Baby Scrapbook Layouts: Journaling to remember your baby's special moments

Babies! They are so cute and cuddly when they aren't stinky. They grow so fast and before you know it, what was once helpless in your arms is now toddling around, eating Cheerios with a dash of dog hair off the floor. So grab your camera and take lots and lots and lots of photos! Don't worry, you can always delete the bad ones and there will be many of them with a fast-moving bundle of joy zooming around your living room and the store and any open space, especially when your oldest child is playing soccer and you have to chase your toddler onto the soccer field. (Yes, I know this from experience.) 

When your child is still a baby, make it a habit to write down memories and accomplishments in a journal since you won't have as much time to scrapbook. By doing this, you will have what you need for the journaling that goes alongside the photographs on your scrapbook pages. "Mommy brain" will cause you to forget some of these memories, so after taking photos of your child eating applesauce for the first time, write it down in a journal or even a piece of paper.

Quotes can also capture a special moment by setting the mood of a scrapbook layout. The quote can be from a famous person or even your own child. Just remember to document as much as possible as your child grows up. Photo albums are great, but scrapbooks with photos and journaling are even better.

 

"Kisses" (8.5x11 Page Layout) 

Photograph by Rick Sheridan of Look At Me Studios

"W" (8x8 Page Layout)

"Birth Story" (12x12 Page Layout)

All layouts were created by Danielle Hunter of Scrappin' Memories 4U. 

You may also be interested in:

• Scrapbook layouts that celebrate children 
• Pregnancy Scrapbook Layouts
• Scrappin' Memories 4U Custom Scrapbooking

Scrapbook layouts that celebrate children

"The Girls" (12x12 Page Layout)

Browsing through any online scrapbook page gallery, you will find an abundance of child-themed layouts. As a parent of two beautiful little girls, I have taken thousands of photos during the eight years I've been a mom and have created hundreds of childhood scrapbook pages. And if you've been scrapbooking as long as I have, I'm sure you have done the same.

With thousands of photographs, not every one will be utilized in a scrapbook. Who has that kind of time? I tried scrapbooking every single photo during the first few years of my oldest daughter's life and I just couldn't keep up. That was back when I only had a 35mm camera and didn't always have the best photos.

Nowadays, we have the advantage of digital photography and don't have to worry about printing 35mm photos only to find out that several are blurry or have heads chopped off. We can save money, paper and ink by deleting the unwanted photos in our digital cameras and then crop or touch them up in any photo-editing software program. I've allowed myself to still use photo albums and only choose favorite photos to use on scrapbook pages. 

Here are some of the layouts I've created over the years that celebrate children:

"You are growing up" (8x8 Page Layout)

"This little lady" (12x12 Page Layout)

"Boys" (8x8 Two-Page Scrapbook Layout)

"Splish Splash Bubble Bath" (12x12 Page Layout)

"This Is What Life Looks Like" (12x12 Page Layout)

"Piggy Tails" (12x12 Page Layout)

"Fingerpaint" (12x12 Page Layout)

All scrapbook layouts were created by Danielle Hunter of Scrappin' Memories 4U.

Article about Scrappin' Memories 4U Custom Scrapbooking

You create the memories...she'll display them

Got pictures? Maybe you have too many and not enough time to do anything with them. This past summer stay-at-home mother Danielle Hunter started Scrappin' Memories 4U. "I just love scrapbooking," says Hunter who has been scrapbooking for over 20 years.

Scrapbooks are a wonderful way to preserve your memories, but many of us simply don't have the time, or haven't invested in the scrapbooking tools and supplies. Simply put, Hunter says, "My job is to get those pictures out of boxes and into scrapbooks so people can share their memories with others."

After you've carefully selected your pictures, you can select decorative cardstock and other embellishments for your album. You may purchase products on your own at the local craft store, or through Hunter who is also a Memory Works consultant.

She charges an hourly rate which includes tax, adhesives, plain cardstock, etc. Depending on how elaborate a book you prefer, it takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to complete one 12x12 scrapbook page. Through artistic design and personal journaling, your pictures will come to life to enjoy in the present, and to pass down for generations.

by Karen Zickes (Toledo Parent, November 2007)