Step by Step:

The Picture (1) Choose a picture that is small or can be cropped to 2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches high. You can also ask your photo developer to make you a contact sheet or a sheet of photo paper with thumbnail-size previews of your pictures. These would be perfect for this project. If you choose to scan and print your own photos, continue to step 2. If you are using preprinted photographs or a contact sheet, skip to step 5. (2)You can also choose to scan a photo, reduce it in size and print your own using an ink jet or laser printer. FIGURE A With this card, a black and white photo was scanned, reduced in size and tinted a dark, hunter green, using Adobe PhotoShop. The image was then laid out in Quark Xpress so that it was repeated several times. The images were put side-by-side and butted up against each other. (SEE FIGURE A) (Note, there are a number of good photo editing applications available that would work just as well for this project. The photos could be laid out in office-type programs as well such as Microsoft Word or Publisher.) (3) Print the photos with an ink jet or laser printer on high-gloss, professional photo paper found at a local office store. (4) Trim the photos full-bleed (so there is no white edge showing) and set aside. The Card FIGURE B (5) Hold the linen card stock lengthwise and cut in down the middle so that you have two 5 1/2 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches high sheets. (6) Fold one of the sheets in half so the folded card is 5 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/4 inches high. The fold should be at the top. (Crafty Chic Tip: If you're making several invitations, you'll want to use a paper cutter. It also helps in creating a perfect cut.) Set card aside. The Inside Paper Insert If you wish to you a computer to create the inside of your announcements, continue to step (7) If wish to handwrite your announcements, skip to step 14. (8) In a computer layout program, such as Quark Xpress, open a blank document. (Note, you can also use most any word processor or layout application such as Microsoft Word or Publisher, or ClarisWorks.) (9) Draw a square on the page that measures 4 1/2 inches wide by 3 13/16 inches high. Give that square a light gray outline so you know the parameters you are working with. FIGURE C (10) Create a text box inside the square and type in your announcement. Leave about 1 1/4 inches in the lower third of the announcement for the baby feet stamp. (11) Print out your message on white paper and trim around the faint gray line. (Note, you may forgo the gray outline on the box and use crop marks instead.) (12) Find a ink pad that matches the color tones in your photo. In example card, a dark, hunter green ink was used. (13) Stamp the baby feet image in the space you left on the paper insert. (SEE FIGURE B) Assemble (14) Gather all three parts: photos, paper inserts and cards. (SEE FIGURE C) Attach the insert to the card on the inside panel using acid-free adhesive. (SEE FIGURE D) FIGURE D (15) Close the card so the outside cover is showing. Find the center of the card mark with a pencil. Adhere the photo to the cover with the acid-free adhesive. (Crafty Chic Tip: If you are going to make several announcements, you'll probably want to create a guide for placing the image on the cover. Once you have created one invitation, use it as a template for the rest. Draw an outline around the top and left-hand side of the photo. Extend the lines to go off the card. Cut the card around the photo so that you have an "L"-shaped guide. (SEE FIGURE E) Use the guide to line up the rest of the cover pictures so they are perfectly aligned in the center. FIGURE E The finished project is a simple, sophisticated baby announcement that any proud new parents would love to send.

    Step by Step:

The Background Paper (1) Cut a 5-inch square from the colored card stock. You should be able to cut 2 squares from a letter-size paper. (2) Using a coordinating color of card stock, cut a 3 1/2-inch square and glue to the center of the background card stock. The White Center (3) Using a layout or word processor program on your computer, create the message that will be printed on the center, white portion of the announcement. You'll want to create a 3 1/4-inch square text box. Place a light gray outline around the text box to use as a cutting guide. You should be able to place two text boxes on the letter-size paper. (Crafty Chic Note: Make the name of the new baby in different font and a, larger point size. Also, choose a plain font for the body of the announcement and a fancier, more ornate one for the baby's name.) (4) Print on white paper and cut around the outline, making sure to cut inside the gray line so the finished piece is free of any marks or lines. Assembly (5) Center the white, printed announcement on the background piece. Adhere with glue or tape adhesive. (6) Using the coordinating paper, cut out polka dots of various sizes. To do this, you can use hole punches, circle templates or trace around various sizes of coins. (7) Place the polka dots around on the announcement so that some overlap the white center and some fall off the sides. Using a pencil, make a faint line where you will need to trim the polka dots. (8) Picking them up one-by-one, trim the polka dots and adhere them to the invitation.

    Step by Step:

The Background Paper (1) Cut the colored card stock into quarters -- 4 squares that measure 4 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches high. The White Center (2) Using a layout or word processor program on your computer, create the message that will be printed on the center, white portion of the announcement. You'll want to create a text box that is no larger than 3 1/5 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches high. Place a light gray outline around the text box to use as a cutting guide. Place the text box so that there are 4-up on the page. (Crafty Chic Note: Make the name of the new baby in different font and a, larger point size. Also, choose a plain font for the body of the announcement and a fancier, more ornate one for the baby's name.) (4) Print on white paper and cut around the outline, making sure to cut inside the gray line so the finished piece is free of any marks or lines. Assembly (5) Center the white, printed announcement on top of the color card stock. Adhere with glue or tape adhesive. (6) Glue the rickrack around the edge of the white paper.

    Step by Step:

The Background Paper (1) Cut the decorative paper into quarters -- 4 squares that measure 4 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches high. The Overlay (2) Using a layout or word processor program on your computer, create the message that will be printed on the overlay portion of the announcement. You'll want to create a text box that is no larger than 3 1/5 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches high. Place a light gray outline around the text box to use as a cutting guide. Place the text box so that there are 4-up on the page. (3) Print the announcement onto letter-size vellum. (Crafty Chic Note: You must purchase the type of vellum that is right for your printer. Most vellum is clearly labeled for either "ink jet printers" or "laser printers." If you use the wrong paper on an ink jet printer, it will smudge and the ink will be over absorbed, producing unattractive results. If you cannot find vellum that specifically identifies what type of printer it should be used with, you can do a test on your home printer. If it is unsatisfactory, take it to a copy shop and specify a laser print.) (4) Cut around the outline, making sure to cut inside the gray line so the finished overlay is free of any marks or lines. Assembly (3) Place the vellum overlay in the middle of the decorative paper and move it upwards 1/4 of an inch. (4) Place a small pencil mark 1/4 inch from the top of the vellum overlay in the center. Punch two holes either side of the pencil mark, about 1/4 inch from the mark. Make sure to punch through both the vellum and the decorative paper. (5) Cut a piece of ribbon about 8 inches long. Starting from the front, thread one end of the ribbon through the first hole. Take the other end of the ribbon and thread it through the front of the second hole. Both ribbon ends should now be in the back of the card. Flip the card to the back and thread the ribbons through the opposite holes. Flip the card around to the front and pull the ends taut. Trim the ends on the diagonal. If you prefer, you can also slip a photo under the vellum before you stick the card in a envelop.

    Step by Step:

The Background Paper (Gold - Boy, Pink - Girl) (1) Cut a piece of card stock into quarters -- 4 squares that measure 4 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches high. The Coordinating Frame (Purple - Boy, White - Girl) (2) Cut a piece of coordinating card stock 3 3/4 inches wide by 5 inches high. Center this piece onto one of the background pieces and adhere with glue or tape adhesive. The Inside Panel (3) Using a layout or word processor program on your computer, create the message that will be printed on the center portion of the announcement. You'll want to create a text box that is 3 1/4 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches high. You'll want to start 1 1/2 inches from the top so there's room for the flower or star charm. Place a light gray outline around the text box to use as a cutting guide. Place the text box so that there are 4-up on the page. (Crafty Chic Note: Make the name of the new baby in different font and a, larger point size. Also, choose a plain font for the body of the announcement and a fancier, more ornate one for the baby's name. (3) Print the announcement onto decorative paper. (4) Cut around the outline, making sure to cut inside the gray line so the finished piece is free of any marks or lines. (5) Center the inside panel on the announcement and attach with adhesive. The Charm (6) Cut a 1-inch square using the same color as the coordinating frame mentioned above. (7) Using the star or flower punch, cut out the charm and attach it to the 1-inch star. (8) Attach the charm and square in the space provided on the inside panel. Fonts used: Century Gothic, CK Fresh by Creating Keepsakes