Creating Recipe Memories with Shutterfly (Review and Giveaway)
So maybe I am dating myself, but remember the days of film cameras? When my son was born (almost 16 years ago now!) I went camera crazy, documenting each moment. When he was clean. When he was dirty. Did he blow a bubble? Yep, I took a picture of it… When I used up a roll, I would toss it into a bucket. As we could afford to, we would bring pictures in to be processed. Oh, the trepidation and excitement of opening the envelope! Would any of the cute pictures I remember taking actually have turned out? Did he wiggle and turn into a cute blur? How many usable pictures did I really end up with? The good thing about having film for me was that I had photos to stick in memory books right away.
When my second daughter was born 7 years later, we were using a digital camera. I have to tell you, I love being able to tell if a shot I took of squirmy kids actually worked or if someone was busy looking off somewhere else. It’s instant gratification if you like to share photos of the grandkids in an email, or like to show friends the pictures of a trip. Love it! The only thing I don’t like about digital, is that now I don’t seem to have photos laying around to scrapbook. When I do have time to sit down and work on a scrapbook, it is usually a spur of the moment thing, a stolen moment in a day. If I don’t have pictures already printed off, then no scrapbooking happens. Again… I think that Shutterfly just might have the solution for me, blending my love of digital picture taking and scrapbooking.
I recently had a chance to check out Shutterfly’s website. I really liked their new “Custom Path” photo book section. It gives you the ability to build you photo book to match your style and personality. The custom path books include a variety of photo layouts, unique backgrounds, text boxes, and plenty of embellishments. My favorite element are all the idea pages. Sometimes looking at so many options can be overwhelming, so using an idea page and simply insert your photos. It is a great jumping off point for your own creativity! Even though all the idea pages, embellishments and backgrounds are sorted by themes (baby, travels, family, seasons, etc.) be sure to look into other theme areas for possible embellishments to use. I was really thrilled to find a theme called “My Recipes.” I am using it to pull together all the wonderful recipes my Grandma Edith made and my adaptions to them (now that we have food allergies). Don’t tell my mom, but I am putting it together for her as a gift. :) I can’t wait for her to have her mother’s recipes all made over so she can safely eat them.
The thing that took the longest was for me to scan in my Grandma’s recipes and crop them neatly in my photo program. However, once that was finished it was really easy to import photos into Shutterfly’s program, them drag and drop the photo’s where I wanted them. It was really easy to make changes, simply clicking to change background colors, or to move text boxes.
Here is how the page started: 
But after just a few clicks and a photo of Grandma, I ended up with this:
There is preset font in the text boxes, but that is easily changed while filling in your text. 
Not a great speller? Photo resolution poor? Shutterfly will let you know if there are potential problems with your text or photo by putting in a yellow warning triangle. Don’t worry, it won’t print, but it gives you a good indication what you should check. Apparently, the Swedish dinner prayer of my grandpa and grandma wan’t recognized. :) 
There are several different layouts already set in the “My Recipes” book, so it was easy to find ones that fit my odd sized recipe scans. The pages look really professional. In the embellishments I founds “Family Favorite” sticker to mark the recipes everyone must have at all holiday gatherings.
Overall, I am really pleased with the tools that Shutterfly has to offer. There is a lot of flexibility if you want to put together something unusual, yet a lot of really attractive preset photo books if you only have time to download pictures, in a really easy to use format.
I am working on a family recipe book, but at Shutterfly.com your photo options don’t stop at photo books. They can also provide beautiful and unique announcements for a new baby, wedding or move. When birthdays roll around, Shutterfly can also assist with birthday invitations. I am really excited about the options they have for Christmas Cards. I think a memory photo book for my Boy Scout or my Girl Scouts or for graduation would be a wonderful gift to give. Really, the only way for you to see all the great items Shutterfly can personalize with your photos is to click here and browse their site.
Shutterfly wants to help you get started on your scrapbooking Christmas projects too! We are giving away 10 8×8 Shutterfly books (like seen above) to 10 lucky readers. All you have to do is enter to win. Here is how you enter to win (remember to leave separate comments for each entry):
1. Leave a Comment telling me what you would create with your FREE Shutterfly Custom Path Photo Book.
Additional ways to enter:
2. Tweet or Facebook this contest – use @onceamonthmom & @shutterfly. (Maybe something like: I can FINALLY get my pictures together if I win an @shutterfly photo book from @onceamonthmom http://ow.ly/5ORJj) And don’t forget to leave a comment below stating you have done so.
3. Follow @Shutterfly on Twitter. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
4. Become a Facebook Fan of Once A Month Mom Fan Page. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
5. Become a Facebook Fan of Shutterfly. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
6. Subscribe to the Once A Month Mom blog via RSS or email. Let me know that you have done so. Of course, if you are already subscriber make sure you leave that too.
This giveaway ends Tuesday, August 2nd at 5:00 PM (EST).
Disclosure: Shutterfly provided me with a photo book and 10 photo books for giving to readers. All the opinions in this post are mine, want to know more about how I facilitate reviews, view my full disclosure policy!
I would make a photo book for my mother-in-law for Christmas.
I would create a book of my grandmother’s recipes, just like you did! I inherited her beloved box of recipes once she passed, and I’ve been looking for a way to be able to “modernize” them and share with family members.
I am a fb fan.
I love the idea of doing a recipe book. I have a TON of cookie recipes from my Grandma just laying in a pile. I think it would be fun to do a Cookie recipe book that I can eventually pass down to my kids!
My oldest daughter will be a senior this year & I would love to make her a memory book of pictures of her throughout out the years!
I am a fan of Once A Month Mom on Facebook.
I am a fan of Shutterfly on Facebook.
I am already a RSS subscriber.
If I had a free photo book, I’d make one to house all of our family photos that are still on the camera!
I am already a Facebook fan of Shutterfly the deals are awesome.
I am a facebook fan of Once A Month Mon
What I would crete with my Free Shutterfly Custom Photo Book is a would be able to take my digital photos and put them in a nice book for my parents. It would be nice to have all their grandchildren pictures to “show off” besides on their computer.
I already subscribe to the once a month moms email.
I would do a book of family heritage photos.
I would use my free photo book to make a smashing 15th anniversary present for my husband. We’re saving all our money to try to have some to celebrate with, but a free photobook would enable me to still give him a present!
I am a fan of OAMM on Facebook.
I make picture storybooks for my 2 year old…he loves seeing himself in the story!
I have been wanting to make a nostalgic book of my Grandmother for my Mom. I have collected many family photos, photos of her at all ages and now I just need to put them together in a book. My mom will be surprised and will love it!!!!
I just became a fan of Once a Month Mom!
I just shared the contest on my FB page!
I would probably make a recipe book, too. I want to do that soon. I keep putting it off b/c I’m always trying and changing new recipes! Or I would scan pictures from before we went digital and make a photobook from them. Photobooks take up a lot less space than those older photo albums, and you can make it so much more interesting and caption everything nicely! Thanks for the chance to win a book! :)
I’m following Shutterfly on twitter! @ourgrowingfam
I’m already a facebook fan of Once a Month Mom. :)
I’m already a facebook fan of Shutterfly.
I would make a digital scrapbook of my 2 lil boys.
I love shutterfly– did DS#2′s birth announcment and made a scrapbook of our wedding 4 years ago! love it!!!
I also agree that real scraping doesn’t happen if you don’t print the pictures! current problem I’m having!!
FB fan of OAMM :)
I subscribe to OAMM in my google reader
Liked Shutterfly :)
I would make a first year book for my son.
I’m a facebook fan of Once A Month Mom
Shared the giveaway on my facebook page. :)
I’m a facebook fan of Shutterfly
I subscribe to Once a Month Mom via RSS
I follow Shutterfly on Twitter
I tweeted about the giveaway.
just added you to the feed :)
I would scrapbook our trip to Disneyland last fall :-)
Oh, and I subscribe to the RSS feed.
My baby will turn 1 the day after Christmas- a book like this would make an outstanding present for his grandparents!
I follow @shutterfly as @keepingfeet
I’m an RSS subscriber!
Every year after my kids’ birthdays, I make a Shutterfly scrapbook of the previous year for them. They LOVE them (as do I!) But making 3 a year gets expensive :)
I am already a facebook fan of Shutterfly!
I am already a OAMM fan!
I would make a book for my daughter’s 2nd birthday. I’m going to try to make a book for each year of my children’s lives.
I subscribe via RSS
I am a fan of Shutterfly on Facebook.
I am a fan of OAMM on Facebook
I have a new grandson and lots of photos. A photobook for his parents would be a great gift.
I would either do a book for Jack or a book with pictures from BlogHer.
I tweeted about this contest.
I posted a link to this page on my Facebook wall.
I am now following @shutterfly on Twitter.
I am already a fan of Once a Month Mom on Facebook.
I am already a fan of Shutterfly on Facebook.
I would make a cook book for my 16 year old nephew who is aspiring to become a chef one day. I would fill the book with our family recipes so he could cherish it for years to come.
I subscribe to Once a Month Mom through email.
I would start making a baby book for my son who will be born in November.
I follow @shutterfly on Twitter
I’m a fan of OAMM on Facebook!
I’m a fan of Shutterfly on Facebook!
I subscribe via RSS
I tweeted about this contest!
Would make a first year of faces for my second son like I did my first. Would love to do anuals.
Already FB fan of OAMM:)
I would make a book comparing baby photos of my daughter and her new baby brother, along with a few scanned baby photos of mom and dad :o
I have used Shutterfly in the past and friends who see the photobooks love them. I would use this to make a first year baby book for my 2nd child. Thanks for the opportunity.
I am a FB fan of OAMM
I am a Shutterfly fan on FB
I subscribe to OAMM via email
I’d create a scrapbook of all the fun stuff my boys do with Daddy: shooting, riding ATVs, camping …
I would make a family tree type of scrapbook for my kids to know their dearly departed relatives.
I am a subscriber to OAMM
liked OAMM on FB
liked shutterfly on FB
I would make a book for my parents of our recent family vacations.
I like the idea of a recipe book, but I would make a storybook for my daughter who is adopted from China. I would love to tell a story in “kid speak” of our journey to bring her home!
Email subscriber
I’m always wanting more way to document my recipes, so I would definitely make a family recipe book!
I am now following @Shutterfly on Twitter
I am now a facebook fan of Once A Month Mom
I am now a facebook fan of Shutterfly
I really want to create a book with all my son’s art in it! Thanks for the chance!
I follow you with google reader! Thanks again!
I would make a photo book of my son. I’ve already done one for his first month!
I’m a Once a Month Mom subscriber!
I would definitely make a recipe book as well!! I would LOVE to put together my grandma & mom’s recipes!! :)
Shared giveaway on FB. :)
I think I’d either do a baby book for one of my kids…
or a recipe book like yours for my sister as a wedding gift!
Became fan of Shutterfly on FB.
I’m a FB fan.
Became a fan of Once a Month Mom on FB.
I’m a OAMM e-mail subscriber.
Subscribed to OAMM blog as well :)
I would like to make a book of our wedding photos!
I also subscribe by email. Thanks!
Became a fan on FB!
I would make a photo book of my daughter’s first year!
I am an email subscriber.
I’ve been wanting to do a recipe book for my girls…. :)
I would make a “baby book” haven’t even started one for my 2 year old or my 6 month old!!! I love OAMM btw!!!
I already “like” you on facebook!
I would make a photo/recipe book, too! I’ve been planning to make one of my Grandma’s recipes. She passed away in May.
faceboo fan of oamm!
I would make a book of my daughter’s first year of life.
tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/cmouse01/status/97008051663544320
I’m already a fan of OAMM
I read your blog through an RSS feed
I would probably make a book of family recipes for my SIL who is getting married this year more than likely.
I’m a fan of OAMM.
I’m a fan of Shutterfly.
I subscribed to the RSS feed of OAMM.
I have been wanting to recreate my wedding scrapbook (made back before the days of digital photographs) in a photobook format. Sounds like the custom shutterfly option would be perfect for this!
We are going to Orlando for vacation next month and would love to make a custom photo book with them. Thanks for the giveaway.
RSS Subscriber of your blog.
Follow Shutterfly on Twitter: (at)thabal628.
Facebook fan!!!
Shutterfly facebook fan!!
We are taking a family vacation in October, and I would make a book of our first family vacation :)
I would make a baby book of my newborn son!
I follow Shutterfly on Twitter. @presprizes
I like you on Facebook.
I like Shutterfly on facebook.
I am an RSS subscriber
I’d love to do a recipe book for my dd this year, who is in her last year of college and keeps asking me to write down some of our favorite recipes (which I haven’t gotten around to doing yet!).
I follow your blog through my beloved Google Reader.
I do love the idea of a family recipe book!
I subscribe via RSS
I’d love to use this to make a book of my daughter’s Kindergarten year….
I follow Shutterfly on twitter.
I’m a facebook fan of OAMM.
I’m a facebook fan of shutterfly.
I’m an RSS Subscriber via NetNewsWire.
I would make a book of the kids for the grandparents.
Thanks!
Email subscriber
Thanks!
I would make a Shutterfly Custom Path Book for my husband who is a huge Auburn fan capturing the Auburn Tiger’s 2010 Championship season including our pictures from the National Championship game in Arizona if I won a book from onceamonthmom!
I’m an RSS subscriber and loving the vegetarian menus!
Each year I make a book of my son’s previous year leading up to his birthday. He just turned 4 this month so it’s time for a new one!
I subscribe to the Once A Month Mom blog via email
i never made a baby book for my one-and-only son — he’s 16 now, going to be a senior in high school this year … I would totally make him a photo book for his graduation present (one of)
Facebook fan/liked onceamonthmom!
i just tweeted too! https://twitter.com/#!/traceywashere
I would make a memory book of our Maui vacation!
just subscribed to rss feed too!
I love making Shutterfly books….just finished making a book of my grandmother’s recipes for our family!
I would make a scrapbook for my little guys!
I’m a Facebook fan of OAMM!
I would make a photo book to give as a Christmas gift!
I’m a fan of Once a Month Mom, on FB.
I’m a fan of shutterfly on FB.
I love your idea for the recipe book! My daughter has many food allergies. Because of these allergies, no one in the family really wants to let all of my girls stay over because they “don’t know what to feed Kyrah”. I’d love to make a book of simple recipes that everyone can eat & will taste good. It would be such a blessing!
What a GREAT idea!
P.S. I’ll have pictures of my girls making & eating these yummy, allergy-free recipes. :)
I’d make a cookbook!
I subscribe to OAMM via RSS!