How to Make a Totally Creative On-Line Photo Book : Inventive Ideas

Most photo websites offer the option to organize your photos into a book that the site will create for you and mail back. Some sites, such as Walgreens or Shutterfly allow you to select book options like size, hardback/soft back and add text. With these options, there is a lot more you can do with these books than just throw pictures on a page and caption them. In addition, the value for the money can't be beat for a personalized gift that is polished and professional. Check out these creative ideas for the best gifts (using on line photo book making) for all occasions, learning tools, or tributes that will wow your recipients.

Age 3 - 6

A really fun idea for young children is it to gather friends or cousins and photograph them in places that are familiar to the child you are creating the book for. Perhaps it is a backyard swing set, familiar playground, neighborhood McDonalds, church etc. Have the kids you are photographing hide somewhere in the picture where they can be slightly seen. Using all these photos in one book can be a great keepsake and seek-and-find for the child you are making it for.

As they turn pages of the book, they will see friends they know, in places they recognize and have to find them in the picture. If you want to personalize it further, add simple 2-line rhymes to go with each page. Not only is it a great mark-in-time to treasure forever but it is also wonderful for exercising the memory of little ones.

Ages 6 - 10

For children learning to read or beginning to take interest in a hobby or sport, a really cute photo book to pull together is one that features many pictures of them "doing their thing!" For example, a child that loves animals likely has many pictures of them with different animals. Creating a book for a child like this would make an easy and fun read for them as they marvel at themselves and all the collective pictures about something they love, animals! Be sure to make up rhymes to go with the pictures, creating a story...with words they can read themselves.

Ages 11-18

There are so many things you can do with photo books for teenagers. Use the photo book to create a scrapbook of a dance, best friends, or sports year of play. If the teen loves to sing, use words to songs of their favorite artists as the text by pictures of them performing. If the kid loves photography, collect photo tips on-line and put them in your book with example shots of them and their family or friends. Take any hobby or group they enjoy to and brainstorm ways to make that book fun. Be sure to include lots of pics of them!

Adults

One of the best gifts of all time is a book full of pictures and short letters from friends and family to the recipient. This is great for grandparents, teachers, or coaches! To compile the necessary entries, send a note or email to all of the friends, family (class or team) that will contribute. Request that they keep it a secret, but ask them to send you a short memory and a picture of themselves (preferably with the recipient of the book.) Once all entries are collected, upload to the photo site you are using or retype written words in the text field of the book creation tool. (Some participants may send hard copy letters or pictures. If this happens, scan the item. The scan can typically be uploaded to the photo site as a picture.) Pair the text with the picture they send and you will have a big book of great memories to present and honor the recipient. Think of how excited they will be reading through all of the good times and how honored they will be by the personality that shines in something so unique!

A recipe book can work similarly. First, ask friends and/or family to send you their favorite recipes. In addition, ask them for a picture of them, their family or their food item to put in the photo book along with the recipe. Be sure to pair the recipe with the right picture and it will be a perfect gift for a good friend or daughters treasure - for a lifetime of cooking.

Whatever it is you choose to do with a photo book, it's good to plan in advance because some sites can take a week or so to deliver. But in the end, you will have page after page of personal, one-of-a-kind memories neatly packaged in an inexpensive "novel" gift!