PLEASE HELP ME. What type of scrapbook albums for kids for life/theme/ideas how do i catch up..

Jul '20 Starla Croft

I need some advice, tips, and opinions

This is my first ever post so here goes... im just now starting scrapbooking... what albums should i do?

Im a mom of 3 boys ages 10, 5 and 2. My youngest is special needs with a very rare diagnosis (only 22 documented cases in history)... therefore i want to do a first year/struggles/greatest accomplishments type album to document everything he has been through and over come, so one day he knows just how strong and amazing he is.
So big question is for my other 2 should i play catch up and do albums for certain years?
Should i do babys first year for both then a big life story type album from birth to now?

Also if i want to do an album about me and my husband and our lives so far what fits?

A love story album (just me and him)?

A family album (everyone included and every major event in our lives till now)?.

Both?... Neither?... Any better ideas????

how do you decide. Also any good theme ideas to fit with special need/medical babys album is welcome as well Im so stressed over trying to find album ideas to get started just need a little direction
Jul '20 Scrappin 2

So sorry to hear that your child was born with such a rare disease. My heart goes out to you and your family.
It seems like you should start with the scrapbook for your youngest. That was the first idea you mentioned and it seems important to you to document how far he has come.
Search here on sb.com for "baby boy" papers since you want to document birth to age two. . Your journaling can tell about his medical issues so you really don't need specific papers for that theme.
check out Scrapbook Customs
Also search "scrapbooks" and that will help you decide what you want to do. If you have a lot of photos you might consider those Storybook type albums. (Doodlebug)

Of course you will want room to journal.
After you do the youngest boy's scrapbook, move on to doing the first year for your other boys. This is a lifetime hobby so hopefully you can move on to other ideas after you get the 3 done.
Good Luck and have fun.
Jul '20 Sewflake

I am sorry to hear that your youngest child has such a rare disease, I am sure there are many milestones already in just his two years and since there are so few cases I can imagine there is not as much medical data to rely on.
Like Scrappin 2 said, start with your youngest child first as that seems closest to your heart but follow closely behind with the other two.
Looking at smaller albums might be a choice if you don't have tons of photos to Mark each Milestone. Also a smaller album is not as overwhelming to start off. There are plenty of 8 1/2 x 11 scrap albums that are quite lovely. I personally do a lot of digital journaling so it does not take up as much space as hand written, but then there is not the personal touch either.
Like it's been said this can be a lifetime hobby so you have plenty of time to play catch-up the first thing is to just get started.
Jul '20 PKfromPA

Enjoy your new hobby! I started scrapbooking, when my first child was small. My kids are in college and I am still scrapbooking events and catching up on things I didn't get done, when they were younger. Now, I have a grandson that I want to do an album for, also. I bought echo park baby boy paper for his albums. I started out making 8 1/2" x 11" albums but now usually do 12" x 12" albums. I've done albums for my nieces & nephew. I started with their birth and then did every birthday. Watching videos, looking at other peoples layouts and using sketches (both found here on scrapbook.com & other places like Pinterest) are good ways to get ideas & get pages done.
Jul '20 Tammy Bingeman Spruce

One other thing I might try to do is scrap the moments as they happen for the other two (like 1st day of school year or any important moment in their lives). It doesnt matter if you scrap in chronological order - it is just one less to do as you get there.
Jul '20 Kelly.R

Hi!

I just completed a scrapbook album of DH and I for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. I used the Paperhouse flip book and incorporated 1 photo of every trip we have taken over the past 20 years. It's in my gallery if you are interested. I'm also in the process of making an album of our 20th Wedding anniversary trip. I bought the 49 and Market Foundations album and the P13 Sunshine collection. We had professional photos taken in Lake Tahoe last year and I will doing an album with those pics using the G45 tag and pocket album. I have previously made a Wedding album using a chipboard album. The albums with paper are so much easier to work with, do not get as bulky nor to they warp like chipboard. I viewed tons and tons of you tube videos on how to put an album together. Also, check out member here Kizzy05, she has done some amazing albums.

Happy Scrapping,

Kelly
Jul '20 Gluemore Girl

Staci Julian has a Library of Memories system for scrapping that keeps you from getting overwhelmed when you have several years worth of photos to scrap.I started out chronologically scrapping but now scrap by theme: Christmas, Summer, Just us (immediate family, Relatives & Friends, DD and DS (mostly just pics of them with their friends, their sports, proms, etc, growing up).
You can choose your own themes or let them evolve based on how you find yourself scrapping.I think the stories in my albums are richer now with photos from different years mixing and matching: example would be a photo of each of your kids playing with the same toy or sleeping on the same blanket.
You can still have individual baby albums (I did a 1st year for both). As you sort through your photos see what speaks to you and remember you don't have to scrap every photo you took.
If you are interested, I think you can link to her class on this site or I can help you find something.
Welcome and hope this is a hobby you come to love. Best wishes and thoughts for your little one with special needs. All your boys will love seeing themselves in their albums. It really is neat for them to see.
Jul '20 Starla Croft

RE: Gluemore Girl: Staci Julian has a Library of Memories system for scrapping that keeps you from getting overwhelmed when you have several years worth of photos to scrap.I started out chronologically scrapping but now scrap by theme: Christmas, Summer, Just us (immediate family, Relatives & Friends, DD and DS (mostly just pics of them with their friends, their sports, proms, etc, growing up).You can choose you...

Would love a class how would i find it? U can also email if that would be easier [email protected] or look me up on facebook
Jul '20 Starla Croft

RE: Sewflake: I am sorry to hear that your youngest child has such a rare disease, I am sure there are many milestones already in just his two years and since there are so few cases I can imagine there is not as much medical data to rely on. Like Scrappin 2 said, start with your youngest child first as that seems closest to your heart but follow closely behind with the other two. Looking at smaller albums might...

I have an abundance of photos for my youngest my my oldest child i had when i was 16 and didnt take many at all so maybe big album for baby and small for other 2
Jul '20 Kelly.R

"Would love a class how would i find it?"

You Tube. There are tons of videos on how to make any kind of scrapbook album you are looking for. The problem will be having the time to go through all the options.

Click on the 'Classes' link at the top of the page. There are a few tutorials listed there.

Browse through Pinterest and follow the links. Many will link to a blog with instructions or a You Tube Video.

Kelly
Jul '20 Dawna.s Place

Welcome to scrapbooking! For me it's turned into a life long passion. A few key things I've learned. It's been said, but don't worry about scrapping in chronological order, its just too overwhelming. Instead chose only the photos that really move you. Then use a small "D-Ring" Scrapbook, instead of the cheaper "post bound" scrapbooks. This way as you complete pages, you can slip them in chronically, instead of have to take your scrapbook apart every time you want to move a page! Duddlebug makes a very nice "D-Ring" 8 x 8 Storybook and these smaller pages will be much easier to work with in the beginning. They take up less supplies and with just a few embellishments, they decorate up quickly too. Papers often come in 8 x 8 pad sizes too. Same is true for the 8 1/2 x 11 albums and paper pads. Different paper manufactures specialize in different sizes. If you like beautiful soft papers, check out Prima. If you like cutesier papers, check out Doodlebug, or Echo Park just to name a few. Good luck with your scrapping and sending best wishes that you and your loved ones make many wonderful memories together!