How to Use a Recycled Notebook for Recipes

Cover an old, school three-ring binder and fill with your favorite recipes and hints. This pattern covers an 11 1/2 by 10-inch notebook.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Buttons
• Ribbons
• Rickracks
• Seamstress Measuring Tapes
• Batting
• Brown Paper Bags
• Clear Contact Paper
• Fabrics
• Felt
• Needles
• Plastic Cover Sheets
• Sewing Machine
• Threads
• Recipe Cards
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Velcro Tabs
• Felt-tip Pens
• Index Cards
• Index Labels
• Three Ring Notebooks
• Rulers

Make Cover

1. Cut a piece of fabric 13 inches by 45 inches for the cover.

2. Fold over 1/4 inch and use a zigzag stitch around the cover for a hem.

3. Lay material with right side up.

4. Fold over 10 inches on each long end with right sides together. The fabric should now be the size of your cover.

5. Pin, check size, and make adjustments if needed.

6. Sew a 1/2-inch seam only on the folded section of each side. Do this on both ends of the cover.

7. Turn fabric right side out and you should have little pockets on each end to slip the notebook flaps into.

Decorate Cover

8. Cut a gingerbread man from brown felt.

9. Decorate with buttons and rickrack.

10. Glue to notebook cover by using fabric glue.

11. Copy your favorite cookie recipe onto an index card.

12. Cover card with clear contact paper.

13. Glue to notebook under gingerbread man.

14. Trim around edge of card with matching rickrack or ribbon.

Add Recipes

15. Print out recipes using larger print for easier reading.

16. Slip recipes in a plastic cover sheet.

17. Use thicker card stock to place index labels on for each section such as cookies, pies, casseroles, holidays and so forth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make a padded slip cover by cutting a piece of batting just a bit smaller than notebook and placing it in the slip cover.
• If you plan to wash your cover from time to time, then use Velcro tabs to attach the gingerbread man and recipe card so they can be removed before washing.