[mmcool]

Ever since we started the adoption process, I have known that I wanted to record everything about the adoption and our child's life in a life book. I've looked at the various websites that sell them, but I can't get a really good sense of the pros and cons or the quality (both in design and durability).

Has anyone purchased one that they really love, or returned one that they thought would be good but wasn't?

Melissa

[LulubelNY]

Melissa - I hope you get some responses to this one as I'm a bit stuck on the "life book" question myself. I'm not sure how far back to go in the adoption process and how much of his adoption story I want to include at this point since there will be things he won't understand until he's older. I'd like to see some good examples myself that are neither faith-based nor overly saccharine.

[adoptkoreablog]

None of the lifebooks really jumped out at me and I couldn't find one that really fit our situation. I opted to make my own.

Mo

[momfirst]

I have not seen any that I thought were perfect for me either so we went to Big Lots and I just bought a bunch of supplies and am going to try and make one myself...and no I am not a scrapbooker nor am I too crafty but I know what I want and don't want and figure it would be better to just try it myself. I say go the scrapbook route if you do not find anything. Mandy

[Joyful1]

I purchased one for my son from www.adoptshoppe.com called "The Story of ME". The pages have a 'scrapbook' look to them without all the supplies and work! The book is wonderful and you can add to or remove what doesn't apply to you. I will purchase one again when we adopt a baby girl. Hope this helps!!

[LulubelNY]

So, for those who made their own, what did you put in?

[adoptkoreablog]

Mine is still a work in progress. I've made it into a story book that starts with information about where he was born, his birthparents and how we chose our agency (complete with pictures). Then we talk about picking him up at the airport. The rest tells about all the firsts - when he crawled, first step, first Christmas etc...


Mo

[MissyAmomChina]

Hi,

I've been working on my daughter's lifebook. I'm starting with a toddler lifebook for ages 2-5 ish. I think it's a good way to start because it's less overwhelming to me. I estimate it will be 15-20 pages long with very simple text.

I've decided to digitally scrapbook because it's easier for me than paper scrapbooking. My daughter if from China (and we are hoping to add a son from Korea to our family in the next year). I'm part of a yahoo group that is all about life books. The general suggested topics (one per page) is:

1. Introduction
2. Birthday page
* Some add a page on Korean/Chinese name & new name
3. General information on Country
4. and/or information on specific province/area
5. culture and traditions (many don't do this for toddler books)
6. life prior to adoption (foster care/orphanage etc)
7. paperchase
8. referral
9. trip
10. adoption day/gotcha day/forever family day (what-ever you call it)
11. our promise, pledge, forever family


Here are some of my pages. Because of the limits on image sizes, some of the finer details get blurred--but you can get the general idea. Hope this helps.

[LulubelNY]

Missy,

Wow - that is beautiful! Lily is a lucky little girl. Thanks for sharing.

Lulu

[ahfdragonfly]

Missy - did you say somewhere before, that you were able to download some of those page layouts free? I'm doing a "paper - crafty" book for CJ & it's about all I can handel! But I want to do something nice for her foster mom, & to put in her file at Eastern, should her birth mom ever look. The idea of crafting out 2 more book, even on a small scale, scares the bejeebers out of me! But I don't have the extra $$ to lay out for the better digital programs. You can PM me if it's a commercial site.

Thanks!

[tutumom]

Melissa,
Do you get your material from multiple sites or just one? If you could recommend a good site, I would appreciate it. I know that there are also some Yahoo Digital Scrapbooking groups, and I've thought about joining one but haven't yet. Your pages are absolutely gorgeous, thank you for sharing.
Kim

[MissyAmomChina]

Hi All,

Thanks you for the compliments on the pages. Digital was 100x's easier for me than paper. I use
Microsoft programs called Digital Image Pro (which was a gift to
edit digital pictures-runs around 40-80 dollars) and I use Picture
It! (which is a super easy program that you can download for free by
Microsoft). People also use Adobe (photoshop & elements) which I
find hard to learn. There are also other free programs.

I got started at digitalscrapbookplace (dot com) They had
tutorials under the "University" section and links to free software
mentioned earlier. Also, if you become a member (which means you
give them your email and a password) you can go to the Freebie
section. They have over 70 page kits free. They also have
something called "Ploppers" (lovely name isn't it?). A plopper is a
premade page and all you do is click and drag your digital image to
the right spot, add text and you are done.

To start--I'd recommend learning 3 simple skills on
whatever software program.

1. you want to be able to edit/crop a photo
2. you want to be able to resize a picture or item
3. you want to know how to insert a picture on top of another
picture.

So, I'd start reading at the University section. Figuring
out the editing software and then downloading a free page kit and
playing around. You should be able to that all for free. And once
you get going-let me know because I've purchased all the Asian
themed kits and I could easily share them to you.

take care,
Melissa
I also think there is comprehensive at scrapbook-bytes (dot com)

[ahfdragonfly]

Thanks, Melissa! Now sombody needs to go to bed early or to take a good nap tomorrow

[DianeScraps]

We have a lifebook scrapbook section here on adoption.com - I would love to have you check us out :-D

..... link in my signature ........

[ahfdragonfly]

Melissa, you're my new hero! I've been trying all day, now I'm drinking! I may be crafty challenged, but I'm even more computer challenged! It has not been pretty.