by Andrea SteedI really enjoy giving scrapbook albums as gifts to my close friends. Two of my favorite albums are the ones I gave to my two best friends in college, showcasing each of our friendships in different ways. They each received one for their birthday last year and loved them!

The problem is that like many people, I always wait until the last minute before deciding what to give them for their birthday, so I don’t always have a lot of time to spend on creating a meaningful book. In creating these two albums, I’ve found a fantastic system for creating a gift album in less than a week that I’d love to share.

While my albums were both ABC albums about friendship, I’ve found that the system can work for any type of small album, such as a wedding album, graduation album, anniversary album, and many others.

Below are the steps I took to create my quick gift albums:

MONDAY

Collect Photos. The first thing I did for each of these albums was to collect as many photographs as I could find that represented the friendship that I have with each girl. I collected about 60-70 photos for each album, scanned them, and had re-prints made at Shutterfly.com. This of course wouldn’t be necessary if you had original photos that you wanted to use. Since I was using photos that were already in some of my other albums, I used re-prints for the gift albums. By having prints made at Shutterfly, I was also able to change some of the photos to black and white and do some pre-cropping before I had them printed, which helped in the overall look of the album once it was finished.

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

Journal. I decided to do ABC albums for both books, so I started writing words for each letter in the alphabet that described our relationship and then described each of the words by talking about different things we’d done, and recalling memories from our college years. I also found friendship quotes that helped describe our friendships and added them to my journaling. I did all of this in a Microsoft Word document in a couple of afternoons. I’d say this is probably the most difficult part of creating the album, but it’s also the most interesting!

THURSDAY

Choose Your Products. Now that you have all of the “memory” elements of the album, it’s time to decide what products you want to use. I’ve found that the easiest way to choose papers is to choose a line of coordinating patterned papers to use throughout the entire album. Paper lines such as Mustard Moon, Patchwork Paper, KI Memories, Kopp Designs, Making Memories and many others are perfect for albums like this, because their papers come in a variety of colors and patterns that all match each other quite well.

In addition to deciding what papers to use, you’ll want to decide what fonts or lettering templates to use. I used three fonts in each album: a typewriter type font for each letter and the words for each letter, a print handwriting font for the journaling, and a script font for the quotes. Since all of my journaling was written in a Microsoft Word document, it was easy to change the fonts and page margins. I printed all of the journaling on white cardstock, so that I would be able to cut each section out easily and adhere them to the pages.

FRIDAY

Do Some Pre-Scrapping. This is what makes creating the album easy. Now that all of your journaling and photos are ready, put them into page protectors in the order that they will appear in the album. Cut each letter and journaling block out so that they’ll be ready to adhere to the pages. Decide what photos will go with each journaling section and add the photos to the page protectors. This is a great task to do in front of the television! Now your album is ready to put together!

SATURDAY

Put it Together! This part goes very quickly since most of the work is already completed. I’ve found that starting at the beginning and just making your way through the album is the best way to complete it. Since all of your papers coordinate, simply start pulling papers and making your pages. I kept both of my albums simple and used colorblocking and paper tearing techniques to create varying backgrounds. Add a few embellishments and stickers to your pages, and you’ll have an album to cherish in no time at all! With all of the pre-scrapping and planning done, you can easily complete the entire album at an all-day crop or in a couple of afternoons.

The key to this system is having your journaling done first! It makes creating the rest of the album quick and easy…and I’ve found that it makes a very meaningful album to read, and a wonderful gift to receive.

About the Author
Andrea Steed is the author and creator of Scrap Tutor, a web site and CD-ROM that teaches you how to create scrapbooks and how to perform many popular techniques used in scrapbooking. For more information, visit www.scraptutor.com.

by Andrea SteedIf you’re not quite sure where to start when creating your baby’s first year scrapbook album, or if you don’t think you’ll have time to scrapbook all of the photos you take, here are some suggestions for organizing an album that’s quick and painless!

• Instead of scrapbooking every photo you take, divide your photos by month and choose some of your favorites to highlight in a 2 to 4 page layout for each month. You’ll be able to show how your baby has grown and changed over an entire year, without having to create separate layouts for each roll of film.
• Keep a monthly calendar to document various milestones, firsts, and important dates. You can then include the calendar with each set of monthly photos. It’s a great way to do your journaling “as you go” and remember all of those important little everyday moments.
• Include the photos that you don’t choose to scrapbook in photo sleeve pages behind each monthly layout. This allows you to include the additional photos in your album without having to make additional scrapbook pages for each event or set of photos. Be sure to add the date and label each photo so that you’ll know when and where they were taken as well as who was in them.
• Don’t let this system prevent you from creating scrapbook pages about special moments or events that inspire you to create additional layouts. Just add them to the album in chronological order!

Remember that there is no “right” way to organize your scrapbook. Use whatever system that works best for you.

About the Author
Andrea Steed is the author and creator of Scrap Tutor, a web site and CD-ROM that teaches you how to create scrapbooks and how to perform many popular techniques used in scrapbooking. For more information, visit www.scraptutor.com.

Between family members, friends, and the photos that you snap yourself, you’ll certainly have an abundance of pictures to go through, organize and select for preparing your baby’s first photo album. Maybe you received a beautiful, hand-made book at your shower or have chosen one on your own, but whichever the case, you’ll want to make that first album as precious as the little bundle of joy in your arms.

And photo albums don’t have to be all about pictures. With so many new experiences about to occur for both you and your newborn, they’ll be lots of opportunities for collecting memorabilia to add to your baby’s album. And nothing is too silly, so if you adore it, include it.

Of course, the beginning is the easiest part. Starting with the very first photo taken of your baby – the hospital has already supplied you with what you need to get started – your sonogram picture, baby’s footprint, name tag bracelet, birth certificate, and even the receiving blanket your newborn was swaddled in. So your first page can incorporate all or parts of those things. For sentimental reasons, you may not want to snip that receiving blanket, but later on, a patch of the fabric placed on the birth page makes for a precious addition to your baby’s first photo album.

As we know, lots of babies are born lacking in the hair department. But once it does start to grow in and you give him or her their very first haircut, be sure to save part of those silken locks to add to the pages of your baby’s first photo album. For girls, you can also include a pretty bow they wore or their first barrette.

What about their first bowl of real cereal? Wouldn’t a few of those Cheerios be an adorable piece of memorabilia to include in baby’s first photo album? It may not mean much to your baby now, but once they’re old enough to realize what you’ve done it will surely bring a giggle and a smile when they see it, and the memory it has created for you is priceless.

First birthday photos, pieces of ribbon, and wrappings from the gifts they receive, even one of the candles from their first birthday cake are more creative ideas to add to your baby’s first photo album.

Pictures of the first day of nursery school, masterpieces they’ve created there or at home, first report cards and all of those other extraordinary firsts, are things that you’ll treasure throughout the years. As time goes on, growth and changes occur such as their first baby tooth is also something special that can be kept and cherished in your baby’s first photo album.

So include as many of the pictures and items you adore in your baby first photo album. Because it’s something that you will not only consider your most prized possession as time goes by, but you can also bet that your child will thank you for spending the time and devotion that made their first baby photo album so special.

by Lesley Mattos

Is there anything more exciting than the arrival of a new baby? The instant the parents-to-be find out that they’re expecting, every moment in life takes on an added layer of meaning. Whether it’s thinking of names, planning a nursery or breaking the news to an older brother or sister, it seems that everything is suddenly a special event.

Of course the one thing new babies need the most is love, but the list of supplies and equipment that new parents need to outfit and care for their new arrival is mind-boggling! When trying to decide on a gift it’s easy to get overwhelmed – especially if it’s a couple’s first child. Should you chip in with other friends or family members to get one of those big tickets items like a crib or a deluxe stroller? And if you get clothes, should you get stuff they can use right away, or those great toddler options that are out there?

Here are six other fun and functional baby gift ideas that won’t put a strain on your busy schedule OR your budget:

Baby Album of Firsts
While the pregnancy itself may seem to take an eternity, once the baby is born, time flies by at warp speed! As new parents, they’re going to feel a longing to capture as many of the “firsts” as possible — the baby’s first smile, laugh, roll over, solid food, crawl, word, step, tooth, etc. The list of events is endless, and so will the memories with a baby photo album of firsts. That’s why, as Founder of Adesso Albums I am passionate about helping parents capture the “Now” of their children’s most precious moments.

Bib-a-Day
Okay, we know that once babies start eating “real” food it’s more like a bib-a-minute, but don’t you think that new parents would appreciate a week’s worth of bibs? Check out the choices at your local baby or department or discount store. You can get the same bib in a variety of colors, go for a cute animal theme or get seven bibs that are completely different from one another. Does Dad or Mom have a favorite sport? Check online and you’re sure to have an instant winner with an “official” team bib.

Bundle of Basics
Many essential baby products are small and inexpensive, and combining a whole bunch of them can make a terrific and useful gift. Baby lotion, shampoo, mild soap, diaper rash ointment, Vaseline, washcloths, itsy-bitsy fingernail clippers, a brush and comb set, tub toys, a teething ring — the list goes on and on! You can put the goodies in a pretty basket, a small hamper, or just wrap it all up in a receiving blanket and you’re good to go!

A Heap o’ Wipes
Any experienced parent knows that you can never have too many diaper wipes. So go to your local club/warehouse store and buy the biggest package of baby wipes you can find (go ahead, splurge and buy two). Throw in an economy-sized box or two of diapers, wrap it all up with a big bow, and just like that you’ll have made things easier for harried new parents. It may not be the prettiest present they get, but it’s for sure the most practical!

Baby’s First Book
What was your favorite book when you were growing up? Odds are it was a classic that is still delighting youngsters today. If you still have that book and it’s in good condition you can add a handwritten inscription and you’ll have an instant heirloom. Or pick up a nice, new hardcover edition and add an inscription about what this book has meant to you. Since it will be a while before the baby will be able to appreciate the special book, consider adding a few inexpensive toddler board books that can be enjoyed sooner.

Gift Card
In a rush? Out of ideas? How about getting a gift card that the new parents can use at their local baby or department or discount store? That way you’ll know for sure that they’re getting what they want and need. Or for a sure-to-be-appreciated change of pace, buy a gift certificate for a nice local restaurant and offer to baby-sit one evening so that Mom and Dad can get some quality time for themselves — and make SURE they go!

About the Author
As Founder of Adesso Albums, Lesley Mattos is passionate about helping people all over the world capture the “Now” in life’s most important moments. Of all the ways to welcome a new baby and capture those memories, the Adesso Album is the only baby album keepsake that provides an instant memory in both pictures and words. To create a memory keepsake for every “first” in your child’s life, visit www.adessoalbums.com/baby.html.