Baby Holiday Photo Collage

Your baby’s first holidays are special times to be treasured for the rest of her life. Memorialize these festive occasions and family gatherings by creating an imaginative photo collage. Use pics from Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more in this easy-to-make project. Choose a variety of cute images that feature your lovely little one, family, and friends.

• 8 x 10 piece of cardstock

• Scissors

• Clear drying glue

• Unpainted wooden frame

• Craft paint

• Thin paint brush

• Letter stencils

• Pictures of your baby

1. Choose a variety of pictures from different holidays. Look for a mix of close-ups and full shots, or photos taken from all types of angles (e.g., low down, high above, from the side). Comb through photo albums for at least one from each major holiday.
   

2. These should include important people and places. For example, try a photo that features your new little one, her older siblings and Santa. Make sure that the picture clearly displays the holiday. A few years from now you may not remember a fairly nondescript outfit or an everyday scene.

3. Trim or crop the pictures to make them fit onto the cardstock. Get creative and cut shapes such as diamonds or hearts. For added flare, use special craft scissors that cut with a zig zag or other pattern. Make sure to cut out any extra, unnecessary parts of the image such as passersby, excess sky or ground cover, or empty wall space.

4. Lay out the pictures on the cardstock. Overlap the edges instead of setting them side by side. It may be easiest to start with a central pic such as a sweet close up of your baby’s face and then work outwards. If needed, you may have to re-trim some of the photos. Instead of placing the photos all vertically or horizontally, angle some of them as you overlap. This will add visual interest.

5. Gently lift each picture, and glue it to the cardstock. Set the collage aside to dry.

6. While the photo collage is drying, start painting the wooden frame. Begin with a base color, and then add your baby’s name and the year with a second color. Try a set of craft stencils to make the lettering look more professional. Another option is to use a sponge brush for a decorative effect. After painting on the base coat, dip the sponge brush into another color. Lightly press the brush onto the frame and repeat.

7. Insert the collage into the frame and display!

Keep baby’s first holiday’s photo collage for yourself or give it as a special gift. This fun craft is the perfect project to gift to grandma, grandpa, or a relative who might not live close by. This precious present highlight the special memories that you are creating as a family and your child’s growth during her very first year. If you like this craft, try photo collages for other firsts such as her first winter or first room.