Lily loves to draw. Loves it. I recognize in her the same passion I had when I was her age and it thrills me. Eager to help foster this love of the arts, I’ve had her drawings printed on t-shirts and plates and allow her to wallpaper her room with her creations, just as I did.
But, there aren’t many things that have excited me as much as our most recent project. I took some of my favorite pieces of Lily’s and scanned them in to the computer. I turned a few smiles upside down and arranged them to tell a (somewhat) cohesive story. (And a timely one as we hope to move in the coming months.) Here is our tale:
I used Lulu.com to build, print and bind it and cannot wait for it to arrive. (You can print pretty much any book you can think up and, no, I wasn’t given anything to mention them. For larger books, I can speak to the quality of Blurb.com where I printed my blog-book)
The cost for Lily’s book? A mere seven bucks. But the fact that she can hold and read and share a book that she created? Pretty much priceless. And definitely my favorite gift ever.
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{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s fantastic :) I have such fond memories of doing the same thing, only mine were sheets of paper stitched together by my mom!
She’ll just adore it!
.-= Corinne´s last blog ..Today, I don’t mind =-.
Awesome.
.-= An Idle Dad´s last blog ..An_Idle_Dad: @ukulele_guy You’ve lost your avatar! What’s the deal? =-.
this is fantastic. years ago, i gathered all the artistic creations (think drawings, paintings, stories, anything) of my children, grouped them, scanned them, then had them turned into leather-bound books for them. even had copies put in the library of congress. you’re exactly right: there is nothing to compare with holding it in her hands . . . and just think of the message you’ve given her. perhaps letting her know that you value her creativity is the best gift of all. good job. very good job.
.-= whollyjeanne´s last blog ..best project(s) of 2009 =-.
I love that idea, too!! So much better than a box of crinkled paper.
A truly beautiful story! And a lovely gift as well.
.-= Pop and Ice´s last blog ..Do the Fondue! =-.
A-mazing! LOVE it. Now investigating this Lulu site.
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Santa Baby =-.
what a beautiful story. her artwork is amazing, too. i think you need to get it to a publisher. i would buy that book for my son. it would be great to have it provide him some comfort if we move to a new town. thanks for sharing and take care.
.-= kiki´s last blog ..Party Like You’re From Jersey Shore =-.
That is FABulous!!! What an amazing idea!!!
.-= Tiffany´s last blog ..Last Blog Post…..Of 2009 =-.
You are too good to be true.
Our children could not be luckier. Or happier. Or safer. Or more loved.
So Lovely. My girl is quite the artist, too. Her birthday is in a few months…. I feel an homage to Scary Mommy coming on (aka I think I’m gonna steal this brilliant idea).
I loved her story… she is a great litle artilst, you know! What a neat idea, to print out the book for her to have – she’ll cherish it forever. My 4 year old and I love writing books together, too – I just take paper and staple it together, though, with construction paper as the cover. He tells me what to write on each page, and we do the drawings together. :)
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..2009: A year in review, in pictures! =-.
we will NEVER forget you lily!
we love you!!!
That is fantastic. I LOVE IT! What a wonderful idea! Her illustrations are superb and the story is way more than cohesive it’s great.
.-= Unknown Mami´s last blog ..Chasing Rainbows =-.
That is a really awesome idea and a super neat book.
You really ARE an awesome mom.
I just buy scholastic. I thought I was doing good but now I have YOU to live up to. Thanks a lot.
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Random Thoughts Tuesday =-.
That seriously may be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I love it!!
That is awesome!
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..That Darn Cat Strikes Again =-.
Wow! That is SO cool. What a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Alecia´s last blog ..Great Interview Experiment Part II 2009 =-.
Gasp!! I love this!! She’s so creative and the book is perfect. Beautiful beautiful beautiful!!!
Can’t talk now…off to do a tutorial on Lulu.com………
.-= Mama Kat´s last blog ..Sleep….Who Needs It? =-.
Beautiful. She will cherish this.
.-= TheKitchenWitch´s last blog ..Crack Cookies =-.
This is so wonderful!! And a fantastic idea.
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Um… falala? Or whatever the Swiss-German equivalent is. =-.
What a great idea! As soon as my boys can draw, I am all over it!
.-= 3 Stinky Boys and Me´s last blog ..Will the House Ever be Finished? =-.
kids are so smart! love this
.-= scrappysue´s last blog ..wordful wednesday – a post for chris =-.
What a gorgeous thing to do…clever Lily! I’m going to have to find an English company who do the same sort of thing as I can’t imagine LuLu will ship to the UK. Thanks for that x
.-= Muummmeeeee!´s last blog ..10 reasons why I love my husband… =-.
That is without a doubt the best idea ever. I am so jealous of Lily’s artistic abilities. I can’t even draw that well. Sadly, I don’t think my 4yo’s talents are centered in that genre either.
.-= JulieBouf´s last blog ..It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! =-.
That’s adorable. And what a great idea! I had a book that I “wrote” when I was little (I remember something about a picture of everyone eating dinner and it was cereal – because that was easier to draw). But who knows what nappened to it. You’ll have to report on what Lily says.
That is a beautiful gift and I really love Lily’s pictures.
Happy Christmas to you al!!
xxx
.-= Daisie´s last blog ..I Need Your Help!! =-.
That is just awesome Jill – I love it and now want Fiona to hurry up and learn to color so we can do one too!
.-= christy´s last blog ..Our Fabulous Family Reveal, Take Two =-.
I cannot believe that masterpiece only cost 7 bucks.
I’m thinking she inherited your artistic ability!
.-= angie´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday-Holiday Edition =-.
Adorable!
.-= marymac´s last blog ..Merry Fucking Christmas =-.
THAT is perhaps the coolest thing EVER. Way to go, Lily! Way to go, Mommy!
That’s an amazing idea….I would never have thought of doing something like that for Chick. Merry Christmas!!
.-= Emma´s last blog ..Sabbatical =-.
What a cute idea!!! Valerie loves to draw too. Every day she’s drawing and cutting out paper. In fact her birthday wish was for blank paper!
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Christmas Eve =-.
This is a very cool idea. What wonderful treasures for your daughter to have to one day share with her children. Brilliant!
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Happy 101: Top Ten =-.
What a wonderful idea! And a great story! She will LOVE it!
.-= Cara´s last blog ..Sleepnanigans =-.
WOW….Just wow!!! I will have to remember this site for when Madaline gets a bit older. It’s amazing what you can do these days with our the works of art our kids create. I can actually see myself create books for my parents – it is would surely be something they would treasure – Just as Lily will treasure hers.
.-= HaB´s last blog ..The Friday Feature: Bread and Butter, a kitchen shoppe =-.
OMG I absolutely LOVE this idea! How cute! It came out fantastic, too! :) I might have to “borrow” this idea once Ilyana gets bigger… Happy Holidays!
.-= Jaden´s last blog ..Catching Up! Halloween 2009 :) =-.
Oh wow, this is wonderful. My son loves to draw too and the art cabinet is overflowing. I’m going to have to look into doing something like this. Great idea and great story. Your girl is quite the artist!
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..WW – Holiday Edition =-.
That’s awesome. My Mom still has ‘books’ that we made together, I bet she would have loved the lulu option ;)
.-= Keely´s last blog ..I’d write something here about the Star Wars Christmas Special, but I can’t relive that pain: Random Tuesday Thoughts =-.
My, my, that is very creative! And a wonderful Christmas gift idea! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
.-= Chrisy Bates´s last blog ..What I Want for Christmas =-.
Simply loved it.
:)
.-= Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..The Golden Glow =-.
I love it! How awesome that you were able to put them into a book for her & order it. I’m totally going to do this for the kids :) My oldest LOVES making handmade books & comics (he recently added comics) along with drawings. The other kids have followed him in the creativity. It’s wonderful to see what they come up with.
.-= beth aka confusedhomemaker´s last blog ..Wrapping Presents =-.
What an excellent idea. I am totally in love with hardbound books for my digital scrapbook pages. Your little girl is going to be in awe when she gets to show off her very own original book.
.-= Teri´s last blog ..Looks Like Christmas =-.
Oh, that is just too cute!
Makes me nostalgic for things I’ve never even had.
.-= WildlyBland´s last blog ..Hard to swallow… =-.
She will treasure that!!
That is the coolest and sweetest idea ever! Definitely a great gift.
.-= Karie´s last blog ..SEED Power Winner =-.
that is awesome!!! she is an artit in the making and your the best mom ever for doing this!
you are so crafty in the best possible way! I love this. You are such a good Mom. Will you adopt me? So we can make a book together?
.-= dawn´s last blog ..pumpkin spice cookie bark =-.
What a great idea!! My two youngest girls LOVE to draw and write stories and I will have to do this for them. What a priceless thing for them to have. Thanks for telling me about it.
.-= Trina´s last blog ..~~Presents For Purpose Review & Giveaway~~ =-.
how cool!
I bought my son a book making kit last year but it was $20 can’t wait to see how it turned out
.-= Jessica Jones´s last blog ..Beyond Blue: 30 Ways Motherhood is like Mental Illness =-.
You come up with the BEST ideas! Love this one.
.-= Jen @ buried with children´s last blog ..Traditions =-.
That is awesome. What a great idea, making a book that will help her with the move out of her pictures. Her pictures are darling.
.-= Lisa ´s last blog ..Favorite Christmas Traditions =-.
This is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Pres. Kathy´s last blog ..A Child’s Hug =-.
That is pretty much the bestest ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tristan draws a lot so this would be neato! You’re such a wonderful mommy!
Oh, guess what I registered for in March?
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Christmas Greetings & Eatings! =-.
I have the second volume of a book of my little one’s art in the works as we speak! She loves to show it off when people come over. As an added bonus, we send the art to the ‘recycle’ bin after about 6 months and cut down on clutter.
(I need to check out the site you used..ours was way more than a mere $7.00. )
.-= swirl girl´s last blog ..The One In Which She Says "Ho-Ho-Humbug"* =-.
OK you should be called AWESOME Mom! That is so original and BRILLIANT and such a keepsake.
.-= NaomiJesson´s last blog ..2 More Sleeps =-.
I want to do this Noe but my babe is s mere eight months old. So unless I scan in slobber and food randomy strewn about the high chair .
In other words can I steal this idea and claim it for my own two years from now??
.-= Erica´s last blog ..Sad, Sappy kids’ books: A review =-.
Wow, that ROCKS.
I need to go make one for each kid now. I may end up with titles like fuzzy monkeys, and girl in a cage, but who cares.
.-= kelly´s last blog ..Sweet Victory =-.
She draws WONDERFUL pictures and that book is really priceless! I am sure she will absolutely LOVE it!
That is a lot better than a lot of the kids books that we have read. Great job.
Merry Christmas.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Making a List =-.
Sorry, I shouldn’t automatically wish everyone a Merry Christmas without thinking about it first. Forgive me.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Making a List =-.
Jill that is freaking awesome. You are one cool mommy.
.-= DCUrbanDad´s last blog ..Happy Holidays from DC Urban Dad and The Mini-Kamp =-.
What a fantastic idea! And this was a beautiful example. Thanks for encouraging your budding young author. And thanks for the tip for my two boys!
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Group Hug Through the Bloggysphere =-.
OMG…that is the coolest thing ever!
.-= Nap Warden´s last blog ..What Went Down =-.
Seriously awesome gift, in more ways than one. I love that you’re encouraging her creativity. What beautiful illustrations!!!
.-= Rhea´s last blog ..I have a strong desire to go build a school in Pakistan =-.
wow! that is such a cool idea. I can’t wait to do that when my kids are older. Has it arrived yet?
.-= Joy´s last blog ..Fun Foto Friday =-.
Yes! And I love it. :)
Wow, what a cool idea! I have a hardcover book I made in 2nd grade and it’s fun to look at now and then :)
That is so awesome! AND a great keepsake. Very cool!
Get out of here. This is BEAUTIFUL! And for only $7. That is just too awesome for words. I am so glad you are fostering this creativity in her. This is why I think you are the BEST mother on the planet and hardly scary at all! I wish to be more like you! : )
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..A Post that won’t bore; Christmas Presents Galore =-.
AWESOME! I am going to have to do that for the kiddos!
This is great. Just beautiful. I love it when people come up with wonderful ideas. It is amazing what children can teach us. Thanks
.-= happy maker´s last blog ..Choosing To Be Happy: Guest Blog Post by Susan Liddy =-.
You have beautiful photography and I LOVE this idea!!!
Thanks!!!
.-= Alison@howdoesshe´s last blog ..Kids Party Themes 10 Ideas! =-.
O ya I gave you a thumbs up in stumble upon!
.-= Alison@howdoesshe´s last blog ..Kids Party Themes 10 Ideas! =-.