enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

our oxnard townhouse photo book.

Blurb1

One thing that I have decided to do to remember each space that we live in as a family is create a small photo book. You can see the one I created for our first time in San Diego here.

Blurb2

These books are the easiest. I just go through all my photos from the time that we lived in the current place, upload them to Blurb.com and stick them in a somewhat chronological order and print a 7×7 inch book. Other than the title page, I don't add any words so the books are really a photo journal of different things that made our house a home.

Blurb3

Below is a sampling of the photos I included for our 15 months in Oxnard, California.

Homebook1
Homebook2
Homebook3
Homebook4
Homebook5
Homebook6
Homebook7
Homebook8
Homebook9
Homebook10
Homebook11
Homebook12
Homebook13
Homebook14
Homebook15
Homebook16
Homebook17
Homebook18
Homebook20
Homebook21
Homebook22
Homebook23

Super simple, but such a fun way to remember each place.

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37 responses to “our oxnard townhouse photo book.”

  1. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    So much fun. It really is a great way to remember even just through photos. When you did your vegetables and herbs book and blurb offered that wonderful discount I created a photo book of my husband and sons (both 14 years old then) building a barn together in our backyard. It was so much more than just a building!! Your ideas and inspiration are just amazing.

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  2. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    love it – its so easy and I love being able to look back and remember stuff like that x

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  3. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    This book is beautiful and I love the concept of documenting everywhere you live as a family. 🙂
    This is inspiring me to start documenting my life more with photos!

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  4. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    I definitely need to get around to taking more photos so I can finally make my mum one of these! You’ve completely sold me on blurb!

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  5. Melissa Sharp Avatar
    Melissa Sharp

    I can’t believe your patio garden didn’t get a feature!
    Such a great tradition. Makes me really wish I had documented the homes we’ve lived in over the years.

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  6. Magen Avatar
    Magen

    oh my goodness, i love this! i’ve been looking for a way to put my photos from my first year in chicago into a book. I’ll be checking out that website for sure! thanks for sharing :).

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  7. Stephanie Harmon Avatar
    Stephanie Harmon

    Super fun idea! Were these photos taken with your camera or iPhone? I’m curious how well iPhone photos print in this type of book. Thanks 🙂

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  8. Jill Kane Avatar
    Jill Kane

    Love. So awesome.

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  9. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    I made a Blurb book last year to document my life the year I turned 40, covering Jan – Dec. Most pics were everyday basic things and were taken with my iPhone. Pics all look fine (it was a 7×7 book). Thanks to Elise I’m addicted to Blurb books now!! 🙂

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  10. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    Elise, I have to thank you for my now “addiction” to making Blurb books! Did one documenting daily life etc. the year I turned 40 (Jan-Dec 2012). 7×7 and maxed out at 440 pgs! Had to keep condensing to get the whole year in. Love it!!! Planning on documenting my garden this year as well. Thanks for all your project ideas!

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  11. Shelbie Avatar
    Shelbie

    What a fantastic idea! I just may have to go through our photos from past homes to do the same thing. I think my boys would love to go back to see where we lived before and after they were born. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

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  12. Kelsey McEvoy Avatar
    Kelsey McEvoy

    This is SUCH a genius idea! And I think will be especially awesome for you little one(s) to look back on one day. I think I may have to do this starting with where we live now so that my young ones can keep a really strong memory of where they grew up. Thank you for sharing this!

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  13. Pidgen Avatar
    Pidgen

    I’m banging my head on the computer desk, asking myself, “Why do I complicate things so badly!?!” This book is amazing – simple – beautiful!!

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  14. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    It has its own much longer photo book so I figured we were set there. 🙂

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  15. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    99% of these were real camera if not all. but iPhone photos stack up pretty well. I used some in my garden photo book and was very pleased.

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  16. Briana Avatar
    Briana

    Beautiful! Blurb is amazing! Great book and great idea 🙂

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  17. Ffion Avatar
    Ffion

    Wonderful idea 🙂 Have to remember that one… although I probably won’t be moving around as much as you too. A really great way to keep cherished memories of a home…

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  18. Sammy Avatar
    Sammy

    what an absolutely fantastic idea!!

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  19. Stephanie Harmon Avatar
    Stephanie Harmon

    Thank you! I seem to use my iPhone more than my camera these days! I need to get making Blurb books ASAP!

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  20. Stephanie Harmon Avatar
    Stephanie Harmon

    Thank you!

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  21. Renee Avatar
    Renee

    You don’t stuff around just get it done. I have to stop thinking and start making

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  22. Samantha Lee Avatar
    Samantha Lee

    This is the best idea I have ever seen! My boyfriend and I are getting our first place together this summer and I am definitely doing this! So so cute! Thanks for the amazing idea! =)
    -Sam

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  23. katie Avatar
    katie

    i was wondering if you were going to make another book like this! it is such a great idea, i have been keeping this idea in mind since you made the first one and it has definitely helped me to remember to take lots of photos of our first apartment so when the time comes to move i can make something similar. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  24. Monique Avatar
    Monique

    I love it! You’re so creative!

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  25. Marissa Avatar
    Marissa

    Love it!

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  26. Vanessa Avatar
    Vanessa

    Such a cool idea! How did you get away with doing the grey and white stripes on the wall behind the TV in your San Diego apartment? What are your thoughts on how to work around decorating a rented place?

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  27. Constance Avatar
    Constance

    this is very cool!

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  28. Jess Ankney Avatar
    Jess Ankney

    Love this! You inspired me to start my first book over a year ago and I finally finished. Just received it a few weeks back and I’m hooked! Getting ready to start my next one! Such a great way to document a time of our lives!
    Check it out here:
    http://www.ankneyadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/our-travel-book-finally.html

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  29. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I just did them and painted over before we left. 🙂 I have a moving and renting post on my list… just need to write it. 😉

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  30. jesslonett Avatar
    jesslonett

    i need to do this. like, right this very second.

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  31. Vanessa Avatar
    Vanessa

    Yes please! That’d be awesome. I feel so trapped expressing my personality in rented accommodation.

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  32. Jessica Hupe Avatar
    Jessica Hupe

    Love this… we are looking for a house at the moment and I think it is a wonderful idea to take some more pictures of our current home and to put them all together in a paperback photo book to keep all those memories… 🙂

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  33. Shirsha Avatar
    Shirsha

    I love this idea…I am getting married in a few months and I would love to document this piece of my single life…You never stop inspiring. I love coming back to your blog!

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  34. Chrystina Avatar
    Chrystina

    Have you done a post on where you store all of these books you create? I absolutely love them. You actually inspired me to do my 2012 Instagram book.

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  35. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Ones like this go on our big room divider bookshelf. Most of my minibooks bound with rings are stored in baskets.

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  36. mel Avatar
    mel

    Just ordered myself a blurb book on the meals I like to cook, I am so excited. Thank you for being such an inspiration 🙂
    PS I have my new flamingo print hanging in my bedroom now and I love it 🙂

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  37. Penny Lane Avatar
    Penny Lane

    Wonderful!!! I really love the idea as well as the outcome! When I move again, I will definetly make something like that. It actually looks like a book you can buy on interior design!:)
    best wishes,
    moni/penny

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