My "budget" autograph book is done!

[bigbabyblues]

I had planned to buy an autograph book when we got to Disney for my boys to use. I know they aren't expensive, and I didn't mind buying one, but I started thinking.....I wanted a way to incorporate the autographs into our trip scrapbook.

I got my "scrap" scrapbook paper (the leftover stuff I've used bits and pieces of) and started cutting....I have 50 4x6 pieces of different colors of paper and I put them into a Mickey photo album I already had. When we get to a character, we'll pick a color, take out a card, and they can sign, then I can put that into the scrapbook!

Done, and pretty much free! I'm cheap, what can I say....

 

[Cindy B]

I've done something similiar. I 've used clear index cards printed a clip art pic on the index card and had the character sign that card.

The card gets bound at Staples for like 50 cents.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Those are both awesome ideas.
My 6 year old niece wants us to get autographs for her, but doesn't want an autograph book.
This sounds like a great option.

 

[KsCrafter]

Did you make that to put on your Sig line? My DS Girlfriend loves stitch.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I saw one family that made a booklet, and on each page they had printed a picture of a character and information about the movie he/she was in. Then they had the characters sign "their" page. It was very cute, and (Im sure) a great way to keep the kids busy before the big trip.
It was no bigger than the autograph book the Disney sells, but it was bound with yarn and decorated with stickers, stamps, and clip art.

 

[Mickey527]

I did pretty much the same thing when I took my niece and nephew to WDW last year.
I got some clip art pictures of all the characters and printed them onto a page of glossy paper. I then cut out the photos leaving a 1/4 inch white border around the photo. I glued the photo onto a 3X5 card and put it into a 3X5 photo album that I picked up at Michaels for $1.00 each.
We pulled the photo card out as we saw a character and had them signed. We then took a photo of my niece and nephew with the character and when we got these developed we put them right next to the signature card.
They look through their books constantly and it is a great reminder of their trip until Auntie Peggie can take them again.
Peggie

 

[LisaZoe]

I'm still working on ideas for an autograph book for my DD. I bought one at the Dollar Tree and am thinking of putting stickers one each page trying to keep one character per page. I hadn't thought of using clipart but love that idea as there are so many more characters available that way than I can find on preprinted stickers. I think I might just use some address label pages for this. I could probably get 2 or 3 images on each label and they'd cost very little since I have those pages anyway.

BTW - I was given the URL of a great site that has thousands of Disney clipart. The URL is:

http://disneyclipart.tripod.com/

Another thought I had was to get one of those little polaroid cameras that print on stickers. I saw these at Wal Mart and, although they aren't cheap, thought they'd be a really fun way to personalize that autograph book as I could take a pic of DD with the character and put it in the autograph book right away. Of course, now that I think about it, I could use our digital camera for the pics then just print them on address labels to make our own stickers - although they probably won't look as nice as those made specifically for the Polaroid camera. Anyone ever used one of those cameras?

 

[Carrie Ellis]

LisaZoe,

I did the same thing. I have 4 kids so I bought 4 autograph books from the dollar store. I was going to decorate the front w/ stickers and finally another idea came to mind! When I was highschool we got into making cushioned photo albums so I thought may be I could do the same. I was at Walmart and I bought a 1/4 yard of Mickey fabric and 1/4 yard of Princess fabric. Plus a couple of sheets of white felt, a bag of beads w/ letters on them and thick yellow string.

What you do is cut a square piece of felt a little smaller than the photo album and hot glue it on. Then cut a square piece of the fabric about an inch longer in length and width of the album. I started w/ the top and folded it in a nice tight line and glued it right above the felt and right bellow the spiral. Then you take all the sides and pull them under the cover and glue. I used the first page and pulled it up to cover fabric underneath. You will just put a thin strip of glue all around the edge and glue that paper two it. Afterwards I sewed their names w/ the beads on front.

The princess fabric is awesome! It is lavender w/ sparkles. I had my daughter pick which princess that she wanted on her cover because there is not enough room for all!

It turned out great. I will post a picture soon. It does not take long. Almost took as long to write!

Each album probably cost me around $2. When you have 4 kids; it adds up to buy 4!! ha!

 

[LisaZoe]

Carrie Ellis - what a fun idea. I may do something similar but use transfers made on my computer. I picked up a pack to do t-shirts but won't need it all for those and have tried to think of other ideas. This would be great because I have a lot of scraps of muslin (I like to make quilts) as well as low-loft cotton batting so my only cost would be the transfer page which I already have anyway. It will probably hold up better than the stickers as well.

I love these boards. I get so many great ideas and resources.

 

[dbal]

WOW! I love these ideas! I was ready to get 1 autograph book for each of my youngest dd's. But I think they will like these ideas so much more. Expecially with their pics right next to the signatures.



When you made the pages beforehand with either the clipart or stickers, did you get mostly the main characters, or the more obscure ones too?

How'd ya like that nice run-on sentence?


Also where can you find the Disney photo albums?


Thanks!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I was thinking about putting a sticker or a clip art of each character on different pages and have them sign. But I started thinking that it might be time consuming to flip through and find the certain character. Of course I have 4 kids so that is more of an issue with me. I think it would not be a problem if you had 1 or 2 kiddos. I thought I might go through the books later and add the pics and stickers.

 

[Mickey527]

I can't find the site I used when I made my niece and nephew their books but there are sites that tell you where each character can be found in the 4 parks.
I used that site to make a list of all the characters and just downloaded photos of every character to put on the 3X5 cards. We didn't find every character but it was great to have the card for Jiminey when we bumped into him by chance.
I doubt that this wil come up as a link, but here goes. Disney World Character Greeting Guide or try this:
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/greet2.html
If you can't get that to work try doing a search for Disney character greeting and see what you can find.
I had a great site but lost it when my computer died this summer. Peggie

 

[momof2OH]

Here's some photos of the autograph books I recently made for my DD & DS for our Halloween trip. I make them a new one for each trip.

Inside is just colored card stock in various Halloween colors. If you want more info on how to do these, please PM me. I'd be happy to help.

 

[lisaes]

Hi momof2OH I just pm'd you!

 

[kerry34]

I was going to buy scrapbooks for my kids also, but i think i will make them ow that i have read all these great postings. That will be a nice way to personalize them to each child, and cheaper than buying 5 of them. Thanks all for the great ideas.

 

[momof2OH]

I also added some stickers and clipart of certain characters to my DD's book. DS didn't want any in is. I will post some pics of those pages tomorrow.

 

[jacksmom]

momof2OH, Hi! I just pm'd you too!

 

[momof2OH]

Here's the info on how to make the autograph books:

Decide on a size you want. I did ours 4 1/2 x 6 1/2. I used card stock paper for the whole thing. This is heavier weight paper. You can usually buy it at any office store, craft store or scrapbook store. I cut all the various colors I wanted to use to the 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 size. Then I went on the internet to clipart sites and found clipart I wanted to use. I used my Printmaster Program to add the clipart to the front and back pages. Once I had it all cut and together I took it to Office Max and they laminated the front and back page and spiral bound the whole thing together.

It's very easy and inexpensive to do.

Hope this helps any of you who want to do one.

 

[sorchamac]

These are all great ideas!! I was thinking of getting 4 X 6 sketchbooks, since they are already bound. But I also like the idea of the photo albums.

Keep the ideas coming!! I'd love to hear more -

Sorcha

 

[SandrainNC]

I recently bought the Creative Memories special edition Mickey Mouse book. It is 7X7 (I think) so it is too small for everything to go in (I am going to the scrapbooking store at downtown Disney for my 12X12 book). Anyway. I am going to get a cheap autograph book to take on the trip and when I get home I am going to remove the pages. I am going to put the picture I take of the character on the left side of the book and the autograph on the right hand side so both will be showing at the same time. I loved that little book when I saw it so I'm glad I finally thought of something to use it for.

Sandra