This post is an introduction for my zoo post: Visiting the Zoo with Kids–Tips to Consider, Books to Read, and Souvenirs to Make.
I’m not normally an impulsive spender, but there are times when I feel drawn to the gift shop. Of course my two-year-old would look adorable in that (cheesy) SeaWorld shirt. And why wouldn’t my baby want to snuggle with that (ridiculously overpriced) stuffed giraffe from the zoo?
Okay, so I don’t make t-shirts or stuffed animals, but I can show you a meaningful and easy alternative: Picture Memory Books!
To make these souvenirs, all you need is a simple and free photo editing tool that will allow you to add text to your digital pictures. You can find an easy tutorial on how to add text using free software in this post.
To begin your project, choose a few pictures from your trip that you want to label and memorialize. Perhaps these are your pictures of your child with all of the characters at Disney World. Or maybe you took a road trip, and you’d like to help your child remember each of your pit stops.
For us, I like to take pictures of the actual animals we saw at the zoo, and turn them into animal recognition books for my toddler.
Once I have my pictures organized and labeled, I simply print and add them to a little $1 photo album that you can pick up from a dollar store or major chain. My toddler and I have spent hours “reading” our vacation books.
We have a great time reminiscing with these books and no buyer’s remorse. Success!
Tutorial for DIY Souvenirs
- Choose and organize your best pictures.
- Add titles, words, or labels. (Tutorial here.)
- Print.
- Insert into a $1 photo album or laminate.
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This is so smart and such a better souvenir than all the overpriced gift shop stuff that may wind up getting tossed aside once home anyway.
Thanks, Ann!!! 🙂 We’re accumulating quite the collection of homemade souvenirs books at our house! 🙂
Love this idea! And I love that you can add age-appropriate text to include a little reading practice, too 🙂
You are such a great teacher–how smart to think to turn this into a reading practice activity!!
What a great way to remember a special trip! I always want to make photobooks for my son about memorable life experiences (like our playdate with the Monorail Bunny) but I get hung up on doing it “just right” and never finish. But this I might be able to do!
With all of your great pictures, this would be so easy for you!! Maybe I should rename my blog “Nothing if Not Super Easy”? 🙂
What a great way to personalize your memories!
Found you thru PLAY. I would love it if you’d line this to Family Fun Friday (still open) – This is a real possibility for a feature next week!
Monica
Monica–that’s wonderful! I linked up earlier, and now I’m off to go check out some of the other submissions. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
Featuring this at Family Fun Friday later this week.
Thanks for linking!
Monica
That’s wonderful!! Thanks so much, Monica! I’m excited to see your post this week! 🙂
Great ideas here! I also love to keep a Bumper Sticker book along on road trips – . Keep it tucked away in a side door pocket for easy access when the inspiration parks itself right in front of you.
I just went to your post-what a great idea! Thanks for reading and for sharing!