The Happy Planner Recipe Project

 I am in the middle of working on a project.  It's a meal planning project really, but it involves my getting together my favorite of all time recipes together.  And, guess what...the Happy Planner Recipe book is just the ticket to get it done!  Above is the corner of my office where my recipes live.  In the basket, my Happy Planner supplies to make this meal planning/favorite recipes book.

 I started off by writing down some of my favorite meals in a huge brain storming session, then made index pages for them by category.

 I am writing down the recipes in sections of the planner.  You will notice I recreated the index tabs to suit my needs for this book.  I added page numbers.  On the index page I wrote which page the recipe can be found on.  I am not going for alphabetical order for the recipes, I am just focusing on getting them into their sections.

 Just another shot of the book.

 This is my recipe corner of our office.  It is right by the kitchen, so I can keep my collection close, but have so much room to organize them.  I have been collecting recipes since I was a kid...no kidding.  I remember sending away SASE's to food companies and waiting ever so patiently for the mailman to bring me an envelope of recipes!  I used to do it all of the time...now I can search the net and print off oodles of recipes.  Which I do, and you will see the file cabinet to prove it in a few pictures.

 This cupboard is full of recipes that I collected from swaps, and some o my collection of books.  I actually weeded out some of my books when we moved...believe it or not!

 The corner cupboard has a collection of recipe cards that I have on the upper shelves, and more books on the bottom.  I am weeding through these as I am working on this project.  Tastes change, health issues come up and demand different things...it happens.

 Here is the other side o the cupboard, full of more books.  I really have a problem!

 Then, my awesome file cabinets!  I love this part of the office.  The other side of the office is a mirror image of these cupboards and cabinets, by the way...It is an awesome office!

 These files are full of magazine page clippings, printouts, etc.  The top file are recipes made and enjoyed, the bottom is recipes I have collected that I would like to try.

 They are all categorized by type of dish.  Very organized!

 In the second set of file cabinets I have one for collecting magazines, until I go through them and clip the recipes I want.

This one is EMPTY!!!  What should I fill this one with???

Anyway...I have always kept a list of favorite recipes, and where to find them.  I am just using the Happy Planner to get the ultimate favorites in one place.  Also, if I am really good, this small book full of the favorites is portable, and can be taken to the store to use to get the ingredients!  In meal planning, it will serve to help me make a plan for the week.  I think it's going to turn out awesome!

Thanks for looking, and remember to stay crafty, my friends!!!

An Update on my Recipe Index Binder

 I made this double-three-ring binder to use as an index for my recipes.  I just wanted to show you what it's starting to look like.  I have about half of my favorite recipes and their locations in this book, and I have already used it.  I just put the name in the book, where it is located, and now I can find them so easily!

This book is working out great!!!  It is making it sooooooo much easier to find my recipes now.  I could remember what the recipe was, but where it was had become such a problem.

Stay Crafty (and Hungry), My Friends!

An Upcycled Recipe Index System

 I love to cook, and I have collected a ton of recipe books, as well as the clippings and printouts from the internet.  I recently decided that I needed a system of indexing my collection.  When I find a recipe I like, I flag it in the book.  That seems like a great idea, until you can't remember which book that particular book was in.  So, I need one place where I can write down the recipe name, and where it is, so that I can find them easier.  I found this huge book at the Goodwill for 3 bucks!  This is perfect.

 Just wanted to show you the pictures in the book...these come into play later.  I found the binder mechanisms at a scrapbook show for 50 CENTS EACH!  I grabbed up several of them, and this project is a perfect opportunity to use them.  I wanted to be able to add and remove pages from my index as needed.

 I didn't have the screws and acorn caps to attach the binder mechanism to the book.  So, after removing the pages of the book, and figuring out where the holes needed to be, I punched the holes, and used these brads that look like screws...

 I used hot glue under the mechanism where the brad would come through, then glued it down, and then set the brad.

 Then I had these little baubles that are perfect to glue over the tines of the brad to cover them and give a finished look.

 After I took out the pages of the book, I covered the spine with another piece of chipboard to strengthen it, then covered that with one of the books index pages.  I added a mechanism to the left and to the right sides of the book...

 The rings are not very big, and I wanted to be able to have as much space as I could, so I made a double-three-ring-binder!  I did have to cut the pages a bit to make them fit, but the filler paper is still 10" tall by 6 1/2" wide.  I got the paper with the reinforced hole edge, because I wanted the pages to be able to take some wear-and-tear.

 It closes perfectly!

 I tore out all of the pictures of the book, and used them for divider pages.

I punched out tabs from the index pages, then used scraps of manilla folders to punch out labels, and wrote all of the categories I wanted for my index.

I then rummaged through my stash and came up with this little bit of dangle for the spine.  I looped them though an eyelet that I set in it.

Well, what do you think?  Now I have to just sit and add my recipe names to my index, and remember to keep it up, and I will never spend an hour trying to find that perfect cocktail sauce recipe ever again!

Stay Crafty My Friends!