Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daddy and Daisy Totes

Here's another drawing by Darcy and her daughters embroidered onto a tote bag. Visit the Stray Notions Etsy site to get your own.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Wedding Scrapbook

Darcy remembers her marriage to Andy Nussbaum with the book she created, "Our Wedding Scrapbook" (HarperCollins; 2004). This and other albums were on display during her recent gallery exhibit, "Family." For a behind-the-scenes look at the event, visit darcymillerdesigns.com.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Wedding Scrapbook: The Opening Page

Darcy's 50-pound scrapbook celebrates her wedding day. The opening page features her illustration of the newlyweds and script by Bernard Maisner, their wedding calligrapher.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Something To Be Thankful For

These two colorful paper turkeys were made with Ella's and Daisy's hand silhouettes. The birds' bodies are affixed to the pale-chartreuse background, with the feathers left fluttering.

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Get Darcy's Essential Tools and Techniques for Scrapboxes

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Ella's Birthday

Darcy, Andy, and daughter Daisy celebrate the birthday of little Ella, in the foreground. A candle saved from the cake stands inside the box, secured with a dab of glue.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Baby Pippa

A photo of Pippa, Darcy and Andy's youngest daughter. One of her favorite toys, a giraffe, prances at the bottom of the box, and the label is mounted on foam board for added dimension.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Ella's Jewel Box

Ella's painted jewel box finds a home inside this deep frame, with the glass removed. Pale-blue background paper with crisscrossing lines covers the inside edges of the frame, and the heart-shaped box is mounted with foam tape.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Goodnight Moon

Darcy's childhood copy of "Goodnight Moon," a family favorite, fills this box. A photo of husband Andy reading the book to Daisy adheres to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, and dark-green background paper matches the cover's palette.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Pippa is Born

Daughter Pippa arrives, photographed here in the arms of her father, Andy. The collage captures memories of the day -- the baby cap and Darcy's hospital bracelet -- as well as a sonogram image mounted on foam board.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's First Day of School

Daisy's first day of school -- umbrella, galoshes, and all -- is remembered with this enlarged photo and note, both mounted on foam board. The background paper is lined to mimic loose-leaf paper's classic design.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Crowning Glory

A homemade crown with tissue-paper flowers, made in preschool, is paired with a snapshot of Ella, trimmed and mounted on foam board. A similar red background unifies the palette and keeps the focus on the keepsakes.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Masterpiece

A school artwork sets sail inside this box, and the label states the overseas destination: Paris.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Framed Photo Confetti

A matrix of quarter-size personalized photo confetti, featuring different generations of the Nussbaum family, becomes a keepsake.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Dress

Daisy's embroidered dress marks a sweet phase in the 6-year-old's life. Pale-pink paper on foam board serves as a soft background. The dress is filled with another piece of foam board and adhered with double-sided foam tape, and adhesive dots help shape the fabric folds.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Mother's Day Gift from Ella

To show off this Mother's Day present -- crepe paper flowers inside a water-bottle vase -- the frame's glass is removed, creating a diorama effect.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Fourth of July Favorite

In the spirit of Independence Day, Daisy waves a pair of flags, one of which is glued inside the box.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Doll

A favorite birthday gift (a princess doll with an accompanying child's crown worn by Daisy) gets a spotlight.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Resolutions

Cascading silver streamers, affixed to the top, and a photo of Daisy ring in the New Year. A list of resolutions -- among them, "Be nice" -- keeps record of how the goals and the child's handwriting evolve. A toy glued in place adds a festive touch.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's First Swim

Daisy's first swim meet is celebrated in full, with a photo, a medal, and pink goggles. The enlarged snapshot is backed with foam board, and the goggles are secured with pieces of wire looped through holes in the board and twisted on the back. Straight pins press into the side of the board to hold the medal's ribbon; the rest is taped behind.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Childhood Favorite

An often-read treasure from Darcy's childhood library, this book is a favorite of the Nussbaum girls. Teal background paper adds a subtle rim of color.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Ride on the Carousel

Ella, a horse lover, basks in her carousel ride. The ticket stub is backed with foam board and affixed to the center of the photo.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Mermaid Drawn by Daisy

Creative kids come home with scores of drawings, but the best ones deserve special recognition and double as personal artwork for your house. Darcy saved this undersea mermaid, drawn by daughter Daisy, and taped it to a sheet of white art paper for a spare presentation.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Gifts for Baby Pippa

This box features Pippa's first two stuffed animals, given to her by sisters Daisy and Ella. Standing up, they add a plush dimension to the box; they also cozy up beside the baby and a snapshot of the two older girls. Illustrated balloons backed with foam board and a "Welcome Pippa!" label complete the display.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

An Old-Fashioned Wedding Announcement

A preserved "Philadelphia Inquirer" clipping, announcing the wedding of Darcy's parents, Martin and Madge Miller, gives a sense of the era, as does an advertisement for $25 wedding gowns.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Remembering Ella's Second Birthday

A black-and-white portrait from Ella's horse-themed birthday is joined by a party hat and invitation illustrated by Darcy, as well as a small toy horse.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Halloween Cat by Daisy

Daisy's glittered black cat, cut out and backed with bright-orange paper, makes a frightful Halloween decoration.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Memories of Palm Beach

The Nussbaums' sand-filled vacation lives on with a dynamic family portrait and a row of collected seashells.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's First Haircut

A bag containing Daisy's chestnut-brown wisps is pinned to a piece of foam board above Darcy's illustration of the shears. For a hint of color, the black-and-white photo and label are backed with teal paper.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Holiday Tradition

A trip to "The Nutcracker" is an annual tradition for the Nussbaums. Here, a photo of Daisy and a ballerina is paired with the theater ticket and a flurry of confetti, perfect for any winter scene. For the look of snowfall, a few "flakes" are glued on top of the glass.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Welcome Spring

Art projects inspired by nature -- painted butterflies and an egg-carton caterpillar -- are grouped together in this spring-themed box. A row of paper grass sets the scene.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Monkey-Themed Party

Ella's third birthday party is captured in this cheery display. Darcy illustrated the invitation and party hats, and a stuffed monkey and drink umbrella accompany the photo of Daisy and the birthday girl.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Fifth Birthday

This box contains mementos from Daisy's princess party, including the front of a tiara, an invitation, and a lollipop, the last two decorated with Darcy's princess sketches. Oversize pink confetti, some adhered to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, adds a festive note.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Dolls

Daisy and her doll collection lined up on the sofa inspired Darcy to snap this impromptu photo. In the box, a few favorite dolls add a little three-dimensional personality.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

The First Generation

Darcy's parents, Madge and Martin Miller, beam in the aisle as newlyweds; beside the photo is their wedding invitation.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

The Second Generation

Darcy Miller and Andy Nussbaum pose as bride and groom; their monogrammed invitation is also framed. The scripted banners in both boxes are by Bernard Maisner, Darcy and Andy's wedding calligrapher.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Colorful Castle

This cutout castle mounted on foam board stands as a striking piece of kid-friendly art and architecture.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Ella's Owl

Ella's paper-plate owl is hung from a pin at the top of this oversize box. A label displays the title of the artwork: "Mr. Whooo Whooo."

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Birth Announcement

Darcy's illustrated birth announcements for Daisy.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Ella's Birth Announcement

Darcy's illustrated birth announcements for Ella.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Pippa's Birth Announcement

Darcy's illustrated birth announcements for Pippa.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Fashionable Sketch

Darcy sketched portraits of fashion-industry professionals and their families for her gallery show, since it coincided with New York Fashion Week. Bernard Maisner, a calligrapher and stationer, hand-lettered the names inside the shadowboxes.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Fashion Designer Lela Rose

Darcy also sketched portraits of fashion designer Lela Rose and her kids for the gallery show.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Self-Portrait

An exuberant life-size self-portrait of Daisy in a Lucite box.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Mommy and Her Girls

A collage of mini photos captures Darcy and her three girls.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy and Ella

A double portrait of Daisy and Ella is dressed up with a mat and label.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Charting Ella's Growth

A visual growth chart of baby Ella documents her first year of life, using the unifying principle of the bed as backdrop. The frame is from suttonplaceframe.com.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy Meets Ella

Young Daisy meets her new sister Ella in this framed contact sheet.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Daisy's Handprint

Daisy's handprint in blue, from 2008.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Fun-Filled Boxes

Everyday playthings, such as crayons or Matchbox cars, make for colorful, easy-to-assemble wall art.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Dress-Up Beads

A collection of dress-up jewelry shows off children's exuberant sense of style; choose any item that's meaningful to your family. Cutout photos of Daisy and Ella are held in place by the weight of the beads.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Paris, Remembered

A collage captures a family trip to Paris. A city map forms the colorful base. On top, all sorts of ephemera -- cards from stores and patisseries, photos, and a self-addressed postcard -- re-create the itinerary. A tiny Eiffel Tower souvenir sits at the bottom.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Baby Clothes

Some outgrown items are worth saving. Pippa's one-piece is mounted onto foam board, and another piece is slipped inside for a lifelike shape; both are secured with double-sided foam tape.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

A Beach Souvenir

Ella's striped bikini is mounted on foam board, using double-sided foam tape and straight pins. For a clean look, snip the pinheads off with wire cutters after pushing them in.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Summer Essentials

Tiny sunglasses, full of personality, offer a look at the world through kids' eyes. To secure them, wire is looped through holes in the foam board near each arm hinge; the wire ends twist together on the back. Small pieces of double-sided tape hold the floating photo aloft.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Height of Style

This growth chart was inspired by one in Daisy's baby book. Darcy's mother did the lettering, and Darcy added an illustration, along with a photo and a tape measure.

To create your own version, print the clip-art chart.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Portrait of an Artist

To celebrate the creative process, Daisy's photo and paint-spattered watercolor set are mounted on foam board and affixed to one of her paintings. A brush rests along the bottom of the box.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Tiny Dancer

Ella's ballet photo is enlarged to the size of the frame and backed with foam board, to which her first pair of slippers is pinned.

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Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Mothers and Daughters

One treasured photo begets another: Darcy, in love with an image of her grandmother reading to her mother as a toddler, restaged the scene with her firstborn, Daisy. Both photos are attached to a sheet of art paper.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

One Image, Several Sizes

A captivating photo of baby Pippa makes a graphic statement: The enlarged images are centered atop one another. Busy images can be distracting in multiples, so choose a simple subject for this project. For ease, purchase a photo in each size when ordering online.

Family History in the Making: Darcy's Frames and Scrapboxes

Family Tree

Four generations branch out on Darcy's illustration. Her husband, Andy, and their three daughters roost in the center of the leafy canopy, above the heart. Her parents and grandparents sprout to the left; Andy's side of the family is to the right. 

To create your own version, print the clip-art tree and the clip-art boxes for names.

See more family-themed clip art.

Scrapboxes and frames can be purchased at the Martha Stewart Shop.