Monday, August 11, 2008

ABC. . . A Scrapbook for Me

This craft idea has become my token baby gift at church and for friends. I typically will purchase an 6x6 post bound album with one pack of refill pages. I will decorate the front page different ways depending on what supplies I have available. The front page usually will say something like "My First ABC Book" or "My ABC Book" or sometimes I will even personalize it. Each letter of the alphabet has its own page. The pages will include a 6x2 strip of paper that goes down the side of the page along with a letter of the alphabet, the title, and decorations that either go along with the theme for that page or the theme for the book.


I try to leave a lot of room so the new mom can place at least one picture on that page. This has been a hit with moms who do scrapbook. They can crop pictures to fit more than one picture on the page and even add other dimensions to the book. However, it has also been a hit with moms who do not scrapbook because all they have to do is stick a picture on the page and they are done! Here are some examples of things each letter can stand for in your book:
A - awaiting your arrival, airplane that brought you to us, aunts
B - bouncing baby boy, beautiful baby girl, big brother
C - cutie pie, cousins
D - daddy
E - exhaustion
F - footprints, first family, foto
G - giddy grandparents
H - hospital help
I - important information (name, date, weight, time, doctor, we named you _____ because ________)
J - joy you bring
K - kisses
L - love and laughter
M - mommy
N - nursery
O - one day old
P - proud parents
Q - quiet times, quilt
R - relatives
S - splish, splash . . . first bath, showers
T - tiny parts
U - ultrasound, uniquely you
V - visitors
W - welcome home
X - x-tra special
Y - you, you've got mail
Z - zzzzzzzzzz
Of course, you can really personalize it to fit the recipient of this gift. You can also do an ABC book for anything - a school year (what a great gift for the teacher), a toddler, first year of marriage, Bible verses, etc. Just have fun and let your imagination go wild!

106 comments:

Ryan and Katie said...

Super cute idea!! I might steal it sometime!

Jillian said...

This is such a great idea!! I'll have to keep this in mind as a gift for people down here in Huntsville!

Arika said...

Just let me say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them! They are so special! Thanks again so much! :)

10 Minute Book Reviews said...

This is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing, especiall the pictures.

Sandy said...

they are very cute and we love ours!!

Heather said...

Becky that scrapbook is great! I found your blog from Traci's and love it! It is always great to find fellow bloggers! Have a great day!

Nik said...

I absolutely ADORE your blog!! I just got lost in reading all of your stories and looking at picture. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

As for this little ABC post - I LOVE it! Too cute!

Just Lisa said...

Cute! I made a similar ABC book for my daughter's first birthday!

Happy SITS day!

BloggessJ said...

That's an AWESOME idea! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!

Katie Stacey said...

I am loving this idea! I think I am going to do this for my sister in law who is pregnant.

April said...

Such a great idea...two thumbs up!

Thrifty and Chic Mom said...

Great Idea I am posting it on my site with a link back, I can't scrapbook to save my life so this is perfect!

* said...

Stopping by from sits. Where do you find the time? You're very creative and have great time management skills.

mommytoalot said...

Fantastic idea..
I love to scrap book

Anonymous said...

So I'm one of those moms who doesn't scrap book, but even I could handle this.

What a thoughtful gift.

MammaDucky said...

That is truly a cute idea! I'm totally gonna do this. I think I'm gonna go back and do one for my three kiddos! Thanks! Enjoy your SITS day in the spotlight!

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Super cute idea! What a special gift that would make. Hmmmm....I think I'll make one for my SIL! Thanks for the wonderful idea!

Ronnica said...

This IS a cute idea! I don't know that I have the time to make it for any baby shower (I think half my church friends are pregnant right now), but maybe for someone extra special.

jubilee said...

I am so bookmarking this post! What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Very sweet...and so fun to have a gift tradition that is unique to you.

Heather said...

I love that! What a wonderful idea! I may have to borrow that idea sometime!

jewelstreet said...

That is so nice! Such a super cute idea. Wish I'd had one of those for my daughter.

Congrats on being SITS queen of the day.

Karol said...

This is such a cute idea! I may have to do this!

BlueCastle said...

Fantastic! This is a really great idea! Thank you.

Sandy said...

I LOVE IT!

Louisa Claire said...

Happy SITS day! this is a lovely idea!

Anonymous said...

I Love it! I am definitely going to steal this idea! Thanks so much and congrats on being today's featured blogger! Have a great day!

Elisabeth said...

I just love this idea! My SIL is due with her first baby and isn't terribly crafty. I think I will make this for her! What an easy gift to put together, and perfect for someone who isn't the most creative or is pressed for time!

Erika said...

What a wonderful idea!!

Barking Mad! said...

What an awesome idea. My baby sister is due to have her first baby in the next few weeks and I think I'm going to do something similar to this.

Thanks for sharing the idea with us!

Congrats on your SITS day!

Auds at Barking Mad

larkswing said...

ABC scrapbooks are great . . .but I really like yours, great headings and love the color . . very saucy!

Unknown said...

Very Cute idea, and so simple too! Thanks for the tip!

Amanda and Katie said...

Very cute! I may steal the idea :)

Bethany said...

That is so cute!!!

Anonymous said...

Very cute.

Mamarazzi said...

popping in from SITS...SUPER cute idea!! love it!

Cupcake Dessert said...

i love this idea!!! so creative!!!

The Rantings of a Drama Queen's Mum said...

That's a great idea. I might steal it from you.

Angela said...

That is so creative! My husband and I are trying to have a baby. Maybe I'll make one of these when I get pregnant to save for my baby. Thanks for sharing!

Shalee- Be Speechless said...

That is just so stinking cute!!!!!!!!!

Jaden Paige said...

What a unique idea! I love it! Happy SITS day :)

Vickie said...

I always wanted to do an ABC scrapbook. I got to catch up on my other scrapbooks, first. I am so behind.

Sarah VM said...

Saw you on SITS.

I love this idea, I've never seen it done before like this.

Thanks!

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

That is an incredible idea - I love it!!

Happy SITS day to you. :)

Creative Junkie said...

I think these books makes wonderful gifts!

And you know what I recently discovered? Sounds so basic, like one of those "duh" things, but it came as a total surprise to me ... the letter doesn't have to be at the beginning of the word! It can be anywhere in it, just highlighted in a different way so you know that it's the one you are emphasizing. I recently blogged about my own ABC book and I couldn't believe how much easier it was for me when I realized I could use that method! Helps with those harder letters like "x" and "q" and "z."

You did a great job!

Cammie said...

tjat os an awesome idea!!

Jenny said...

What a great gift idea!

Michelle said...

I've done one for my MIL...with grandkids.

said...

Awesome idea. I love it. And I would have loved to have receive something as creative as this back in the day!

Brandy said...

I love that idea! I'm saving things to make a scrapbook for SS when he graduates next year. I might use this as a theme to get me started.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

What a fantabulous idea!!!!! Thanks for the inspiration! :)

Pamela said...

ooooh! Love it! What a great gift!

lifebythehandful said...

I love the alphabet breakdown, too cute. I am going to forward this to my friend who scrapbooks - I so wish I had the time and talent. :)

wenderful said...

So cute. I'm just getting back into scrapbooking so this was a great inspiration. Happy SITs day!

Melissa Lester said...

Becky, this is such a cute idea! I think I missed this the first time, so I'm so glad you chose it as a featured post. Love it!

Anonymous said...

Cute idea. Happy SITS day!

Reeni said...

What a wonderful idea! A gift like that would be greatly appreciated. Very thoughtful.

Mammatalk said...

I love scrapbooks. They are such a lovely gift idea.

RebeccaMom said...

Fantastic idea! I stopped by from SITS, congrats on being featured :)

Sherrie said...

What an awesome and creative gift. Happy SITS day to you!

www.AForestFrolic.typepad.com said...

Love that idea! I too love making little scrapbooks for gifts (ones that people can just add pictures too, for those who don't scrap). Thanks for sharing the letter ideas, I may have to use some :-) You ROCK, hehe!

Eve said...

What a clever idea!

Annikke said...

This is so cute! I love this idea!

HAPPY SITS DAY!

Mimi said...

You are a genius. It's inexpensive, yet personalized & semi-handmade.

Enjoy yours SITS day!

blognut said...

Cute idea!

Kate said...

What a cute idea!

Laura said...

Love this idea! So cute!

Amy said...

That is so cute!! I love it :)

Heather and Daniel said...

This would be perfect for me to get. I am not crafty and I am not a scrapbooker. What a great gift!
Heather B(not that Heather!), fellow SITSta.

Melinda said...

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it! I will definitely be using this in the future! Happy SITS day!

•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Erin.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• said...

I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing it...Came via SITS. Enjoy your day basking in the comment glory! ;)

Beth said...

A lovely idea! I've seen these before but you are the first person I've seen brainstorm ideas for each letter. (I may borrow them... I always get stuck around Q)
A great blessing for any new mom to have at least one album she can finish easily.

Happy SITS day!

Heather said...

super cute idea!!

mrsmouthy said...

I'm definitely bookmarking this one for any future shower gifts!

Danyele Easterhaus said...

over from SITS...happy FB!!!! and i love this idea...bought a book a bit ago to do this...and haven't. i am re-inspired!!!

katylinvw said...

this is such a great idea! thanks for sharing!

congrats on your SITS feature!

Mandy said...

A parent in my classroom made one of these for me when I was pregnant with my first child. I love it so much!!

Emily said...

Good idea! I did something kind of similar to this for my husband's birthday a couple years ago. I did it all on the computer, but it was the ABCs of our life together so far. Each letter had a picture and a description. It is one of my favorite projects that I have done.

Emily said...

Good idea! I did something kind of similar to this for my husband's birthday a couple years ago. I did it all on the computer, but it was the ABCs of our life together so far. Each letter had a picture and a description. It is one of my favorite projects that I have done.

Emily said...

Good idea! I did something kind of similar to this for my husband's birthday a couple years ago. I did it all on the computer, but it was the ABCs of our life together so far. Each letter had a picture and a description. It is one of my favorite projects that I have done.

antibloggedy said...

Congrats on your feature. I do a version of this on a picture site that prints out books and if it is someone close to you in your family, I take a bunch of pictures and put it together for that person....I did an ABC for my daughter and it turned out like a professional hardbound printed book....cost is under $40.00 perfect for christmas, bdays, births....etc. Thanks for sharing!

Sarah said...

What a neat idea! I may just steal this for a baby shower I have coming up! Happy SITS day!

wendy said...

So very clever! I can't think of any new mom who wouldn't love such a thoughtful and personal gift.

Happy SITS day!

Preston said...

What a great idea. Last year I did a scrapbook cookbook for my daughter and she loves it. Happy SITS day!

AdriansCrazyLife said...

What an absolutely fabulous gift. Any mother would just love to have this for her new baby. Happy SITS day!

Unknown said...

What an adorable idea- I might have to borrow it.

Irene said...

Love this idea! What a great gift to give!

http://theheirtoblair.com said...

WONDERFUL IDEA!! This is now bookmarked!

Susan said...

Great idea! Might have to use that for teacher gifts this year!

SarahJarnagin said...

Great idea! Love this!

Jeanne Estridge said...

What a great idea! Saving it for the next baby in the family that comes along....

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

awesome and adorable idea .

jori-o said...

How thoughtful and fun (and best of all) SIMPLE! I'm definitely filing this idea away for future use!!

sassy stephanie said...

Oh this reminds me of a little book I did for my firstborn. I do the big scrapbook and didn't want her to take it to school and all when showing off pics, but wanted her to have one of her own. So I did one with the alphabet. "B" page, she was holding a ball, etc. Sniff.

Elizabeth M Thompson said...

What a fantastic and thoughtful gift idea...thanks for sharing it.

Katie said...

I love scrapbooking, but not everyone has the time to committ to the hobby. I love making mini-books for my nonscrappy friends. This looks like a quick and fun book to make! Thanks for the idea.

Michelle said...

Oh that is such a neat idea and so beautiful. I'll have to add it to my list of "when the wee ones are in school, I'll..." You do a great job!

Ani said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ani said...

Such a great project, and what a fun keepsake too :-)

Natalie said...

i made one of these with pictures from mine and my husband's baby years to use to teach our kids the alphabet! too fun. i love the idea of making one as a baby gift!

Anonymous said...

This is such a great idea. Thanks for sharing with all us Saucy bloggers!

Lisa Fulmer said...

such a thoughtful gift - I love the idea - great tip - I think I'll link to you in my blog carnival on 1/10/09!!!

Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net said...

what an awesome idea!

Unknown said...

Such a great idea...and a wonderful gift!

Lynn said...

This is the best gift idea ever! I'll bet those who are lucky enough to receive one absolutely love it.

Rachael said...

This is a WONDERFUL and totally adorable idea! I don't know ANY mom who wouldn't love it!

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