Labor of Love: How to Make a Personalized Guestbook/Scrapbook

I just want to share to everybody how I made my inaanak Isshi's guestbook. That way, the mommies or party planners who get to read this entry can make one themselves. :)

What you will need:

• 2 illustration boards (i used 1/3 sized ones so that it'll be almost as big as the celebrant) P11.50 each @ NCCC Mall
• Cartolina -- P6.50 each @ National Bookstore
  
• Construction paper @ P20-30.00 (around 20 colored sheets) @ NCCC Mall
  
• sequins (the flat ones) -- Mine (you can get them at around P10 @ NCCC Linens Section or P20/pack at the bead shop inside Golden Bell.
• Glass beads - mine (available at this beads shop in san pedro street for P6.00 per pack)
  
• 3-toned yarn @ P15.00 @ NCCC Mall
• Fabric/Craft Paint -- Mine (P33.75 each @ National Bookstore. If on a budget, you may use colored glue which is sold at around P15-20.00)
• Shells -- Mine (you may find some lying around your house)
• Fuzzy Wires - P20.00 @ National Bookstore
  
• Scissors and glue
• Clear Tape

First, you have to talk to the mommy or the host about the details of the party. That way whatever idea you come up with will match with the party's theme. In my case, my friend wanted an "Under the Sea" theme. Since she gave me full control of the guestbook, I decided to surprise her with my ideas as well. I went for a "Mermaid" design.

Before you start buying materials, you have to envision the final product. That way, you avoid overspending or overbuying unnecessary stuff. After figuring out the details to your project, you may start browsing different shops to compare where you can get the best value for your money. I advise starting to shop for materials weeks before your deadline so that you avoid "okay nalang or ito nalang" shopping. Make buying the materials a leisurely activity. Don't pressure yourself to buy the items all at once. Although, if you're a weeks behind schedule, then you'd better start rushing. haha

Project Proper

• Use the illustration board to provide a hard cover for your guestbook. I used the black portion of the board to make the colors more distinct. Using the white part would not only make your artwork look flat, it also makes your front cover prone to unnecessary smudges.

• The next step is to outline the mermaid on the illustration board using a lead pencil. Draw the details (e.g. scales, tail lines, shell bra top..). Don't forget to allot a little space for your page fasteners.
  

• Start decorating the more intricate parts of the project. I started with the tail.

• To make the tail shining, shimmering and splendid, I used flat aqua colored sequins. I traced the outline of the tail using glue, then stuck sequins one by one. Tedious job? Need not worry. There's a short cut. Slightly dip the tip of your pencil in a little blob of glue. Use the glued tip to pick up the sequins, then stick 'em to the outline. If you have enough patience to do this for the whole tail, then go for it. Otherwise, do what I did. I used glossy craft paint to scribble different styles of swirls in the blank spaces of the tail, thereby giving it a more solid look. Let the paint dry.

• Do the body next. I used flesh/orange toned glass beads to outline the mermaid's body. Unlike the tail, I didn't fill up the spaces with craft paint. Too many patterns generate headaches.

• To make the Bra top, i used two shells. Clean them first with soap and water before decorating. Wipe 'em dry. Stick the shells on the illustration board by placing glue on the shells' edges. If the shells are in place, place blobs of clear glue around the edges of each shell to give better support. Fill up the remaining spaces with glass beads and clear glue to give the shells a more 'glam' look. I glazed them with 3 different colors of paint to make them stand out even more.

Personalize it!

This is the second most important ingredient in making anything customized. For Isshi's guestbook, to make her or her mommy feel that it's truly theirs, I used Isshi's face as the mermaid's own by printing her photo on a 6x4 sized photo paper. (Photo paper is P10.00 at CD R-King, or have it printed at Fujifilm for P8.00 only)

• Estimate the photo's size before printing so that it doesn't look too big or too small for the mermaid's body. After putting the photo in its place, you may now start with the hair.
  

• I used the 3-colors-in-one yarn to make the hair. Making this takes a lot of patience. Cut and Glue the yarn one by one to make it look like hair strands.

Guestbook Pages

• Draw theme-related items on the construction paper to act as the guest's writing area. Make them small enough to fit at least 6 of them into the pages, and big enough for short messages.
  

• To make the colors more alive, I pasted the cut-outs to a cartolina of contrasting colors. After pasting, cut around 1 cm from the construction paper's outline, still following the original shape.
  

• To make the pages of the guestbook, trace the front cover's shape into the cartolina. Cut through the shape, although leave around 1 inch from the outline so that the pages turn out to be smaller than the guestbook covers.
  

• Paste at least 6 cut-outs on the pages, and arrange them in such a way that no two similar shapes or colors are together. This avoids monotony.
  

• Using craft paint, draw different shapes or swirls along the empty spaces of the pages just to jazz 'em up a little bit more.

Putting them all together

• Place clear tape behind the "page fastener" space of each page. This avoids the pages from getting ripped from the guestbook.
  

• Punch two holes on the space provided for the fasteners. Then place a fuzzy wire on one hole and twirl it around the other end to lock it. Do the same for the other hole. :)

Voila! Your very own guestbook.

It took me around a week to buy the materials and another one to make this guestbook. To make something as captivating (haha self praising) as this, you need to enjoy, and most especially love what you're doing.

I think that in anything you do, may it be artwork, cooking or photography, when you do it with passion & love, you give your work that factor which causes the recepients' eyes grow with excitement upon receiving, tasting or seeing your work. The most important element in making anything personalized is the heart. When you do anything with your heart, you share a part of you, making it extra extra special.

If you love what you're doing, your finished product will certainly exude sincerity - thereby making your project even more adorable. Truly a labor of love. And believe me, nothing beats the feeling of seeing people's faces light up with gratitude, happiness and appreciation while receiving your work. Cheaper in cost, priceless by nature.
♥
Happy Birthday Isshi!

Love always,
Ninang :)