Making a Footprint Baby Photo Frame For Happy Memories

Given the amount of pictures proud parents take of their little one, they can never have to many baby photo frames. With each stage of the baby’s development, there is another round of photos to be framed. This on-going process requires rather a lot of frames.

With this in mind, isn’t it a good idea to make your own? Not only will you always have a frame for the photos of your baby, but they will be beautifully unique and special. If you are a bit short of ideas for your frames, why not create a baby photo frame using your baby’s footprint? It really is very simple to do and the result is priceless.

We all know how quickly they grow up. We almost take it for granted then, in a blink of an eye, they have changed and developed a little bit more making us even more determined to hold on to these precious times.

Well, you can do just that by taking an imprint of the tiny foot and forever have that memory of when your child was just a little baby.

Obviously, you will want to do this with the least upset to your baby. There are a few different methods so you can choose which one you feel the most comfortable with.

It is essential NOT to use regular plaster for the imprint of your child’s foot, as the plaster becomes hot upon setting and may burn the foot. The delicate skin of the baby is very sensitive so it is important to be very careful with the materials used.

A much easier and safer method to take the foortprint is to use an ink kit containing no toxins that will harm you baby’s skin. Not only do these particular ink kits take the imprint very well, they are also easy to clean off.

You can use any size of photo frame, but you might want to consider using a larger frame to allow for an intricate imprint of the foot and a decent sized picture of your baby.

Within the ink kit, you will find supplies for the mold which do not heat during the setting process, also setting rapidly. It is all very quick and simple and you are then ready to complete the baby photo frame. You can easily buy baby photo frames with little baby imprints already on but it is not the same when it is not your own. You can have your own baby footprint photo frame that will last a lifetime and help you relive these precious moments that are gone way too fast.

Start Your Own Plaster Baby Photo Frame Business For Additional Income

How nice would it be to have another significant income making something you love? Most people could do with a little extra income and if you don’t – lucky you, but you might also want to put some of these artistic skills to use and start you own little business.

Many people who begin their own business start out small and with some effort can make it there primary income allowing them to give up the day job and continue something that they are passionate about. Starting a business in plaster baby photo frames need not be out of your range, with a bit of know-how you could be on your way to eliminating these money worries.

Probably the best way to start is producing the photo frames yourself. If you enjoy dabbling in this kind of craft work then you are already one step ahead of the game. Continue to use the materials you are happy with to build up a stock.

In order to multiply your stock faster, rather than making each frame individually, create a cast of the frame with sculpting clay. This way you can use the cast to make many photo frames simply by pouring the plaster into the cast. The frames will then be left to dry and voila!

If you don’t feel too comfortable making the photo cast yourself, you can outsource the job to a professional sculptor who will be given the exact details of what you require. Once you have your cast, then you are in business.

You may want a rubber cast to work with. This is simply a matter of pouring liquid rubber onto the clay sculpture and letting it set. Once it has fully formed, remove the rubber cast from the sculpture and the cast is complete and fit to use.

Don’t worry about how you will gain access to the materials you will need. A craft shop near you should be able to provide you with the clay for the sculpture and any regular hardware store should have the materials for making the plaster baby photo frames.

For all the materials you require to get started on your photo frames should only cost you around $40, not bad for allowing you to get started immediately.

After you have your cast made, check that it is completely level to prevent the plaster from spilling over. Again, this is a pretty simple process. Using a large pot and fill with kitty litter (clean obviously). Firmly place your cast face down on top of the litter making sure that all areas are touching and it is level.

This is fine for smaller casts. If you are thinking about making larger casts then sand might be a better material.

Next, you can begin mixing the plaster using the instructions on the pack. Remember to follow the instructions perfectly, the mixture should be reasonably thin for pouring.

The mixture mustn’t be left in the cast until it is completely dry or you may have a job getting it out. Just leave it to set a bit and until there is no stickiness, then remove for air drying. Leave to air dry for a good 24 hours just to be on the safe side.

After the 24 hour period, you will be ready to paint and decorate your frames. It is best to use white paint for a base to give your main coat of paint an smoother and more even surface. Remember to keep your materials away from animals and children, it is also best to use non-toxic paint.

Using acrylic paint for your frames follow with a spray coat of clear paint to finish. Once you have a system in place, you will be able to go through this process with more frames at a quicker pace and before you know it you will be ready to set up shop. You should be able to make a profit quickly as each frame will cost next to nothing to make. Pretty simple huh?

A Baby Photo Frame Gift For Every Occasion

Giving gifts is fun for both parties, the receiver gets an exciting new item to enjoy and the giver gets satisfaction from giving joy to their friend or family. It’s a shame there wasn’t a set list of gifts to choose from to make finding a gift that bit easier, however, there are certain gifts that are universally appreciated.

One of those gifts is the humble photo frame. Everybody takes pictures of their loved ones and there are always certain pictures that just have to be framed. You really can never have too many photo frames and with the wealth of variations to choose from, you can pick a special frame to fit the personality of the receiver.

Giving baby photo frames as a gift at a baby shower is a very popular idea. The amount of pictures doting parents take of their little one is off the scale and each and every one is worthy of being framed. Due to this, a baby photo frame gift is ideal.

There are plenty of other occasions that are also perfect for a baby photo frame as a gift. It is quite popular for friends to present a friend who is having a 30th or 40th birthday party to frame a baby photo for fun and memories. Why should we forget this precious time in our lives?

Again, for younger kids having a special 16th or 18th birthday party, it is nice to give them a cute picture of when there were a baby in a beautiful frame to keep.

Not forgetting older people too. Some of the old sepia type pictures have great character and seem magical somehow. Why not surprise your grandmother or your parents, depending on their age, with a lovely picture of when they were a child. The thoughtfulness of this type of present goes a long way.

Another great opportunity for giving a baby photo frame as a gift is for your child when they first set off for the big wide world or for university. This will bring back fond memories of their childhood and can be a treasured item for when they are feeling a bit homesick.

Instead of prior to university, how about a baby photo frame for graduation. They will be feeling very grown up and prepared for the world but they know they are just a child in their parent’ eyes and can depend on you when times are tough.

Any special occasion that sees your child overcoming a new hurdle or entering into a new phase of their life can be a great time for a baby picture frame for a gift. A wedding day is one in particular. Thoughts of having their own children may not be too far in the distance but it is still nice to know you are also someone else’s child and will always be loved unconditionally.

Favorite colours and decoration help make the gift that bit more special. There are no rules to what makes a nice photo frame and that’s what makes it so unique to the individual. If you can’t find a photo frame that you love in stores near you, have a look online. With this excellent resource you are sure to find something special.

With many occasions to perfectly suit a baby photo frame, you have a gift idea that will keep on giving.

Make Your Own Unique, Quality Scrapbook Baby Photo Frame

Scrapbooking is one of the most popular craft hobbies going. There really is something for everyone with this activity and you don’t have to be artistically gifted to enjoy it ,just a desire to use your creativity. You can use literally any material for scrap booking as long as they are free of acid to prevent damage to the photos in the long-term.

Some people do not realise the importance of using acid free materials for scrap booking. It is such a shame to put all that work and effort, not to mention priceless photos that possibly you don’t have a copy, and have it go to waste because of acid damage. When you are looking for the materials you will need, just look out for the acid free label, most these days are, but just be sure.

Using some of the pages from your scrap book is an excellent method to create a one off photo baby frame that money cannot buy. Following are few handy tips for this process.

One of the materials perfect for making frames is polymer clay. Sculptors frequently use this substance as it is very easy to work with and highly effective. Use pre-rolled canes of the polymer clay with a color that will combine well with the scrapbook. These canes can be sliced thinly like a cucumber, each slice roughly the same width to make the frames. Once you have your slices, simply position them in an outline of the shape you wish your frame to be.

Once you have the frame carefully positioned it is time to put in the oven. You will have an instruction leaflet with your clay to guide you through this part. Once the baby photo frame has cooled down, it may be put to use using tape.

You can also use transparency sheets of varying colors with ink stamps to make beautiful patterns for a truly unique baby photo frame for your scrapbook. You should be able to locate these supplies at any local stationers or post office.
There are so many ink stamps to choose from with different colors to fit in with your theme. It is very simple but effective.

One you have selected a transparency sheet, cut it down to size before you get to work using the stamp. You might want to leave cutting out the middle for the baby photo until you have completed the work to give you more room, although it is up to you and what you feel is easiest.

It really is that simple to create fantastic baby photo frames and these two techniques should really help to get the creative side of you into action.

What’s the Best Way to Host a Baby Shower?

When an expectant mother informs her friends and family of the impending addition in her life, it is sometimes confusing when trying to determine who should throw her the all-important baby shower.

A close friend may take over the reins and offer to host a day of celebration for her, but may also be done by a co-worker, cousin or an in-law relative. If many of the mother’s friends and families are strewn about, it may also be necessary for more than one baby shower in order to involve everyone.

Perhaps a group of all of these people will decide to host a baby shower for the expecting mom. This allows for delegation of the several responsibilities so as not to overload one person involved.

Guest lists, invitations, menus, decorations and activities all need to be planned; this is definitely much easier with an entire group. This also helps with the several and possibly large expenses that will be incurred during the planning and hosting stages. However, it’s important to stay organized and ensure that no two people are duplicating the same tasks at hand.

A baby shower held at the office is also a great option. If a co-worker or group of them would like to throw a baby shower at work for the mother, the company policy may or may not allow the shower to take place at the office. It may be best to plan the shower after working hours to prevent any question of policy violation.

No matter your relation to the mother or how you plan on hosting the baby shower, ensure you have plenty of time to carry out the process properly. Showers take a significant amount of time to plan, and even if many tasks are delegated or outsourced to a professional company you’ll need to make sure everything is on schedule and according to plan.

If you plan on throwing a surprise baby shower, make sure that your selected date does not interfere with the mother’s schedule or a possible additional shower. Contact her family and friends and plan your surprise event around any that are currently under way in order to avoid stepping on toes and offending others who are close to the mother.

Also remember that in most cases it’s appropriate to consult the expectant mother about any desired themes, menu items and the guest list. You shouldn’t simply assume that she wants everyone there from work or old schoolmates. Ask for her opinion and a few guidelines, and go from there. She’ll probably also need to be consulted about the date and time, as well as the location of the shower.

Remember that although the expectant mom has several months to plan for the baby, planning a baby shower takes a considerable amount of time, and it shouldn’t be scheduled too far in advance nor too near the birth. You’ll want to allow her plenty of time to organize all of her gifts and new supplies to welcome baby into the world!

Should You Schedule the Baby Shower Before or After the Delivery?

Baby shower parties are wonderful opportunities to catch up with friends and family, and celebrate a new life coming in to the world. It allows everyone to help the new mother acquire the needed supplies and accessories to help with her new role in life, and is typically quite an easy party to plan for the host.

One of the biggest initial questions is whether to have the baby shower before or after the birth, and this is the first decision that needs to be made. There are several considerations for both choices; first time parents most likely have no furniture or supplies for the new baby, so planning the baby shower prior to the birth may be best in this case.

However, holding the baby shower party after the birth may be more advantageous because all the guests will have a chance to visit with the new baby. This may also present a perfect opportunity to give more appropriate gifts if the parents choose not to find out the sex of the baby.

Some additional considerations for a baby shower to be held after the birth exist. Although the presence of a new baby could cause some concern, the great news is that baby showers usually don’t last more than 2 or 3 hours at most. Gathering friends and family together all at once to visit with the baby allows the new parents to continue adjusting to their new schedules, and avoid multiple separate visits for a time, at least.

Baby showers held afterward usually are planned a month to 6 weeks after baby is born, to allow mom a chance to adjust appropriately and begin to regain her normal physical appearance. This type of baby shower may also be best for a second or third child, when the parents most likely have many supplies they will need for the first years of baby’s life.

After the birth, the baby becomes the guest of honor; baby showers held before will typically make the mother the center of attention for the day, so considering her personality may also help in making this decision. If she knows the gender and/or has planned for a color scheme or theme for her nursery, planning a baby shower theme that compliments it will also be easier.

Every case is different, as is every mother and child. Either way, the date of the baby shower needs to be determined well ahead of time to allow for proper planning and booking. If the baby shower is to be held before baby arrives, plan for the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy; baby showers held after the birth should be reserved for 4 to 6 weeks after delivery.

It may be beneficial to simply ask the mother when she would prefer to have her own baby shower. She may have a personal preference but will only make it known if asked, so give her the opportunity to have some input on the date of her own baby shower.

Pulling It All Together – The Final Baby Shower Preparations

You’ve been through the shopping, planning, decorating, and preparation of food and activities. Now, the date of the baby shower has arrived and it’s time to pull everything together in a timely and efficient manner. You should know exactly how many guests are attending, how the expectant mom will get there and transport her gifts, and have already confirmed your location. Now you simply have to decorate, pick up the baby shower cake and any flowers or balloons, and pull off an unbelievable baby shower party.

Well ahead of the date of the shower, you should have planned a timeline for the day to ensure everything goes as planned. Make sure you arrive well ahead of time to decorate, arrange furniture, prepare the food and present it, and mix any beverages that have not been so prior.

You may decide to recruit family and friends to help with this process to ensure it all gets done in time. Make a checklist and check it twice, and allow for unexpected errand runs or anything you may have forgotten. Any frozen food should be taken out the day before for thawing, and each helper should have an assigned task.

Decorating will most likely take a couple of hours, so ensure you arrive early enough to do so. If the baby shower is held at a rented location or club, you’ll need to double check with the facility to see how early you can arrive. You’ll need table decorations, favors, banners, balloons, floral arrangements, and the food table to be decorated accordingly. Streamers may also be used for a festive touch to the baby shower, and are a great way to incorporate the color scheme for a low cost.

Also allow for time to set up tables and arrange chairs and other furniture for the guests. They should be able to see the guest of honor, and mom should have a dedicated table or area for her gifts. A special table may also be needed for the baby shower cake and supplies for serving.

Overlooking the smallest of details is very easy to do, but can be very detrimental to the success of a baby shower party. Little things like having enough trash receptacles in areas that are easy to reach, having plenty of the appropriate types of utensils, ice buckets or coolers, and exterior signs directing guests to the right location all need to be taken care of the day of the baby shower party.

All of these things should be ready before the first guest arrives, which will most likely be the expectant mother. She should be able to arrive at least 10 minutes early to help you greet the incoming party guests.

Making a list and checking it twice, and allowing for the unforeseen events and needed errands will make your life on the day of the party much easier. Also remember that someone should be designated to record the gifts and who gave them to the mother for thank-you notes later. You’ll need to allow plenty of time to clean up the facility and food afterward as well, so consider recruiting a few extra friends to help at the end of the baby shower party.

Professional Talent and Entertainment at a Baby Shower

Modern baby shower parties are much different than they used to be. Formerly, they were very intimate gatherings involving the closest of friends and family, typically held in the host’s home. Today, guests lists tend to include everyone from old classmates to co-workers, and can become quite large and stressful to manage.

If the baby shower party you’re planning is to be quite elaborate, you most likely will want to incorporate special entertainment and menu items only seen at wedding receptions. It may also make sense to outsource some of your responsibility, and hiring a professional entertainer or group can at least reduce a little of your stress.

So, what types of talent might you consider that will be appropriate for a baby shower? Well, the choices are virtually limitless, and you can be very creative in making this decision. You may hire caterers, professional bakeries, decorators, musical talent, magicians, photographers, bartenders, servers, planners, printers, and even professional activity coordinators to help in pulling off the ideal baby shower party.

Of course, this will all depend upon your budget. Some professionals may be quite affordable if you determine a few areas where you can save quite a bit. Also consider the value of your time involved. Is it really worth it for you to spend hours on end in the kitchen preparing the menu? You may decide that paying a couple hundred bucks to a caterer to prepare and/or serve the food would better serve your resources.

Budgets for a baby shower should be determined almost immediately after deciding to host it. If you know the party is likely to be large, you may want to partner with a few friends and host the party as a group. This will help with both costs involved and the necessary details in planning the baby shower.

Hiring talent is also a planning stage in and of itself. Get together with any other members of the host party, and make a list of everything each of you would like to participate in or plan, as well as any other tasks that need to be taken care of. This will give you an idea of which areas a professional service may be able to help you.

Finding referrals from friends and family is the most reliable way to find a reputable professional service to hire for the baby shower. These will tell you much more information than what is included in the yellow pages listings! Ask for both great service and reasonable pricing, and you should come up with at least a few different possibilities.

After hiring the necessary talent to help you pull off the baby shower, ensure you have a contract in place and a copy of it, and reaffirm the talent 1 or 2 weeks ahead of time. Also contact them again 1 or 2 days prior to the baby shower, to ensure no last-minute problems have arisen. This way, at least you’ll have some time to make alternate plans if an emergency situation prevents the talent from holding up their end of the bargain.

Planning a Baby Shower Before Delivery

Baby shower parties are great fun for everyone involved – mom, baby, friends, family and even host. The key is to plan accordingly and be prepared for everything, but if a strict planning schedule is adhered to, the day of the baby shower will go much smoother and cause fewer headaches.

The first consideration for hosting a baby shower before baby arrives is to choose a date. This should typically be planned for 6 to 8 weeks before the mom’s expected due date. This will give plenty of time for mom to organize her new gifts and supplies, and will also allow time for unexpected late-term events (such as an early delivery!).

After choosing the date, remember this should allow you, the host, 6 to 8 weeks to plan the baby shower properly. Guest lists, determining if any the baby shower theme, and reserving the location should be immediately addressed. Baby shower invitations should be ordered, a proposed menu should be compiled, and the expectant mother should give you the details of her baby gift registry.

Invitations should be sent 4 to 6 weeks prior to the baby shower party, and games and activities should be planned. Baby shower favors, baby shower decorations and baby shower tableware should be purchased and are always able to be coordinated with each other for a great baby shower theme throughout.

Reservations need to be confirmed three weeks before the shower. However, if you’re having it in your home, start to borrow and gather the appropriate number of chairs and tables, serving supplies and platters for the party.

One week before the baby shower, make an outline of the schedule of the party, including eating, opening gifts, socialization, and games. If anyone has not RSVP’d, contact them and finalize the guest count. Order the baby shower cake, flowers, and start cleaning your home if it’s to be held there.

You should also start shopping for menu items, and prepare anything that can be frozen beforehand. Call friends and family of the expectant mother, and coordinate transportation to help her get all of her gifts home afterward.

Two days before the shower, if you are holding it in your home, begin to arrange furniture and prepare a spot for the guest of honor. You may also begin decorating with paper goods and flowers. Call and confirm the baby shower cake, any reservations for a location, and begin prepping the food.

The day before the baby shower, finish preparing all food, and finish cleaning your house. Find the most comfortable chair possible for the expectant mom to have a seat, and get any disposable cameras ready. Blow up or order balloons to mark the location of the party, and prepare any exterior signs. Also, make sure you have plenty of trash cans available for paper plates and cups, as well as gift wrap paper.

Finally, on the day of the shower, pick up the cake, any balloons and flowers, and set out the signs directing guests to the baby shower location. Place the food and beverages out, and begin greeting guests as they arrive. It’s also a great idea to have a schedule of activities to keep the baby shower party atmosphere moving along and ensure you don’t forget anything!

Photographing and Recording the Baby Shower

Baby showers are a time that the expectant mother will want to capture memories to look fondly on in the future. Every party includes at least one guest that is constantly snapping photographs, but this can’t be counted on for an official photographic record of the day.

The host is much too busy to take pictures during the baby shower, too. Her duty is to ensure guests and the expectant mother are taken care of and comfortable, and everything goes according to plan. One helpful option, if the budget allows for it, is to hire a professional photographer to snap great photos of the baby shower. Perhaps a package deal will also be available for adding videography to the mix, too.

Professional photographers will definitely offer a high-quality product, but may be booked months ahead of time. They do come at a premium price, but if the host can afford this expense it’s definitely worth investigating. If this is something the host wants to pursue, the photographer should be contracted 6 to 8 weeks ahead of time.

Other options may include simply recruiting the father of the baby or other male family member that can take videos and pictures of the event; he can even ask the guests to offer an individual piece of advice for the expectant parents to be recorded on the video.

A great and inexpensive option is simply purchasing disposable cameras for guests to snap pictures with periodically. These cameras are often available in great baby shower themes, and can easily be coordinated with all decorations used at the baby shower celebration.

Don’t forget that the cost of developing the film in these cameras should also be factored in. However, photos taken by the guests themselves often offer interesting and unique shots of family and friends that mom will enjoy later on.

You may decide to construct a scrapbook or post the photos online for all of the guests to see later. This is also a great way for any who were unable to attend to feel as if they were still included. Technology has offered several ways to share these photos on the Internet, and simply requires you to send e-mail invitations to guests with a link to the album. They may be required to choose a username and password, but can view and have the option to print any photos they please.

Websites that offer online photo albums may also have great digital baby shower theme designs, too. This option also starts an online area where everyone can visit to view photos of the new baby after delivery. Simply snap a few photos of him or her at the hospital, and upload them to the baby photo album. All guests who visited the album before will receive a message that it has been updated.

Don’t forget to choose one of the best photos, or one of you and the expectant mother, to order a print of. Have it set in a baby shower theme frame, and give it to her as a special memoir of her special day!