Need help making photo book on a budget

[las3888]

Hi all,

I would like to put together a photo album of all the shots I have taken of my Cub Scout den through the year. Last year I spent hours upon hours (days) of pretty much manually cutting and pasting photos together and photocopying. I know there has to be something better/easier/faster and more affordable!

I have probably in the neighborhood of 150 photos, although I could whittle it down some. They are mostly on an SD chip or emailed to me.

Is there some kind of photo program online (free?) that will let me easily upload and plop in photos into an album template? I don't mind printing on plain paper(I have a color inkjet at home). I know that Shutterfly and other services will put these books together, but they are pricey. I need to do 9 books and don't want to spend any money if possible, but am willing to spend a few dollars per book if I have to and know that it's going to be easy and FAST!

ANY ideas???!!! Please help!

 

[Cynt]

I highly recommend Shutterfly and/or Picaboo. They always have 50% off coupons for the basic book. It sounds like that will probably work for you. 20 pages basic costs around $25-30. Half off puts it around $12.50+. The time, energy and effort is well worth the $12.50/per book. Plus, they will look really nice. Even the very basic simple books look very good.

Another option is print the photos and use the spiral bound option. It's pretty cheap if you use one of the above mention places. Most office supply stores also have the spiral bound option. You can print the pics. Take it to them and they use this spiral bound page cutter tool and bind it for you w/ the spiral plastic twisty coil.

Have you tried using Microsoft Power Point to create a slide show that you could just print?

Another option - Check the software on your computer. Most computers have a picture/slideshow option that has a slide show you can create as well and print.

There are also tons of themed scrapbooking books. That you just add the photo. Check your local craft store - Micheals, Joanns; Walmart, Target, scrapbooking stores.

 

[luvdzny]

I agree with the Shutterfly suggestion. I did a wedding book for DD and it turned out beautiful. I arranged the pictures myself, but they even have books where you just upload the photos and the computer does all the work. Prices are good too.

 

[JessM]

I really like Picaboo. You can download their free software to put the book together. They usually have great deals on hardcover books on Living Social or Groupon.