Cook Book Covers

Do you remember when I organized my most used recipes last month? Do you see those cookbooks in the back? They didn’t match and it was bugging me, so I had to do something about it.

I started with the binder in the back. It’s actually for take-out menus, but we probably use it almost as much as the cookbooks.

I just inserted some cute scrapbook paper behind the clear plastic cover.

Made a cute label out of paper and stickers.

Then stuck it on the scrapbook paper and called it good.

Here’s the inside. I just slid the menus into paper protectors and now they’re easily found when we have the urge for take-out or when nobody feels like cooking.

The paperclip is for take-out coupons, so we don’t forget to use them.

I covered the next cookbook with scrapbook paper too. First I adhered it to the original cover with a glue stick.

Front and back.

Then I made another cute label with paper and stickers.

I embellished this one a little more with rub-ons.

Then I just adhered it to the front of the book and mod podged the whole cover.

Now food spills should just wipe right off the cover.

For the next 2 covers I thought I’d try my hand at using fabric. First I cut the fabric about an inch bigger than the binder, all the way around.

Then I used heat’n bond on the back of the fabric. Just iron it on for about 10 seconds. Let it cool.

Then peel it off. It made the fabric a little stiff and easier to work with. It was easier to apply the mod podge too, without worrying about it seeping through the fabric.

I mod podged the outside front, back and side of the binder first.

Then I started working on the inside. I didn’t worry about it being perfect, but I did want it to turn out smooth with nice corners. I started by folding in the corner and mod podging it in place.

Then I glued the top, bottom and sides with mod podge.

Making sure the corners layed pretty flat and looked nice.

Here’s the completed inside of the cookbook.

And how it looks from the outside.

I covered this book the same way.

But used a vintage fabric that was sent to me in a gift swap by Kolien at Kitchen Table Productions. I have some fun ideas for the other fabric she sent me too, but you’ll have to wait until I dust the cobwebs off my sewing machine.

Doesn’t this corner of the kitchen look so much better? I might even cook more now, but probably not.

See that grinder? That also came from Kolien and I love it. Right now it’s holding rocks from places that are special to me.