Baby Album Gift Enclosure

(Jean Gifford) (Include with a pre-decorated album, pen and photo splits.)

ABC Baby Book

(based on an idea by Judy A., Melody F. and Jan C.)

Red A, Blue B, and Yellow C - Die Cuts for title page, Word List
(These instructions are for the old sticker letters. With the new stickers you might want to cut the squares smaller. You can use either primary colors or pastel stickers with coordinating paper.)

Instructions:

1. Cut 26 white squares 1 1/4" x 1 1/4".
2. Place each ABC sticker in the center of the white block.
3. Use paper to match the sticker colors and cut 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" squares.
4. Attach the white block to the colored block.
5. Place one letter block to each album page (leave the first page for the title page).
6. Write a phrase from the list below on white paper and cut around the word.
7. Mat the word on colored paper about 1/4 inch larger.
8. Place the "word" on the appropriate page of the book.

Title Page:

1. Use ABC die cuts (or larger sticker) and place them on white 2 1/4" squares.
2. Use paper to match the die cut letter and place the letter on 2 1/2" square.
3. Place the blocks in the center of the page (you could substitute a matted poem).
4. Use sticker letters to spell out baby's name at the top of the page.
5. Use sticker letters to spell out "Baby Book" at the bottom of the page.
6. Write ABC words around the border along with small stickers (apple, ball, etc.).

Phrases for Baby Book

(by Christine P. - revised by Jennia Hart and Denny Davis)

A - Anticipation, Awaiting the Arrival
B - Baby's Born, Birth Announcement
C - Congratulations, Cousins, Cards, Coming home
D - Doctor's Data (vital statistics, vaccinations), Dad
E - Events (news of the day)
F - Family Ties - Grandparents, Parents, Brothers and Sisters
G - Growing Up (date, age, height, weight)
H - Happy and Healthy, Hospital, Home
I - Important Firsts (teeth, words, steps)
J - Joy and Laughter
K - Keepsakes (hospital bracelet, lock of hair)
L - Labor, Likes and Dislikes (food, toys)
M - Mom, Memorable Occasions
N - Nicknames, Notable Achievements (sat alone, stood up)
O - Our Family, Out of Doors (visits, day trips, outings)
P - Parents, Pets and Pals
Q - Quotes, Questions, Quite a Mom and Dad
R - Reflections (mom and dad's thoughts), Religious events
S - Social Occasions (Baptism, christening), School Days, Smiles
T - Toys, Tales
U - Unique Talents, Ultrasound, Unforgettable Moments
V - Visits, Vacations
W - What will you be?, Who named for? Where we live, Ways you move (roll, crawl, walk)
X - Xtra Special Moments
Y - Your Family Tree, You're Special
Z - ZZZ (Lullaby and Good Night)

(There is an ABC poem in the Baby Poem file).

Poem for Baby Album Title Page

I am so very special
I have been from the start
Before they held me in their arms
My family held me in their hearts.

And like a single drop of rain
That on still waters fall
My life and love will ripple make
And touch the lives of all.

So read this precious story
As step by step I grow
I am a special blessing and gift
As each page here will show.

Soft as a whisper
So precious and sweet...
Tiny perfection
from head to your feet.

Welcome, dear baby,
to life and to love
and all the things
sweet dreams are made of.

Brag Book

I used a Sentiments album and 4 colors of paper. I made 22 Cranberry blocks, 22 Yellow, 15 Blue and 17 Green. I made them 1.5 inches square. (you could use "baby" colors).
On the first page, I put 2 blocks down the left and 4 across the bottom. I tried to keep my blocks in the same order on each page. On these blocks I spelled out SO CUTE with the primary ABC stickers, using contrasting colors for each block, but not always the same color letter on the same color block. I "jostled" the blocks so that the lines run in different directions and they look kind of scattered rather than lined up neatly.
On the next pages, I made double page spreads with the two word phrases split between the two pages. The phrases I ended up using are:
BABY LOVE ---- DEAR ONES ---- TOO CUTE ---- OUR KIDS
GOD'S GIFT ---- WE'RE FUN ---- CUTE KIDS ---- FUN TIME
other ideas are: GOD'S JOYS ---- DADS GIRL ---- MOMS JOY
On the last page, I put two blocks down the left and three across the bottom and spelled SO FUN.
On the double page spreads, I alternated putting the blocks across the top bottom.
I put a 4x6 photo mounting sleeve on each page. Centered and at the top or bottom of the inside pages, in the top right corner of the first and last pages. The mounting sleeve covers the edge of each letter, but they are still visible with a photo in the sleeve. Put in new photos as you get them, then scrapbook the ones you take out. I used primary ABC's on white paper to spell out WE'RE BUILDING A FAMILY and put it inside the front cover. (Building...building blocks - get it?) (Melanie E.)

Baby Gift Sentiments Albums

Decorate page edges. Add page protector and a 3x5 photo-mounting sleeve on top of protector (or under if you prefer). Use the phrases below for titles or make up your own to fit the situation or person. All the stickers are Mrs.G's or CM's. On the opening page write their name and its meaning.

Girl Album

• Lipstick and Lashes - stickers with lipstick, purse, mirror; wrote "pretty girl" down the sides.
• Cute as a Button - did one-sided border with 1 bow cut in half, buttons and dots. Buttons around picture.
• Pretty as a Picture - camera stickers, film strips in one-sided border, put black corner pieces around picture. Yellow and black dots.
• Sweetheart - 2 pink hearts with the silver decorations on them. Put pink and silver bow at top and silver squiggles.
• I love you, I do, I do - pink DL ribbon across both pages, photoessence pink flower stickers on DL.
• Daddy's Little Princess- crown, shoes and wand stickers silver and pink dots hearts.
• Our little love bug- Congratulation package of grass and lady bugs
• Plant a little love, watch a miracle grow - negative side of grass from congratulations pack, flowers, butterflies, dancing girl stickers
• Love is the thread that ties us all together - sewing stickers and little squares of printed and solid paper to look like fabric
• Swimming in Love - ocean ruler, water splashes and hearts.
• Our Texas Wild Flower - drew outline of state, added cowboy boots, hat and blue bonnet flower sticker. (Use ideas for your state).
• Mommy's new shopping partner - money purse, lipstick and cloth line stickers wrote "sale$sale$" across the bottom.
• Girls just want to have fun - wild alphabet stickers (extravagant size), the cosmetic stickers again.
• One cute chick - grass, flowers mini butterflies and chicks.
• I can color the world with love - artist stickers; wrote in childlike font.
• Sweet as Sugar - cake, ice cream sweets stickers.
• Sun shines, bird sing, garden angels flowers bring - garden flower stickers, angels and she is holding a set of flowers.
• Hugs and Kisses, Stars for Wishes - xox stickers hearts; I drew silver and gold Hershey kisses around the saying.

Boy Album

• I'm imPAWsible - use puppy stickers and drawing paw prints dot trails.
• Train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows up he will not depart from it - Train stickers; hearts between words.
• Cute as a Bug - bug stickers, dots to trail bugs.
• No sound is so sweet as the laughter of a child - Candy stickers, squiggly lines and dots.
• You ought to be in pictures - Frame die-cut, camera pictures and directors chair stickers.
• My futures so bright I gotta wear shades - trace a smaller version of the sunglasses die-cut and draw sun rays.
• Children are angels on loan from God - Angel stickers and dots.
• Made in the USA - red zigzag border or blue star paper; bear sticker holding a flag and hotdog wearing a ball cap.
• Boys and Their Toys - use the parts truck stickers.
• Just Plane Cute - plane sticker and dots to trail the planes path.
• Children are Life's Treasure - treasure chest stickers and the gold coin.
• Here Comes Trouble - motorcycle stickers.
• All Star Kid - sport stickers, red triangle in corner with die-cut star.
• Loads of Love - dump truck with hearts falling out of the bed of the truck.
• Daddy's Little Helper - tool stickers.
• Clowin' Around - Cut the clown up and have his head peek over the top of the picture, arms at the side, legs at the bottom.
• Hangin' Out - monkeys and vine stickers.
• Movin' and Groovin' - used wave ruler to draw music lines, added music notes and instruments around picture.
• Peek-a-Boo I Sea You - sea animals stickers.

(Most of the phrases are from Chatterbox's Scrapbookers Best Friend - Volumes 1, 2 and 3)

First Year Baby Album - boy version

(designed by Lisa S. CMC)

This album can be done in about an hour. The first and last pages are single, and the rest are two-page spreads. The designs are on the left side of the left page and the right side of the right page.

• Supplies: Boy's First Years Sticker Pack, 1 periwinkle paper, 1 blue gingham paper, Scallop Borderline, Wavy Borderline, Adhesive, Blue and black fine point and calligraphy pens, Sentiments album plus 4 extra pages
• Title page: Put 5-loop bow in top left corner. Add ribbon with loop in it to the top, going across top of page. Add other ribbon sticker to the bow, going down left side of page. In bottom left corner, put rocking horse sticker. Next, cut 1 1/4" squares periwinkle paper, and 1 1/2" squares gingham paper. Cut as many as there are letters in the child's name. Adhere the periwinkle pieces to the top of the gingham pieces. Write one letter of the child's name on each square, or use sticker letters. Adhere the name diagonally across the page, overlapping squares slightly. 
• Pages 2 and 3:  Do shadow strips fast formula, using gingham for back strip and blue for the front. When adhered, add gift stickers to blue paper, 3 per side of page. (6 total)
• Pages 4 and 5: This looks like a mini quilt on the two vertical edges of the two-page spread. Cut a 11/2" x 5" piece of blue gingham for each of the two vertical sides of the layout. Then, cut six 11/4" squares. Place 3 squares, spaced evenly apart, on each gingham strip. Adhere stickers to each white square. On the left side, I used a rattle, a large diaper pin, and two footprints in the bottom square. On the right hand side I used the same items, but in a different order. Pen stitch around the edge of each white square with a black pen. Adhere strips to the pages.
• Pages 6 and 7: I used the sticker halves fast formula. I made a 1" line down the outer vertical edge of each page with the blue callipen. I used the bath time stickers to decorate within the 1" border. Shampoo, comb, and baby lotion on the left. Powder, duck and brush on the right. I filled in with the bubbles.
• Pages 8 and 9: I used the wavy corners fast formula. I made the two wavy corners in the bottom left and upper right of the two-page spread with the blue callipen. Instead of using die-cuts, I used some larger stickers in the corner. On the bottom left I put the crib and the red and blue books. The top right wave had the Teddy bear with the bow in the corner, then a rattle on each side coming from it. I added black squiggles.
• Pages 10 and 11: This page has a straight double line across the bottom of the two-page spread. I used a black callipen and made a line 1/2 inch up the page, all the way across the two pages. Then, about 1/8 inch up from that I added a black micron line. I put stickers in this order, zigzagging across the line: diaper, diaper bag, little diaper pin, shoe; (next page)diaper, small diaper pin, yellow folded blanket, little diaper pin, other shoe.
• Pages 12 and 13: I used the template frame fast formula. I used the smallest circle template, and traced it in each corner using the black callipen. I then used the scalloped borderline and a black micron pen to connect the circles. I placed one sticker in each circle: the exersaucer, the infant seat, the stroller and the swing. I put the stroller and the swing in the bottom circles since they come out just a little bit.
• Pages 14 and 15: I did this page last, using leftover stickers. I made my own corner border in the bottom left and upper right corners of the spread, using a black callipen. It's like my wavy border page, but with straight lines. I doodled a thin line wrapping around each corner border in black. On the left page I used the large baseball cap in the corner, then the teething ring and a yellow fairy tales book, one on each side. On the right page I used the lamb in the corner, then the pacifier and keys.
• Pages 16 and 17: I used the wavy borderline and made a black pen stitch mark down the side of each page. I placed 5 hearts, spaced evenly, coming down the stitch marks on each page. So, it looks like they're-connected by stitches.
• Pages 18 and 19: I used the paper squares fast formula. Cut six 1" blue squares and four 1" gingham squares. There are 5 squares on the side of each page, alternating between blue and gingham. I used the food stickers. My left hand page has: animal cracker, 3 Cheerios, juice jar, animal cracker, and cereal box. My right side has: 2 Cheerios, small baby food jar, 2 Cheerios, animal cracker, and large baby food jar.
• Pages 20 and 21: I used the black micron pen to make a clothesline across the top of the two-page spread. It curves just a little bit to give the effect of wind. The clothes are in this order: Left page: overalls, socks, hat, onesie. Right page: sleeper, socks, quilt.
• Pages 22 and 23: Same corner style as pages 14 and 15 except in the top left and bottom right corners. Make the doodle line with blue. In the top left, put the toy truck. Then, use the two individual pop toys further out. In the bottom left, use the ball in the corner and the two blocks coming out. I added blue micron dots.
• Pages 24 and 25: Place high chair in bottom left corner. Then, use wavy borderline to make pen-stitch design coming up from it to top of page. On the pen stitch design, put bib at the top and sippy cup below it. Make same pen stitch design down right page. Put these items in the following order on design: teething ring with bear, spoon and fork crisscrossed and bowl.
• Pages 26 and 27: This is a first birthday page. Cut a 3-inch square from blue paper. Cut in half along diagonal. Adhere 1 triangle to bottom left corner. Place birthday cake on top and add 1 candle. In top right corner, arrange musical notes.
• Page 28: This is an after-birthday toy page. Place the stick horse standing propped against left side of page. Use large yellow fairy tales book and lay it on "floor", overlapping. Place train on bottom of page, near right hand side. Cut string of pop toys apart and make a pile with them between horse/book and train. Add black micron dots to page, making them look like a speckled floor.

First Year Baby Album - girl version

(by Katy)

• Use pink paper and pens in place of blue.
• Follow the instructions for the boy version, skipping stickers that are missing from the girl pack (i.e. the truck).
• Go back and put the leftover stickers in the empty spaces (i.e. the doll where the truck would have been).
• Do the clothesline page last, arrange things in a pleasing manner.