Easy ways to make autograph/photo albums?

[Picabo]

I really would like the girls to get autographs of the characters they meet but also somehow leave a spot to put a pix of them WITH that character. I'm not a super crafty person - and don't have the time or patience to do scrapbooking. (Though I WISH I did...they look so cute) SO anyone have some ideas to share with me how to make their own OR are there any I can buy that have room for photos but aren't giong to cost me an arm and a leg?

I wouldn't even mind buying the Disney ones however I don't think those have much room in them, do they??

THANKS!!

 

[bratmomma]

I used those little blank scrapbooks last time. It allowed room for a siggy on one page and stickers and photos on the opposing.

I went back to buy them at ACMoore this year but they were way too expensive. I haven't checked tobe sure, but I think if I get a 6X6 (or similar) spiral bound sketchbook, it will work just as well and those are only a few dollars, especially if you get them on sale.

The kids have fun decorating the covers and the spiral allows a storage space to clip the sharpie on.

Good luck!

 

[agravette]

We're in the process of making our own books. Ours are standard size sketch books, but could easily have been made in a smaller size, depending on which type of spiral bound book you purchased. My 13 year old son didn't want anything made, so he's getting a standard autograph album from Disney when we arrive. But my 8 year old daughter shares my scrapbooking bug, and I'll admit, we've had a blast making her autograph/scrapbook album together. On each page we feature a different character, complete with a decorated 3x5 blank index card for autographs. We left a space to glue in a photo of her with that character, too. We used stickers from the dollar store as well as character clipart found on the internet. It doesn't have to be anything too fancy, as long as she's happy it. We also made pages for each country in Epcot, with a place for her to journal what she enjoyed most about that country. We researched each country, found pictures of their flags and currency, as well as maps and other neat facts. We homeschool, and this project has been so much fun for both of us. We even talked her 13 year old brother into making his own Epcot pages. Don't know if those pages will make the trip, but he did have fun with the research. That being said, I can't imagine making one for every trip that we take. But at her age, I figure this might be the last time she's willing to take my advice on how to make her journal, so I wanted to make the most of it!! LOL!! I'll be glad to share pictures of what we've made so far if anyone would like to see it. Good luck!

 

[Picabo]

We're in the process of making our own books. Ours are standard size sketch books, but could easily have been made in a smaller size, depending on which type of spiral bound book you purchased. My 13 year old son didn't want anything made, so he's getting a standard autograph album from Disney when we arrive. But my 8 year old daughter shares my scrapbooking bug, and I'll admit, we've had a blast making her autograph/scrapbook album together. On each page we feature a different character, complete with a decorated 3x5 blank index card for autographs. We left a space to glue in a photo of her with that character, too. We used stickers from the dollar store as well as character clipart found on the internet. It doesn't have to be anything too fancy, as long as she's happy it. We also made pages for each country in Epcot, with a place for her to journal what she enjoyed most about that country. We researched each country, found pictures of their flags and currency, as well as maps and other neat facts. We homeschool, and this project has been so much fun for both of us. We even talked her 13 year old brother into making his own Epcot pages. Don't know if those pages will make the trip, but he did have fun with the research. That being said, I can't imagine making one for every trip that we take. But at her age, I figure this might be the last time she's willing to take my advice on how to make her journal, so I wanted to make the most of it!! LOL!! I'll be glad to share pictures of what we've made so far if anyone would like to see it. Good luck!

I'd love to see pictures!!!! It'd help to inspire me to get started! THANKS!!! Where do you get the sketch books? Michaels/ACMoore, etc?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I bought a 4x6 artist sketch book and covered it for DS's first trip. When Dgrands booked free dining in the fall to take DS and Dneph, I made a second one using mat board and cardstock.

I figured covering the book was the easiest way for me when I didn't have a lot of prep time for the trip.

 

[tjbaggott]

Or check over on the creative disigns board! A few ladies over there have disigned beautiful autograph cards you can print off. Carry those around in a ziplock baggie and with a clipboard (small one will do). Just pull out the appropriate card for each Character you meet, be sure to snap a photo too! When back at home, put each card with it's matching photo into an album.

 

[agravette]

I got the sketch books at Walmart on the same aisle as the crayons, paints, etc. I cannot figure out how to post pictures but have already taken them with my digital camera if someone will tell me how to post. Thanks! Alisha

 

[ltl engine]

We bought a 4x6 Disney album from Walgreens for $.99 (I have seen the same at the Dollar Store). We took 4x6 blank note cards & used various color Sharpies for the characters to sign with. The cover was Disney & I did a first page with trip details. At night the kids would put the note cards in every other page. When we got home we put the pics in. About $5 total (maybe??) and super easy.

 

[poohfriend77]

We bought a 4x6 Disney album from Walgreens for $.99 (I have seen the same at the Dollar Store). We took 4x6 blank note cards & used various color Sharpies for the characters to sign with. The cover was Disney & I did a first page with trip details. At night the kids would put the note cards in every other page. When we got home we put the pics in. About $5 total (maybe??) and super easy.

Along these same lines... I've seen bigger photo albums at Wal-Mart with Pooh, and I'm pretty sure Mickey, too. The overall size was probably 7X8 or so. Each page had two pockets for 4X6 photos, plus a little space for writing a sentence or two. You could take the 4X6 note cards (or cut up cardstock) for autographs -- make sure you have a small clipboard or other hard surface for characters to hold-- then slide them in the book and add photos later and write something like "Chef Mickey breakfast, July 18" in the journaling area. Just another idea if you think you'll need more pages than the 4X6 albums have.

 

[DisneyTiger]

This may not help but it's another idea. I did something totally different. I brought a signature mat and had all the characters sign and then put our fav pic from the trip in it. It's framed in my living room and I get TONS of compliments on it. The first question people ask is how did you carry that around the park without bending it? Well, it fit perfectly in the messanger bag that I carried so it worked out great. Here's a pic of the finished product...

 

[Picabo]

This may not help but it's another idea. I did something totally different. I brought a signature mat and had all the characters sign and then put our fav pic from the trip in it. It's framed in my living room and I get TONS of compliments on it. The first question people ask is how did you carry that around the park without bending it? Well, it fit perfectly in the messanger bag that I carried so it worked out great. Here's a pic of the finished product...

THAT is a great idea! (And how easy, too!) Well, maybe not so easy to carry the thing around. I love how Mikey's siggy is down in the CENTER of it all! Great pix, too!

 

[DisneyTiger]

THAT is a great idea! (And how easy, too!) Well, maybe not so easy to carry the thing around. I love how Mikey's siggy is down in the CENTER of it all! Great pix, too!

Thanks! I'm really happy with how it came out. And it really wasn't hard to carry around just because of the bag that I had. It was basically the same size as the mat. I also kept it in a plastic shopping bag so nothing would get on it. I am thinking about doing pillow cases on our next trip but not sure yet

 

[Erica09M]

I want to make an autograph book for my oldest when we go (she'll turn 5 on our trip). But my question is, do I make one for my youngest too? She'll be a month shy of 2 years old when we go. Does she need an autograph book? Or should I skip it this trip and wait until she's a little older?

 

[VBAndrea]

I want to make an autograph book for my oldest when we go (she'll turn 5 on our trip). But my question is, do I make one for my youngest too? She'll be a month shy of 2 years old when we go. Does she need an autograph book? Or should I skip it this trip and wait until she's a little older?

I would absolutely make her one. In a year or two when your older child is browsing through hers your don't want your younger dd to feel left out. Plus you can add pictures of her with the characters as well.

My ds (who is 7) doesn't want autographs but I'm still bringing a book for him just in case he changes his mind (won't be as elaborate as dd's, but I don't want him to feel left out if he sees her having fun). I guess I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Mayhem1976]

Hi
I printed out someof these, http://photobucket.com/2008AutographBook They are from Natalie (screen name donatalie) I printed out the ones that I wanted and I'm not going to put them in a book, so that I can scrapbook them later with pics of DS with the characters. I printed them on postcard paper, they come in a sheet with 4 rectangles. I liked the ones in her 2008 album because they were simple.
It is from the DISigns board...but warning if you haven't been over there before you will get sucked in to all the cute stuff!

DisneyTiger, I love that picture mat idea too!! it came out great!

 

[Picabo]

Hi
I printed out someof these, http://photobucket.com/2008AutographBook They are from Natalie (screen name donatalie) I printed out the ones that I wanted and I'm not going to put them in a book, so that I can scrapbook them later with pics of DS with the characters. I printed them on postcard paper, they come in a sheet with 4 rectangles. I liked the ones in her 2008 album because they were simple.
It is from the DISigns board...but warning if you haven't been over there before you will get sucked in to all the cute stuff!

DisneyTiger, I love that picture mat idea too!! it came out great!

YES it is very dangerous to get sucked into the DISigns board! I spend wayyy too much time there looking around. I'm always amazed at how cute those things are!

This is a great idea - hadn't looked at her 2008 designs yet! And like that they are more simple! Can they be adjusted to print onto any size card (like if I were to use 4x6 index cards)? Or are they already to go on a specific size?

 

[Mayhem1976]

YES it is very dangerous to get sucked into the DISigns board! I spend wayyy too much time there looking around. I'm always amazed at how cute those things are!

This is a great idea - hadn't looked at her 2008 designs yet! And like that they are more simple! Can they be adjusted to print onto any size card (like if I were to use 4x6 index cards)? Or are they already to go on a specific size?

yes, they are sized with a larger margin on top so that you can have them bound, I just cropped them down to the size I wanted and they came you really nice!

 

[mickey&me]

Also the stores at DTD have some reasonable albums with vinyl picture holders and spaces for sigs. I think we paid $10 or less. We almost never splurge on stuff like this so DD10 (9 at the time of purchase) was excited. It took care of the scrapbook & a souvenier in one fell swoop. If you are like me and not too crafty buying an inexpensive album saves you a lot of time and money. I have found that the scprabook materials add up even when you buy the 99 cent packs of stickers.