Here are some great baby scrapbooking ideas which could also be adapted for other projects. Baby scrapbooks don’t just make great gifts for grandparents and godparents — they also have huge value as a family keepsake. And let’s admit that we’re always fascinated to see photos of ourselves as babies or young children! So a handmade scrap book page carries extra special sentimental value as the baby boy or girl grows up.

Frosting Charms

If you’re including metal charms in your scrapbook, why not try ‘frosting’ them for a unique touch? This creates a softened look suitable for baby and grandparent scrapbooks alike.

To create this frosted charm look, sprinkle embossing powder and glitter on the metal charms and heat. Repeat this process again, before the item has a chance to cool. Attach the charms to your scrapbook once they cool completely.

Faux ABC Beads

ABC beads look great on children’s artwork and baby scrapbooks. Now you can make faux beads too. Simply print out your word in a large straight font, with several spaces between each letter. Next, use a hole punch to punch out each individual letter. Then, peel one side of a piece of wax paper using a glue dot. Stick your circle with the letter on it to the top of this waxed dot.

Once set, simply string the beads together with thread, wire, or embroidery cotton.

Polymer Molds

To create great three-dimensional items of any shape and size, use polymer molds. Polymer molds can be used to make virtually any shape. These shapes can range from animals and characters for children’s artwork to elegant bells for weddings or wedding showers.

To make shapes, polymer clay is placed into molds and baked. Alternately, shape the clay into beads or other freehand items that can also be baked. Once set, these items can be painted with acrylic paint.

Hand Prints

Some of the sweetest accents to a baby’s scrapbook page are handprints. Handprints are especially appreciated in baby or grandparent scrapbooks.

To make prints, prepare a flat surface. Next, put acrylic paint into a paper plate. Then, have your child place his or her hands in the paint and then on your scrapbook surface, one at a time. After the paint dries, you will have a permanent record of your child’s handprints.

It’s alarming to look back and see how quickly babies and children grow up! There’s nothing quite like a personally designed scrapbook album to capture those fleeting moments in a child’s young life and preserve the memories beautifully. Your work will be appreciated and admired for years to come.

Looking for quotes for scrapbooking or information on scrapbook storage boxes? Check out our resources page!

Scrapbooking for others usually means creating an album that reflects a particular character or personality. Whether you’re making a baby scrapbook or working on a project about your ancestors, it’s a good idea to unite your pages with some kind of visual theme.

Here are some ideas for giving your scrapbook pages a creative and personal appeal.

Smudging

Using a marker, add color to a paper towel or make up sponge. Then, smudge the color onto the page. With a little practice, smudging can create a hazy or smoky effect. This effect can be used to create a relaxed, outdoor feel to your page.

Drybrushing

Dry brushing is a technique used to highlight or shade objects or areas of a scrap book page. Drybrushing gives the appearance of weathered wood. This can be used to increase focus to a certain photograph or to add a little energy to quiet pages. Drybrushing is a great technique for that old fashioned look.

To create this effect, dip a dry paint brush into acrylic paint. Next, wipe the brush back and forth on a paper towel. Then, lightly brush the item you want drybrushed. Set the item aside to dry.

Faux Painting

Faux painting can be created primarily with various colored sheets of paper. This can be used to add color and a dramatic flare to a dull scrapbook page.

Creating this effect is easy. Basically, tear the edges of three papers (a dark, a light, and a medium shade of the same color). Your middle shade of paper will be the base for your design, while the darker shade will be used as the shadow. Lighter shades act as highlights.

Faux Chalk Designs

To give a chalked accent to your items without the mess of the chalk, print images directly onto vellum. Next, color the back of the vellum with a marker. When you cut the letters out and turn them over, the letters have a very pretty, muted, chalk-like appearance.

This appearance creates a softening effect to loud scrapbook pages or adds an air of freedom and peace to an outdoor themed scrapbook.

Wax Paper Ink Dye

Wax paper ink dye has an effect resembling tie-dye. This creates a great children’s art background or a funky scrapbook for a close friend.

To do the wax paper technique cut a piece of wax paper slightly larger that the area you are working with. Next, crumple the wax paper up and then unfold. Then, lay the wax paper onto the glossy paper and cover the wax paper with a sheet of paper. Iron the papers, using the hottest setting, for no more than 5 seconds. Peel off the wax paper and then apply dye ink. The wax acts as a resistant to the ink forming a textured look.

You can adapt these ideas to create uniquely individualised pages that are great when you’re scrapbooking for others. For more ideas on creating distinctive looks for your scrapbook albums, browse through the menu on the right hand side.