How to Make a Baby Keepsake Shadow Box Frame

Here's a little bit of inspiration for those wanting to frame some of your special baby keepsakes. It's a shame to hide them away in a box in the loft, when they can make such a beautiful and meaningful display in your home.

21 Baby Keepsakes Ideas - What to Keep!

Everyone always says that time goes so fast when you have children and I never appreciated how true this was until I had my first child.  In a sleepy haze of 3 and 4 hour routines; drifting between feeds, changes and sleeps - time inevitably escapes you. 

They grow so fast and having those few special items that remind us of how tiny and precious they were can be really important. Not just for us parents, but also for the children.  When they are older, all of these special keepsakes and memories can be passed onto them to cherish.

So what kinds of things can you keep?  The answer is simple.  Anything.....anything that means something to you and reminds you of your child and your pregnancy.  One of my favourite keepsakes, for some reason is the car park ticket from the hospital when I went into labour with my first child.  It was left in the car for at least a couple of years before I rediscovered it - perhaps that's why it's special because I kept it by accident.  Either way I love it and still have it.

You can start collecting keepsakes from the first moment you find out your pregnant and then continue throughout the baby's childhood.  Here's our list of 21 keepsakes ideas:

1. The positive pregnancy test
2. Appointment cards given throughout the pregnancy - hospital and doctors.
3. Scan photos
4. Photo of mum's tummy in the last days of pregnancy
5. Photo of the baby when it is first born
6. Hospital ankle band    
7. Hospital car park ticket
8. First size nappy to remind you how small they were
9. The card that was attached to the hospital cot
10. Umbilical cord clip (some people even keep the umbilical cord stump... I admit I preferred the car park ticket)
11. The outfit they wore when they came home from hospital
12. A newspaper from the day the baby was born
13. Their first Christmas bib / baby grow
14. Imprints or casts of their tiny feet and hands
15. Their first pair of shoes / booties
16. All of the congratulations / new baby cards you were given
17. Any item of baby clothing that was special or represented a special time to you. 
18. Writing letters that record what the baby is doing, how she is growing etc as well as all my dreams for her future.
19. Creating and keeping a scrapbook that includes photos, summaries and records milestones- or completing a record book that prompts you for the information.
20. The first lock of hair
21.  Copy of birth announcement cards (if sent out)

I'm sure you'll have a few of your own ideas and if you've got any to share, please do comment below.  We'd love to know, however obscure they might be ;o)

FKS x

Fingerprint Handprint & Footprint Keepsake Ideas

There's something about a baby's tiny little feet or hands that make us all go gaga.  And something special about a fingerprint, that a one of a kind, truely unique mark, that can be left by an individual - irrespective of their age.  That's what makes fingerprints, handprints and footprints such popular keepsake themes.

With this in mind, we've gathered a few ideas for using fingerprints, handprints and footprints to create a special keepsake or gift that will be cherished.  Some of these you can buy through our website and others are simple but fantastic ideas that you can do at home.  We just had to share!

Daddy & Me Fingerprint Mug

This one is also great and something you could do at home with a plain mug and some enamel paint.

If you'd prefer you could visit a local pottery pals (or similar ceramics painting workshpp/shop) and do it in one of their shops.

I came across this on on Kaboose: read more.




Fingerprint / Handprint / Footprint Jewellery.  

Probably one of the most obvious keepsakes when it comes to this particular theme, but it still deserves a mention as it is such a special keepsake.

I love my fingerprint bracelet, it carries such sentiment and is a beautiful contemporary piece of jewellery.  More information / to purchase silver fingerprint handprint jewellery


Handprints or Footprints On a Poem.

I Love this idea and it's certainly a keepsake I'll be keeping hold of.

My daughter brought it home from nursery for a Mother's Day present - one of the best I've had so far.

It was printed on card and laminated to keep it safe.

Footprints on Canvas & Personalised.  

This is an easy idea that you can create yourself.  When I say easy, I really mean that it's easy to get the materials you need, trying to get your baby or child to keep still whilst paint may be quite another story.  But there's some really helpful tips on Pippa's Long Stockings Blog.


Wedding Guest Book Finger Print Tree. 

I have only come across these recently and there seem to be a fair few on the market.

I love them, such a brilliant idea and had they been around when I got married, I definately would have used one.

This particular one can be found on Esty here.




 

Baby Hand / Foot Casts & Imprints.  


There are so many on the market, this is such a popular gift to give to new parents.  There are lots of hand and feet imprints, but I much prefer the 3d casts - they are so lifelike and magically recreate the size and detail of a baby or child's hands or feet.  They are wonderful and can be done using baby casting kits at home, which is costs much less to getting them cast in a studio. More information / to purchase baby casting kits.


Finally there is an abundance of ideas for handprints, footprints and fingerprints on the Handprint and Footprint Blog.  Take a look and I'm sure you will find a unique idea for inspiration.

As always, we'd love to hear your comments and any ideas that you may have for creating keepsakes with your hands, feet or fingerprints.

xx

Creating Keepsakes and Display Ideas for Kids Artwork

I assume I'm not alone when I find myself overloaded with 'artwork' and special pictures that my children have drawn and want to keep.  And it seems to come from all directions - from nursery and school (especially at the end of term), from when they've been with grandparents and lots more created at home!  And whilst the sheer volume of artwork is impressive, it's starting to take over my house.

So what do I do with it all? 

Don't get me wrong, there are some amazing drawings and I'm really proud of them and what they can do BUT my house can't cope with it.  And it's only going to increase.

So I've been looking into ideas for artwork storage and creating artwork keepsakes (combined with the recycling method and handing out to relatives, godparents and friends....etc!).

Artwork Canvases - Make Them Yourself!

Artwork Canvases

This is one that I'm going to attempt in their playroom.  I've already promised myself that I'll also create these with photos, so at the same time, I think I'll choose some of their favourite pieces of work with them, scan them and do the same with them. 

But with the artwork I'll paint the sides different colours to match the playroom decor and perhaps compliment the masterpiece itself.  

You can see the original post by Literally Inspired here.




Acrylic Artwork Keepsake Blocks

Acrylic Artwork Blocks

I love these, they are a great idea and will keep the pictures in tact.  They look modern and are even child friendly so they will be able to pick them up and look at them.

And of course you'll be able to update and change the pictures.  I came across these on a website called Artful Kids - you can buy them here.



 


Artwork Transferred onto Magnetic Noticeboard

Personalised Noticeboards

This idea is perfect for a favourite drawing that you would love to keep on display. 

It would make a perfect gift for parents or grandparents and as well as being a keepsake - it has an every day use! 

This is a truly unique idea and you can buy one here *disclaimer* through our own website ;o).





Clever Artwork Collage - Make It Yourself

Artwork Collage Display

I love this display - it looks modern, bright and stylish and the artwork displays are a perfect fit with the gorgeous photos of the two boys. 

The artwork frames on their own would look as good and this is another that I am going to attempt for the playroom (will stop planning and start doing.... one day soon!)

The lady behind this used photoshop to create the collage of artwork - you can read the original post here. 




Artwork Display on a Line - Make It Yourself

Artwork on a line!

Another fab idea and so simple - anyone could do this.  It's also a great way of showing lots of different drawings and paintings that can be easily changed.  I love the pegs and even more so love the quote in the bottom image.

You can visit the original blogs via the caption links underneath the images.

Artwork Display on Line

What do you think of these ideas?  Do you have any other suggestions?  We'd love to hear them!

x