Autograph book - ideas? Help me make a nice but easy one.

[profa]

What have you used?
Best size 4 x 6 or 5 x 7?
How easy is it for kids to carry these around.
I see where I can order from etsy a disc w/ images but it seems expensive to print these on cardstock for 3 kids.
Maybe print images at costco and slide in photo album?

I'm just not really sure the best route.
What have you done that worked well? Thanks
I did see the main thread on this topic but it was pretty lengthy and mostly filled w/ people requesting covers.
They do sell some books on etsy but again wondering on size.

 

[starshine514]

I don't think I would go the photo and slide into album route. It seems like the loose photo would be difficult for the fuzzy characters to handle. I normally design my own and have them printed as 8x8 photobooks. My cousin printed out one for her daughter on cardstock,I believe she did 2 pages per regular 8.5 x 11 pages (so, that would be 8.5 x 5.5 finished size). She then took it to an office store and had it spiral bound (and I think a clear plastic cover put on it).

I put my girls' books in a pocketed folder and then store that in our backpack. I don't make then tote them around (I'm afraid that with all the work I've put into them, I would be heartbroken if the lost them).

I don't know how much it cost my cousin for the supplies, but I normally wait to order until I find a free photobook offer and then I just end up paying shipping for ours (usually about $9).

 

[profa]

You don't by chance have a link to your photobook? I would like to see the layout, etc. I think I could order images and do something like that. Not sure if I have time though as we leave in 3 wk.
I know on here there's a place to get images free but I don't know either if I want to spend the time copy/past a ton of images. Hmmm...
Not even sure my kids would be that into getting autographs but more i am thinking of a place to put their photos w/ the characters for a souvenir.

 

[SA mom]

I always make autograph books for my kids to save money. The first set had a cute front and back cover, laminated, and spiral bound with a bunch of blank 4"x6" index cards. I used some digital scrapbooking items to make it look like a passport. We went to WDW that time and I made a page for each country in Epcot to be stamped at the Kidcot station and the cast members wrote their name in the native language.

For our last couple of trips, I printed photos of our daughters with the characters they saw on the trip before. You can print the photos at Costco for $.13 a piece (sometimes $.09 if they are having a special). I add blank index cards for characters we've never seen before. Then I have it spiral bound for about $1 at the local office supply store. The characters LOVE it. The face characters will take time to look through all the photos.

You could use the Etsy images and print them out at whatever photo place is cheapest and most convenient to you.

The 4"x6" size was perfect. I put each in a quart size ziplock with a marker. Each girl carries her own. They spiral made it easy to keep the place where the next signature would go.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[starshine514]

I hadn't thought of actually binding photos, that might be a nice econimical choice. Another thing you may want to think about are sketch books. I bought each of my daughters one at Walmart for about $2 each. They are probably 6x8. They are spiral bound, unlined and thicker than standard printer paper, but nowhere near cardstock. You could have the kids decorate the covers, get the autographs and then either glue in a photo later or use the pages for scrapbooking.

I normally put my girls' pictures in their books, but since I do them myself, I could easily remove the picts and save them somewhere for you. PM me and we'll brainstorm the best way to get them to you if you want them. Mine are all square.

 

[Blue32]

I found this online and we are considering doing a version of this. Here is the link...

http://www.thriftyandthriving.com/2...own-autograph-books-out-of-mini-photo-albums/

 

[Cinderella909]

You don't by chance have a link to your photobook? I would like to see the layout, etc. I think I could order images and do something like that. Not sure if I have time though as we leave in 3 wk.
I know on here there's a place to get images free but I don't know either if I want to spend the time copy/past a ton of images. Hmmm...
Not even sure my kids would be that into getting autographs but more i am thinking of a place to put their photos w/ the characters for a souvenir.

With leaving in 3 weeks and 3 kids, you might even consider buying an autograph book for each child at the Parks. They have some where there is a picture pocket on one side and a blank autograph page on the other side, so you can get the autograph and then slip in a picture of the child with the character.

That would probably be the most economical in time and money, as printing autograph books is time consuming and not cheap in the cost of ink. The paper is minimal and the binding is inexpensive. I know when I do my disney projects I usually go thorough 3 cartiledges of color ink. In addition, it takes a while to look for autograph pages, download and print them. I would think that you'll have little time to devote to this with three children to care for along with getting everything else ready for your holiday.

The kids would probably enjoy obtaining the autographs.

Have fun! Karen