If you create family yearbooks, you won’t want to miss this post – 10 fun and creative things to include in photobooks!
If you’ve been a reader of The Simply Crafted Life for any length of time, you probably know all about my love of photobooks. I create a family yearbook every year, and a while back, I took you step by step through the process of how I create them. I also shared a post about some fun ideas or themes to use when you create photobooks, which was super popular before Christmas (because after all, it’s the best grandparents gift ever!) And lastly, I also shared a tutorial on how to add home videos (yes, videos!) to your photobooks or scrapbooks.
Now, it’s time for my latest photobook post…
10 fun and creative things to include in photobooks
1. Video
I just shared how to include home videos in your books, and this is one thing I always include, every year. It’s so much fun to be able to watch any of our home videos whenever we look at our yearbooks. All you need is a QR code app on your mobile device, and basic photo editing skills. Get the full how to here.
2. Top 10 Lists
There are so many ways to incorporate lists into your photobooks. It could be the top 10 things your child loved that year, the top 10 events from that year (either in your life, in the news, in pop culture, etc), or 10 things about the world during that year (how much were certain items, like eggs or the average house). This one has room for a lot of fun!
3. Artwork
If you’re anything like me, your budding artist is constantly giving you tons of art and schoolwork that is just too adorable to throw away. Instead of stockpiling it, choose your favorites and scan them or have your child hold them so you can take a picture. Include the digital copies in the book, and say adios to the paper pile!
4. Quotes
One of the best things about facebook’s new memory feature is being able to see the things my kids said and did in the past that I may have forgot about. Now, I am trying to include these silly moments in my photobooks. How? For current books, I will try to incorporate them into the design, and by adding to the journalling, but for yearbooks that I have already created, I plan to go back and handwrite the funny things they said that year on the inside of the book’s covers.
5. Handwritten Notes
Did you receive a special handwritten note from a loved one? Do you have old recipe cards from your grandma? All of sentimental things that we hold onto are great additions to a photobook – and if anything happens to the original, you still have a copy.
6. Questionnaires
Use a questionnaire to take inventory of your childrens favorite things each year, and include it in the family yearbook. It’s fun to read about their likes and interests, and watch them change over the years.
7. Blank spaces
If you are making photobooks from years past, and don’t really remember a lot of details to include in the journalling, leave some blank spaces. You can write notes as you remember them, and other can add memories as they look through the books. (Make sure you grab a smudge proof pen, like these ones.)
8. Maps, Itineraries, Agendas
If you go on a special trip, and want to save paper souvenirs like maps or itineraries, try snapping a photo of them instead. It will get rid of that clutter but save the memory!
9. Memorabilia Pocket
Whenever I order my photobooks from Shutterfly, I always order the little clear pocket add on as well. Why? Sometimes photos or mementos get overlooked when the book is being created, and this is a great way to make sure they get included.
10. A digital backup of photos and scans
This is a great way to track your digital files and make sure you have a back up. I keep one copy of everything on a hard drive, but because I don’t want to keep it all on my computer as well, I need another copy. Keeping it on labelled disc sleeves inside the cover of your photo album is a great way to make sure you have adequate back up and it’ll be easy to find.
Now it’s your turn – do you have any great ideas for things to include in photobooks? I would love to hear them and add to my list.
Traci says
Brilliant ideas!! Thank you!!