Scrapbook Ideas for New Mom's First Mother's Day

Being a new mom is both a blessing and a challenge. A new mom is also left with precious little time in her day to engage in previously loved hobbies, including scrap booking. If there is a new mom in your life, surprise her this mother's day by creating a special Mother's Day Scrapbook. You'll delight her by documenting her new baby's first few days, weeks, or months as well as show her how much she means to you.

Basic Supplies Needed for a Mother's Day Scrapbook for a New Mom
Blank scrapbook cover and pages - most popular size is 12x12
New baby themed stickers
New baby themed paper
Scissors
Photo adhesive such as tape runner or photo splits
Colored pens for writing
Photos of the new baby
Photos of the new mom during pregnancy, baby shower, at the hospital, etc.
Color copies of documents relating to the new baby such as birth certificate, footprints, etc.

Note on Scrap Booking Supplies
Be sure to purchase archival quality paper, stickers, albums, and adhesives to ensure that the photos will not be damaged by paper acids. These supplies are available from major craft stores such as JoAnn's or Michael's or from local scrap booking supply companies.

Note on Engaging the New Dad
You may need to be creative in order to obtain photos and copies of documents to add to the new mom's scrapbook. Engage the new dad and older siblings to help you obtain these items. You might be able to arrange a short spa trip for the new mom and offer to help dad watch the baby for a couple of hours.

Basic Instructions for a Mother's Day Scrapbook for a New Mom
1. Decide on a layout for the new mom scrapbook. One option is to decorate an album with paper and stickers and titles, but to leave the actual space for the photos blank. This method will allow the new mom to add her favorite photos.

However, if you'd prefer to celebrate the new mom by completing the scrapbook for her, you'll want to decide how to place the photos. Do you want to do them in chronological order? Random order? If you choose chronological order, you might want to start with her pregnancy photos for a fun and special look back before the baby.

2. Choose an overall feel for the scrapbook and base this feel on the new mom's personality. Is she an outdoor lover? Does she like to travel? Sports? Staying home? Is she religious or not? Think about her personality to help you choose the tone of the scrapbook and the appropriate stickers and embellishments.

3. Choose how many photos to display. You'll probably have a large selection of photos to choose from, and you'll need to narrow these down to just 3 or 4 per page. A good suggestion is to be sure to use some photos focused in on just the new baby and some focusing on the new baby plus other family members. Make sure that each page has enough room for journaling.

Consider leaving a few blank pages at the end of the scrapbook so that the new mom can continue to add photos as her baby grows.

4. Interview close family members. Be sure to leave some space throughout the scrapbook to record personal thoughts and feelings from dad, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, close friends and other relatives. If possible, have these people write directly onto the scrap booking pages near a favorite photo of the new mom and baby. If some people live too far away, call them and ask for a personal message that you can add to the scrapbook.

5. Choose which special documents to include in the scrapbook. Try to include a copy of the birth certificate, baby's first footprint, or the hospital bracelet. These objects will be precious memories to a new mom. You may even want to include a special pocket page to store any special cards that the new mom before and after the birth.

6. Adhere the photos, special documents, and embellishments to the scrap book pages using archival adhesive. You can also purchase special page protectors - a type of plastic covering - to slip onto each page. These protectors will help prevent disaster when the new mom or baby accidentally spills mom or drool on the pages.

7. Finally, tie a pretty ribbon around the scrapbook and present it to the new mom on mother's day. I guarantee you'll make her day!