Jan 1, 2012

My Recipe Binder

It's been over 28 years since I moved to Arizona right after college. Before I left, I rummaged through my mom's recipe box and copied down a few favorites. I really didn't know how to cook that well, but I figured (hoped) I could follow a recipe. I moved to Arizona with one vessel to cook in - a Wok. I had no pots or pans, but since I moved out to Arizona without a job and I really didn't even know where I was going to live, kitchen stuff was the least of my worries.

Fast forward through those 28 years...my mom visiting and bringing more recipes with her. Her homemade french bread, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread cookies...of course I never made those myself. But she was out here often enough that she kept copies of those recipes here. Handwritten recipes and notes of what and when they were made. Each time she visited, we had to search for those recipes as they undoubtedly were stuck in a cookbook or under a pile of papers somewhere. It was frustrating to say the least.

When my local scrappy buddies first came up with the idea of a recipe binder, I was hesitant. I still don't consider myself much of a cook (try being a great cook with 5 males in the house who are super picky and rarely eat the same thing), so I wasn't sure I wanted to go through the hassle of making one. Then I remembered the mess all my recipes were in and thought I'd start one digi-style.


I chose a gorgeous kit called Here's the Dish by Melissa Bennett and Heather Roselli to make the covers and divider pages. I also used a variety of templates by Cindy Schneider that I altered quite a bit to fit what I needed.


I started with a 3" black binder with pockets for inserts. I chose coordinating cardstock for the tabs and used Staples Photo Supreme Double-Sided Matte papers for printing. The only other supplies I needed were a corner rounder and my paper cutter and some ribbon (to decorate the cover).


I designed my divider pages using the kit and template. I used a quote on each page and with the beauty of digi-scrapping...I printed each twice and put them in a page protector so that either way the book was open, I could see my pretty divider page. :)


My categories are: drinks, appetizers, salads, main dishes, sides, snacks, breads, desserts. The tabs were printed on a regular piece of cardstock, cut down, then I used my corner rounder on the sides.


I also reversed the cover (another perk of digi-scrapping!) for the back, and made a spine insert.


For my recipes, I put everything in page protectors. It keeps them clean. Some of my friends, though, had a lot more recipes and just used a 3-hole punch and put them in without the protectors. Many of my recipes were on recipe cards. Many were written by my mom and some by my late dad. There was no way I was going to sacrifice those momentos for a prettily scrapped recipe. Plus, all those recipe cards I hand-wrote when I moved out to Arizona - I kept those as is also. So my binder has ended up a mish-mash. And I love it that way!


If you do put in your recipe cards, you'll want to put those in a page protector so you can see the front and back of them.



Here's some of my mom's notes I've saved and added them in next to the recipes. How priceless is that! Especially the times when my parents came out when my boys were born and she took care of all of us.



Here's the rest of my divider pages. 


When my mom visited this past summer, I had her bring out her most favorite recipes from her recipe box - there were random notes, newspaper clippings, and various recipe cards. I took pictures of all the recipes I wanted and will add them to the book. So I still have some work to do! She was thrilled that we don't have to hunt for her recipes anymore - she knows to head straight for my new binder. 

38 comments:

  1. What an awesome recipe binder! Heather and Melissa should totally scoop with you and sell these as a set of printables!

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    1. I’ve been scouring the internet for a week looking for the ephemera set you used, looked at every kit and template under the sun, and can’t find one that’s even half as cute as yours! Also it’s 2022 and the set you used is nowhere online, which is more upsetting than I’d like to admit.

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  2. LOVE this, Mary! I'm about to embark on my own recipe binder project this year -and this is a great inspiration!

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  3. I absolutely love your binder. I like the idea of using the page protectors too. I think you might be inspiring me to start this as one of my projects this year. I had started a recipe photo book but I like the idea of being able to add to a binder any time.

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  4. This is totally awesome. I totally need to make myself one of these. :)

    Marla @ www.blueskiesphotoblog.com

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  5. Oh i love this!! my favorite part is the fact you didn't re-write or change anything about the look of the recipes. I love keeping things classic.

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  6. OMGoodness Mary this is amazing! (also wth I've never seen that gorgeous kit before! lol) I love how you've divided your book and YAY you for putting it all together! :D I do have a few recipes I was thinking of putting into cards then laminating it, because while the binder is an awesome idea, it's kinda bulky for my tiny kitchen. Of course I have yet to do this since I hardly cook BWAHAHAHA.

    BTW, your blog name? Pure WIN :D

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  7. Your binder is gorgeous! Maybe that's what I should've done. I made a recipe box last year but never use it. (I don't have many recipes in it) Did you have a bunch before? It says you had some from your parents, did you add new ones?

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  8. Beautiful binder. I love it. I use a recipe box for all my recipes, and scrap them up all pretty :) whenever I get a new one. Have fun cookin'! :D

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  9. I've had a boring three-ring binder with page protectors (they do get dripped on) and my recipes typed up. I've started adding quite a few recipes to my blog too, for an electronic and easy to share anywhere backup :)

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  10. Does the scrapbook pack have everything needed to make all the title pages. I want to make my daughter one for her graduation present next year and need to know what all I need. Would you possibly get in touch with me? johnmonica.chaffin@yahoo.com Thanks! MONICA

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  11. I love this idea so much!! I want to make my mom one for Christmas!
    How does this work? I went to the website..do you order it and create it at home with the tools given? I thought it was all created online but I don't understand how to start! Hope to hear back from you!
    Thanks! :)

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  12. Wow! This is beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  13. I love that you have made such a beautiful recipe book, but more so you've made a memory of the times of togetherness and love with your family that can be shared for a life time<3 My daughter will be married in Oct and I want to do something like this and include little stories and pictures. Thank you for shareing your beautiful labor of love =)

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  14. I have a binder. Each page is decorated with stamps and punches from Stampin'Up! My mom a sister and I made them in a group. We shared embellishments from various sources. After Mom died, I gave her binder to my baby sister, who couldn't attend our sessions. Mom made me write all of her recipes by hand.

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    1. so thoughtful of you to give your moms binder to your sister :)

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  15. Wow so cool! That is one special book. Very nice that you included the notes from over the years also.

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  16. I need some extreme help!!! I have bought this kit but I have NO IDEA how to make a "scrapbook look" using my mac!! The only way I can think of to get it to look like yours is to print off each and every piece in the kit then cut it and glue it on... I am not that tech savvy as you can probably tell.
    What program did you use?

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  17. I just found your recipe binder, and I have to say it is absolutely amazing!! It is one of the best I've ever seen. I've bought the kit, but I'm having trouble with the templates. I would like to create one that looks similar to yours, and I was just wondering what templates you used. I would really appreciate any help you can give me, since I am very new at this. If you can help, my email is gleek2266@yahoo.com. Again, I would appreciate any help you can give. Thanks!

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  18. I just love your recipe book. I was wondering if the pages you got for each category is there a printable by chance??????? I been trying to find one that O can download and use for my new Recipe book that I am trying to put together. Or if you know where I can download please e-mail me at owens_92@live.com. Thanks again!!!

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  19. Here is a very cute one also. http://pinkpolkadotcreations.com/recipes/recipe-book-dividers/

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  20. Can you please help me and call or email me to help explain to me how you did this? Ive been trying to download things and id rather do it on my computer so can you pleaseeeeee help me!! 2083054782 sweber2327@gmail.com

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  21. I have been trying to make one for years by typing everything out....this is way better and gorgeous also!!! Thank you for sharing!

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  22. Do you have a download available??? I love what you have done and would love to be able to print this out for my cookbook binder. Can you email me at jennylynnmeek@yahoo.com
    Thanks!

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  23. I would also love to have a set of the divider pagers and the back binder too
    ssage@cinergymetro.net

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  24. Good morning! I was wondering if you would sell these pages?

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  25. Hello...do you sell these? Email me at shory25f@icloud.com. I would pay for them

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  26. Hi,
    I loved your work....this is so creative. Can I get the printables of the covers and spine title please if they are available for purchasing or there is any other site where I can get them? Please contact me on this id: ummhuda90@gmail.com

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  27. Love it! I live in AZ also & also have a ton of recipes from my mom(s), my grandmas, great aunts, friends associates and of course of my own! I want to make my own version also. I currently have one that I’ve hand written that I refer to all the time yet I’d like it legible to others... I think that will be my newest project!

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  28. Do you know how I may be able to find this set to purchase. I have looked everywhere I can think of but nothing called heres the dish. Thank you for your time. Lori Mayers

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    1. ladylane4@aol.com is my email. Not sure this blog is still being published.. Lori Mayers

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  29. Hi! I’m reaching out on the chance that you still get emails from this blog. I’ve been scouring the internet for a week looking for the Here’s the Dish set you used, looked at every kit and template under the sun, and can’t find one that’s even half as cute as yours! Also it’s 2022 and the set you used is nowhere online, which is more upsetting than I’d like to admit. I’d love to buy printables or a kit from you. My email is callieamartin@gmail.com.

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  30. I love your cookbook binder. My grandchildren have asked for a recipe book of family recipes for Christmas. I have everything: papers, stamps, embellishments and have similar ideas as yours. My problem is the 3 oldest of the 6 did not learn cursive and can’t read it!! So sad! So I can’t photo copy the recipes that are hand written. I will need to type them up and print them! I am so excited to see how they turn out.

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  31. I have looked for this kit for over 5 yrs. Was going to make for oldest daughter. She passed from cancer a few yrs ago. Would u sell ur pages to me?
    diannemcdermott249@gmail.com

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