Homemade Christmas--Cookbook Binder

I've got a simple gift solution for a cook in your life! I actually made this a few years ago for a friend's birthday, but it makes a great Christmas gift too. She mentioned to me once that she has lots of recipes to try, but doesn't have anywhere to put them! AHA! I've got a solution! This was easy to put together and I customized it to her families tastes. I used my computer and cricut, but you could totally use stickers and chipboard to get a similar look.

Supplies

3-ring binder (2 inch or larger)

Dividers

Photo corners

3-ring plastic sleeves

Recipe cards

First I printed out all the cookbook catagories in a font that I likes for the tabs of the dividers. I glued them onto two different coordinating scrapbook papers (red and blue were used here!) before I attached them over the tabs.

Next, I added scrapbook paper to the dividers to make them look pretty--again, using red and blue. I printed out the category name on white cardstock and glued into onto the scrapbook paper (I also used a sponge and an ink pad and shaded the edges, just to add another element). I used a scroll from one of my Cricut cartridges and attached it to the top of each category page.

Then, I added colored paper with 2 recipe cards on each page, using the clear photo corners to keep them in place. I also added several clear plastic sleeves that she could add recipe clippings into.

For the cover, I use my Cricut to cut out the letters and attached them to a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper, attached a cute little ribbon and I was done!

This project took me about an hour and a half to make! I am really happy with the result and I believe my friend loves it--which is the best part!

I think it's special to give friends and family homemade gifts--it's a way for you to express your gratitude, almost like giving a little bit of yourself to them, too. Wait until you see what else I've been up too!

Cindy