12x12 prints from Costco

[anke]

As for albums, did you guys ever check at ACMoore? I have bought albums there for 5 $ (12x12) and they had 10 page protectors in there already. They may not be the fanciest albums ever but they were really nice!

[Jen D]

Thanks to this thread I did give scrappingsimply.com a try and they turned out just like my Costco pages =) I wll be using them from now on!

[dugarner]

I am just constantly torn between the bound books at Shutterfly (I like the way they look, DH likes the sleek feel and the lightness when we have to pack and move!) and printing my own pages and loading them in albums again.

Aaargh! At $1.99 a page, that would come out to just about the same as a Shutterfly book (not counting shipping) when you add in materials and page protectors.

What should I do??? I love the thinness and the professional look of the books, but I am a semi-professional in the printing industry, and without a doubt, I get a book printed with a typo that I can't fix, and I lose sleep over it. With an album, I could pull that page out and re-print it.

Pros? Cons? Anyone gone exclusively bound books, then back to traditional scrapbooks? Advice is greatly appreciated! I am a strictly chronological and event scrapper, so that's not really an issue. Meaning, I don't need the flexibility of going back and filling in a spot, when it's done, it's done. BUT . . .

[Jen D]

Originally Posted by dugarner

I am just constantly torn between the bound books at Shutterfly (I like the way they look, DH likes the sleek feel and the lightness when we have to pack and move!) and printing my own pages and loading them in albums again.

Aaargh! At $1.99 a page, that would come out to just about the same as a Shutterfly book (not counting shipping) when you add in materials and page protectors.

What should I do??? I love the thinness and the professional look of the books, but I am a semi-professional in the printing industry, and without a doubt, I get a book printed with a typo that I can't fix, and I lose sleep over it. With an album, I could pull that page out and re-print it.

Pros? Cons? Anyone gone exclusively bound books, then back to traditional scrapbooks? Advice is greatly appreciated! I am a strictly chronological and event scrapper, so that's not really an issue. Meaning, I don't need the flexibility of going back and filling in a spot, when it's done, it's done. BUT . . .

The reason I don't do shutterfly is because my kids love going through the albums and if they tore a page I would LOSE IT! In a traditional album they are protected =)

I buy my American Hertiage albums at Hobby lobby when they are 50% off... so I only spend 10.00 on a 12X12 album. Then the page protectors I also buy on sale and I get 50 of those for 5.00. That usually is enough for my yearly family album.

I use shutterfly for gift albums but I was a paper scrapper and I just love the traditional scrapbook album.

Just my two cents =)

[annawhocropsalot]

Does scrappingsimply.com sell books? I looked on their site, but I couldn't find them.

[Jen D]

Originally Posted by annawhocropsalot

Does scrappingsimply.com sell books? I looked on their site, but I couldn't find them.

I don't think so... just prints. I use shutterfly for books when I make gifts.

[Tesia]

Originally Posted by mommydawn

will costco do this via mail?
I don't have one either.

I just ordered some Costco prints to be delivered by mail earlier this week...hoping they don't get trashed on the way. I'll let y'all know how they turn out!

[ValerieP]

I have printed at Costco and they are wonderful-but at a savings of 1.00 a page-I will have to print at scrappingsimply especially with all of your recommendations! I am working my way through about 1000 pics of my boys as they grew up so I dont often do them in order. I cant seem to scrap anything in order and that is why I havent ordered a book from Shutterfly-I would love to-but I just know that I would want to add or delete and that wouldnt be an option
thanks for all of the great advice-this has been one of the best threads ever!!

[bluelemur01]

cool! Thanx for sharing! I didn't even know Costco did 12x12 and now I will have to try it. I bet your album looks fabulous!

[Blesus]

Just wanted to chime in again and let everyone know that I just received my first pages from ScrappingSimply in the mail! I am sooooooo happy with them . They are even better than I expected and very quick turn around. I will admit I was nervous, but because of all the wonderful advice, I took a chance and they are GREAT! Not sure when I will print another at home ..... so happy so happy so happy

[annaaspnes]

Originally Posted by dugarner

I am just constantly torn between the bound books at Shutterfly (I like the way they look, DH likes the sleek feel and the lightness when we have to pack and move!) and printing my own pages and loading them in albums again.

Aaargh! At $1.99 a page, that would come out to just about the same as a Shutterfly book (not counting shipping) when you add in materials and page protectors.

What should I do??? I love the thinness and the professional look of the books, but I am a semi-professional in the printing industry, and without a doubt, I get a book printed with a typo that I can't fix, and I lose sleep over it. With an album, I could pull that page out and re-print it.

Pros? Cons? Anyone gone exclusively bound books, then back to traditional scrapbooks? Advice is greatly appreciated! I am a strictly chronological and event scrapper, so that's not really an issue. Meaning, I don't need the flexibility of going back and filling in a spot, when it's done, it's done. BUT . . .

I like both. I use the S'fly books to cover a particular event or subject but like to print my individual pages to go into albums. That way I can always add pages when I have time/am inspired to create additional pages for that year.

[annaaspnes]

I've always been a Costco printer for my single prints, but thanks to this thread I'm going to give Scrapping Simply a try. Totally behind on my printing!

[simple_chi]

I also use Costco and usually make the 12x18's too - and either get the 6x6's, or sometimes use the extra space for 4x6's or labels or something. You can do it by mail, so you don't need a local Costco, but you do need to be a member.

I also look for sales at Scrapbooksplease.com - they have various paper quality levels and when they go on sale, it's a better deal than Costco. I have gotten the full bleed's down to 1.99 and .99 with a white border (I've designed some pages with a white border so I can take advantage of it too).

-Lynn

[simple_chi]

I just checked and it looks like they are having their sale on full bleed 12x12 pages for .99 through July 15th. The paper is heavier than Costco and the finish is much more matte (not sure if people prefer that or not).

-Lynn

[kdif]

I also noticed that ScrappingSimply has free digital kits on their site to download. That surprised me! Just love freebies!

Another printing question: do you do your normal sharpening on the pictures within the layouts? I noticed that SS sharpens the pages in their process. Does it make the picture part of your layout too sharp? I have always been confused by sharpening. I have read somewhere about their being two phases to sharpening, one that you do while processing your photos in PS and then a print sharpening. If I should start a new thread with this topic just let me know.
Thanks

[annaaspnes]

Calling ScrappingSimply users. Do you recommend matte or glossy?

[lbowman001]

Can anyone tell me how to format the 12X36 on Elements 7 for printing at Costco. I downloaded the free demo and have figured out how to start a blank document and import the pages I want to print. But, when I try to place the pages into the blank document I can't get them to the right size. I am a computer dunce and I know it will take me a while to learn this program, but I want to print the 150 pages I have waiting before my free trial runs out...I can save $200 if I can figure this out! Help

[Julie DeGuia]

When you open a blank document... open it at 12x36 inches with the resolution set to 300 pixels/inch. Before dragging each page over make sure it is a 12x12 inch document at 300 pixels/inch. Your pixels/inch or dpi has to match for it to be the right size when you drag it over. Does this make sense?

[Gabi]

I'm glad you liked the result from Costco. I'm thinking about printing my pages too but didn't know where to go and get good quality. Thank you for your tip

[chari]

scrappingsimply.com is only $1.99. better quality. 100% guaranteed.