DIY Wedding
Make a Family Cookbook for Mother's Day or a Wedding Shower!
May 10th, 2009 in patterns & designs, restyle, gifts, memory making
Susan Beal, contributor
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I turned this blank journal made from a repurposed vintage cookbook into our very own family cookbook for Mother's Day!
Photo: Susan Beal
For my first Mother's Day last year, I had a five-day-old baby girl to cuddle and a delicious homemade breakfast plate of French toast to enjoy—the perfect low-key morning for a new family just home from the hospital. This year, I thought I'd make a gift for all three of us: a family cookbook of our favorite recipes, from birthday and button-party cupcakes to the artisan bread I've been making every week. You can make your own super-personalized family cookbook for a mother, a special bride and groom, or anyone who would treasure the collection of heirloom recipes to try. Leaving space for the gift recipient to add his or her own favorites is a nice touch, too!
Note: For a more professional look, you can also create your book using a design or illustration program and print the pages to be bound by hand or at a copy shop. Scan old recipe cards or include family photographs or original drawings if you like, too.
What you'll need:
- A blank book
- Pen
- Copies of favorite recipes
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Glue stick
1. Find a blank book to use for your cookbook. I used a journal from Ex Libris Anonymous, which I found at one of my favorite Portland shops, Q is for Choir. The blank book I found was made with a vintage Betty Crocker Cooky Book...perfect for my theme of baking and desserts!
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This vintage cooky book-turned-journal was perfect for my new collection of family recipes. |
2. Create a table of contents section. I chose to handwrite mine, so I left the first four pages blank to add as I went.
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I handwrote my table of contents as I went, including page numbers for each recipe. |
3. Begin handwriting or pasting in your favorite recipes, adding each one to the table of contents list as you go with page numbers. For printed copies (like the Martha Stewart cupcake recipe I adore and my grandmother's recipes from an old family reunion cookbook), I trimmed the edges and then pasted them in with a glue stick.
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I made copies of my grandmother's wonderful recipes from an old family reunion cookbook and pasted those right into my new book. |
I also hand-copied many favorites, like the artisan bread I make and a scone recipe, and I credited each recipe's source.
5. Add handwritten notes to recipes you have special ties to, or tips for substitutions or variations. Leave blank pages for adding new recipes later.
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I added notes to my favorite cupcake and shortbread cookie recipes, mentioning substitutions and special extras. |
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Of course I had to include my Button It Up cookies and cupcakes! |
6. Surprise your lucky recipient with his or her new cookbook! Maybe a set of handmade or embellished pot holders or a handsewn apron would be a nice gift to go with it.
Happy Mother's Day, everyone!
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Comments (2)
Posted: 1:10 pm on May 11th
Posted: 7:41 pm on May 10th