I still do find time every now and then to add to our family albums, but, honestly, not nearly as much as I'd like. It's a hobby that, while I really enjoy it, I just have a hard time finding a large enough chunk of consecutive time to devote to it.
Enter MixBook.com
I received a promo code to create a free customizable photo album* from MixBook.com and, I have to say, I think they have nailed this thing.
THE REVIEW
The process to create a photo book was super fast and easy: Just pick a template, upload your selected photos and then drag-and-drop them into place. Seriously, this was easy enough that even people who are not so comfy with computers could quickly and easily create a really lovely memory book.
But, if you are a little more on the tech-saavy or creative side, MixBook offers more than just the basics.
First, MixBook offers a TON of pre-designed layouts to choose from and they are all really, really nice. I picked the "Year in Review" template, but I there were also templates themed for holidays, baby, wedding, travel, etc. They were all very professional designs, each with a different "feel" to them. I'm sure that users could find at least one template that fit their needs for almost any kind of album they could want to create.
But, the best part is that, even if you don't find a template that's just right for you, MixBook offers fully customizable options for your design. You can pick one of the templates and edit it to your liking, or even start from scratch with blank pages. For an OCD control freak like me, that's like arts-and-crafts Crack. LOVED IT. I've checked out a few online scrapbook sites before and I've never seen one that really let you customize your book to the extent that this site does. There are a ton of backgrounds, frames, "stickers" and other design elements to choose from and, again, so easy to apply: Just drag and drop and resize to your heart's content.
As a whole, I found the process for designing the book itself to be very user-friendly. There was only one area where I had a bit of trouble, and that had to do with removing a photo without removing the frame when I changed my mind about which photo I wanted to use on a specific page. But, I figured out fairly quickly how to fix that and I was back on track.
Another really cool option MixBook offers is the ability to collaborate on your book projects. So, your sister lives halfway across the country, but you want to work together on a photo book of all of the grandkids for your mom? No problem! You can "invite" your friends and family to contribute to your MixBook project. So you can each add photos or edit pages just by logging into to your own MixBook account.
MixBook pricing starts at less than $10 for the little 4x6 books and goes up to about $40 for their hardcover 12x12. In comparison, you can easily pay more than $30 (retail) each for the high-quality blank scrapbooks that I use for my "regular" family scrapbooks. That's not including the cost of printing the photos AND the cost of the paper and other embellishments that go with the whole project.
Just from a budget perspective, MixBook is a much more economical way to preserve treasured memories in a really lovely finished product. Add to that the fact that this project was so fast and easy to create, and I suspect that my first "Year in Review" MixBook will not be my last.
But don't take my word for it. Check out some other reviews.
THE GIVEAWAY
I have one promotional code to GIVE AWAY to one of you!
It is for a FREE 20 page, 11 x 8.5 hardcover landscape photo book with free US ground shipping. Expiration date: 01/31/11 at 11:59 pm PST
To enter, just leave a comment below before 8 p.m. PST Wednesday, Dec. 15.
I'll pick a winner at random on Wednesday night and post the results here Thursday. These books make GREAT gifts, so I hope the winner will be able to create his/her free book in time for the holidays.
For additional entries, you can also Tweet about the contest or post a link to this post on your Facebook page (Might as well become a Fan of the blog, while your there, too, yeah?). ;) Just be sure to come back here and leave a comment with a link to your Tweet or your Facebook post to claim your additional entry!
EVERYONE'S A WINNER
I can only give away one free Mixbook, but that doesn't mean the rest of you have to go away empty handed! I also have Promo Code for 20% Off with no expiration date! Just enter Promo Code: ZENMIX20 to get 20% off your purchase at MixBook.com!
So, what kind of photo book would you create if you won?
Peace, love and scrapbooking,
Zen
* I received, for review purposes, a promotional code for a free 20 page, 11 x 8.5 hardcover landscape photo book with free shipping from MixBook.com
11 comments:
Pick me!! Pick me!!
(I wanna make a year book for Gist Academy for Gifted Youngsters ;) )
I like pictures. In books.
I would love this! Pick me!!
Looks like a great giveaway. Count me in.
I am in love with Mixbook!!!
This is great, I want to make wedding album...
Would really like this. This would make a great gift for my sister.
Love this! Love Mixbook.com. Just used it for a book for the grandparents. Can't wait to use it again. I, too, am thinking of retiring my old way of scrapbooking. It's a tough decision, but using mixbook.com has made the decision a little easier!
I would love to win the Mixbook "giveaway". I have just been introduced to it by my daughter and need to get started on my own...I have YEARS of photos to get documented to share with family and friends!!
I just put together the most awesome calender of my 3 kids for my Mom for Christmas...I know shes gonna cry!
I homeschool my 2 children, and the mixbook would make a great yearbook for their 2nd grade year. I would like to have them take photos of each other and me...teach them to create the book and storyline for it.
So pick me! and Merry Christmas!
woops..forgot to leave my contact info
rlampton2@windstream.net
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