It's Here! The ABC Book

[lindajay]

My "Clara's ABC Book" arrived today from Viovio. They did such a wonderful job! I am so excited to have it, and so happy with the quality, the price, and their customer service, which was very personal and helpful. I will definitely use them again.

I think you can see the cover and download a .pdf file of the book to look at, if you're interested, at www.viovio.com/shop/9390.

I'm thinking about offering to customize it with any child's picture on the front, and changing the title to their name "Jason's ABC Book" for example, and trying to sell it. What do you think?

And for you who recognize the scrapbook paper on the cover, I did credit Jessica Sprague on the title page.

[quillabee9]

Linda, A magnificent production. Congratulations!!!!
http://bestsmileys.com/bowing/1.gif

[Ellen]

That looks fabulous Linda! If you are happy with the binding etc. you should indeed sell them. Great job.

[AngelicKim]

Linda, I said before you should sell them and I still think you should. The link shows the book is only $12.74 for 31 pages. Is that right. That is a good price. I would sell the customized books for more than that though. Again, great job.

[kroberts]

Linda,

I know you're excited, the book looks great! :) I definitely think you could personalize and sell it to others!

[lindajay]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. Kim, yes, it's $12.74 for the book in soft cover. $22.74 for hard cover. That's Viovio's price. You have to join for $35/year to be able to set your own prices and make a profit. I haven't done that.

Sure was a fun project. I'd encourage anyone to try something similar and have it printed.

[AngelicKim]

Linda, couldn't you just change your current one to cutomize it and have it sent to you and that way you set your price and make a profit and not have to pay the $35 a year. Can VioVio cutomize it for you if you pay theie fees?

[lindajay]

Kim, yes, I think you're right. They won't customize it for me. Each time I'd need to recreate the book. That's not a difficult process, since all of the photos (except the customized pages) are already uploaded to their site. It would only take a few minutes. So, I might as well NOT pay the $35, and do as you say. Maybe I'll show it around at church tomorrow, and see what kind of reaction I get.

[Diana]

It looks wonderful, Linda. Clara's going to love it.

Diana

[SenorSlick]

WOW. CONGRATULATIONS !!!! That is a formidable accomplishment and you should be quite proud. Harvey

[kimh]

Linda, you did a wonderful job. Do let us know what kind of reactions (I'm sure all good!) you get when you show it around.
Looks like a fun project.
Kimh

[Wags374]

Very nice! I am thinking of making something similar but with pictures of people/place/things in my kids lives.

I love the service and quality from VioVio and their prices are very reasonable!

The $35 a year fee really isn't all that much to be able to set your own price and sell directly through them.

[Robyn]

Linda,
That is absolutely WONDERFUL. What an achievement, you should be justifiably very proud of this album. AWESOME!

[PegPowell]

I get a "file is damaged message" when I try to view the album.

[Shari]

Linda - I am very impressed. You did a wonderful job. Let us know the reactions. Does this mean I could do a book for my Dad of photos throughout the year with our family? Can you have any photos put into a book format? Sorry, have not had time to check out the site.
Shari

[Wendy]

Hi Linda ...

It is just great ... a beautiful book and I am sure that lots of other people will want to buy it :)

Wendy

[kevq]

Linda,
great work!!
Indeed a labour of love, well done.
Kev.

[lindajay]

Oh, thank you, everyone, for being so encouraging and kind!

Shari, oh yes! You can make a book out of any photos. There are some requirements about sizes, resolution, etc., of course. But you don't have to do just one photo per page. You can arrange them as you like and you can add more text than I did. Your dad would love it!

Peg, sorry you couldn't view it. I'd try it again if I were you. Maybe they were "fiddling" with the server, or something. But, if you can't view it there, you can see the same pictures on my .mac site at: http://homepage.mac.com/ddjudd/PhotoAlbum60.html

Again, thanks to all for being so nice :)

[PegPowell]

Thanks, that is really adorable. I did one a few years ago that is made up of photos from Emily's life. It is really fun to see all the events again.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1N1vtlzKhrFD2ZEHGYprmeT5ysTjjJ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1N1vtlzKhrFD2ZEHGYprmeT5ysTjjJ)

[Wags374]

Very nice Peg!

[lindajay]

Peg, that is adorable! Thank you for sharing a page (or should I say "A" page") with us. Very clever and I love that it's so personalized.

[Shari]

Thanks Linda. I am so excited. I have made a note to myself to look into it further. I can make a point of getting good photos of me and my siblings, the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren and have them put in a book for Dad for Christmas. My step-daughter-in-law have a darling foster baby right now that they adore. I could make a book for them. Ooo0h the possibilities. Are your books 8 1/2 x 11? I cannot believe how reasonable it is. This hobby of mine is just expanding so much. Last year I did DVD's for my sisters of our trip to Sun Peaks skiing and snowshoeing with music and they loved it. Thanks for sharing. Now I have something else to put my mind on in the next six months.
Shari

[Wags374]

Viovio has one of the largest variety of sizes of any photobook producer.

http://www.viovio.com/wiki/Book+Binding+Specifications

The above link lists all their sizes. Cost is generally $4.99 base + $.25 / page. Add $10 for hardcover.


You can upload predesigned pages (my preference since I'm a control freak :) ) or use their bookmaker to design a book.

Photobooks make awesome gifts - but be warned, once you start giving them people start expecting them and might be disappointed if you fail to come through with another one. :)

My in-laws take us on fabulous family reunion trips - it has now become the custom that I make a book as a thank-you for them, and then all the siblings end up buying copies of it because they didn't get around to taking picutres.

[lindajay]

Are your books 8 1/2 x 11?

Yes, the one I did was 8 1/2 x 11, but as Janes said, a variety of sizes are available, as well as various bindings.

Shari, I was thinking along the same lines as you. As some of you know, I do a scrapbook for the granddaughter each year. When I think about what it costs to buy the album and the filler pages, buy the photo paper and the ink cartriges, I KNOW I could just do up a book of the scrapbook pages, at the end of each year, for less money. I might try that for her third year. This year (second) I'm too far along with what I've already started.