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Blurb Review of Softcover Photo Book & GIVEAWAY Ends 9/1/2011! (ENDED)

***GIVEAWAY! One Week Only!***
BLURB GIVEAWAY! See below for details.
Ends 9/1/11 11:59pm CST

Skip directly to enter Giveaway

Thanks to everyone for the lovely congratulatory messages I’ve been receiving since becoming a mom just two weeks ago!  It’s been hard to get the chance to post, but I have so much to talk about with you all! I’ve been hard at work planning all my baby book projects and yes, I’ve taken tons of photos of my PhotoBookBaby and will have lots to share in the near future.  Thanks for sticking around despite my less frequent posting and for those of you who haven’t checked out my Facebook page yet, I do manage to get on that to interact with folks briefly throughout the day in between feedings, so please consider fanning my Photobookgirl page if you haven’t yet!  What better way to kick things off post labor than with a GIVEAWAY!  Read on for my review and details on how to create and win your own Blurb photo book!

Here’s the stats:

Book size: 8 x 10 (width x height) Standard Portrait
Cover: Imagewrap Softcover
Pages: 50 (double-sided); ProLine Pearl (upgrade)
Binding: Perfect Bound
Price: $40.42 + $7.99 (Standard Shipping)Total book cost = $48.41 (less $50.00 trial credit) = Complimentary for purposes of review
Ordered/Shipped/Delivered June 30 / July 5  / July 11

Blurb Software Review

Since this isn’t my first Blurb review, I won’t go into long detail here, but what’s nice about Blurb’s BookSmart software is the ability to completely customize your book.  Of course just like other companies, you can choose to automate the book building process, which at Blurb is called Bookify.  As you may already know about me, I love customization.  After making several photo books you get bored of standard layouts and you want to inject your own creativity. Other things I like about Blurb’s software:

  • You can save your custom made templates for future use;
  • You can use your own photo as a background for layouts;
  • You can do an instant two-page spread (but note that you can’t put other photos on top of the two-page spread – the layout is locked);

You can find more details about Blurb’s software on my main Blurb Reviews page.  Be sure to scroll down to “Blurb Reviews from the Blog” for a complete list of all my Blurb related reviews.

Blurb Softcover Book

This book was a free trial for purposes of review.  I decided to make my baby shower photo book with the credit.  We were lucky our awesome wedding photographer Albert Yau of SecondPrint Productions happened to have that particular Saturday open before being booked nonstop for wedding season.  I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear I hired a professional to take photos of my baby shower.  I highly recommend it if it’s in your budget to do so, since it allows your friends and family to enjoy the event rather than have to take photos, and given that I’m photo obsessed I knew all the important memories would be captured.  We also worked in a short baby bump/parents-to-be photo session before our guests arrived.  Can you tell I loved being pregnant???

Baby Bump Photo Shoot
Here’s a shot from our “baby bump” photo shoot.
Baby shower photo book
I like doing an overview page with smaller thumbnail size photos to give a sneak preview of what’s to come.

So, I will admit that I thought I ordered a hardcover book…but somehow I must have clicked softcover. Oops! Can I attribute that to “pregnancy brain”?  But no matter, it gives me a chance to review it since I’ve never ordered a softcover with Blurb before.

perfect binding
This is a side view of the softcover book. This is known as “perfect binding” – the pages are glued to the cover.

The softcover is glossy and printed on a thick cardstock.  In terms of comparing it to other softcovers I’ve ordered I this is one of the better ones, though I would have preferred if it printed out a little bit brighter.  If you’re ever in doubt when post processing your photos, opt for making them brighter as I’ve typically found that most photo books print a little darker than what you see on your screen.  I ordered a softcover from MyPublisher some years back and it didn’t print too clearly (which is in big contrast to its hardcover books which I think have great print quality).  In general, I don’t order too many softcover books, as I always prefer hardcover and I know I can find a promo or deal that will make the hardcover books reasonably priced.  I opted for the ProLine Pearl paper upgrade for this book as it’s become my paper of choice when ordering from Blurb.  I love the slight pearlescent sheen the paper gives off.  From what I can tell, there’s no difference in the interior paper or print quality between the softcover and hardcover books.  Check out this post for a full review of Blurb’s ProLine and standard papers.

baby shower games
My guests had a lot of fun playing the shower games – even the guys! Everyone was so focused! Here’s an example of using your own photo as a background to your other photos.

I also ordered separately two photo books of my shower as gifts for two of my dear girlfriends who co-hosted the event and had planned all the games for the guests.  The books were 20-page hardcover books printed on premium paper with lustre finish at $36.74 each.  Print quality has always been good with Blurb, but there were some print issues with the hardcover books I ordered (softcover book had no printing issues).  One had a red circle on one of the photos and there were faded streaks on several other pages – it looked as though the ink ran out.  I contacted Blurb via their email form on their site and sent them a couple photos of the problems.  The books were promptly reprinted without hassle so I have to give Blurb’s customer service good marks.  While I wish I didn’t have issues in the first place, good customer service is important and as long as a company responds quickly and fairly, I have no problems using their service again.

Overall I was very pleased with how the book came out, especially with the ProLine Pearl paper – but I may need to reorder a hardcover version!

Let’s get to the Giveaway!

___________________________________


HOW TO ENTER THE BLURB GIVEAWAY

Blurb is giving one (1) lucky winner a $75.00 FREE BOOK COUPON!

You have 6 possible ways to enter, but you must do the REQUIRED ENTRY for the others to count. For EACH entry, you have to COMMENT ON THIS POST below with a separate comment for EACH entry, telling me what type of entry you did.

REQUIRED ENTRY:

  • Comment below – IF YOU WON, WHAT KIND OF BOOK (vacation, baby, wedding etc.) WOULD YOU MAKE WITH YOUR BLURB PRIZE?

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

  • Subscribe to my newsletter (look for light blue box at top right) AND tell me in the comment below that you subscribed and the name you subscribed under (first name is fine). If you already subscribe to my newsletter, tell me in your comment and give me your name. (Please remember for it to count, you must confirm the subscription);
  • Give your review of any photo book company you’ve tried on the company’s main reviews page.  Click on the link and then click on the logo of the company you want to review.  You’ll see a place to add your review at the bottom of each company’s page.  Let me know which company you commented on by telling me in a comment in this post below. (Limit to two (2) entries using this method.);
  • Blog about this giveaway on your blog. Be sure to comment on this post with a link to your blog post (Counts as 3 entries!)

Make sure to do the REQUIRED ENTRY!

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Entries must be received by Thursday, September 1, 2011, at 11:59pm CST and any entries not in accordance with the rules will be disqualified at our sole discretion and at the discretion of the sponsor. Winning entry will be chosen using Random.org. After compiling the results, I will announce the winner thereafter and will email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will redraw another entry. Winners will be issued a unique coupon code by Blurb. Winner pays for shipping. Shipping may vary by location – see Blurb Site for details. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Blurb. If you click on a link to Blurb’s site and make a purchase, I receive a referral fee from the company. Regardless of compensation my opinions are my own.

Thank you to Blurb for its sponsorship of this giveaway!

Check out all the latest “one day deals” on my Groupon/Living Social Tracker!

Check out all the latest Blurb promos here!

Comments

  1. (duh, comment goes here…oops, I Put it on FB :)….I would certainly make the book about my baby who is experiencing so many 1st’s for becoming a “big boy”. Tonight he lost his first tooth and his big boy tooth was right behind it! The Tooth Fairy is making her debut tonight too..won’t be be surprised when the toothless monster pillow is found!! Pictures galore to fill a new nook. 🙂

  2. I’m a fan (Caroline Tien-Spalding) of both you & Blurb on Facebook 🙂
    I would use this for a lovely engagement book – I especially love the archival photo paper and black endsheets… can’t wait!

  3. Hi! My name is Sabrina, and I follow you on Facebook (and I now subscribe to your newsletter). I am so looking forward to making a book of my 1st anniversary trip to France and Italy (and our first time there!), and this giveaway would allow me to work on doing only my 2nd photobook (yes, a newbie). Thanks again for all the info, and updates you give us. . . . I am anxiously looking forward to using photobooks in lieu of albums!

  4. If I won I would make a book of our honeymoon backpacking adventure in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

  8. Hi I’d want to make an engagement book of our trip to Hawaii where my fiance proposed to me. 🙂 We were there for my close friend’s wedding and he arranged it so that his friends and my friends that were in Hawaii were there. I want to capture that moment forever. 🙂 I’m a huge fan of photobooks and make one for every year we’re together. I found your site through a good friend and found so many new ideas for the nicer fancier books and sites also for my wedding albums next year.

  9. I would do my son’s 1st birthday for sure, with great, large shots of his devouring his first cake! His birthday is the 3rd, so its just a week away pretty much! Time has flown by. But yes, absolutely, I would capture his first birthday party and all those who come to celebrate with us. That would be wonderful!

  10. Oh and I’ve been following your FB and blog for a while now 🙂 We’ve “talked” a time or two in the comments as well 🙂 You are one of my biggest heroes! Congrats on the new little one, they are the biggest gifts life can give. Enjoy every moment!

  11. Ok, clearly its too late for me to be doing this, lol, my reading skills are wanting. I am Sarah Plants. I follow you on FB and I follow Blurb too on FB, same me, same name. Lol

  13. Hello, I like you an fb and appreciate all of your posts and information. If I won this book I would do my 8 year old sons baseball season. He played for 2the 7-8 years old teams a 9&10 year old team &I a tournament team that went all the way to

    states!

  14. I would probably put together a photobook on one of our vacations. Branson, Houston/Galveston or San Antonio? Hmmm.

  18. I would probably make a family book about 2010 since I’ve done ones for the births of both kids.

  22. This review has inspired me to do a shower book too! If I one I would love to make a book of my bridal showers. Thanks for the great post photo book girl and congrats on the birth of your baby!

  23. I hosted summer fun for my two grandsons for a week. Time to put those photos together to tell a story. I follow you in FB and appreciate your ideas and suggestions

  24. I would use the free book for my kid’s 4th and 5th birthday parties that are coming up!

  28. I would continue making photo books for my children. I’m a couple years behind!

  30. If I won I would make a photobook about my very recent honeymoon in the mountains and at the beach.
    I am a fan on facebook of blurb and of you. I also reviewed a shutterfly photobook that I made lately.

  33. If I won the contest I would use the credit to make a travel book for my husband of his attempt to summit Mount Rainier this past summer. He got some great shots of the mountain and other climbers.

  35. My name is Ann and I already subscribe to your newsletter — which is how I knew about the contest!

  36. I am already a fan of Blurb on Facebook – Ann Avis Scott. I have made a couple of Blurb books as well.

  39. I would do a baby book for the second part of my son’s first year. I have already made “part 1”, but the second half is still in the works. But he turns 1 soon, so I need to work on that.

  41. I would make a family history book, goig all the way back to the 1600s combining my husband’s and my ancestry! Thanks! Kelly Brengelman

  44. Blurb giveaway: I am already your fan on Facebook (Kelly O’Connell Brengelman. Thanks!

  45. Blurb giveaway: I already subscribe to your newsletter (Kelly O. Brengelman).

  46. Thank you so much for sharing these deals!! : I would make a book for this past year in pictures!!! :). I am a fan on Facebook under name if Natalie Qualls Simmons!! 🙂

  48. I just now pOsted a review of Adoramapix (waiting approval) as Kelly O. Brengelman.

  49. Hey, PBG! If I won, I think I’d probably finally make the book of twin puns for which I’ve been collecting photos. The one I still don’t have is “twindestructable,” which absolutely NOTHING is, and whenever the boyos destroy something that was supposed to be durable and last for years, I am generally too upset to remember to get a picture!

  50. I am a fan of PhotoBookGirl on Facebook (Betsy Johnson). If I won this contest I absolutely cannot wait to make a photobook of our wedding photos! I am using all of your tips and experience as guidance for our book. 🙂

  51. Optional entry #2: Do I really like Blurb? I hope to find out. Just liked them on Facebook, where I’m known as Janna Mauldin Heiner.

  52. I am a fan of you and blurb on fb already… I think you are doing a great service to the world of home publishers! I would be tempted to use the coupon for work (I make books for other people), but I have been dreaming of doing a Halloween book of my kids, daughter is 10 (in a week) and son is 8 (in a month). I have made their costumes ever since they were born (a favorite year, she was a princess and he was a frog prince). This year he is a guy from Tron Legacy (cool light up piping on that costume) and she is a mother earth/flower fairy. I need to get to work on them! Thank PhotobookGirl, and keep up the good work (and congrats on the baby!).

  55. Optional entry #4: Subscribed as mejaka to your newsletter! Was surprised to learn I wasn’t already subscribed!

  56. I would make another family “yearbook.” They end up being around 100 pages, so this giveaway would be a huge help!

  58. I just “liked” blurb on Facebook because…well, I want to like a new blurb book! =)

  59. If I won, I would make my baby’s First Year in Review book! She’s nine months old now and just after her first birthday party in November, I want to compile the best of her whole first year into a fantastic hard cover book. 2010 has been the best year of my life with Quinn and I really want to create a book that reflects that! 🙂

  65. I’ve been an FB fan of yours already for a while now. My FB name is Rebecca Presson Sharenow. Fingers crossed!!!

  66. I’ve been a Blurb FB fan for a LOOOONG time now…huge fan of their product! Would love to win a book!!! My FB name is Rebecca Presson Sharenow.

  71. If I won the prize from Blurb, I would make a book about the vacation we are taking to the beach next week!! Can’t wait to come back with all my pictures and start on my book!

  72. Hi! I just posted a review of Blurb, my favorite book publisher. It’s under Rebecca Sharenow. Sure would love to win!!

  73. Hi, there! Just posted a review of Picaboo, my second fav book publisher, as Rebecca Sharenow. Here’s to hoping!

  75. If I won I would create a book about my baby, I’m trying to make a book about each month of his first year, so far I’ve done the first three only 9 more to go

  80. Hi, I just signed up for the newsletter under Andrea T. If I won, I’d make a photo book of my recent honeymoon 🙂

  81. Well I started scanning a few of my favorite old photos. I want to scan those from vacations before we broke down and got a digital camera also. It’s taking forever so I kind of stopped until we get a rainy day. Lol, live in Southern California so may be a while. I really want to make one book with a compilation of those photos. You know, the one thing you grab in a disaster. That sounds horrible, hope it just makes a great coffee table book!!!

  82. I am a fan of Blurb Books on FB (Andrea Thouvenin) and would make a honeymoon photo book with my win!

  85. If I won I would either make a wedding album that I still never made or a baby book for my daughter

  89. Hi PBG! Congratulations on the new arrival 🙂 I’ve already done a book for my own baby recently, so if I won the giveaway I’d make a baby book for my little niece!

  96. entry #1

    if i were to win a blurb book I would copy you :o) and make a baby shower book which is coming up next month!

  101. I am a fellow photobook addict. I just got married and can’t get enough of making books. If I won the giveaway, though, I would probably make a baby book for my best friend. She is NOT the creative type, but she loves my books. I keep promising to make her one, so this would be the time!

  102. Optional Entry #2- I’m already a fan on facebook, under Jacqueline Etcheverry Hosey.

  103. I’ve actually just come back from vacation (where I got engaged!) and I’ve been editing photos to make a book. This would be great timing for me to finally try out all of Blurb’s upgraded pro options.

  106. I’m now subscribed to your newsletter (didn’t even notice it before!) under the same name.

  108. If I won the promotion, I would love to print a custom book on “Memoirs”… something that I could purchase as gifts for loved ones so that their life stories are always treasured.

  112. I am not totally sure if I’ll make one book or not. I will probably make a wedding book for my daughter if she doesn’t have one made herself. If not, I’ll be making a family books that have just a few months worth of pictures. I’m just not sure yet.

  115. If I won, I would like to make a photo book of my engagement pictures. We’re recently married and will get a wedding album from our photographer, but we haven’ been able to have our engagement photos in print.

  121. Optional entry # 2: JUst “like” you on facebook and I have my full name there: Gabriela Monaco Toledo.

  122. Optional entry # 3: JUst “like” Blurb on facebook and I have my full name there: Gabriela Monaco Toledo.

    Nice blog 🙂 thanks!

  123. Since I’m gettting married next year, I think I will make a guest book with tons of our pictures…

  125. I would create a brag book – or several brag books 🙂 – to put on the coffee table of my new photography studio that will be ready to move into in mid-september!

  138. Hi, I already “like” you on facebook. Facebook name is Ying Pei. I would like to use the chance to make Yearbook for my family. thanks.

  139. Hi, I already “like” Blurb on facebook. Facebook name is Ying Pei. I would like to use the chance to make Yearbook for my family. thanks.

  140. If I’d won this giveaway I would make a book of my Josh Groban concerts tour. I am so happy I’ll get to see him 5 times and are allready working on the layout of the book 🙂 that’s how excited I am (still 3 weeks till the first concert)

  145. If I win I’m going to make a Vacation Photo book consisting of my recent travel pictures =D It is easier showing 300+ pictures in a single book to my family and friends ^^

  148. If i won i’ll like to do a vacation book of my trip to Colorado last year to celebrate my 20th birthday! The mountain pics would look gorgeous in a blurb book!

  152. I would make a wedding guest book that is our “love story” and includes our engagement photos and scanned ticket stubs, programs, and other things that tell the story of our relationship. With those things and plenty of space for our guests to leave messages, I think we’d have a book we would always want to look at.

  154. I am subscribed to fb,newletter & blurb, If I won I wouldbe making a book for wedding. I will be taking pictures at later next month! to help them save money, taking their pictures for them this would be like the ultimate gift for them .

  155. If I won I’d make a wedding album for my father 🙂 He’s been asking me to make him one since we got married a couple of months ago

  157. I want to make a commercial version of my artist book. It’s an ABC book about things I’ve done trying to cure my Lyme disease called “An Alphabetical Journey in Pharmocology: or how I tried to cure Lyme disease”.

  158. Believe it or not, I’m also looking for a book that covers my own baby shower! My mom and friends went all-out with a co-ed picnic in the park and one of my friends got a real kick out of taking pictures of EVERYTHING. 🙂 I thought it would be a nice way to give back to them!

  159. I’ve become a fan of Blurb on FB… Name’s Pamela Marie. 🙂 Thanks for all your reviews; they’ve been very helpful in my deciding which company to use for this book! I’m a photographer myself so I have a lot of companies that I use for my clients but I’m completely lost on which consumer-level (ie cheaper) book company to use. Definitely want something simple and inexpensive yet with relatively good quality. Seems to be an anomaly in this book world so far 🙂

  160. I’d like to make a vacation book for my girlfriend!
    I’m subscirbed to your newsletter.

  161. I’d like to make a vacation book for my girlfriend!
    I “like” you on facebook.

  162. I’d like to make a vacation book for my girlfriend!
    I “like” Blurb on facebook.

  163. I’ve made a book with Blurb before and was absolutely happy with the results. My Paris vacations now on our bookshelf and looks better and better every day 🙂
    I would LOVE to print a book about the first vacation with our toddlers! It’ll be fun!

  173. If I won, I would make a photo book of my kids as a surprise gift for my wife whose birthday comes next month. Been searching for a good deal – missed out on many of the groupon deals. But yeah, would make it anyway.

  176. If I won I would love to make a vacation book of my recent stay in Colorado. It was gorgeous there!!!

  181. I am taking all the pictures my sister has taken of her 2 kids (ages 4 and 1) over the past 4 years and making picture books starring each child for my sister for Christmas. I would use my Blurb prize to help pay for these one-of-a-kind gifts!

  190. If I won, I would make a photo book of my Baltic Cruise and time spent in London last year for our 30th wedding anniversary.

  196. I would love to make a family book. I signed up for your newsletter and fanned you on facebook as Joan Reid and fanned the Blurb book page on facebook. I have been purchasing from artscow lately but would lobe to give this a try.

  197. My fiancee is turning 30 this Sept. and we will be getting married next summer. For her 30th birthday, I found a 125 page autobiography she created as a freshmen in high school. I would like to scan all the pages and re-assemble to self-reflective project as a photo book – including pictures from our more recent past.

  198. I would love to make a book of our holiday to Ireland. Every bend in the road was breathtakingly beautiful! Using to tools that Blurb has I’m sure will make it truly unique and a great way to showcase my pictures. I have over 3 thousand of them! Thanks.

  199. I follow you on twitter (pmccuen) and would make a vacation book covering a trip to Philmont (a national Scout high adventure camp in New Mexico) I took this summer with my son and his Scout troop.

  202. If I won, I would make a 12 x 12 ImageWrap, hardcover photobook about my upcoming trip to Disney.

  203. I’ve already ‘liked’ you on Facebook. On FB, my name is “Gayle Fengel Maupin.”

  211. I’m your fan on facebook!

    Also I got a message that said I’m commenting too fast!
    I must be too excited over this giveaway. 😉

  213. I have so many travels that have not been put into books so I would love to do a travel book.

  214. I am already a fan on Facebook. Thanks for keeping up with that by the way. I know you are busy right now

  215. If I won, I would make a scrapbook from this years US National Pro Cycling championships.

  225. I have been meaning to make a book of my adventures in Ireland the last two years. This would give me major incentive to do it 🙂 I liked your page – my name is Laura Ryan Moakley 😉

  226. I am already a fan of your’s on Facebook under the name Christina Milanes-Vanell. If I won, I would create a book to recap the adventures and travel memories I have with my husband prior to having a baby.

  227. If I won I would create a book for our San Juan River trip we took with 5 other families with 11 kids under the age of 6. Not to mention my own 6 month old son!

  231. Hello, I just subscribed to your news letter! As I mentioned above, if I won the Blurb Giveaway… I would create a book recapping adventures my husband and I had prior to our baby. 🙂

  233. I think I subscribed to your blog, never done that before so not sure if I did it right. Went through aol.

  241. I am a fan on your Facebook page. Linda Phillips Stewart. I would make a hardcover imagewrap book of the building of our house

  244. If I won, I would make a book using photos of my daughter as a baby and I would type up my journals from that time period for the text. Or a blog book. Blurb does wonderful blog books!

  247. Hi! My name is Sophia, on behalf of Blurb, and we wanted to thank you for this great post and running this giveaway. We’re as excited as everyone else to discover the winner of this giveaway – looking forward to finding out.

    Thanks!

  250. I just got married this summer. So I would love to make a photobook to give to my parents and my husbands parents to thank them for all of the support and help they gave us through our wedding process. SO yea I would make a wedding book!

  252. I would definitely do “My baby boy’s first year of life” as we have 1000s (literally) of pictures of him already and he’s only 9 months old.

  253. My name is Monica S. and I subscribed to your newsletter as my contest entry. I don’t have facebook or a blog so I couldn’t enter all of those other entries as you suggested. I have been a follower of yours on twitter and was so glad I found you because I had been researching for a good quality photobook. Your blog was perfectly informative and I was easily convinced with your Blurb reviews. I was very hesitant about entering the contest because I’ve never won anything before, so I’ve waited to the last minute or actually the last day of the entry, to try my luck. This would be my first time making a photobook so if I win this contest, I would create my own photo(story)book of my wedding day. I got married on July 24, 2011. It was something very simple and very intimate. I didn’t have a big reception nor the expensive photographer because I felt the most important part was the ceremony and having my closed ones together. I would love to capture all of my wedding moments with a photobook. Thank you for creating this contest! And congratulations on your newborn! I still remember when my daughter was born, 4 years ago 🙁 time goes by so quickly!

  257. Hi PhotoBookGirl, and congratulations on the birth of your child! How exciting…I have already friended you on Facebook, and have been enjoying all your entries, your reviews, and your Groupon findings. I am kind of new to making Photobooks, and despite the inordinate amount of time it takes to make one I have been thoroughly enjoying the process. Usually I make travel scrapbooks, but this has been a busy summer with family weddings, and if I won the Blur book I would make a photo album of the upcoming wedding of my husband’s son. I am looking forward to it, and thanks! (Oh, my FB name is Osia Ora-Strasner, and the email address is osiaora@gmail.com)

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