Baby's First Six Months Mini Album - by Pippa Waddell

At the end of this month, my son's teacher is leaving to have her first baby. We are very fond of her as she is the sweetest thing, and has taught our son for the last two years. We wanted to do something special as a parting gift.

Not knowing whether she is having a boy or a girl, I thought that if I keep the colours neutral, the CB Book Kit - Beaded Curtain would make a gorgeous baby album. But what to do? There is no baby yet to take photos of to put in the album... I know, let's make it a "Fill it Yourself" style. Meaning that the new mum can write her own journaling and place her own photos in the album.

I went for a first six months theme which has fitted in nicely with the number of chipboard pages in the CB Book Kit - Beaded Curtain.

We Mums know that the first six months of a baby's life just whizz by, and the baby changes so much in such a short time. It's so important to keep a record of all their little milestones like, first smile, first tooth, pushing up, rolling over etc. So I wanted to create some extra room for journaling. I have measured up some cardstock pages to insert between the chipboard, and just punched holes to match up and bind. The most economical way to title these pages was to stamp them. It just so happened that I had a set of Unmounted Rubber Stamps - Trubble (discontinued) which were perfect.

The amazing laser engraved pattern on the CB Book Kit - Beaded Curtain cover looks fab with a coat of paint just brushed over the top, being careful not to get too much paint down into the grooves. A little spray of Glimmermist adds a touch of glamour and an inking around the edges finishes off the look.

I have painted up the CB That 70's Alphabet title and CB Totally Too Tweet little birdie and given a coat of Dimensional Magic.

The inside front (and Back) covers of the CB Book Kit - Beaded Curtain have been covered in patterned paper, so this gives a ready made background. I have measured up some 6"x4" cardstock pieces to use as "photos", and adhered to the page with photo corners. This means that I could go ahead and embellish as I would normally, just using strategic glue placement LOL. In other words, wherever you see embellishing that overlaps the "photo", the embellishment will actually lift up to allow photo placement later on.

I have used some split rings to bind the book together, again this will allow the new mum to take out the journaling pages to write on them. I love the look of these cotton laces and fabrics knotted on to the rings. If you look closely you'll see a few little embellies hiding in amongst that beautifull mess, including a MIR Blame It On The Sunshine - Small. This adds a bit of interest and an element of the unexpected.

Moving through the book now we you will also see lots of Chipboard embellies. I say it every time I post here, but they are just so versatile. Here's what I've used:

CB Frill Corners painted or inked to coordinate

CB Room With A View - I have chopped the little "trunk" off the tree and sanded the edge to create a really cute heart. I have inked, and then coloured in the little birdie with gel pens. Sweet!