Souvenirs are part of the travel experience for some people. If that's her main joy, cutting it out kills the fun of the trip for her. Maybe the budget just needs to include that as a planned expense.

I saw a video last week where a bookbinder said the paste should be the consistency of whole milk. @the_david is totally right about the thin mix, it seems like the biggest rookie mistake is making it too thick. That pillow effect you described is exactly what happens, the spine gets all lumpy and weird. A damp cloth to clean up the squeeze-out makes the final product look so much more professional. It's one of those small details that makes a huge difference in the finished book.

That Seattle writing blog was the one that made me try the 'What if' thing for like a solid year. Honestly, it made every story idea feel like a bad movie trailer. Your sock example is way better, it makes me actually care about the person doing the mailing. Tbh I've started with "What's the worst way to..." and that gets me into the character's bad decisions right away.

My friend swore her prom was sunny until we found a soaked dress photo.

One talk helps, but consistent reminders are key.