Anatomy of an Album: Baby (the beginnings)
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[ 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.
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164 comments
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.
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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
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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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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...
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This is just the first year :).
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Ali,
I always love your layouts and albums. The one for Anna is just wonderful. She is so cute!
It's funny, but I still have my daughter's baby hat (she's 20 and in college now) and it looks just like Anna's! Must be the standard hospital baby hat!
Thanks for sharing all your great ideas.
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So creative, you are Ali. Love what you've shared with us thus far. Has given me motivation to work on my son's album (he's 2 now).
Also love your music/cd idea. I've always kept a collection of songs in my head that I've called 'Allysa's Songs' but I had never thought to put them on a cd. Duh! I think I'll make the CD with some notes on why I chose each song.
Love the photo of Anna & you. Definitely need to print it up very large.
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Beautiful! I don't have time to read all of the comments, so this my be out there already...I would attach her onesie to the transparency with some safety pins. Cute & simple!
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Just wanted to remind you that you are a ROCK STAR!!! I think you are doing a great job!! I didn't have a single thing actually in my daughter's (or son's for that matter) albums until well after their first birthday. In fact my dd turns 4 on Easter and her album needs a lot of attention!!! Great job using your time wisely!!! I need some lessons!!
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Hello
Thank you for always sharing all your wonderfull ideas with us! I wish you and your family a lot of happyness!
Karine
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maybe you can attach the onesie with a few stitches trough the plastic and stick something (a layout?) on the back of the page protector to cover up the stitches and keep the plastic from tearing up where the stitches are. Or stitch the onesie to cardstock and slide it in the pageprotector.
Don't forget to include a photo of the whole family!
It's already becoming a great album!
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I love it! Such a treasure!!
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Thanks for jump starting my desire to scrap again. I ordered some different sized page protectors yesterday. I am going to look into a new album today. A big 12x12 so I can fit lots of fun things into it. I have lots of things saved from my little guy. this will give me a chance to tell some new stories. Before I forget them.
Thanks again!
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amazing... what else can be said! thank you for your always wonderful inspiration.
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Fabulous approach to a baby keepsake album! This was yesterday's most Scraptagious link on http://scraptagious.com. Congrats!
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Smiling Anna just melted my heart! I hope to someday be a grandma and hold a baby just as beautiful as Anna.
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For the onesie page, couldn't you punch holes in the transparency and run some ribbon through the holes to tie the garment in place. Sounds like it would work and there wouldn't be any need for adhesive. Just an idea.
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Ali, what a wonderful album for Anna. She will treasure every page. I love the idea of using a variety of page sizes in a 12x12 album. Thank you for the inspiration!
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awww alli! My little grandson is just days apart from your anna and he is smiling also...so sweet just melts me.....xoxox
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Hi Ali
I love your baby book and having recently had a baby (she's 4 months now) I wonder if I should do the same kinda thing... just wondered did you do something similer for Simon.. I ask as I have a 3 year old and I didn't start scrapping till he was 1? Should I feel guilty about not having one for him and try to create one or am I worrying too much...
Hannah
x
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