DIY Recipe Book

Today Kara is going to share a darling recipe book she recently created...I moved into my first apartment earlier this year and I've had a great time experimenting in the kitchen. Though my recipe organization leaves a lot to be desired... I finally put together a DIY recipe book to keep my favorites organized and I'm excited to share how today!1. Find a old or vintage recipe book at a thrift or antique store. I chose one with ring binding, so it'd be easier to flip through. Most thrift stores have tons of old recipe books for super cheap! 2. Use a thick piece of paper or cardboard to make new organizer tabs. I cut up a record cover for mine!  3. Next, label the tabs however you would like. I used a white Signo pen to write on the labels, but you could use a labelmaker or letter stickers! There are certainly more categories, but these are the 5 categories I cook most from.  4. Now staple the category tabs to another small piece of cardboard. Depending on the type of book and cover you use, the length will vary. You'll want to staple the new tabs in succession so they are equally visible. Staple the tabs directly on to the recipe book's pages.Decorate the recipe pages and title pages with your preferred embellishments. I used a 1960s Ladies Home Journal to decorate the title pages with corresponding images. Most old, lady-magazines have plenty of recipe photos! Again, I used a white Signo pen to doodle on the titles. Add a new title to your recipe book and cover up any words you don't want. I used part of a LHJ page again for consistency.Now it's time to add in your favorite recipes! You could use recipe cards, but I printed out my favorite recipes on regular printer paper and embellished them over the recipe book pages. You could also take photos of your completed recipes to add to the pages! This would look super cute with instant photos.And now you have your very own personalized recipe book. This would be a great wedding gift idea! xo. Kara

Comments

[Emily Wind]

This is so great! What a wonderful idea! Looks so totally cute too! xoxo, Emily

[mary]

so smart! thanks for sharing. looks like it's time to start printing off some recipes.

[Cesia]

I need to do something like this! Such a great idea!

[Toi]

This is really cool! Much better than throwing random recipes in a box, like I currently am :)

[♥ Jessica]

Great idea! I love re-purposing thrift store finds.

[Phoebe]

This is so sweet and crafty it's like a cook book scrapbook

[3lin]

so creative !!

[Rory]

Totally love it! All of the recipes I've clipped out and printed are just floating around in a big drawer in my kitchen...I need to do this!!! :)
Rory
http://www.wearaboutsblog.com

[Elizabeth Beattie]

Love this and will be totally doing it! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Kerry]

This is such a great idea! I really need to organize my recipe collection, and this kind of book looks like the perfect way to do it. I have a big collection of paint swatches in pretty colors that I could cut up and use for the tabs. I can't wait to get started!

[Jess]

This is a lot better than scribbling them down on post-it notes..haha that's what I've been doing so far. =)

-Jess
http://wearegypsies.blogspot.com

[shannon]

this is so lovely. great job!

http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

[Rima]

this is uber cute! thanks for sharing :)

Rima

[Gina]

ADORE this, and I love your writing.

www.eatblogpray.blogspot.com
xo

[Trish]

This is so precious. I'll definitely be making my own version of this soon!

[irene wibowo]

cool.. :) http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com

[Heather]

Sooo perfect! Would be fun for a couple to put together a book of their favorites! Might try this out with my mister, actually!
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

[Otter Mei]

Perfect! I'm about to move out too and I'll read a good way to keep track of all my recipes. I've made an art journal, but this is way more practical. :P Great post!

[Norma Diaz]

This is such a great idea!
My recipe journal is very plain, i'll def be trying this Thanks!

xo,

N|D

http://rainbowsandtress.blogspot.com/

[Samira]

Love it!!! This is such a great idea!!!! I love how it looks!!!