Albums for Digital Scrapbooking?

[AnneGogh]

Hello Everyone. I'm really new to all of this, but as I mentioned in another thread I'm helping teach a 1/2 hr class about digital scrapbooking at my organization this Wednesday. One thing I'm not clear about is what kind of albums people purchase to add their own pages to - or if you're not displaying them in a book/album, could you tell me your favorite alternative?

I know there are web sites that let people create their own photo books with digital photos, but I can't find one that lets you upload your own full page layouts and then print.

I'm so glad to be here, and appreciate any advice you have!

Anne

[Debb Cozzi]

Hi Anne, I just get the top-loading albums that are available at craft stores like Michaels. You just print up your layouts and then slide them into the individual sleeves. The nice thing about them is you can rearrange the order of layouts without having to take apart your entire album.

I don't have any experience with online album sites that will print your albums. I'm sure some of our other members will have insight on what they have done.

As an aside, you can create your own albums within our gallery if you just want to have a place where people can go to look at your layouts.

[AnneGogh]

Debb, thank you so much! That's exactly the information I was looking for! Besides being able to show layouts online or send via email, I wanted to be able to give information about creating hard copy scrapbook albums with digital layouts. There's a Michael's right near work, so I may have to run down there.

As far as the Gallery here, I'm sure I'll be using that soon. At least I think so, with the class I'm taking from Mary. I still have to figure everything out. :)

Thank you again,
Anne

[Scraplikecrazy]

Anne , there are some services, like Shutterfly that let you upload layout pages and then print them, but they can be pricey. Kodak, Shutterfly, and many other services online will let you upload, organize, etc, and then put your pages in a book that they will print for you and then mail you. Not too many will do square size, I think Shutterfly does.

I prefer to print the pages my-self, I do 8x8, then put them in my own album, like Debb said, then I can do whatever I want with them.

[AnneGogh]

Maria, (I think you're Maria...?),

Thanks so much for the additional input. I had looked quickly at Shutterfly but thought they only offered the ability to create pages using their own system. I'll go back and do a little more research on both Shutterfly and Kodak. Hey, it was helpful too to read what page size you usually create as well. I really appreciate all the information. The woman I'm teaching with has found a program called photomix that she wants to demo to the class. It allows quick and easy page layouts, but I really want to let our attendees know that there are other more creative options out there as well. And of course I'll be giving them a list of links, including one to this site!

Thank you again,
Anne

[yhalos]

Hi Anne..just wanted to welcome you to our family here but also wanted you to know Michaels has a 50% discount coupon today..so if you hurry you might find what you're looking for at half price. :D

[Amy Eileen]

Maria, (I think you're Maria...?),

Thanks so much for the additional input. I had looked quickly at Shutterfly but thought they only offered the ability to create pages using their own system. I'll go back and do a little more research on both Shutterfly and Kodak. Hey, it was helpful too to read what page size you usually create as well. I really appreciate all the information. The woman I'm teaching with has found a program called photomix that she wants to demo to the class. It allows quick and easy page layouts, but I really want to let our attendees know that there are other more creative options out there as well. And of course I'll be giving them a list of links, including one to this site!

Thank you again,
Anne

Hi Anne! Welcome to the Guild!! Just wanted to let you know that at Shutterfly, they offer you the option of choosing full pages so you can use your scrapbook pages! :) You just have to start to create one and then on the left hand side you can choose to use all full sized prints. I ordered one for my mother for Christmas, should be here any day now.

[bunnynose]

Hi Anne, welcome to the Guild!
There're other services that print your layouts one by one.
I've used both ScrapbookPictures.com (http://www.scrapbookpictures.com/SBPView.jsp) and Scrapbooks to Share (http://www.sbtoshare.com/).
Printing your layouts by yourself can be pretty pricy too, actually. Photo paper and ink...
I don't have wide format printer and I wanted to be printed out 12x12 so I usually use these services, and I'm pretty happy with them.

[AnneGogh]

I want to thank all of you so much for all the valuable information. I hadn't even thought of actually creating scrapbook pages myself, but what a beautiful gift. It's not that I don't like scrapbooks, it's just that I work as a graphic designer, and scrapbooking was my daughter's creative outlet, and I purposely decided to let it be her creative domain.

But I can see where these first steps may take me into a whole new world. :) Even though the print-on-demand books might be pricey, I can see how they would make beautiful gifts. Thank you again for your generous sharing!

Anne

[Sandersmr]

Anne - I know that Costco has printing services that aren't too expensive, and I believe that they may offer 12x12 now. I know that a lot of places are begining to do that.

I did a Shutterfly 8x8 album for my niece that turned out fantastically. It reminded me a little of a My Little Book bacause that was about the size it was. And I had 20 pages printed and bound for under $30. I haven't found anywhere that will print and bind an 8x10 or 8.5x11 in the portrait configuration though - only landscape.

I have scrapped both square and rectangular - I have printed my own and sent off for printing both - printing my own is definitely cheaper, but every once in a while I like the ease of uploading and having someone else doing the printing.

[AnneGogh]

Maggie, all this information is very helpful; thank you. We don't have CostCo in my neck of the woods - strange, eh? However, Shutterfly's pricing really sounds quite reasonable. We have a print department in the organization I work for, and there's no way they could produce a print-on-demand book at that cost with a hard cover. (I'm assuming it has a hard cover; I'll have to go back and check.)

Really, what a lovely present a scrapbook album is to give to someone. I remember my mother's scrapbook from college, when it was simply photos on black paper with white ink. (We thought the white ink was so cool.) It was fascinating to catch a glimpse of my mother's life when she was a young woman. Anyway, I'm rambling. :) Thanks again for more input!

Anne

[createheritage]

Hi Anne,

I print all my pages in stitched hardback books through Heritage Makers. It is a digital scrapbooking company. You can either create your pages on their site or you can upload your pages (created in another program) to the site and they will print them in a beautiful high quality book (up to 100 pages).

They have all different sizes: 12x12, 8x8, 5x5, as well as 8.5x11.5, 7.5x10 and 7x5. Their newest and biggest is 11x13! Even if you've created a 12x12 page, you can put it in a 8x8 book, etc. Anyway, you can check it out at www.CreateHeritage.com

It is a great place to start for beginner digi-scrappers.

Amy