Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mini Baby Book Creation a la McKenna

Several weeks ago, I got to feeling bad that I didn't have a mini book made of Sydney's birth and baby pictures. I had plenty of layouts in my regular albums of her as a baby, but I really wanted to make a little something special too. Then, after I finished that book and was really happy with it, I got to feeling guilty that I didn't have a book dedicated to either McKenna or Delaney (LOL), so I have sat down to create a little album for each of them.

The first I did was of McKenna and I really like how it turned out. It was super simple to make; I just cut 6 x 6 squares out of black cardstock paper, and backed the front and the back cover onto chipboard to make them both heavier. Then I used report covers (those plastic sheets folders you can find at any dollar store or Walmart) to make overlays between some of the pages. Then I embellished with very simple things; I used one sheet of stickers, some patterned paper cut up into strips, and some flowers cut from another piece of patterned paper. Then punched holes in the corner and tied it all together with some black/white polka dot ribbon. I really like it!

Here are a few pictures of the little book (this isn't all the pages) that will give you a glimpse of me looking really young (I was 23 when McKenna was born) and McKenna as such cutie pie baby. You'll see that I also left plenty of room for journaling.














Very, VERY easy to do...and it just makes me really happy to see all of those sweet pictures in one place where I can take it out to look at it real easily. I do wish I had done this earlier, since the journaling was a little bit tough (hard to remember EXACTLY how I felt those 16 years ago), but I added a page in the back where I journaled thta I was doing this when McKenna was now 16-years-old and how I feel now looking back at her as a baby...and how my love for her was so big back then, but how it has just grown over the years.

(McKenna, by the way, is heading out in the morning to THIS leadership CONFERENCE. She was selected as the sole representative from her high school to go, based on an essay and interview she did. So proud of her!)

And then I put the album in my big basket in my living room, where I am now storing all of the little books I create. It's a fun way to have them on display, because visitors and family can sit down and look through them if they like.

You can see the book I did of Sydney kind of right there to the left of McKenna's. If you want to see how I did it, go back to THIS POST and read about it.

And now, next on the agenda? Do a mini book based on Delaney's baby pictures. I'm trying to think of a fun approach for it. (Of course, I'll share it with you when I get it done. lol)

I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday!!! (I am busy today--gotta get McKenna some toiletries for her trip, gotta get Gary and I some stuff for our anniversary overnighter tomorrow, and probably gonna go to the water park for awhile--but really it's all just filler as I wait for tonight's season finale of "Lost." If you are a crazed Lostie like myself, go HERE to get a good "getting ready for tonight" tease by my fave Lost columnist. I am so STINKING excited I can hardly stand it!!!!)

22 comments:

Adrienne said...

How cute!! I can't wait for tonight either!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I want to go to the water park!!!

In response to your comment on the Daniel Radcliffe/Equus post over on my site... all I can say is "uh-huh!"

Anonymous said...

Love that scrapbook. So cute.

Brown English Muffin said...

thanks for the inspiration I've been thinking about how to divide my scrapbooking up and this is a great idea to keep in my mental rolodex. I was thinking a book for year 1 a book for year 2 etc.

Sheila said...

Adorable mini albums.

Cheryl Wray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cheryl Wray said...

Adrienne-I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff--We haven't managed to make it to the water park today. But about to head out to ride some rides!!

Gin--Thanks!

Muffin--I'm glad that it gave you some ideas and inspiration!!

Sheila--Thanks!

Mz.Elle said...

I'm laughing my butt off at your first pharagraph. Us mums and our guilt,hee hee.
It turned out beautiful! I love how it's held together and I especially love how you;ve got a basket of goodies for guests to look at. I LOVE going over other people's photos for some reason..
Enjoy yur show tonight!

Babydoll said...

I just love the little mini books. What a great idea!! I really need to take the time to do one of these. I also love your idea of using the clear sheets as overlays. Thanks for sharing the instructions too!

Dawn Bibbs said...

Very, very nice work. I have YET to do a mini book of...ANYBODY! I'm such a slacker.

But I do like your idea. I may have to borrow that :-). Thanks for the tip and thanks for sharing your special memories!

hippo chick said...

First of all, I LOVE the mini books. I have just decided to do one of flowers and plants around my house. I am quite a fanatic about taking pics of them so I should do a book, don't you think?

Secondly, you just make me laugh AND wish I had begun watching LOst all that long time ago. My friend Linda is as nutsy as you about it. It's something you can't catch up on, I know.

I'm all atwitter about this weekend's wedding. I shall post when I finish here.

Have a great weekend.

How proud we all are of McKenna.

P.

Lesli said...

Super cute Album!!! I absolutely love it!

Auburn Kat said...

Wow! You are just the sweetest mom!

Monogram Queen said...

Congratulations on McKenna's big honor!

I need to do a scrapbook of Madison's dance. Seriously.

Cheryl Wray said...

Ms. L--Ha ha!! Yep, that Momma Guilt!!

Babydoll--Thanks! I hope it gave you some good ideas!

Dawn--Slacker....LOL

Pam--i think that a mini book of your flowers would be a WONDERFUL idea!!

Cheryl Wray said...

Lesli--Thanks!!

Kat--You're so sweet!

Queen--You HAVE GOT to do a dance album. Yes, you do!!! :-)

Renee said...

How sweet!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Great ideas for those mini-books. I've even taken your idea of keeping my mini-books in a basket in the living room so that they are accessible. That's kind of the point of scrapbooking, right? To make pictures tell stories - and what good are stories if no one is reading them!

Kari

Monogram Queen said...

Just wanted to pop in and say enjoy your overnight get-away this week-end!
~Gary~N~Cheryl~sittin'~In~A~Tree~

*snicker*

~Telah said...

LOVE that mini! You inspire me to do more mini albums like that.

Unknown said...

AWWWWWWWWW how precious is your mini album! You did a great job! I cannot wait to see the next one!

She-Ra said...

Oh I love that basket idea! now maybe I won't hesitate to make mini albums...