Welcome Sweet Baby Girl!

We welcomed our 7th grandbaby into our family this month. There is nothing better than a brand new baby straight from heaven and this time we got our 2nd girl after five adorable little boys. We feel very blessed everytime a pure little soul arrives whole, healthy, and perfect. For the past nine years I've spent all the time loving on them, playing with them and it has been so lovely. I've been creating all kinds of scrapbooks for 27 years, but this is the first one I have made for one of our grandchildren. Just recently I had decided it was time to work on theirs.

Fifteen years ago, while working for a scrapbooking company, I created a baby book for a class I was asked to teach, in a Teresa Collins paper set of yellow, white, and gray called Carolina Breeze. (One of my favorite paper lines.) I never did teach the class, but kept the book, of course - it is a favorite design of mine. After our precious grand daughter was born a few weeks ago I pulled it out and decided to use it as a pattern for her book - except, it needed to be created in pinks of course! It is a month by month record book called, "Welcome Sweet Baby" - baby's first year. It is created from chipboard, designer papers, cardstock, stamps, stamp pads and ribbons, and bound with a We R Memory Keepers Cinch Book Binding machine and coils. A very cool tool.

Handcrafted baby scrapbook adorned with pink and white gingham patterns, delicate floral prints, and elegant ribbons, celebrating the arrival of a darling newborn.

To begin with I picked designer papers that would compliment each other. I cut 8 pieces out of chipboard measuring 6x8 inches. I decided which papers would be the cover first and then lined up the inside pieces. For the cover I used double sided tape to adhere the paper to the chipboard on both sides. I used the We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile corner chomper 1/2" corner rounder on two corners. I cut a chipboard piece, one of acetate, and a complimentary paper out of a sizzix bigz die 'Big Top Note' and glued together. For the acetate piece I used some glue dots underneath where I tied the ribbon across it. I used a Sizzix bigz circle die next to cut a chipboard and pattern paper circle of the same size and glued together. I diecut the next smaller size circle of paper and chipboard to go together and handcut a paper to go in between. I rubbed Colorbox Glitz Gold ink on all of the edges before gluing them together. On the top circle I used an Ali Edwards stamp set, Sweet Baby, to heat emboss the two different sentiments. I glued them all together on top of the front cover.

On the inside of the cover I created a frame with the Fiskars Surecut Deluxe Paper trimmer size 9x15. I cut a paper to 4.5x4.5 inches and then went in a 1/2 inch and cut the inside at 4x4. I saved the 4x4" piece for later . Once you've done it a couple of times it's pretty simple. I tied small pieces of ribbon around one side of the frame and cut a natural colored cardstock piece 4.25x4.25 to glue underneath. After edging the frame with gold ink I glued two sides of the frame down only so that a picture could be slid in between the edges. This is how I glued all of the frames of so a picture could be added in later. I embossed the newborn quote and cut a arrow around it and wrapped ribbon on the end.

Between each of the pages are smaller pages which I cut in different sizes. The first one I cut two pieces of paper 5x6" and glued together. I rounded two corners and edged with gold ink. I stamped the library card and edged with ink. This is an Ali Edwards stamp I used to create the little cards to record monthly memories. This card and 13 others are inserted between the different pages one side for each month. This is stamped with the 0 and the final one is 00. I layered the card and wrapped gold ribbon around and tied it. More ribbon is tied around the side with additional colors knotted around it.

This is the other side of the same card. Papers layered and glued on. Stamped and edged with gold ink. A number 1 stamped on the corner of the library card. The stamp at the top and bottom is Ali Edward.

The page below is 4 1/4" x 6 1/4" frame, handcut on the outside and then cut a 1/2" around on the inside all the way around with a Fiskars Surecut Deluxe Paper trimmer size 9x15. This is what I used for all frames cut in this manner. The stamped circle is just the same stamp as to the right and punched out with a 1 1/2" circle punch and layered with gold.

Hello sweet baby is stamped at the top of a 5 3/4" x 4 1/4" piece of patterned paper with a 3 5/8" x 3 5/8" narural cardstock square layered on top. Gold ribbon wrapped around and knotted with a pink star inserted in the knot.

This is the second monthly memory page between the 2nd and 3rd month picture pages. I cut a piece of acetate 4x6 and cut paper to fit on both sides to line up evenly. I punched 5 holes down the sides to pull ribbon through. I knotted the ends and threaded it loosely between holes. I layered the card on different papers and stamped the 2.

Here is the opposite side of the page. I love the silver binky tied on with the gold ribbon but don't recall the company. The library card is stamped in gold and a 3 at the bottom. As you can see, the cards match up on the acetate from both sides.

Three darling elephants are stamped in gold to welcome babies 3rd month below. The natural cardstock squares for pictures both measure 3 1/4" squared. Each paper underneath measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and 4" x 4" consecutively. The welcome stamp at the bottom is stamped and matted and a ribbon is stapled to the edge. I used Mini stampin' dimensionals by Stampin' Up to lift it.

Happiness is a stamp by Stampin' Up. Each of the squares measuring 4" x 4" squared and 1 3/4" squared are in natural cardstock and matted, one with gold and one with pink polka dots and ribbon added. I use the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to staple on the ribbons.

This 4th monthly memory card page measures 5x6 and is stamped with a stamp from a set called 'He, She, You Said' by Unity stamps and stamped with a 4 and edged with gold ink. It is layered with the pink check and tied with pink and gold ribbbon.

On the 5th monthly memory card I used a Tim Holtz Thinlit #664413 Crochet die to cut from some gold card stock. I cut a piece of ribbon the same size and using double sided tape adhered them together. I cut a gold cardstock piece to glue to the berry paper at the end. I layered the library card with gold and pin pinstripe papers and stamped the 5. The quote is a Unity stamp, "Create the Future", stamped in gold and layered with pink paper.

See the tiny gold stamped sayings below? Ali Edwards of course! The frame is 5 1/4" squared. Gold metallic twine is wound around it and knotted with pink.

This giggle page is very similar. The pink pinstriped frame is 4 1/1" x 4 3/4". If you haven't figured it out yet, I adore ribbon. I have many drawers full and pink is one of my very favorites. It makes everything look better.

This monthly memory page #6 is also on acetate. One thing I would do differently is use a heavier weight of acetate. I believe this is 5 mil. It measures 3 1/2" x 6" and I measured & cut everything the same size for both sides to match up.

For the berry page below I cut a pinstripe pink paper 1 1/2" x 6" and a gold piece to fit underneath. I glued them together and adhered to the page. I cut a natural piece of cardstock 4 1/4" squared. I cut a gold matte to fit underneath it. I stamped the little thought in gold on all four edges. I LOVE tiny words like this from Ali Edwards. I die cut these hearts of Tim Holtz from chipboard and patterned paper. I wrapped the ribbon and tied it around them after edging in gold.

This dachshund stamp is Magenta and I love it.

This monthly memory #8, to the left, is cut from acetate and measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/8". Once again, I cut pieces for both sides the same size. I wish you could see how darling the acetate makes it - it's hard to photograph.

Page #9 to the right, has the cutest little bird. It's by Unity stamps.

The graph paper is 4"x 6". The pink frame is 4 1/2" squared. The gold line at the bottom is part of the paper but gold twine could be used

The pink pinstripe is 4 1/2 squared and layered behind with natural cardstock first and gold underneath. Everything is always edged in gold ink.

The monthly memory page #10 measures 4" x 6". The floral piece is 1 1/2" x 6".

The giraffe stamp on #11 is a 1 1/2" circle stamped with a giraffe stamp by Unity Stamps in gold.

The natural piece of cardstock below is 4 1/4" squared with a pink piece and gold underneath, and that darling little stamp in both corners & the little feet on the right. One from the Ali Edwards stamp set and the little feet from Imaginations.

The floral frame above is 4 1/4" squared with a natural cardstock underneath and ribbons wrapped around after edging in gold. The smaller floral piece is measured 2 1/2" x 3 3/4". The top is folded down 3/4" and tied with gold ribbon and a key. The natural paper is 2 1/4" x 1 7/8" and stamped at the bottom.

The monthly memory #12 measures 3 1/2" x 6 ". The bottle is a Whipper Snapper designs stamp.

There are actually 14 sides to these monthly memory pages. the last is just extra. The bunny is a Colorado Crafts stamp, "You Make My Heart Smile".

The last page on the inside of the cover has the sweetest little love stamp by Unity Stamp. The frame measures 4 1/8" x 5 1/8" with a gold piece underneath that is 4" x 5". The end piece is 1 3/4" x 6".

A new baby is truly a miracle in every way.

The back cover is the end. I do love this quote by Ali Edwards stamps.

Lastly, I took some pieces of each of the ribbons I used in the books and tied them in the coils for a finishing touch.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing this Welcome Sweet Baby book with you. Thank you for stopping by and please come again...

Note: I have gone ahead and listed the materials used below however, and thats a big HOWEVER, most of the stamps and papers have been retired. Remember, the original book was created 15 years ago. I have hung onto my stamps because I love the designs. Remember though, most of these stamp designers are still in business and creating darling stamps. They might not be the exact ones but they will have other stamps that will work!

Also, You can sometimes find a stamp or stamp set on ebay or elsewhere on the internet for sale that is retired.

Materials used:

Dies:

Stampin' Up Sizzix Bigz 'Top Note'

Sizzix Circles Bigz

Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Mini Hearts Set Movers and Shapers cutting die

Dura-Lar Acetate 5 mil

Fiskars Surecut Deluxe Paper trimmer size 9x15

We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile corner chomper 1/4" and 1/2"

We R Memory Keepers Cinch Book Binding machine and coils

Stamps:

Magenta stamps: Dachshund and Elephant

Unity stamps: 'A to Z alphabet', 'Create the future', 'He, She, You said'

Ali Edwards stamps: 'Sweet Baby', 'Favorite Moments', '2011 December Daily'

Colorado Crafts stamps: 'You Make My Heart Smile'

Stampin' Up: 'Warm Words'

Imaginations: 'Baby Feet'

Papers: Teresa Collins, and My Minds Eye

Stamp pads: Colorbox pigment archival ink 'Glitz gold'