How to Make a Keepsake That People Can Put in a Baby's Scrapbook

Use your infant's hospital bracelet as part of a keepsake scrapbook page.

Scrapbooking remains an extremely popular way of capturing and preserving your memories. Your baby's scrapbook is likely to be one of the most precious in your collection. Think about creating a unique scrapbook keepsake that celebrates the wonder of your infant. Combine traditional elements with new digital technology to make an item you see, feel and hear. Careful planning and a small investment are the basics of this project that is worth the effort as you will cherish it always.

Things You'll Need

• Scrapbook page
• Photograph of infant
• Scrabooking border material
• Recordable sound module
• Clear protective page cover

Instructions

1. Collect an item that celebrates and commemorates your child's entrance into the world. This could be foot or hand prints, a lock of hair, hospital bracelet, or baby announcement. This piece will serve as a key element of your scrapbook keepsake. The object you select should be small enough to fit onto a page of your book while leaving room for a couple of other things.

2. Journal about your baby in detail. Take 10 full minutes to write without stopping about your beloved little one. After this period is up, read what you have written. Choose a sentence or two from your writing which you believe expresses your thoughts well. Invite your child's other parent to do the same.

3. Select a special photograph of your baby which will be featured on your keepsake page. This should be a well lighted photo. According to Hewlett Packard Digital Photography, the best baby photos are ones featuring a solid background that will not take the focus away from your child. Pick a picture which displays your baby's personality well. You can use scrapbooking materials to construct a "frame" for the picture. This could be a little border featuring baby booties, bottles or teddy bears.

4. Choose a song that reminds you of your child. This could be something popular at the time of your child's birth or a piece that suits the situation of her birth. Invest in a small sound module in which you can record a snippet of the song and attach to the scrapbook page. This is similar to a musical greeting card with your personal touch. Research the copyright laws for the music you plan to use to make sure you are in compliance with the law.

5. Add your baby's sweet voice to the musical greeting module. Record a few seconds of your child's gurgles or laughs which will play after the little musical piece. Experiment with the software editing that comes with the module until you have the music and voice exactly the way you want it.

6. Assemble your scrapbook page with a keepsake item, photograph, quotes and sound module. Arrange all items before you paste them into the book. Ask a relative or friend with an eye for design to assist you if you are not particularly adept at creating scrapbook pages. Use a protective cover over your new keepsake with a small cut-out section for the sound "button."

Tips & Warnings

• Do not place too many items on your scrapbook keepsake page as it will distract from the main focus of specifically highlighting something about your baby.

References

• Hewlet Packard Digital Photography: Take better photos of your baby