Save fabric scraps and cut them all into page size pieces (I did a 6 inch square) Decorate them with ribbon scraps and sew them together with your machine. The hardest part is the binding if it's really thick. you might just have to hand sew it on. Also, add a handle or a metal clip.
Put in a zipper pocket to store your needles and junk until it is done. Then, while watching TV or sitting at the park with your kids sew on your random junk. I recommend colorful embroidery floss, and show your stitches.
Here are some ideas of junk to sew on:
buttons, shells, ribbons, yarn scraps, plastic toys that come on cupcakes, feathers, pieces of pens, beads, rickrack, old keys, Christmas ornaments, broken hair clips or whatever choke-hazard your kid loves.
If the pieces are to small or awkward, make a see-through pocket (cut up a plastic bag that linens come in) and sew that on the page
Use puff-paint to add letters, numbers or personalize.
Use felt for easy decorating. (hot-glue it on and then sew decorative stitches later to reinforce it)
Finally, let a two-year-old test it out and break stuff before you give it to the six-month-old.
