The Gift (Book) That Keeps on Giving
There is nothing quite like the gift of a personalized book. And my favorite way to make a beautiful, just-like-it-came-from-the-bookstore book is with Blurb.
Imagine building a book around your favorite things. Favorite recipes, favorite vacation spots, favorite wines, etc. Things about which you’re really passionate - passionate enough to share with the people who mean the most to you. And if you built the book so that it included pages where your loved ones could list their favorite things alongside yours, it just might be their favorite book ever.
So, how exactly would you do it? First, you make a list of the “favorites” that you want to include in the book. Then you build out those lists (maybe keep each list to your “top five”). Write a paragraph or two (or more if you lean toward the verbose) explaining why each item is a favorite. Find some graphics (photos, illustrations, scans) that bring the list to life. Rinse and repeat for each different “list.” Then, get everything organized and begin the process of building your book.
Download one of Blurb’s free book-making tools to get started. BookSmart is a great option with lots of built-in templates. Import all of your content and start building page spreads. If your list content will fit on one side of a spread (the bigger book formats will make this easier to accomplish), leave the other side blank. Or, if you use an entire two-page spread for each list, leave the next spread blank (well, not completely blank; use the same list header and image outlines you have on your spread for consistency). You want to create a “call and response” rhythm to the book.
Here are a few ideas of other favorite things that would make beautiful and interesting “top five list” spreads: Museums, places in the world, foods, beers, dog breeds, restaurants, movies, songs, famous people in history, scents, words, cars, television shows, memories, experiences, sporting events, colors, and websites. If you have one favorite “something,” chances are you can come up with four more “not quite favorites, but pretty close.”
1. Ideate (that means come up with your own version of that list above)
2. Create content (make those lists and check them twice)
3. Design and layout the book (make it pretty, and leave room for your recipients’ lists too)
4. Edit and proof (nobody likes to read a list of misspelled words)
5. Publish (make one at a time or order in bulk)
Get started building your book of favorites now and Save 30% on book orders $100+ with code FEB30%. Offer good through February 27th.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links
There is nothing quite like the gift of a personalized book. And my favorite way to make a beautiful, just-like-it-came-from-the-bookstore book is with Blurb.
Imagine building a book around your favorite things. Favorite recipes, favorite vacation spots, favorite wines, etc. Things about which you’re really passionate - passionate enough to share with the people who mean the most to you. And if you built the book so that it included pages where your loved ones could list their favorite things alongside yours, it just might be their favorite book ever.
So, how exactly would you do it? First, you make a list of the “favorites” that you want to include in the book. Then you build out those lists (maybe keep each list to your “top five”). Write a paragraph or two (or more if you lean toward the verbose) explaining why each item is a favorite. Find some graphics (photos, illustrations, scans) that bring the list to life. Rinse and repeat for each different “list.” Then, get everything organized and begin the process of building your book.
Download one of Blurb’s free book-making tools to get started. BookSmart is a great option with lots of built-in templates. Import all of your content and start building page spreads. If your list content will fit on one side of a spread (the bigger book formats will make this easier to accomplish), leave the other side blank. Or, if you use an entire two-page spread for each list, leave the next spread blank (well, not completely blank; use the same list header and image outlines you have on your spread for consistency). You want to create a “call and response” rhythm to the book.
Here are a few ideas of other favorite things that would make beautiful and interesting “top five list” spreads: Museums, places in the world, foods, beers, dog breeds, restaurants, movies, songs, famous people in history, scents, words, cars, television shows, memories, experiences, sporting events, colors, and websites. If you have one favorite “something,” chances are you can come up with four more “not quite favorites, but pretty close.”
Here’s are five favorite (suggested) steps to creating a multipurpose, interactive, passion-centric gift book:
1. Ideate (that means come up with your own version of that list above)
2. Create content (make those lists and check them twice)
3. Design and layout the book (make it pretty, and leave room for your recipients’ lists too)
4. Edit and proof (nobody likes to read a list of misspelled words)
5. Publish (make one at a time or order in bulk)
Get started building your book of favorites now and Save 30% on book orders $100+ with code FEB30%. Offer good through February 27th.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links
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