Baby Albums & Scrapbooks

Hands Up

Before you get lost in a myriad of parenthood responsibilities, take a moment to snap a photo, set aside a favorite baby trinket, or jot down what's new and cool about life with your little one.

Our keepsake crafts will help you capture the many precious milestones of your infant's first year. The best part: These pretty projects can be put together in just a few hours while your baby naps--but the results will be worth cherishing for a lifetime.

Document your newest addition by tracing each family member's hand and mounting the cutouts on a matted frame. For the best results, trace your baby's hand while she's sleeping.

What you need:

• Fusible webbing (available at sewing-supply stores)
• Fabric for backing
• Frame
• Pencil
• Colored art paper
• Scissors
• Glue

To make:

1. Use fusible webbing to adhere fabric to frame backing to create a background.
2. With pencil, trace hand (left or right) of all family members onto pieces of art paper, using a different color for each person.
3. Cut out; layer hands on top of each other, placing the largest one first, and glue together.
4. Glue stack of hands to fabric matting, adding family name and date underneath, if desired.

Boxed In

Rather than burying baby trinkets in a box in the closet, showcase crocheted slippers, a newborn hat, or a treasured rattle alongwith a favorite photograph.

What you need:

• Shadowbox frame
• Linen or other fabric large enough to cover back of frame
• Fusible webbing (available at sewing-supply stores)
• Glue
• Ribbon
• Buttons
• Scissors
• Velcro pieces (or another suitable adhesive)

To make:

1. Use fusible webbing to adhere linen to shadowbox backing. Glue photo in the upper half of the frame; trim with ribbons and buttons.
2. Place baby mementos in the bottom half of the frame, anchoring with Velcro, hot glue, or any type of acid-free adhesive strong enough to hold items in place (some objects won’t require any adhesive).

Book of Memories

Capture little details that you can share with your child someday. Turn a loose-leaf binder into a sumptuous scrapbook to hold everything from congratulatory cards to baby socks to a precious lock from her first haircut.

What you need:

• Sewing machine
• Three-ring binder
• 1/2 yard ultrasuede
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Scalloped scissors
• Ruler
• Straight pins
• Ribbon
• Cameo backing
• Rubber stamp for initial
• Stamp pad
• Decorative paper
• Colored card stock
• Photo pockets
• Glue stick
• Fabric glue

To make:

1. Measure enough ultrasuede to cover exterior and interior of the binder.
2. Sew along the top and bottom edges, creating a book jacket. Slide binder inside, smoothing edges under the interior spine.
3. Decorate the front of the book with ribbon, a cameo charm, or trinkets of your own.
4. For the pages, cut sheets and dividers from decorative paper or card stock.
5. Glue photo pockets onto some pages, or adhere items directly onto pages.

Time Capsule

Some items, like video or audio tapes or plush dolls, just don't fit in a book or frame. Include a newborn-size disposable diaper--before long, you won't believe your child was ever that tiny.

What you need:

• Unfinished wooden box (available from craft-supply stores)
• Acrylic paint (in white and in a pastel color)
• Thin masking tape
• Medium paintbrush
• Thin paintbrush
• Ribbon
• Glue
• Baby's birth announcement

To make:

1. Paint wooden box with two coats of white paint; let dry.
2. Using strips of thin masking tape, mark off stripes on box. Paint between tape strips with the pastel paint, using two coats if necessary. When dry, carefully remove tape.
3. Glue announcement and ribbon strips to top of box. Make two bows, and glue to front.

Brag About Baby

An accordion album is a perfect way to show off your baby’s many firsts. Always have a camera loaded and ready to catch magical moments like his first taste of solids or early attempts at crawling and walking.

• Footprint rubber stamp
• Alphabet and number stamps
• Stamp pad
• Decorative paper
• Art paper
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Glue
• Accordion photo album

To make:

1. Stamp footprint, your baby’s name, and his birthdate onto heavy art paper.
2. Cut out and layer over a piece of patterned paper that is slightly larger. Glue both to the front of the accordion book.
3. Fill with photos of your baby’s first-year milestones.

Pillow Talk

Transform a favorite baby blanket into a pillow. Personalize it with a monogram of buttons, embroidery, or whatever other loving touches suit you.

What you need:

• Sewing machine
• Pillow form
• Receiving blanket
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Straight pins
• Linen
• Ribbon or rickrack
• Buttons
• Needle

To make:

1. Lay the blanket right side up, and place pillow form in the center. Fold ends of the blanket in, with one edge overlapping the other.
2. Trim blanket to size, remove pillow form, and sew a seam on each side of the fabric. Turn the pillowcase right side out, and slip pillow form inside.
3. Embellish the front of the pillowcase with ribbon, fabric pieces, and button monogram, sewn on by hand.

(Caution: The pillow is decorative only and should not be placed in a baby's crib.)

02-01-2003