I could not wait to show you guys what I made for my moms for Mother’s Day this year. Unfortunately, to keep it a secret, I had to wait until the holiday was over to show them to you. That being said, these photo books would be perfect for just about any occasion, including the fast approaching Father’s Day holiday!
I know that many people are fans of the photo albums that you can create online, but I had never done one before. I adore taking pictures of my family, but I am not very good about printing them out and sharing them the way I should. I thought it might be neat to share with our moms this year a brag book that that they could enjoy for years to come. I admit that I prefer to make handmade gifts for these occasions (I doubt either mom will ever forget our infamous ping pong wreaths last year), but I knew that there could be a way that I could put a unique spin on these photo albums and add my own homemade touch.
I first weeded through all of the pictures and tried to get a good representation of both of the children as well as pictures of them with the other family members. After selecting my pictures and template (through the photo site I used), I then went to Quote Garden and tried to find a quote for each page of the photo album that would fit the pictures that I had selected. All in all, the process took four hours because of my own admitted perfectionism. I chose a soft-back cover (to save money) and I also visited Coupon Cabin to find a coupon code that I could use towards my purchase. These each cost roughly $16…and it was worth every penny.
These were a few of my favorite photos and quotes that were chosen:
“Everything is beautiful at the ballet” A Chorus Line
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” Katherine Hepburn
“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” Walt Streightiff
“I have the same goal I’ve had since I was a girl. I want to rule the world.” Madonna
“Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.” Vietnamese Proverb
“There’s no place like home.” Wizard of Oz
“The Force is strong with this one.” Darth Vadar
“A boy’s story is the best that is ever told.” Charles Dickens
“Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.” Author Unknown
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Confucius
“And thank you for a house full of people I love. Amen.” Terri Guillemets
I can honestly say that my copy of this book has already become lovingly worn as I have placed it on my coffee table and glance through it almost daily. Each time, I walk a way a little misty-eyed, a little more thankful, and really proud of my amazing kids.
As the gifts were given, there were a few tears and a whole lot of pride radiating from our proud grandma and nana. It is the perfect gift for purse-toting and brag sessions. From what I hear, they have already made the rounds in their workplaces and churches. To me, that is when you know that a gift is a total success..when it just must be shared!
Just a few quick tips:
– Don’t forget to check for coupon codes through whatever photo book publishing site you use. There are usually multiple coupons available. Be sure to compare which coupon will offer you the most bang for your buck. My 20% off coupon, for example, was less than the shipping cost so make sure you crunch those numbers before ordering. Just Google, “Photo company’s coupon code” and you should get plenty of codes to use towards your purchase.
– I found it easiest to sort my pictures by date first so I could group pictures together on pages easier. Sorting by date also helps to allow the flow into the different seasons of the year and pictures to flow a little more naturally.
– Choose a template with a neutral palette, that will compliment and not detract away from the beauty of your photos.
– Edit your photos before putting them into your book. I use Picnik for my photo editing needs and I absolutely love it. You don’t need to get carried away with the editing (unless you just love to), but it can be a great tool for saturating the color, adjusting color temperature, switching to black-and-white, or adjusting the exposure or contrast in a photo.
Looking for some added Father’s Day inspiration? These crafty bottles brimming over with treats were a hit with my hubby last year. Our dads also really loved our movie gifts and handmade photo compact disc jackets filled with great music in years past.
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Ironically, I had some great timing on this post because today is the last day to enter for a $50 Snapfish gift card for Father’s Day. Please head over there and get your entry in today! And yes, I actually had to pay for all of those photo books so I am extremely jealous you can get one for free!! Entries are due by 8PM eastern time tonight! Good luck, friends
What did you do for Mother’s Day gifts this year? What is up your sleeve for Father’s Day? Please share!