Become and Author with Blurb giveaway

June 1, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway 

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq244/erintales/blurb1-1.jpgI found an opportunity to work with Blurb and of course I jumped at the chance to work with Blurb. I wanted to use the opportunity to document the visit my kids had with their grand parents from Texas. So I downloaded and installed the software which was super easy.

blurb

This is a preview of my book. You can see the pages. There are so many page layout options. At first I didn’t even notice all of them. This would be the perfect way to write your own children’s book and you can do the artwork yourself.

 

First, I tested it out to see if I could create a blog book. Before I started reviewing items, I  thought about making a book out of those memories on my blog in a book. It’s like on-line scrapbooking. And as you can see, I wasn’t alone. It was so simple. When you choose the Blog Book option, it will ask what blogging platform you use and then it will walk you through the process to signing in your account and putting all your blog posts in a book for you. It was extremely easy. But I decided to go for a photo book instead.

 

You can write your own photo book, or make recipe book. It’s just so simple using their BookSmart software.

1. Blurb is a creative book publishing and marketing platform that enables anyone to design, publish, share and sell bookstore-quality books.

2. To get started on your book, download Blurb’s free BookSmart software at www.blurb.com. It works on a Mac or PC.

3. Import photos, text, artwork, even your blog. BookSmart has photo and blog slurpers that will automatically “slurp” your content from many of the major photo-sharing and blog platforms into your book.

4. You have complete creative control. Select from among BookSmart’s hundreds of professionally-designed layouts, or upload your own page designs.

5. Order, and within 7-10 days, your masterpiece will arrive.

6. Blurb books are available in four sizes: 7×7”, 10×8”, 8×10” and 13×11”. Blurb also offers the option to publish a text book (for novels, manuscripts, etc) starting at $4.95.

7. If you’re interested in selling your book, you can make it public in Blurb’s Bookstore (www.blurb.com/bookstore) and set your own price. You keep 100% of the mark-up over the original cost.

8. Check out Blurb’s Bookstore for inspiration and to discover some amazing books.

My Opinion:

I would have to say that so far Blurb is my favorite spot to make a photo book. The whole process is the easiest to use and you have a professional looking book when you are finished. Kodak takes too long to upload, and you can’t add very much text. The layout options of the photos are small and it just doesn’t compare to Blurb’s layout options:

familyMiles blurb  jackblurbupload This is just two different samples of page layouts you can choose from. I also feel like what you get for the price is amazing. You get a premium book you made on your own. I can easily see how people will use this to self-publish, because it is fast and easy. It only takes a long time if you are indecisive like me. I have two many pictures of my children. Uploading was just as easy as installing. All I had to do was select bb upload. One issue I did have was I couldn’t figure out how many pages I could publish using the software. Maybe I just couldn’t find it on the site. So I did trial and error. Whatever you make can be sold in their bookstore for readers to order! How easy to share with the grandparents after creating it.

 

Enter To win:

5 people can win a code to make your own books.

To Enter:

Visit Blurb and tell me what kind of book you would like to write.

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and a link to the sponsor for five extra entries Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!! Add my button to your blog/blog roll
Leave a comment for every entry and the giveaway ends June 23th

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: , ,

Comments

69 Responses to “Become and Author with Blurb giveaway”

  1. Summer Oleksy on June 1st, 2009 4:02 pm

    I would like to “write” a photo book.

    Many of my friends scrapbook … so I tried one. I didn’t enjoy it — it took too much time, it took too much money, they are too much of an investment in materials. I almosted hated looking at my pictures at the end!

    I would like to write a photo book for my son. I did the scrapbook of his first year. Then I did a snapfish photo book for his 12 – 18 months. I want to do his 18 – 24 months (or so), but just haven’t yet. I enjoyed the snapfish experience but have learned shutterfly can offer more in the way of layout and page style. BUT if there is something better out there I’d love to know about it and use it.

    I love to brag about my accomplishments … and my son. A blurb photo book is just want I’m looking for!

  2. susan on June 1st, 2009 6:14 pm

    I’d make a photo book of my little one who is just making one!

  3. susan on June 1st, 2009 6:14 pm

    I’m a subscriber.

  4. susan on June 1st, 2009 6:14 pm

    I follow on twitter (susanlanai).

  5. susan on June 1st, 2009 6:15 pm

    Tweeted ~ http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/1998848541

  6. Shelly T. on June 1st, 2009 6:36 pm

    I would make a photo book for my family.

  7. Heather D. on June 1st, 2009 7:39 pm

    I’d love to do a book of my blog.

  8. Heather D. on June 1st, 2009 7:40 pm

    I subscribe!

  9. 5 29.99 Books with Blurb : Mom Giveaways on June 1st, 2009 7:44 pm

    [...] Mom StartWhat: 5 29.99 Books with BlurbHow To Enter: Leave a comment on the giveaway/contest postDeadline: [...]

  10. Melissa Butler on June 2nd, 2009 1:00 am

    I might make a book for my sister’s baby to be ~ it would be about her father and what he does and sees while he is away…that way baby to be could see her dad and learn about his adventures.

  11. Kendra Field on June 2nd, 2009 7:23 am

    I would love to do a book of my blog…I’ve been wanting to do that for quite awhile!

  12. Sarah @Small Slice on June 2nd, 2009 10:01 am

    I would like to make a book of my blog.

  13. Nad on June 2nd, 2009 10:23 am

    I’d love to make a photo book of my family.

  14. Liz on June 2nd, 2009 10:48 am

    I would create a photo book of my house remodeling that we are ALMOST finished!

  15. christina on June 2nd, 2009 11:51 am

    I would love to make a wedding book for my upcoming nuptials :) Thanks, this is a great site and I’ve already emailed it to my soon-to-be-mom best friend :)

  16. Kiley on June 2nd, 2009 4:28 pm

    I would like to make a photo book for my In-Laws of their grand-daughter {my daughter}. They would LOVE it!

  17. Kiley on June 2nd, 2009 4:29 pm

    I already follow you on Twitter @CherryBlossBaby

  18. Kiley on June 2nd, 2009 4:29 pm

    I subscribe to your feed {via kileydianesmith at gmail}

  19. Kiley on June 2nd, 2009 4:30 pm

    I twittered here:
    http://twitter.com/CherryBlossBaby/status/2010513374

  20. Ellen C. on June 2nd, 2009 5:54 pm

    I’d like to do a book about my son to give to my mother. Thanks for the chance.

  21. Ellen C. on June 2nd, 2009 5:55 pm

    I’m a subsriber.

  22. billie on June 3rd, 2009 7:58 am

    Wow! These look cool! I’d make a photo yearbook of our year like a scrapbook but digital.

  23. Chelise on June 3rd, 2009 1:05 pm

    I have been wanting to make a baby book full of pictures and text for my daughter’s first year of life. Too bad she will be two in a few months! I need to get on the ball.

  24. oona b on June 3rd, 2009 1:05 pm

    I’d love to do a large landscape book of my daughter’s past year of kindergarten!
    Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com

  25. cari k on June 3rd, 2009 4:32 pm

    I have a personal blog that I use as a journal. I would create a blog book.

  26. Madeline on June 3rd, 2009 6:49 pm

    I would love to create a book out of my blog! It would be such a wonderful keepsake.

  27. Bebemiqui on June 4th, 2009 8:44 am

    I would love to do a blog book! But I also know the grandparents would love to be given a photo book.
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  28. Tiffani on June 4th, 2009 10:48 am

    I would like to write a blog book

  29. Tiffani on June 4th, 2009 10:48 am

    I subscribe.

  30. lace on June 6th, 2009 5:48 pm

    I’d make a sisters book for my nieces.

  31. Laura on June 6th, 2009 6:32 pm

    I’d make a photo book of my son for his grandparents!

  32. Laura on June 6th, 2009 6:32 pm

    rss subscriber

  33. Michele P. on June 7th, 2009 2:44 pm

    I would make a book of my first grandchild, who was born 2 days ago!

    micaela6955 at msn dot com

  34. Dan on June 8th, 2009 7:46 am

    I would take the artwork, stories, poems that my daughter did when she was a child and interject them with photos of her.

    grumpydan[at]netzero[com]

  35. Peggy Gorman on June 8th, 2009 8:57 am

    I would make a photo book of my family,I lost 2 of my sons and I have so many pictures of all of he kids together,it would be wonderful to put them all together .My son and daughter would love to look back at all the memories.
    Thanks
    matternu@aol.com

  36. Peggy Gorman on June 8th, 2009 8:57 am

    subscriber
    matternu@aol.com

  37. Peggy Gorman on June 8th, 2009 8:58 am

    follow on Twitter
    velvet1116
    matternu@aol.com

  38. Andi on June 9th, 2009 6:59 pm

    I’d do a photo book/autobiography!

  39. Andi on June 9th, 2009 7:00 pm

    Following you! I’m @andienns

  40. Nicole Bergen on June 15th, 2009 7:25 pm

    I sooo need to make a blog book. Have tons of entries for a great colorful book!

  41. Rafael on June 16th, 2009 12:40 pm

    I’ve been illustrating a short children’s story for someone I know and am pushing myself to have it finished by mid August. She has no idea I’m doing this for her and I want to make it a surprise for when she starts her first year teaching at an elementary school in the fall. She was an english education major who was in college at the time when she wrote the story last year and shared it with me. The main character is a little girl who learns the value of having a family. Blurb can help me get this special gift into her hands. Thanks!

  42. DawnS on June 18th, 2009 4:49 am

    I would make a blog book from my adoption blog

  43. Alicia B on June 18th, 2009 6:49 am

    Oh, this is the neatest website! I would like to make a story book for my little one year old with pictures of our family. Basically telling stories of Christmas, birthdays, when she was born, animals that we have, places we went. So it’s like a journal/photo alblum/and storybook (which she loves) all in on!

  44. Margaret Goebel on June 18th, 2009 7:07 am

    I would love to do an 8×10 book to publish the many dinner parties that my husband and I host monthly. On the blog I have the photos of the decor, favors, food and invites plus photos of guests. It would be fun to have a hard copy!

  45. Chelsea on June 19th, 2009 8:56 am

    I would love to make a photo book of my two little ones…you know a siblings book. Thanks for the giveaway!

  46. Chelsea on June 19th, 2009 8:56 am

    I subscribe!

  47. Rachel on June 20th, 2009 1:13 pm

    I would totally do a photo book. I used to be into scrapbooking, big time, but now I have a hard time when I have to print out the pictures and work from there. I think it would be so much easier to make a photo book with my digital pictures. That way I’d still have an amazing book to look at without all the mess of getting out all my papers, punches, cutters, etc.

  48. Mandi on June 20th, 2009 7:49 pm

    I’ve been wanting to make a Blurb book for awhile! I made a small one for my aunt’s 80th birthday and everyone was amazed. Now I want to make two — one to chronicle the first year of each of my daughters. I think that’s something they’d treasure forever!

    Thanks for the chance to enter!

  49. Victoria on June 21st, 2009 5:14 am

    I would love to “write” a photo book for my girls.

  50. Darcy on June 21st, 2009 10:55 am

    I would love to make a blog book!

  51. Darcy on June 21st, 2009 10:55 am

    I follow on twitter. I’m andthencrafts.

  52. Lauren L on June 21st, 2009 6:12 pm

    I would love to make a square photo book. I recently took a trip with my family after graduating from college…it’s becoming harder and harder to get everyone together for things like that, and it would be amazing to be able to document our trip in a way that would last!

    These are so beautiful, I think it would be so cool to have one on my coffee table.

  53. Alice on June 21st, 2009 7:28 pm

    I would do a landscape book with photos of the kids from the last year.

  54. Alice on June 21st, 2009 7:29 pm

    I subscribe.

  55. Alice on June 21st, 2009 7:29 pm

    I follow on Twitter (albeyjane)

  56. Courtney on June 22nd, 2009 9:25 am

    Great giveaway! I would love to make a scrapbook for my father-in-law’s 60th birthday coming up soon. I’d like to go back and get pictures of him as a kid all the way up through now with the grandchildren. I like a lot of the designs and options that Blurb has! Thanks for the opportunity!

    annasmama0702@gmail.com

  57. Courtney on June 22nd, 2009 9:27 am

    I’m following you on twitter! (annasmama0702)

    annasmama0702@gmail.com

  58. Courtney on June 22nd, 2009 9:28 am

    Tweet:

    https://twitter.com/annasmama0702/status/2281727477

    annasmama0702@gmail.com

  59. Courtney on June 22nd, 2009 9:28 am

    Tweet:

    https://twitter.com/annasmama0702/status/2281729411

    annasmama0702@gmail.com

  60. Courtney on June 22nd, 2009 9:29 am

    Tweet:

    https://twitter.com/annasmama0702/status/2281731653

    annasmama0702@gmail.com

  61. Tuesday on June 22nd, 2009 3:54 pm

    I would love to do a cookbook!

  62. Tuesday on June 22nd, 2009 3:54 pm

    I follow on twitter: tuesdaygirl

  63. Ruth Gray on June 22nd, 2009 4:43 pm

    I need to do a baby book for my little girl.

  64. Kathryn on June 22nd, 2009 7:06 pm

    I would do a book that used photo illustrations for one of my children’s stories, and give it to my son!

  65. Mellissa on June 22nd, 2009 9:15 pm

    I would love to make a cookbook. This is a great giveaway. If I dont win, I am going to make a book anyways on the Blurb site. It is so affordable.

  66. tina reynolds on June 22nd, 2009 9:34 pm

    i would like to make a childrens story that my mom wrote years ago for me and my brother for my kids thanks

  67. tina reynolds on June 22nd, 2009 9:34 pm

    i subscribe to your blog thanks

  68. jennifer on June 23rd, 2009 11:33 am

    I would make a portfolio book,for my plus size model pictures. I would love to feel like I had something great to share about my life!

  69. xenia on June 23rd, 2009 2:43 pm

    I would love to make a photo book of my two daughters about what great sisters they are. Looking through the samples, I really like all of the layouts Blurb offers, as well as the options for text and the variety of background colors and patterns. Thanks!

Leave a Reply