1 - White spines
I deliberately keep the spines very simple and plain - white with just the date in black. I like the minimalist look of them and know that they will always go with my decor, no matter how I change it.
2 - Metal book corners
My sister sent me a bag of these metal book corners (you can find similar and fancier ones on eBay) and I've used them on my Blurb books. You slip them onto the corners and hammer the back to make it catch. I think they really dress up the books, and protect the corners too.
3 - Family photos
I keep the front of the books simple too - just a family photo. This ensures that we take one each year!
By leaving wording off the book front and keeping it just as a photo, the books can also be displayed on little easels like canvases. (The easel is an old one from Ikea.)
This one is from 2008 - look how cute my little boys were!
4 - Slideshow DVD
Each year I make a slideshow, set to a chosen song, of photos from the year (you can see 2013 here and 2011 here.) I print a label with a family photo that matches the cover of the book and place it inside the book using a self-adhesive CD pocket.
In the corner I put a sticker that says which song was used in that year's slideshow.
I hope you liked seeing the little changes I make to our books. Click here and here for more Blurb book ideas. If you'd like to order your own Blurb book, I have a deal for you: Get a Sweet Deal from Blurb and Save 15%!
Take 15% off print books, with no minimum order value. Just use the code LOVEBLOOMS at checkout. Offer good through February 7, 2014.*
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