A Simple Guide to Making an Autograph Book

[MusicMouse]

Argh! I had an autograph page for Jack the Pumpkin King and now I can't find it! Help??

Sorry to double-post - can you tell I'm working on a project?

Here's one: http://www.4shared.com/photo/Rtg6hE5F/Jack_Skellington.html

 

[MusicMouse]

Hi! I was wondering if I can get some help/guidance on making autograph books?

I've read through many threads but I am just confusing myself the more I read.

I think that I want to make cards that are 4x6 and have them printed somewhere like Walmart.

How do I make sure the cards are the right size before I go to the store with them on my memory card?

Also music mouse would you recommend using this picture method?

I would rather have the sturdiness of the cardstock but I don't have time to print them myself or the ink. I am thinking the walmart thing would speed up the process.

Will retractable sharpies write ok on photos from walmart? I understand matte would be best but if they don't have it and I have to get glossy will it still work? What about the characters that have stamps?

Would I be able to find a list of the October characters that are most likely?

Lastly would you be able to make two personalized covers for me? I would take any type of cover I can get at this point. Halloweeny or MNSSHP would be ideal theme but I will take anything.

The two kids names are Derek and Nick

If you have time to help me out that would be awesome and if not then thanks for listening. I think I know where to start at least. I am just getting overwhelmed at how quickly our trip has arrived.

Thanks!

Don't Panic! Photographs from Walmart will be just fine (they are surprisingly sturdy), and you can write on them with retractable Sharpies even if they are glossy. If you choose DISigns from the 4x6 list in post #1, they should already be the right size. Use the character list in post #2. Looking at your countdown, they will not be changing the characters until after your trip, so you will be fine. Here are your MNSSHP covers :

 

[MusicMouse]

Does anyone have autograph pages for Special Agent Oso, Phineas, or Ferb? I can't seem to find any...

I have several in my photobucket :

 

[discorsner]

Thanks a ton Music Mouse for the quick reply on the MNSSHP covers!

I am also wondering if I choose from the 4x6 list I know you said they should come out 4x6 at Walmart. How would you bind them?

Would you have to mount them on something else or do most of the designs of the 4x6 have room on the top for a binding without ruining the design too much?

Also, would you recommend printing the cover bigger than the rest of the cards? Would you print it as a picture as well and then sturdy it up or laminate it somehow or no?

Looking for quick and easy but also want it to be functional and better than an in park purchased book.

Maybe next year I will go more elaborate. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[MusicMouse]

Thanks a ton Music Mouse for the quick reply on the MNSSHP covers!

I am also wondering if I choose from the 4x6 list I know you said they should come out 4x6 at Walmart. How would you bind them?

Would you have to mount them on something else or do most of the designs of the 4x6 have room on the top for a binding without ruining the design too much?

Also, would you recommend printing the cover bigger than the rest of the cards? Would you print it as a picture as well and then sturdy it up or laminate it somehow or no?

Looking for quick and easy but also want it to be functional and better than an in park purchased book.

Maybe next year I will go more elaborate. Thanks for any help you can give!

With photographs, you have a couple of options:
1) Get a photo album and just slide them in. "Disneyfy" your cover with stickers, decorations, and/or glue your cover design onto it. It's simple, sturdy, and easy.
2) Take them someplace like FedEx/Kinkos and have them spiral bound (at the top). This works just fine with photos. The binding takes up surprisingly little space.
You can laminate the cover with clear contact paper. I made my covers as 5x7s, mounted them on chipboard (a heavy cardboard), and laminated them to give the book a little more protection. If you are short on time, you can skip the cardboard. HTH!

 

[mnightin]

Oh, MusicMouse!! Honestly the covers made me tear up, and I'm not a crier!

Thank you so much. Really appreciate you taking your own time to help someone else's trip be that much more special.

Truly grateful.

 

[mnightin]

OK, I've read as much of the thread as I can (but not all of it) and did searches, but can't find an answer to my question.

Many of the DISigns are set up for 4x6. Shutterfly only allows a 5x7 photobook. I saw one other poster just cropped the design so the non-character side didn't print the border.

I can do that, but wanted to see if there are other ideas. If I did my math right, I need to re-size each design to be 94% of its current size so that it fits right within a 5x7 border. Is that right? Has anyone done this? What program did you use?

The problem is that Shutterfly won't let you re-size or distort images, only "crop" them to fit certain sizes. I actually need to shrink them!

Any other solutions for this with Shutterfly without just cutting out part of the design?

Thanks so much!

-Megan

 

[meribell01]

You rock! Thanks for the pages of Oso, Phineas, and Ferb!!! They are some of my daughter's fav's, and I was a little concerned we were going to have to do without... Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

[MusicMouse]

OK, I've read as much of the thread as I can (but not all of it) and did searches, but can't find an answer to my question.

Many of the DISigns are set up for 4x6. Shutterfly only allows a 5x7 photobook. I saw one other poster just cropped the design so the non-character side didn't print the border.

I can do that, but wanted to see if there are other ideas. If I did my math right, I need to re-size each design to be 94% of its current size so that it fits right within a 5x7 border. Is that right? Has anyone done this? What program did you use?

The problem is that Shutterfly won't let you re-size or distort images, only "crop" them to fit certain sizes. I actually need to shrink them!

Any other solutions for this with Shutterfly without just cutting out part of the design?

Thanks so much!

-Megan

You will need to resize them before you upload them to Shutterfly (I don't understand WHY they won't let you resize things, you can do it in most other programs ). You can do this in many programs such as photoshop or Paint (I believe Paint comes with MS Word). -or- You can just crop your images if they are already all loaded and ready to go. You can move the crop box around so that you don't crop a character or their name. This is why I used Artscow for my last book - they have much better image editing options.

 

[mnightin]

You will need to resize them before you upload them to Shutterfly (I don't understand WHY they won't let you resize things, you can do it in most other programs ). You can do this in many programs such as photoshop or Paint (I believe Paint comes with MS Word). -or- You can just crop your images if they are already all loaded and ready to go. You can move the crop box around so that you don't crop a character or their name. This is why I used Artscow for my last book - they have much better image editing options.

Oh good! Just knowing I'm not crazy or missing something helps. I'll see how much energy (wine ) I have tonight and decide if I want to resize and re-load each pic, or just crop and print as is.

Spent more time than I should have planning today. I am just SO EXCITED for this first-ever trip!!

 

[kelseyledare]

Hi MusicMouse,
I want to thank you so much for the invaluable information and links you posted on the beginning pages. I am so thrilled with all the great character photos for my daughters' autograph books. You have made things so easy!

I was hoping to ask for two personalized autograph book covers with backs. I'm in no big rush since our trip isn't till November- I'm just excited already! I'd like the blue one with all the characters with "Ava's Autographs - 2011" in pink letters and "Sophie's Autographs - 2011" in purple letters please. I'd also like the back cover in color with "The End" - one with the pink writing and one with purple writing please.

Thank you again; I just can't stress how invaluable all your early posts have been!

 

[MomtoPatNJoe]

I have to say I am in awe with all of the wonderful work I've seen on this thread! I haven't been able to read every page but I think its amazing that the artists who create these pictures are so generous with sharing.

I was wondering if anyone has a pirate themed cover by any chance? My boys are Patrick and Joey if anyone can help out.

Thanks in advance!

 

[StephC1217]

Well, I have been working non-stop on making an autograph book for our first trip in 2 weeks! Thank you to everyone who has helped so far! Just a couple of things to help me finish up, if anyone gets a chance!

I would love one of the MNSSHP autograph covers with the name Ty (our autograph book is 4x6)

Also wondering if anyone has Lotso Bear or Gaston? I think they are the only ones from the party that I am missing?

Thanks!!!

 

[MusicMouse]

Hi MusicMouse,
I want to thank you so much for the invaluable information and links you posted on the beginning pages. I am so thrilled with all the great character photos for my daughters' autograph books. You have made things so easy!

I was hoping to ask for two personalized autograph book covers with backs. I'm in no big rush since our trip isn't till November- I'm just excited already! I'd like the blue one with all the characters with "Ava's Autographs - 2011" in pink letters and "Sophie's Autographs - 2011" in purple letters please. I'd also like the back cover in color with "The End" - one with the pink writing and one with purple writing please.

Thank you again; I just can't stress how invaluable all your early posts have been!

Thank you for your kind words! I am glad that you found this all so helpful. Here are your covers :

I have to say I am in awe with all of the wonderful work I've seen on this thread! I haven't been able to read every page but I think its amazing that the artists who create these pictures are so generous with sharing.

I was wondering if anyone has a pirate themed cover by any chance? My boys are Patrick and Joey if anyone can help out.

Thanks in advance!

Here you go :

Well, I have been working non-stop on making an autograph book for our first trip in 2 weeks! Thank you to everyone who has helped so far! Just a couple of things to help me finish up, if anyone gets a chance!

I would love one of the MNSSHP autograph covers with the name Ty (our autograph book is 4x6)

Also wondering if anyone has Lotso Bear or Gaston? I think they are the only ones from the party that I am missing?

Thanks!!!

Here is your cover:



Have you checked the MNSSHP links in post #1? If the characters that you are looking for are not there, try putting out a new request thread on the main board.

 

[kelseyledare]

Thanks, MusicMouse. They look awesome!!

 

[discorsner]

Where do you recommend looking for some generic pages to put at end of the book for extras?

I swear I found some castle ones before and now can't find them. I think that is my clue that I better go to bed!

 

[DrMomof3]

OK, I've read as much of the thread as I can (but not all of it) and did searches, but can't find an answer to my question.

Many of the DISigns are set up for 4x6. Shutterfly only allows a 5x7 photobook. I saw one other poster just cropped the design so the non-character side didn't print the border.

I can do that, but wanted to see if there are other ideas. If I did my math right, I need to re-size each design to be 94% of its current size so that it fits right within a 5x7 border. Is that right? Has anyone done this? What program did you use?

The problem is that Shutterfly won't let you re-size or distort images, only "crop" them to fit certain sizes. I actually need to shrink them!

Any other solutions for this with Shutterfly without just cutting out part of the design?

Thanks so much!

-Megan

I made a flip book on Shutterfly and it worked just fine. I've done this 2 years in a row. I actually like the smaller size because it fit easily into my purse or fanny pack. I used a retractable Sharpie for autographs. Just make sure you give it a minute to dry or it might smear a little.

Amanda

 

[MusicMouse]

Where do you recommend looking for some generic pages to put at end of the book for extras?

I swear I found some castle ones before and now can't find them. I think that is my clue that I better go to bed!

Natalie has some lovely ones here: http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie/2010 Autograph book/ and here: http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie/2010 Autograph book/#!cpZZ4QQtppZZ20

I have a few, too .

 

[MomtoPatNJoe]

Thank you MusicMouse! I love them!

 

[StephC1217]

Thanks MusicMouse!!