Autograph book for the creative challenged

[jeepgirl30]

I need help, lots of help. First, can anyone give me a "glue here dummy" guide to making a really nice princess autograph book?

I'd like it to be fairly small so DD6 can carry it, maybe tuck it into mommy's fanny pack even. I'd like it to have a place for pictures on one side and the signature on other other.

I really want to make something very memorable for her. I don't want to buy a run of the mill standard autograph book. I think the Disney ones are cute and all but this is going to be a special trip. Our Mommy/Daughter trip. My plan is to totally focus on my lil princess so I want to go all out on the craft. I want something she can treasure for years.

Please keep in mind, the instructions need to be really easy to follow! I have a hard time cutting on the dotted line and gluing. Okay maybe not that bad but close. My mom and sister are masters of the thread and needle, me I can't even put the thread in the needle.

 

[katied]

There are two "simple" options I was considering.

The books I made were as follows:
1. buy card stock paper in "princess colors", cut two pieces 4 x 6.5 each. These pieces will serve as the front and back of the autograph book. To make them sturdier, I did two colors glued together, one square a bit smaller than the other. I put the smaller square a bit off center, to account for the hole punches in step 5.
2. decorate one of the 4 x 6.5 pieces as a cover. At Wal-Mart, Michaels, or any scrapbooking store, you can buy letter stickers, and spell out something like "Nicole's Disney Autograph Book". You can also buy princess stickers to decorate the front and back covers.
3. Once you've decorated the cover and back, seal it with Modge Podge (also available at WalMart, Michaels, etc). You can follow the directions - but basically, spread thin layers on every 20 minutes and let it dry between. 5 - 6 layers should be good to seal. You use a foam brush to spead it on.
4. Use white card stock paper - 4 x 6.5 in. I used 50 sheets per book, but it's up to you how many autographs you think you'll collect.
5. 2 hole punch the cover, back and the 4 x 6.5 white paper. (I used a small hole punch 1/8 or 1/16 in punch)
6. Use "princess type" ribbon to thread through the holes and then tie.

I also have a "corner rounder" - also available with scrapbooking supplies, which gave the corners of all the papers a nice rounded edge.

Second option -
Buy one of the small spiral bound scrapebooks at WalMart or Michaels. Decorate the cover with the letters and stickers as decribed above, and seal with Modge Podge. I just wasn't as happy with the size of these scrapebooks, but you may find something that works well for you. I wanted the book to fit in a kid's fanny pack, so that my DNiece can be responsible for it herself. If you're carrying in a purse or backpack, you may have more flexibility on size, so this option may work well for you.

The other thing I did was buy a couple archival quality pens (also available at WalMart or Michaels in the scrapbooking section) for the characters to sign with. This will make sure that the book lasts.

 

[janette]

Have you seen the princess ones that have a place for the picture on one side and the autograph on the other? I took my 6yo great-niece in march and she loved that book.

We ended up using 2 books, the princess one (only princesses & Aladdin signed that one) and a 50th Anniversary book. After we got home I let her use my stickers and decorate it and we printed pictures of her with each character. It turned out really cute and she loves to show it off to anyone that will let her

 

[xpor2geechica69x]

At Walmart or Michaels they have books that are about the size of a 5 X 7 picture. They can be plain colors or have a decoration on them. But my boyfriend and I bought a white one and decorated it ourselfs with different stickers and stuff. If you want I will try to take a picture and post it for you to see. Hope this helps a little.

 

[xpor2geechica69x]

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If this picture shows up then this is what my autograph book looks like. It might be kind of hard to see but it was the best picture I could get this time I will try again. Hope this somewhat helps.

 

[jennifer293]

Just be sure not to make it too small or some of the characters may not be able to hold it and sign it at the same time. Some of them have really big hands!!

 

[Mic]

I started making autograph books for my children on our second trip(in 2000). Our first ones were simple cardstock of different colors, printed with Disney characters from a Disney Print Creations program. I took the "books" to a Staples office supply store, and had them wire-bound for @$4 each. My next homemade autograph books were also scrapbooks(my husband curses the day I took up scrapbooking!) I made the first 2 scrapbook/autograph books for the daughters of two of my friends, and they loved them! One friend told me the characters made such a fuss over her daughter's book, and would spend time looking at each page while other kids were waiting in line. They were especially excitied to see themselves in the scrapbook(I had lots of Princess stickers in the book). The book can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. My youngest daughter enjoyed helping me make her autograph book, so you may want to enlist the help of your daughter. I consider myself creatively challenged as well, but I'm such a disney nut that I love making autograph books. I am going to try to post a link to the 2 books I made for friends; hopefully you can get some ideas. Good luck!

Disney scrapbook/autograph book

 

[disneymoss]

Mic do you remember how much you paid for the Disney Print Creations Software and where you purchased it from? I'm trying to get one together for our First Ever Trip to the WORLD on 11/18-11/25. Any help and or advice is welcomed. TIA