Baby's ABC Scrapbook

My friend recently had a baby girl. In addition to the fat quarter gift set, I also put together an ABC book for her to highlight some favorite photos from the first year.  The ABC concept works with many themes. It is an especially good one to make for friends who do not scrapbook because photos don't have to be in chronological order and with a little planning photo cropping can be kept to a minimum.  I've found that when making gift albums it's best to make things as easy as possible to complete to ensure it actually gets used.  This is a simple and straight forward concept, after all we all know our ABCs!  It's also fun to come up with pictures to match each letter. 

This book was made with an 8X8 sized scrapbook, I found on clearance a few years ago, that came with the standard ten page protectors.  It's been waiting in my stash, along with the sheet of round letter stickers from Pebbles Inc., for the next baby girl to be born.  Any alphabet sticker set or even stamping would also look great.

You open the book and the first thing you see is a summary sheet attached directly onto the inside cover.

Leftover alphabet stickers were placed randomly on top of background paper to create the custom paper for the title page.

For the letter pages I designed a number of basic page layouts and reused them through out the book so the design process was easier.  Each time a new page design appeared I wrote directions on the photo mat to help my friend add her pictures.  As you can see many pages only require her to center a 4X6 photo onto the patterned paper mat.

For each letter there is a stanped and embossed title, patterned paper photo mat, and prelined journaling card I created in Photoshop and then printed as needed directly onto color cardstock.  With a little planning I was able to assemble the foundation pages in one night at a crop.  Then I pulled together my baby themed stash and embellished each layout to make it special and unique.

Here is a look at the rest of the pages.  When two photos are on one page the photos have to be cropped a little to 3.5X4.5.

You will probably see the pattern between layouts and see how just by moving the picture placement from the top to the bottom or left to right you can come up with several variations to keep thing interesting.  I like how there is continuity between pages but still room to put creative touches. 

Tip #1: Stick to a standard color palatte for baby girls products so you can mix and match things from your stash but still look coordinated.  I was able to use up a significant number of leftover stickers, quotes, etc. to make this gift album special.

Tip #2: Give an ABC album with a list of suggestions for each letter to make it easier for parents to match up letters with photos.  You could also include a "coupon" good for a night of help assembling the book.  Show up with snacks and you'll become the new parents' best friend!

For the last page I fit the last three letters but if doing it again I think move letter Z to the back cover to make the photo spaces larger.

Have you ever made a gift album?  I'd love to see your project.  Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to come give you some comment love!



Sharing this project at Craftionary and my own co-hosted weekly linky party A Crafty Soiree.