Anatomy of an Album: Baby (the beginnings)


Annacover2


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.

Anna-pocket


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.

Annaalbum5

[ 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.

Annaalbum1

[ Information and supplies on this layout can be found here. ]

Annaalbum2

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.

Annaonesie

[ 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:

Smile 

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.

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164 thoughts

  1. Kristin Rutten says…
    04/06/2009

    I love how you mix page sizes ... do you happen to know of a source for 12x12 sleeves that hold 6 4x6 pics vertically (w/o turning the album)??? I've been looking for a while without much luck...

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Anne Alley says…
    04/06/2009

    Anna's album is looking beautiful! I love that it's a mix of elements, like the tiny hospital hat. Those are some of the things my son loves to look at, he can't believe he was ever that small! The photo of Anna smiling is so lovely.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Artemis says…
    04/06/2009

    How come you didn't use Becky's KOTM baby kit? It has lots of divided page protectors, etc.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Edys says…
    04/06/2009

    Ali... I read your interview for the Creative Scrappers Forum. Love it!!!!! Love your creations!
    Kisses from Brazil

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  5. CD Muckosky says…
    04/06/2009

    Great start to her book Ali!
    I Love her sweet little smile in that photo, what an angel :)
    She sure looks a lot like you hey?
    Take care and enjoy these precious times,
    CD

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Paula in Australia says…
    04/06/2009

    Hi Ali
    You simply amaze me.... just a thought on attaching the onesie.. Maybe sew ribbon to the side of the onesie and simply put that in the rings of your album and don't attach it to the transperany. This way stitching etc won't rip the transperancy and pins won't rust. Just a thought. Simply love Anna's album, you have given me lots of ideas for my album for my little angel Mackenzie (now 5 months - oh where has the time gone??). Keep Inspiring
    Regards Paula

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. erin says…
    04/06/2009

    just an idea . . . to attach the onsie - you should sew a few little hearts onto it through the transparency, or maybe even a few "a's", i think that would be super cute!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. carla says…
    04/06/2009

    I love this idea!! I have a bunch of those crop n style pages, what a way to use those for baby memorbilia!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Jeanne says…
    04/06/2009

    You have already started such a beautiful memory book that she will treasure her whole life! What child wouldn't love looking through that! My children (daughter especially) loves looking through all our albums.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Casey Maupin says…
    04/06/2009

    I think sewing would be your best option for the onesie. You could use the small Cropadile punch to make two small holes on each side of the transparency, then do one or two stitches through, anchoring the outfit. Just a snip would release it in the future. Beautiful album!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Goddess Leonie I Creative Goddess says…
    04/06/2009

    Your daughter is just so precious...
    and I adore the amazing memories you are treasuring for her :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Chris Dodaj says…
    04/06/2009

    oh Ali, that album is just stunning.
    And that picture, just melts my heart - what a beautiful baby girl she is!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Darlene says…
    04/06/2009

    On the onesie I would cut out a "form" for it to fit on out of cardboard/chipboard.. kinda like they do for mens dress shirts etc. you would make it so that it shirt hangs on it flat? am I explaining what I mean? I can see it in my mind.. but this way it would lay flat and you would not have to pin or attach per se. I just finished my little one's book and did it the same way however I also had blank 12x12 calendar pages that I would decorate at the beginning of each month - hung it on the wall and randomly would write notes to her.. then at the end of the month I used the free program Photosheet and would just put 12-16 photos (turns all those into one jpeg) and would upsize it to 12x12 and that would be the complimentary pg.. I did not realize how much I would enjoy it. Maddie is now 18 months and last night I realished going back over those notes and glancing at the photospreads.. they grow up like lightning! now I am just chasing her everywhere! enjoy!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Melissa says…
    04/06/2009

    OMG! She is so so beautiful! Her teeny little face with that smile! Her album looks great- I love the font you used for her name!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Deb Jones says…
    04/06/2009

    I like your eclectic albun for Anna. I think it will be very special because of th neat things you are including. That's a great picture.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Deb Jones says…
    04/06/2009

    Your eclectic album for Anna is a winner. I think it is so special because of th different things you are putting in it and the way it's so not everything the same. That's a great picture too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Ali Edwards says…
    04/06/2009

    Love the idea of including a calendar. Thank you.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Anna says…
    04/06/2009

    ...how about laying a clear transparency on top or bottom sandwiching the onesie in between the two transparensies...then machine stitching around the outside of the onesie?

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Donna Bettencourt says…
    04/06/2009

    Anna's album is going to be perfect! How about hand stitching a couple of stitches on the shoulders and legs of the onesie? Maybe in pink thread even. Have fun I look forward to following your album.
    Donna

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Ali Edwards says…
    04/06/2009

    I may use some pieces from that kit in addition (the page protectors are great). I like a more eclectic/non-matching look.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Stephanie says…
    04/06/2009

    LOVE the album:)
    If it were me, I would sew two 12x12 (undivided) page protectors together on three sides (leaving the top open) creating a pocket and slip the onesie down inside. Then you could add some journaling or a small picture or something inside of the top page protector so that it's on top of the onesie while still preserving it???
    That might be overdoing page protectors and I'm really not sure what it would look like?
    I wouldn't add any stitching or pins to the onesie...that would for sure ruin it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Shannon Davey says…
    04/06/2009

    Ali,
    This is just gorgeous! Anna will treasure it. I haven't read through all the comments so sorry if I am repeating. Are you using this album like a store bought one for trinkets and things, and will she have her own album of just scrapbook pages too or is this it for the first year! I love the whole concept it is fantastic. I love the onsie in the album I have kept some but that is a great place to store them!
    Thanks for sharing, look forward to watching Anna grow and seeing what you choose to document.
    Shannon

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. creatingorder says…
    04/06/2009

    As always, Ali, your album (and your baby) are beautiful. I love that you're keeping things "selectively". As a Professional Organiser, that's what I try to convey to my clients - that not stuff has the same value. The beautiful wedding photo does not have the same value as the 5th blurry photo of your holiday destination. By getting rid of the blurry one, you are not dishonouring it, you are honouring the beautiful one.

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  24. Débora Prass says…
    04/06/2009

    Makes me want to do my kids baby album all over again! I had never tought about puting it inside the album! What a beautiful picture of your little girl...

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Ali Edwards says…
    04/06/2009

    This is just the first year :).

    Reply 0 Replies

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