My Photobook 2010

It is my goal to create a family photobook every year. This is better than a photo album as the photobooks I create contain journaling. This way, people who look at the pictures also know the story behind it. Makes it so much more meaningful.

Unfortunately, I only work on my photobook during my spare time. Most people think SAHM (stay-at-home-moms) would have lots of spare time. Let me tell you that is a MYTH! It took me around a year to finish this book. Thank goodness I do keep an updated journal, plus I make it a point to take pictures of my family every month. So when it comes to creating the photobook pages, I have my journal to remind me what happened during that year. Plus, looking back at my blog posts and FB updates helps too.

Okay, so here are some of the pages I created, just to give you a sneak peek.

My kids LOVE looking through the photobook. In case you are wondering, I created these scrapbook pages using MyMemories Suite scrapbooking software. MyMemories was featured on the Mother’s Day Special for Lifetime Television’s Morning show, "The Balancing Act". They are currently running a FREE PHOTOBOOK promotion. 

If you use my discount code, you can get $10 off when you buy the scrapbook software. The discount also gives you another $10 to spend at their online store.
CODE: STMMMS86598
You can get the software here —-> MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Scrapbooking and photobooks are a wonderful way to keep memories alive. If you are a new mom or have young kids, I highly recommend that you learn to scrapbook and journal the memories of your family. Your efforts will not go to waste and you'll be glad you did it. Now I have to start working on my photobook 2011. Let's see how long it is going to take me this time :p

How To Easily Scrapbook Your Memories

It's almost the end of the year. I'm sure you've taken tons of photos and they are all lying in your harddisk. I know mine are. BabyK has already passed her 1 year birthday. I plan to do a special scrapbook of her first year. I also plan to do a family scrapbook for the year 2010. I did that for the year 2009 and printed it into a photobook.

Join Mixbook and receive a FREE photo book!

If you want to record your memories but you've never done digital scrapbooking before, don't think that it is very difficult. It can be very simple if you use the right scrapbooking software. There are templates, backgrounds and embellishments that you can easily manipulate with just a few clicks here and there. You can create scrapbook pages within minutes. Well... how long you take to design a page really depends on how fast you can make up your mind. Like for me I sometimes take a while because I can't decide which embellishment to use or where is the perfect place to put it. Then I also take my time to carefully craft out the journaling. The problem is I always have too much to say about the memory :)

Anyway, I like to use My Memories Suite Version 2! You don't need a lot of time to learn how to use the software. You can create beautiful layouts with this software. If you need scrapbooking ideas, just google and you'll find plenty.

Happy Holidays and have fun digital scrapbooking. Let me warn you that it can get quite addictive.

My First Photobook!

This is what I've been busy with the last week of July - My first photobook. There was a promotion and I didn't want to miss it. It took me about 3 days to put it together. I'm glad I got it done coz' I've been wanting to do it for the longest time.

My plan is to have a yearly photobook for the family. That way, we can all look back and see how our family has changed, grown, progressed etc.... The children can look back and remember the good times. As for me, I'm losing a lot of brain cells as I grow older. I don't remember a lot of things. The photobooks will remind me of how cute they were when they were young. It's also a way to blackmail them later e.g. "You don't listen to me, I show this embarrassing photo to your girlfriend". Hahahah. Just kidding. I think it will also be a way for the children to see things through my eyes coz' I'm the one doing the journaling.

Here are some of the pages I put together.



MAMAS PARENTING TIPS (or rather, photobook tips)

• Keep a family journal. I use to keep a journal for each child. I thought when they grew up, I could present them their own journals. Then I figured it would be easier to just have a family journal. I'm sure the kids would also like to read about what's happening to their siblings, not just themselves. Plus, we are all connected. So one journal for everybody.
  
• Try to write your journal weekly. If not, do a monthly update. This will be most helpful when you put together your annual photobook. Just cut and paste your journal to match the photos.
  
• Take lots of pictures every month. That way if you forget to write in your journal, you have pictures to jog your memory.
  
• Organize your photos properly. For me, I have a main folder to mark the year. Then I have sub-folders to mark the months. For example, I have a folder named "2009". And then that folder will be divided into "Jan", "Feb", "Mar" etc....
• Learn how to take good pictures. When it comes to scrapbooking, taking beautiful pictures will enhance your design. Click this affiliate link to check out some Digital Photography Secrets.
• If you do digital scrapbooking, make sure you're doing it in the right size: 3600pixels x 3600pixels. I made a mistake of doing mine in 500 x 500. That is fine for web publishing but if you want to print it out, it is too small. If you do it in the bigger size, you can always downsize it for web publishing. But if you do it in a smaller size, you cannot blow it up later on. Well, you can but it will be all blurry. Click here to learn about a very handy and easy to use scrapbooking software that will help you design beautiful pages for your photobook. I just got it and thank goodness I had some digi-scraps from using this software that I could plop into my photobook.
• If you are having problems designing a page, you'll need some inspiration. Your inspiration is here: 500 Scrapbooking Sketches. Yup, you don't have to crack your head on how to do a layout. Just pick a sketch and design away.
• Some photobook companies require you to download their program to design the book. If that's the case, create some pages when you are free. Then when they have a great discount or promotion, your photobook is ready to be uploaded.
  
• If you don't like the idea of downloading a program but would rather using an online software, check this affiliate link out. Join Mixbook and receive a FREE photo book!

Ok, have to make sure my family's 2010 journal is up to date so I can be ready for the next annual photobook. Can't wait for bbK to turn 1 next month too so I can create a photobook to showcase her 1st year.