Saturday, May 29, 2010

Another Book Completed!

Yes! I have completed my Japan 2008 vacation photobook and uploaded it to Blurb.com. Am trying Blurb for the first time, as the book came up to 114 pages, exceeding the Shutterfly limit. Blurb costs less, but has less consistent reviews, but I decided to give it a shot. The software was very easy to use, but unfortunately, does not allow a complete self-customised wrap around cover. Anyway when the book arrives I will review it for you. Can't wait! Here's a preview - worth the hard work ? (took a year!) I think so!!!
You know, I ended up not really liking the pages where I joined up two single pages - the left and right sides did not coordinate :(  And I could have done better on the cover, but still, I'm SO happy with the album of that Amazing trip!!


Note: I realised that my Blurb album preview will not show up unless I set my book to "public" setting which would mean others could buy a copy of my book (!) Not what I want, so I've set up a preview using photobucket instead.

Now I can start on my Hokkaido 2009 vacation photos! After taking quite a long break, I'm quite motivated to start on the double page spreads again :)

Dh had had the fantastic opportunity to work in Singapore's world class performing arts venue, The Esplanade, for a 3 month stint, and we have been enjoying some great concerts, performances, getting an "education" on the latest on the arts scene, and yesterday the children went along for the fun, free program including installation art and all, that is now going on as part of our annual Arts Festival. Here are some shots from last night, we hope it will rub off on them, and that they can enjoy and appreciate arts more as they grow up, well, it's a start :P


Had worked on several more daily layouts, am thinking maybe I'll make a mini 8X8 album out of them...this first one is just one of those times I journal more than I place photos - I must do more of these, they capture my thoughts for my family - so important!
And the next is of my oldest and best friends - we have been childhood friends and firm friends to this day - no journaling, too much to be said, and yet nothing needs to be said.. KWIM?

And one from last year's photos of the boys - my brother, my best friend!


And now for some wonderful layouts by my talented friends and readers, thanks ladies for sharing them with us! Firstly from my lovely CT Christie Stearns, who is currently recovering very well from a surgery, you can send your regards to her here
 Now for some layouts by the talented Tawn, I always love her simplicity and yet how she makes the photos stand out so beautifully!

Finally, these are by Karen Mathre, her family has so much fun activities and outings which she captures in colorful, fun layouts like these:
Thanks again, ladies, I really appreciate your taking time to show me and link me to your creations.


Here's the final layout I made to complete my Japan album, it was the last night of our trip, and we went to the famed electric 'town' that sells all the mens' toys, starting with electronics stuff, to manga figurines to action hero toys of ALL kinds!

 This template is now available as a set in the store HERE

48 comments:

  1. Congrats on finishing your Japan 2008 photobook! Thanks very much for the new template.

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  2. thank you so very much! You are my favorite template designer!

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  3. I love your templates! Thank you for sharing this one. I always enjoy seeing your layouts, too. :)

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  4. I've used Blurb a number of times for books and really like it. I think I've read somewhere that there is a way to modify the cover (or any page) to however you want it to be. I'm sure there's a tutorial out there in blog land somewhere!

    Thanks so much for your templates. I'm new to the whole digiscrapping scene (with over 15,000 sheets of cardstock and all the other scrap crap to go along with them just sitting in my scrap room) and the templates look to be perfect for me. I really like your style A LOT and will likely buy a number of the non-freebies once I figure out how to do this!

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  5. Thank you for the freebie! I really apreciate you work!

    I'd like to see the preview, but it's not available.

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  6. Thanks so much for the new template- i buy them all, such a sucker for your awesomeness! lol Congrats on the new book, let us know how you like it!

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  7. Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave in the DigiFree category today [29 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

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  8. AnonymousMay 29, 2010

    Yin, thanks so much for yet another gorgeous 2 pager, I so enjoy them, yesterday my album of our L litter arrived, alomst entirly filles with your templates, some great designer kits and my own photos offcourse. These albums will be presents for the new owners of our kittens and I sure hope they enjoy the book of their new familymember.

    So keep up he good work, and again thank you.

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  9. AnonymousMay 29, 2010

    Yin, thanks so much for yet another gorgeous 2 pager, I so enjoy them, yesterday my album of our L litter arrived, alomst entirly filles with your templates, some great designer kits and my own photos offcourse. These albums will be presents for the new owners of our kittens and I sure hope they enjoy the book of their new familymember.

    So keep up he good work, and again thank you.

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  10. Yin,
    Thanks so much for another great template. I really enjoyed seeing the layouts done by others with your templates too. During the two years we lived in Tokyo I would take my kids to Akihabara at least twice a month so I could look at all the "toys"! Thanks for taking me back with your page!

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  11. Thanks for the template! I can't wait to hear how your book goes! So exciting! The waiting is such a killer!

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  12. I just love your templates! I'll appreciate your thoughts on Blurb, too--I've wondered whether I should give them a shot. Thanks so much for your generosity!

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  13. AnonymousMay 29, 2010

    Thanks a lot for the new Templates! I love your temps!

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  14. Thank you so much! Love your templates!

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  15. Thanks so much! Sad your new book says it's not able to preview yet, but I'll be back to see it - I love your work!

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  16. Great layouts! I'm working on my 2007 vacation album and I couldn't do it without your templates. I love how many photos you use on a page, I just can't use one photo on special occasion pages. Thanks for the freebie!

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  17. Hi Yin! Thanks for the new freebie! Once I'm finished with Week in the Life, I hope to put some more of your templates to use! I love them all! :)

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  18. I made a book with blurb last yr for my p365 and I was very happy with the outcome. I hope you will enjoy your book as much as I do mine. Thank you for the wonderful templates.

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  19. Thank you for another fantastic template! I wanted to show you this I made with one of your templates:

    http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo171/JewelTheQueen/MoreLucasBirthday-Double.jpg

    Thanks again :)

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  20. thank you so much for sharing your experiences and templates!

    I will have to come back to view your Disney pages as I will be taking my kids to Disneyworld in September and need ideas!

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  21. Books looks great!Love your templates, thank you.

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  22. Yipee! I am so excited! Thanks for the great gift!

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  23. YAY for you and your completed book! I can't wait to read the review.

    Love the layout of your forever friends. What a special blessing!

    What a great experience for the kids and the performing arts exposure. Our art museum has been closed for a year for an extensive renovation. They just reopened a few weeks ago and I can't wait to go!

    So great to catch up with you through your blog. Thanks for the super cool template!

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  24. As always you do great work! Congrats on the book & thank you for the awesome template!!

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  25. Wow - I love your newest book! Your work is beautiful. Thanks for sharing and giving us inspiration!

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  26. Your book looks amazing! Thanks for another great template!

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  27. Thanks so much for another great template. I love all the layouts. Your book is going to be terrific. Thanks for sharing your life and your creations so freely.

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  28. I always enjoy seeing your layouts - the things you scrap seem like such wonderful memories. Thank you, also, for the template; it's so appreciated!

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  29. Thank you so much, I love your double page templates! and congratulation on finishing such a big book. I look forward to your review on Blurb's books.

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  30. AnonymousJune 03, 2010

    Thank you for another great template. I don't know if I'm more envious of your fantastic vacations or your gorgeous albums!

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  31. AnonymousJune 04, 2010

    Thank you for yet another fantastic template, Yin! You are as generous as you are creative. Love your newest book's pages. How else would I travel to such exotic locations!?!

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  32. Lovely and versatile! Thanks!

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  33. Your Japan book is incredible and so nice of you to not only share your talent but your family as well.

    I also appreciate downloading your templates. I have my first grandbaby arriving any day now and I want to use some of your templates.

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  34. Hi, just wanted to let you know about my layout with this template #203. Your work has been a source of inspiration for such a long time. Thank you very much.
    http://bencoupdonc.blogspot.com/2010/06/sts-juin-28-london-eye-oeil-de-londres.html
    Suzanne

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  35. I love this template! Thanks for another.

    I have used Shutterfly exclusively, but last year I had a 115-page annual album (due to my Project 365) and I tried Blurb b/c of the 101-page limit in Shutterfly.

    I am not happy with it, after having it on my shelf for a few months. The cover is not a laminate like Shutterfly, it's a heavy piece of cardboard that is printed on. As a result, the cover image will be darker than you'd expect. (My title page and cover are the same, so I could compare.) It looks like the cover absorbs too much ink.

    You do a completely custom front and back, but they don't let you upload your image for the spine. I went into Photoshop and grabbed the predominant color in my cover with the color picker, found the hex# and entered that for my spine in Blurb.

    It was considerably cheaper than Shutterfly, and my only option in a 12X12 100+ page book.

    I am displeased enough with the overall quality that I won't use them again---I will either trim books down to <100 pages, or break projects into pieces.

    I hope that you receive a better product! I am, overall, grateful to have the book printed---I should make that clear! It is a great blessing to have all my layouts in a book. But I've been spoiled by Shutterfly. :)

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  36. Thank you so much! I love your templates and your layouts are inspiring! Thanks again!

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  37. As I love your work and all your template. I awards your blog.
    Just go and see on my blog.
    Thanks again !

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  38. AnonymousJune 07, 2010

    ...many, many thanks!! Fantastic work, as always!

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  39. Yin, this is awesome...your book is great! Please do let us know about blurb! And as always your generosity is appreciate...your templates are my favorite!

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  40. Thank you Yin, what a gorgeous template!

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  41. Thanks for another great template! I love your style!!!

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  42. AnonymousJune 17, 2010

    Thank you - can't wait to use this one!

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  43. Thank you for the wonderful template!

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  44. your books are beautiful! thanks so much for sharing the great templates!

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  45. Just thought you'd like to know this template is still being heavily used by me. Someday I'll be able to share my creations.

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