This is the gift I made this holiday season that I wanted to keep for myself. But that wouldn’t be fair for the originally intended recipient, now would it?
So I may be making a second one someday. Until then, I will share with you.
Because you can’t go wrong with this gift to your favorite blogger or cook. It is useful and practical while still being personal and hand-crafted.
How-To Make a Personalized Recipe Book
(Ingredients)
To start, collect your favorite recipes. I chose to primarily use recipes from my own blog and some of my other favorite food blogs, with a few select cookbook recipes thrown in. You’ll want to either stick to a theme or collect a good variety of recipes so that you don’t get to the end only to realize that you have all appetizer and dessert recipes and no entrees.
I wrote out some of the recipes by hand, and printed the rest. The printed recipes were backed by patterned paper, since the printer paper is so thin.
Next, get some coordinated paper. Ideally, you should have some solid pieces (on which to write recipes directly) and some patterned pieces (for backing your printed recipes, quotes and divider pages). Double-sided paper is best. Almost all of the paper I used was from Basic Grey’s Nook & Pantry collection. The food and kitchen themed package seemed appropriate, no?
Finally, you’ll need a photo album with plastic protective sleeves. I used a 3-ring photo album that holds two 4″x6″ pictures per page.
Oh, and one more optional addition: favorite quotes and personal messages for the recipient. Since I was giving this book to Heather, I chose some of my favorite comments on my blog and titled each one “Then Heather Said…”
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(Instructions)
To make the recipe cards, cut paper to fit your protective sleeves. If you don’t have enough recipe to fill all the sleeves, put the extra page protectors in the back so that the recipient can add their own recipes over time!
Add some fun and personality with your quotes and messages, along with sketches and special instructions as you see fit. Some examples:
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To make the divider pages, cut out a rectangle that is about 1″ wider and 1″ taller than one of the protective sleeves. Leave a tab on the outer edge upon which to write the recipe category.
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If you don’t like the look of the outside of your photo album, cover with decorative paper.
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Assemble and gift. Be prepared for excitement when the gift is opened!
What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?
All photos courtesy of Heather
I love this! So original and cute- most have been so much work!
i think my photos look better on your blog than mine.
Such a cute and thoughtful gift!!
what a beautiful gift!
and personalized too.
This is an amazing gift! I will be saving this for upcoming friends weddings/engagements and possibly even for Christmas or birthdays this year! Love it!
Such an incredible gift idea! I would be ecstatic to receive one and would feel very proud to give one as a gift to someone else. Those types of gifts are treasured.
That is so, so cute! I would LOVE to make something like that for my mom with all of our family recipes. Her birthday is coming up — oh what a GREAT idea!!
julie, this is such an awesome idea!! i’m sure heather absolutely loved it…but i can see how you wanted to keep it for yourself!! i love homemade projects like this!
IT’S TRUE~ i do LOVE it!!
That is an amazing idea for a recipe book!! That would be so fun to give to someone for a wedding shower gift!
That is such a creative and thoughtful gift idea! I love the drawings to explain the instructions
OMG that is the cutest thing I have ever seen! I love it and want to make one NOW!
What a cute idea. I love homemade gifts – they have so much more meaning!
Love it!!! I truly love this idea. And I was eyeing some of those recipe titles and now have to search your site for the actual recipes!!
oh my gosh, this looks amazing! the best gift i ever gave was to my sister when she graduated from high school. i made her a scrapbook. it took FOREVER to make, but it was so worth it!
SUCH a cute idea!! I am definitely doing this for someone. this is such a great idea id love to receive this as a present!
What a great idea! And I love the way that you really personalized it and added cute scrapbook touches! This is such a sweet and thoughtful gift! I can’t wait to make my own and share it!
That is such a great gift!
Last year I gave my niece every picture of her kids that I had taken (on my phone – the iPhone takes some pretty decent pics) developed and put them in a cute little album well she freaked about it so I did it again this year. She asked if it could become her tradition gift… So I guess that’s a good one (I also did the same thing for my friend with pics of her dog)
So cute! You just gave me the best idea for my bff’s upcoming birthday!
Jessica
I adore this idea! I’ve put together cookbooks for people before, but now I’ll definitely include the added personalization. Hmm… a benefit of blog-land – all these quotes are written down
Wonderful present idea.
This is such a cute idea! I’ll have to save this and give it a try for Christmas and birthdays this year!
Cute idea. I have been wanting to do something with favorite recipes for my 3 adult kids. At least once a week I get a call on “how do you make?” from one of them.
This is an awesome idea! I always receive or purchase cook books that I only find a few recipes I like. This would be great because it’s what us “normal” people use and such. I think I might try this!
Very nifty idea there! After you’ve done such a good thing such as that, do you think now what. You probably always come up with good ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Whoops forgot ? After now what? Anyway you have a great day!
cool
What a great gift! It would be a perfect idea from a group for a shower.
Great ideas!!
I love giving and getting home made gifts…They are the best.. wish more people were into these kinds of things. thanks so much for the great idea!
My friend suggested I do this for my kids for when they get married. After having seen yours, I think I’m going to do it. Thanks
Very creative, I’d like one also!:)
Great idea and a great way to start a family receipe collection to pass down for generations!
I love the recipe book idea for a present. I will save that for Christmas
Omg.. It’s so beautiful! After reading this post, I’m left wondering when will I ever receive such a thoughtful gift.. :(( kudos to you for coming up with such a beautiful idea!!
You could always make one for yourself
Any ideas on where I can get some of these sleeves from? I’m looking online and finding it difficult to find some the same?
Thanks,
Mel
Hmm, I recovered a photo album that had two spots for 4×6″ photos on each page. I would look for a photo album, or photo album refills. Hope that helps!
Great idea and a great way to start a family receipe collection to pass down for generations!
I might make this for myself …. is that terribly selfish?
Ha, not at all!
I am wondering how you covered the album? Did you modge podge the paper?
I just used double-sided tape (and a lot of it)! But I think ModPodge would help the edges hold down even better!
I have been putting this project off for nearly 20 years now. I have a variety of recipes that I have bee collecting for YEARS! We moved 1,000 from our family and this year I don’t think we will be there for the holidays. With some of your ideas, I WILL be sending home several of these to be opened up at Christmas. Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.
I’m sure your family will love their gifts!
I have been putting this project off for nearly 20 years now. I have a variety of recipes that I have been collecting for YEARS! We moved 1,000 from our family and this year I don’t think we will be there for the holidays. With some of your ideas, I WILL be sending home several of these to be opened up at Christmas. Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.
LOVE THIS!! I’m looking into do this for my mom right now. Been trying to gather materials. What size/kind of binder did you use? Did you find the 4×6 size to be big enough/roomy enough? How did the decorated paper on the cover hold up?
Thanks in advance!!!
I used a photo album that held 2 4×6″ images/cards per page. I have small handwriting, so the 4×6″ worked well for me. BUT you could just as easily use a larger photo album and larger recipe cards if you’d prefer!
The decorated paper on the cover did okay, though I haven’t seen the book in the past 2 years or so (the recipient lives far away). I think Mod Podge over the whole thing, or possibly clear contact paper, would help protect it though!