Do any of you use Shutterfly? If you follow me on instagram, you probably know I am a total sucker for those bright orange packages! I always know that a great book of memories lies within that box, and I am so excited when one shows up in my mailbox.
However, thanks to the Project Life app, I’ve pretty much caught up on all of our family yearbooks. If you would like to know more about how I create these Project Life photobooks, leave a comment below – I would love to share something like that with you! (Update: I started a blog series on how you can create your own awesome Project Life photobook like mine below! Click here to visit the first lesson in the series!) I love how they have all turned out, but here is a sneak peek of my 2013 and 2014 books:
I was happy to be caught up, but I was pretty sad when there was a free 8×8 photobook offer last week and I couldn’t use it because I didn’t know what to make! Determined to think of fun ways to document our memories, I’m sharing these fabulous ideas with you!
Oh, and if you don’t want to miss any of the great special offers from Shutterfly (affiliate link) or want to check out their current deals, make sure to click here – you could have a bright orange package waiting for you soon too!
10 Great Photobook Ideas
1. Family Yearbook
2. Cookbook
Clover Lane
3. ABC Book
4. Guestbook
5. School Keepsake Book
Zig and Zag Blog
6. “Letters to You” Book
7. Write a story with your kids
8. Family Tree Book
9. Tell a Timeline Story
The Creative Mama
10. Project 52/365
Which one will you get started on first? I think I’m going to start organizing schoolwork from the past few years and create one of those school keepsake books – that way I can ditch the boxes!
I’d love to see what you create! If you make a Shutterfly photobook, share it on instagram and tag me – I’d be delighted!
This was not a sponsored or paid post (although it does contain some affiliate links) – I am really just this passionate about creating photobooks and documenting memories for our children and future generations. Let’s get those photos off the computer and into our hands!
Gwen nicholas says
I have literally thousands of family photos on hard drive ..!!!! I want to.know more about this ..what do I do ?? .where and how do I sign up ? I want to do this yesterday!!
Johanna says
I am in the same boat- thousands of pictures and they’re all hiding on my harddrives… point me in the right direction….where to start?!?!
I love the idea of the year photo books.
Sarah says
It seems like a lot of people feel like you. I am definitely going to write a post on my process, so I will send a note when it’s published. Hang on – help is on the way ๐
Sarah says
The first two posts about how I make my photobooks are published! I made it into a series since it was a lot of info and step by step pictures ๐ You can view them here: http://www.thesimplycraftedlife.com/family-yearbook-part-one/
Apryl says
Just joined your site and love it. I would love to get some info o your project Life Books and the project life app…can you help please? thanks
Sarah says
I’ll be doing a post on the PL app soon, so stay tuned! Try downloading it in the App store though and play around with it while you wait… its really user friendly!
Jennifer says
I have thousands of photos and want to do yearbooks, but don’t know where to start. I’d love more I for on how you did yours. Thanks!
Jenny
Sarah says
Hi Jenny!
I’ve had a lot of people write about how I created my photo books, so I am going to write a post on my process. I’ll let you know when I write it ๐
Sarah says
The first two posts about how I make my photobooks are published! I made it into a series since it was a lot of info and step by step pictures ๐ You can view them here: http://www.thesimplycraftedlife.com/family-yearbook-part-one/
Marielle says
Oh yippie, what a great idea, scanning all the kids ‘art’ and having them forever in a book, without having to keep all those creations!! Thanks for the great idea. And yes, please do tell how you make them, I love the style of your covers. I just stumbled upon this on Pinterest so if you’ve already done anothee post on this, please tell me when or send me the link.
Sarah says
I love the art idea one as well – I keep saving my daughters work and I really should get around to that! I haven’t done a post yet on my photobooks, but I think I might do one because I have had so much interest this week. I’ll definitely post when I get it done!
Sarah says
The first two posts about how I make my photobooks are published! I made it into a series since it was a lot of info and step by step pictures ๐ You can view them here: http://www.thesimplycraftedlife.com/family-yearbook-part-one/
Marielle says
So did you make these yearbooks through the shutterfly app or the project life app?
Sarah says
Hi Marielle! I make the pages in the Project Life app and then save them to my ipad and upload them through the Shutterfly app.
April says
Sarah I would love more information on how you make yours and upload to shutterfly!
Sarah says
Check back at the end of the week for a post with details ๐
Sarah says
The first two posts about how I make my photobooks are published! I made it into a series since it was a lot of info and step by step pictures ๐ You can view them here: http://www.thesimplycraftedlife.com/family-yearbook-part-one/
April says
Would love to know more! Am in the process of making our 2015 family book right now thru shutterfly.
Sarah says
I’m writing a post that should be up by the end of the week, so check back on Friday ๐
Jane says
I love the alphabet and the letters from mommy books. Will tuck these ideas away for when I have grandchildren! Thanks
MariaJosse Martinez says
I love all your ideas! I’d love to know about your project life. I’m a newlywed and would love to start one of my new life. ๐
Sarah says
Thanks so much! I am currently writing a series on how I use Project Life to create my family yearboks – you can view the lessons I’ve shared so far here: http://www.thesimplycraftedlife.com/family-yearbook-part-one/
isela losek says
My Idea just saw you post. my sisters and i are very close and we have a good time when we get together. Two of us live out of state and i wanted to make each of my sisters and myself a special gift. i started a “family memory book” to give this next Christmas to each of my sisters. i took all the Christmas pictures i had on my PC’s, disc’s, shutterfly, this life and clouds and from my phone. i created a 42 page book all out Christmas’s together. Have to say it was one of the best things i have ever done! i ordered mine, and will order 3 more throughout the year when the books go 50% or i get a free book couple. paid $42.88 total and wow, do i love it! we each have wonderful children, and as the oldest i have 5 grandchildren. loved putting this together of our entire family and i am so sure they are going to love opening this at Christmas as much as i do!
Sarah says
Aren’t they awesome to look through? We just scanned all of our childhood pictures and am going to make some books too – I can’t wait to get them!
Amy says
What are the project life photobooks all about? what do you include or how do you start them?
Thanks!
Sarah says
Hi Amy! I started a series all about the photobooks I create – check above, I added the link to the bottom of this post ๐ Thanks!
Pam W says
What kind of computer are you using. I have a mac and their “Photos” program is horrible. I’ve looked everywhere for a better organizing editing program and can’t find anything useful.
Sarah says
I use a PC – I will ask my otehr blogging friends who use a mac though and see what they use! I’ll get back to you ๐
Nana says
Hi! I love all your ideas on creating photobooks, this are exactly what i have been wanting to do and your posts on advice and tips on how to get it done are such an inspiration. I wanted to ask you what is your recommended publisher to print the books… I have only printed20-25 pages on shutterfly, they seem to hold up fine, but I have seen my cousin printed more than 25 pages and they were falling apart. what do you advise? Thanks
Sarah says
Hi there! My books almost always have more than 20 pages (usually 40+) and they hold up great. If it fell apart, I would highly suggest contacting Shutterfly because they would replace it! Their customer service is really good.
Eva says
I am also using Shutterfly for our photobooks. I had like 16 right now and counting. Photobooks is a perfect way for me to contain all the memories that we had made through the years and it is not bulky compared to photo albums. I am currently working on the current pictures right now and do the previous ones before the year ends. I make my photobooks and then just save it and wait for coupons or any deals especially the unlimited pages and then order it. I love Shutterfly and been a customer for years.