia, for effect. You might also want to attach, to the mini album, a baby sock or a mitten, or ink your child’s hand and make a handprint. Years from now you’ll marvel at how small he used to be.
Photo from ideasaloft.com
what adorable ideas!