A New Recipe Book

Hi everyone and welcome.  So lovely to have you here for a visit.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day and you are well and keeping safe.  Life is still not back to normal here as yet but, hopefully, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and it won't be long before things are back to normal.

Okay.  So, I have been a little busy in my craft room of late and I would like to share what I've been working on. 

Yup!  Been making myself a Recipe Book.  Not your usual recipe book though.  This one was made to hold recipe cards and will only hold a limited number of them.  During our lock down time,  when we  couldn't go out to eat, I found a few different things to make for dinner while watching You Tube and had the recipes printed out for reference.  As you can imagine, the paper gets quite messy when it's sitting on the kitchen bench while you're cooking so, this book is meant to alleviate that problem.  Hopefully, anyway.

The base covers are made from chipboard and the spine is covered in fabric.  I used a heavy duty file folder to mat the covers.  They have a plastic type surface which means it will be easier to keep clean.   For the label, I used a Kaisercraft die for the frame and printed the title on my computer.  It was heat embossed with clear embossing powder, again, to make sure it would stay reasonably clean.
Yes, I am a messy cook.  Almost as messy in the kitchen as I am in my craft room.  LOL!

The clip art graphic was fussy cut and coated with Glossy Accents before being adhered to the cover.  Looks a bit blurry here but it does look a lot better in real life.

The inside front cover and first page.   I used papers by Tim Holtz and Kaisercraft and simply created pockets to hold the recipe cards.  Most people I know, keep their recipe cards in a box but, for me, a book is much easier to store.  There are four pages in this book and each one is designed the same.  Just the  papers are different.

So far, I have only added pockets to the right hand side.  If I find I need more, it will be easy enough to add them to the left side later. 

The paper I wanted to use on the left hand side was not wide enough so I joined two pieces of paper together using washi tape.  I found this idea watching a video by Jennifer from JenofEve Designs and I loved the look so much that I have used it on all of the left side pages.  

  The pocket on the inside back cover ..

.. will be used to keep any new recipes I find until I have the time to write them up on a card.

 As you can see, I do have a few of them already.

I created my own recipe cards as I couldn't find any printable ones that were suitable.  I wanted them to be double sided, with the ingredients on one side and the method on the other and, although I can print these out completely on my computer, I decided to hand write them.  Not as neat, but I do enjoy writing them out and, I can certainly use the practice. 

In the pocket on the inside front cover I have place a small, plastic plate stand ..

.. which will be used ..

.. to hold the card when in use.  Another way to keep things relatively clean!  LOL!

I've already used it a few times and it worked a treat.  Even managed not to mess it up.  Not yet, anyway!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and for any little comment you might like to leave for me to read.  I really do appreciate it.

Enjoy the rest of your day, stay safe and God Bless.

'Nature' - A Journal created for Megs Garden

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog, again today.  I hope you are still enjoying your day and I am so pleased you dropped by for another visit.  Most unusual for me to have two posts in the one day but it just so happened that my Design Team posts fell due on the same day!!

This time I would like to share with you a small Journal I have created with the stunning Forgotten Meadows Book Kit designed by Kerry-Jean Watson for Megs Garden.

These papers have some gorgeous floral graphics and I chose the lovely Wisteria for my cover.  Added a hint of colour  under the cluster with a spray and also added a little texture.

The chippies are from 2Crafty Chipboard and they were simply coloured with acrylic paint and then coated with Crackle Accents.

These lovely blooms are also from Megs Garden.   The 'Puffy Paper Flower' and the 'Mini Rose' were coloured with watered down acrylic paints.

Instead of cutting the papers for the inside to size I decided to tear all the edges and then ink them with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Found some lovely 'Nature' quotes on the net and incorporated them into my Journal.  Added some washi tape and ribbon and also some seed beads.

The first two pages ..

The pages in this booklet simply fold out.  Opening the left hand page reveals these two pages.

 Another 2Crafty Chipboard piece ...

 ... and the lovely vintage image came from the cut and create pages.

Opening the right hand side reveals these pages.

Added a little stamping on this page and sewed it around the edge.  I did quite a bit of sewing in this book, it's a great way to attach paper strips, ribbons and labels etc.

Love the brilliant colours on this butterfly.

The 'butterfly' page opens again to reveal these two pages.

I fussy cut one of the floral graphics and mounted it with some foam dots.

All the metal pieces are available at Megs Garden and I swiped them all with Ranger Metal Patina in Rust.

Here is the book fully opened.

 The back cover showing another beautiful floral graphic.  

 
 ... and the back of the booklet fully opened.

  I love the details on these papers.  Apart from the floral graphics there's lots of yummy crackle effects and textures .. simply stunning to work with.
To take a close look at this collection HERE is the Link.  It is available in 12 x 12 papers, a mini pack specially for card makers and also the fabulous Book Kit I've used here.  You can buy them already printed or as a digital download.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this post and gained some inspiration.  Why not go over to the Megs Garden Blog and take a look at all the fabulous projects created by the rest of the Team.  HERE is the Link.
To see all of the wonderful products Megs Garden has in store HERE is the link to the Website. 

Megs Garden products used
Forgotten Meadows Book Kit
White Heirloom Flower
Small White Roses
Puffy Paper Flower
Primrose Posy - Cream
Dodo Vine Wire
Tim Holtz Mini Gears
Vintage Trinkets - Leaves #1
Filigree long Oval
Lace - Off White 1.2cm
Lace - Cream 2.2cm
Black & White Washi Tape
More Butterflies Transparency

Thank you so much for visiting and do enjoy the rest of your day.
Take care and God Bless.
Marg oxox