Anatomy of an Album: Baby (the beginnings)
[ American Crafts 12x12 Corduroy album in Blush; K&Company Butterfly; Hambly Butterfly transparency ]
And so it begins. A collection of stuff: images, stories, and bits of this & that picked up along the way.
I want Anna's baby album to essentially be a home for a bunch of different things. Some pages will be artsy, some simple, and others will just act as a place to store stuff. Little things (like the hospital bracelets & hat below) will be kept safe and sound inside the pocket of a page protector.
My mission is to selectively keep stuff, tell stories, and create a home for the memories of her first year.
This is not an album with a master plan. There are no spots to fill in the blanks. It doesn't all match. Rather it is something that is evolving as she (and I) evolve.
I am using is a 12x12 3-ring album from American Crafts in Blush. Inside are four different sizes of page protectors from American Crafts: 12x12, 8.5x11, 6x12, and the divided 12x12 with 6 pockets for 4x6 photos. The pages are intermixed from one size to another which is one of my favorite things about 3-ring albums.
The current first page (shown above) is a divided page protector from Crop-In-Style that is designed as sticker & die cut storage. I am using these page protectors for little things because each pocket has an extra piece of transparency that essentially closes the pocket keeping the contents safe inside. This particular page protector has 5 pockets and holds a hat, the hospital bracelets, a clothing tag, the newspaper birth announcement, and the proof of the hospital photo. I envision that I will use more of these throughout the album.
[ Information and supplies on this layout can be found here. ]
One of the reasons I like to include 8.5x11 (besides that I like scrapbooking in that size) is that it fits standard sized papers - such as a document from the hospital and some information from the pediatrician that will be fun to look back on some day. The back of the layout above is a certificate from the hospital with Anna's footprints stamped onto the page.
[ Information and supplies on this layout can be found here. ]
[ Cosmo Cricket Animal Friends patterned paper]
The layout on the back of the music 6x12 page is one that documents what was happening around here at week 6. Journaling is from this post.
[ Hambly Onesie Transparency ]
As I mentioned in the beginning, I don't want this book to be just layouts. I want to include more bits of life such as this onesie. It's one of those tiny ones that only lasts a few weeks but is such a great reminder of what a miracle this whole thing is in our lives. Currently it is just sitting in there on top of the onsie transparency. I am not sure exactly how I am going to attach it to the transparency yet - I don't want any sort of adhesive that will yellow the onsie.
The next couple pages are divided 12x12 protectors with 6 pockets for 4x6 photos. I want to be able to quickly slip in some of our favorite photos that may or may not be scrapbooked in a crafty way.
It's a start. I am excited about getting some more stories documented - especially some layouts about meeting family, our time in the hospital, etc. I've done a few more 12x12 double-page spreads for Creating Keepsakes that will be coming out in issues later this year and will be placed in this album once they are photographed. There's no particular order to how I am telling these stories - usually it just depends on which one is inspiring me the most when I have the time to put something together.
I'm also planning to add in some 12x12 photo enlargements - maybe one like this:
I'm excited and inspired to get more of her stories told and to give them a home in this album.
I'll share some more interior shots again in a couple months as the album begins to grow.
The album is wonderful and inspiring as always. I love the last photo of Anna looking at you. such a treasure.
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You've inspired me once again, thank you! I love that you use different page sizes and include not just layouts but other keepsake items in the album. Both of my boys' keepsake items are currently in cute boxes but I'm now inspired to change that and create an album like yours for each of them.
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My son had that same hospital cap when he was born 9 years ago. We put it on the christmas tree every year along with his first pair of mittens.
Yes, I like the 3 ring binders for the same reason as being able to use different size page protectors within the album.
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Just a thought on attaching the onesie. I think if you used your smallest hole punch and punched 2 holes into the transparency at both shoulders and maybe another set down by the snaps, you could use adorable baby pins to attach it. Jo-ann's has some baby pins that have little rings attached for beading but I've been using those little rings to knot different textures of ribbon. It would be super cute on her onesie!
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maybe you could punch small holes in the transparency and stitch the onesie on with thread?
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Question, for the newspaper clipping...do you use archival spray?
and a suggestion for the onesie...maybe a few small well placed stitches to adhere it to the page?
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BEAUTIFUL book! i'm loving the simplicity, yet thoroughness of being able to include non-paper goodies. that last picture of anna looks sooooooo much like chris (is it the eyes, maybe?). thanks for sharing!
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I love seeing how you're documenting Anna's life. I too have a new baby girl and have just been getting started on her album. The hardest thing so far, besides finding the time to work on it, is actually ordering pictures. I have sat down at my computer three times to pick some pictures to order so that I can start on some pages, and instead I get sucked in and just look at the pictures.
I'm using Becky Higgin's baby kit for my daughter's album - I just needed something where I had everything othewise I'd spend too much time trying to decide on papers and embellishments and never get anything done. But I think I'll also use your idea of having some page protectors that are divided into 4x6 sections. And I'm definitely doing a page like the one that is currently first in your album. I was trying to decide what do with our hospital bracelets and her hat and that is the perfect place for them!
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What about putting the transparency and the onsie together in a page protector? No adhesive needed that way...
The only other idea I have is brads...
What a great book! I love how you are putting it together.
Smiles,
Dianne
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Molly--my babies spit up so much that I never had a onesie that wasn't stained after the first use--unlike Anna's perfectly white onesie in the photo (so lucky).
I did save favorite outfits from each of my kids to give them when they have babies. Trinity was just asking to see them yesterday. Amazing how seeing those little outfits fill me with so many memories and emotions.
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Cool. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
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Hi Ali-
I have an I-tunes suggestion for you. I know you are a big U2 fan- check out "Strung Out On U2." U2 songs performed in a classical music genre. Beautiful and soothing, perfect baby music!
-Michelle
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aaahhhh! isn't she just too sweet. i love when they start smiling at you; it is so from their little heart! sigh! enjoy her every day, and thank you so much for sharing all your good ideas, you are too kind.
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Love the idea of making the baby book home to more than just photos! My "baby" is almost 13, but I still have a lot of baby stuff tucked away without a home and your example really inspires me. Thanks for sharing.
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How about attaching the onesie by adding eyelets to the transparency and using diaper pins? you might have to bend the diaper pin slightly to get it to work, but it sure would be cute, and it certainly fits the theme! Two eyelets (spaced not so closely together) for each pin would help discourage the bulk.
A paper tagger used alone might gradually tear the transparency.
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What a wonderful start you've made on the her album. Including other elements will make the book so much more interesting to look through down the road.
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I just wanted to say how much you have just inspired me. I am working on my daughter's baby book (she's almost 3) and while it is from a kit (the Becky Higgins one) I love the idea about the page with the onsie. Right now all of her baby clothes are in a box and I've been looking for a special way to display them...what a great idea!!
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One word... BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you for letting us see such a personal album. :D
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I have the BH kit and I put her hat and bracelets in one of the 6x6 envelopes on the "your arrival" page.
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An absolute adorable boook! I can't wait to see more of it in the future.
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I love it! Just perfect!
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She has Simon's smile! So sweet! Love the idea of the hospital hat in the album.
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I thought there was 2 transparencies made into a pocket that the onesie was in. Although, that is now an idea, make a transparency pocket. Thanks for sharing.
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Ok I just have to say that photo of Anna smiling at you is precious! It's moments like that that make motherhood so amazing!
Thanks for sharing. as always, wishing you continued happiness.
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The most incredible baby album I've ever seen.
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