Don't have time for a signature book - options?

[BurnsideMommy]

The last 2 times we went to DL and the 1 time we went to MK, I made signature books for my kiddos. They were pretty fancy, lots of ribbons, stickers, custom pages per character and some general ones, their names on them. I bought black spiral bound books for them. I spent a TON of time making 2.

Problem now is I have to make 3 since Kiki is older. And we leave Sunday morning. And we're all sick with the flu right now (all 5 of us), and we *just* moved into our new house and almost nothing is unpacked (well clothes and most of the kitchen is), and I haven't decorated for Christmas.

So I have no time. What free time and energy I do have, I need to start packing for our trip, clean out the Expedition, clean up the stroller, and unpack our house. I've decided Cmas decorating sadly will have to wait until we get home late on the 15th (this ticks me off).

So - what would you do? I really, really don't want to buy the plain Disney signature books that they sell everywhere. I know you can put pics in them and such, but they're not special (to me). I'd do those before letting the kids go without obviously.

Should I get the normal books, and then do a minimal decorating and plan to decorate around the signatures later? Problem with this is that my kids get such great character interaction because of their special books though - which they love.

Should I just get the Disney ones, and then focus my 'spare' time on trying to make them custom Mickey PJ's (they already have custom Mickey shirts for the days).

I know I'm being anal and silly, but the book is like the big thing I do and make for them to make the trip more special. Plus, our other books were for September, so just character themed. But if I made them for this trip, they'd be Christmas & character themed - which would be so special! I'm just not sure how I could try to get them done. That would mean 1 book per day until we leave leaving 1 day for packing. Oh, and I'd of course need a trip to Michael's & the local craft store for supplies tomorrow morning first. I know I won't be able to do all the fancy Cricut stuff for it, and will have to rely mostly on stickers and some cricut letters because of time. Which sucks since I have great cricut carts for this exact reason...sigh

Am I over-reacting and over thinking this too much? What would you do?

[BernardandMissBianca]

Since you don't have a ton of time I would just go out and buy some mini clip boards, try Walmart or Staples, and buy several sheets of cardstock. Cut those down to 4x4 and leave it at that. You can make the books up when you come home.

Do you have any empty pages in the other books?? And maybe just concentrate on making one for Kiki?

[rlovew]

Yopu could try doing this and getting ink instead: It is a printable book for the characters to sign- read through the thread and you will find out how to access everything. I haven't done it- just remembered it was there.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1968633

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

I had this same problem over the summer when we went the last time. NO time to do anything.

So i just settled for 4x6 books. I just cut out 2 covers from chipboard, and then the pages in white cardstock, punch 2 holes in them and used book rings to hold them together and tied a few ribbons on the rings. they were'nt what i wanted to do for them but they worked. i even cut out their names and the word autographs but those got lost between the house and the airport. I did most of my cutting and punching when we got to LA, on the drive to San Diego. Dh thought i was crazy for bringing scrapbook supplies. :confused3 He just didnt understand. and I had ran out of time.

But anyways. even though they were super simple, very plain and rushed (not my best work). the girls got tons of compliments on them. mostly because they were homemade. and the girls liked that. and im just going to take the 4x6 sig pages out and put them in their acutal scrapbooks and make them fancy. or make a different autograph book. I havent decided which yet.

So Im sure they will be great with anything. I say dont stress. Work on getting everyone better and ready for the trip. and keep it simple. you can make them fancy when you get back. :goodvibes

[belle&beast]

I always just use plain card stock and then make the books with my kids when we get home.