Most first time scrappers start out making a baby book and move on from there. A baby scrapbook is a great way to get your feet wet scrapping. After all, baby scrapbooks don’t have to be finished in a day, week or even a month. Most baby scrapbooks are pieced together bit by bit.
When I started my daughter’s first scrapbook she was about two months old. Since I was a new mom I didn’t have the time or energy to create unique layouts on a daily basis. However, I stayed organized by taking photos on a regular basis and jotting down journaling ideas, which I kept in a large accordion file. Then, when I was ready to scrapbook I had everything in one spot.
Another thing that helped me stay organized is that I structured my album in a month-by-month format. Instead of creating several separate layouts, I just made a two-page spread for every month of my baby’s first year. One of the pages featured a calendar page from the corresponding month. This is where I would jot down my daughter’s milestones and add other journaling.
Of course, the key to any outstanding scrapbook is the photos. Your baby’s precious memories should be the highlight of the book, so be diligent about snapping keepers, such as:
*First bath
*First teeth
*First haircut
*Favorite toys
*First trip to park
*First steps
*First time eating solids
Don’t forget to add any professional photos you have taken of your baby. Most parents take their newborns to department store portrait studios every two or three months for the first year. However, if you are on a tight budget you might consider going online to get tips on taking pro portraits at home.
Finally, when organizing your baby’s scrapbook don’t forget about the journaling aspect. Consider the following points as motivation:
*Describe your baby’s personality (silly, serious, shy, etc.)
*List your baby’s favorite places (park, beach, front yard, crib, etc.)
*Name some of your baby’s favorite foods
*Describe your baby’s sleeping habits (Is she a good sleeper? Does she fall asleep in unusual places? How many naps does your baby take in a typical day? Do you have a special nighttime ritual to help your baby sleep?)
Get creative with your journaling by adding silly anecdotes and other memorable tidbits about your baby.
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