DIY Network

Baby Album Learn how to convert an old book into a hip baby album. From "Scrap" episode DSCD-101

Host Scott Petti converts an old book into a hip baby album by sewing family heirlooms into homemade paper and creating an incognito shadowbox. He shares cool ways to display old matchbooks.

It's one of the coolest baby books you have ever seen! Scott takes the old book and hollows it out to make room for pockets that hold a lock of hair, baby necklace and bootie. He covers these valuables with Plexiglas and pastes family photos on the inside cover. It's a custom way to revamp traditional baby books into 3-D works of art.

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	Scrap host, Scott Petti, shows...
	you how to create this unique baby book.

Baby Album

Project designed by Scott Petti.

Materials:

1 book
wax paper
gel medium
paintbrush
ruler
pencil
craft knife
foam core
baby memorabilia
Plexiglas
fleece blanket material
glue (hot glue gun and glue stick)
brown paint
spray adhesive
specialty paper to cover book

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Scan any original photos and design elements from your baby book.

2. Enlarge photos to desired size and print.

3. Wrap with wax paper to protect them; the cover, the first few pages, the back half with the back cover (figure A).

4. With the book closed, use a flat paint brush to spread a thin layer of gel medium on the top, bottom, and sides of the unprotected block—making sure the pages are lined up.

5. Place something heavy on top and let it dry at least 20 minutes; repeat two to three times.

6. When dry, remove the wax paper from the back half of the book. Wrap the front half (that is already glued) and the back cover and the last few pages with wax paper.

7. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on the back half.

8. When dry, remove all the wax paper.

9. Using a ruler and pencil, mark the dimensions of the main niche into the front of the first block—it should be slightly larger than your memorabilia. Use a sharp craft knife and ruler to cut out the pages, a few at a time, until you reach the desired depth (figure B).

10. Cut strips of foam core to fit inside the perimeter of the niche, the height should be sufficient so that the Plexiglas will lie flush with the page. Hot glue the foam core into place.

11. Cut and glue in additional foam core to support your memorabilia.

12. Hot glue or stitch your niche background and memorabilia in place.

13. Cut a piece of Plexiglas (figure C) to fit your niche window; remove the protective coating and adhere with a bead of hot glue in each corner.

14. Lay the preceding loose page over the niche and mark the opening with a pencil, then tear out the center of the page so that the niche shows through but the paper covers the Plexiglas edge. Glue the page in place.

15. Use a glue stick to adhere ephemera to the niche page and opposing page.

16. Brush with a mixture of gel medium and paint to create a light glaze (figure D).

17. Repeat Steps 9-17 on the second block to create a second "hidden" niche.

18. Using spray adhesive, cover the outside of the book with decorative paper to finish the book.

Next: 3-D Vacation Memory

RESOURCES :

General Scrapbook Supplies and Tools
EK Success
Website: www.eksuccess.com