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Monday, June 28, 2021

Altered Cookbook with Better Homes and Garden Binder

Hi my friends!

Last week while thrifting, I found this vintage apron 

that went so well with a cookbook

that I am altering.


I planned to remake the cookbook with lots of pockets


and places to save favorite family recipes.




I needed to start with some retro kitchen themed paper.

I feel in love with

Country Kitchen 

from  Carta Bella

https://www.scrapbook.com/


Here's the link for the paper!

https://www.scrapbook.com/store/cbp-cbck76016.html



Look at this adorable sticker page!

It comes with the set.



       First I cleaned the cover thoroughly-


The book was in good shape but faded on the spine-


I was  able to fix this with my distressed ink pad.






Then I removed all the pages from the cookbook. Then I decided

which ones I would keep and which ones I would alter.

I was able to keep all the dividers to alter.






I went through my papers and scraps and worked out a plan.


I used one of the dividers as a template for my added pages.

I used a small hand held paper punch, scissors and some glue.

The inside cover has a pocket and all the divided

sections also  have a pocket.












I used some of the best pictures from the cookbook.

Like this Angel food cake with pink frosting!






































I added a vintage Westinghouse Electric Range brochure-











That was a small sampling of the pages.




I didn't want to pack it too full !

There is room to grow.



Thanks for visiting today-

Maybe I inspired you to make a one-of-a-kind cookbook.



Update; Sold
 




I hope you have a wonderful week!

xo Lisa S

53 comments:

  1. Cool! I never saw one with a binder but that's a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy,
      Be On the Lookout [BOLO] for these binders- They are great for repurposing. Thanks for your visit my friend!
      Have a great week.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  2. I made an apron just like that in home make class when, I was 13 years old. Remember, those classes. I used this cookbook when, I got married. My mother handed it down to me. Thank you for the memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rebecca,
      I love aprons-but They are so pretty I don't want to
      use them :)
      In reality this was the only cookbook we needed. It has everything. Thanks for sharing your memories with me.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  3. What a great altered cookbook! I love that angel food cake with the pink icing and the pink paper you put opposite it! Just love the whole thing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fonda,
      Thank you! I left the recipes for desserts in the book. When I looked through the book that's what I would make :)
      Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a kind comment.
      Have a wonderful week!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  4. Ohhhh I love this!!!! I'm gonna stalk my favorite thrift shop for a binder cookbook!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TennaBugg38!
      Thank you so much. YES! A great item to BOLO-Better Homes put out a few different binders in the 50's through the 70's. Each has a great retro cover. I hope you'll find one easily now ;)
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  5. I thought I was clever copying family recipes onto index cards with a box for my SO's 12 yo granddaughter (who wants to be a pasty chef in her own cafe), but this project sure has it beat. I'm gonna be on the lookout for my own BH&G cookbook binder now!!! What a great project!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy,
      You are clever. Your granddaughter will treasure those recipes in your own handwriting. I love it! I really like the retro pans and pans on the cover.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  6. Lisa, I love this project! My mother used to like telling the story of how just before I learned to read when I was four, I took out her BH&G cookbook and "organized" it for her by putting all the dividers together, all the picture pages together, etc. You get the idea! Now your altering of the cookbook would have made her very happy indeed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean,
      That's adorable! Even at 4 you were into cookbooks- and now a food blogger :)
      Thanks for sharing your story with me!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  7. How do you THINK of these things! Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! That is so nice of you to say.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  8. I have this old BH&G Cookbook so i really enjyed seeing how you jazzed it up!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a fabulous idea!! Your cookbook/ scrapbook turned out great. Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THANKS Joanne! It was a lot of fun to make.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  10. You made that? That's really cute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lydia,
      Thanks! It has been fun to alter the cookbook and make it more functional.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  11. You could sell them empty with the apron for people to put their own recipes in. I reckon they'd be popular

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lydia,
      Yes, I plan to sell the cookbook. I have left the pockets with plenty of space for someone to make it their own. I love these notebook type books.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  12. Great Idea...I still have and sometimes use a version of this cookbook I got for my bridal shower...ahem..33 years ago!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Samantha,
      That's a sweet memory! I just love the cover with the pots and pans. I kept the dessert section in tact ;)
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  13. This is such a beautiful upcycle, Lisa. Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's - you are being featured on my blog Tuesday evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann, Thank you so much! I sure appreciate the feature :)
      I'm so happy to join you. Thanks for hosting- week after week!!!!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  14. I love this idea. I learned to cook using a Better Homes & Gardens cook book over 50 years ago. I wish I had saved my original one. It would be fun to alter or even just to have. I do have a set of the Family Circle Encyclopedia of Cooking. I think that's the title. You got one each week at the grocery store. Does anyone else remember those days? LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna,
      Thank you so much! I loved hearing about memories this brought back. It seems like this cookbook helped develop some great cooks out there! I do remember the grocery stores having a lot of giveaways in the past. I shared last week about getting dishes that way- I miss those events.
      Have a great week.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  15. Oh good grief Lisa, you've done it again! This is so lovely, what a fabulous idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie
      You always say the nicest things :)
      I'm so glad we are friends!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  16. This. This is the cutest thing ever! I wish I still had mine -- oh, taking a classic and making it even more so and so very personal is not only a brilliant idea but so well executed (and explained). Bravo! (I came from "Let's Keep in TOuch." ~ jeanie at Marmelade Gypsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanie
      I'm so glad to have you visit.
      What a sweet comment!!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  17. Oh my! So many memories associated with the red plaid cookbook :) My mother had so many loose recipes jammed into hers. Had she lived, she would have become a power Pinterest user, I have no doubt! Thanks for sharing your customization with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lydia
      I just love hearing about your memories. There's nothing better than a cookbook packed with family favorites. I copy my mom and write little event dates and notes on the margins!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  18. "Mem-rieeessss, like the corner of my mind" Everyone I know grew up with one of these. I love what you did with it and featuring when my party opens up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol,
      Thank you so much! You are a blessing!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  19. I think my mom had this cook book, it just looks so familiar to me. The Carta Bella pattered papers are so cute and perfect for this craft. You've been most clicked at the FWF link party!
    Thank you for sharing it with everyone :)
    RR

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I really loved the paper it seemed to go together so well. I appreciate the feature so much.
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  20. What a brilliant, creative makeover for this vintage cookbook! It looks lovely, Lisa. I have an edition of this cookbook which is not exactly the same, but it looks like and edition from a year very near to yours. It was my mother's and I really cherish it. Thank you for being a part of Hearth and Soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. April,
      Thank you so much. I wish I had more hand written recipes from my husbands mother. She never wrote down recipes or even measured ...I had to follow her around with paper and pencil to get some of her secrets!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  21. I love that you didn't totally wipe out the history of this book. You did a great job enhancing it and making it a better tool in your kitchen. My Home Ec teacher gave every student one of these for their wedding gift, and they weren't cheap then. I've used mine like crazy over the years. I still go back to it for meat temp chart instead of looking up on internet. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joy,
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I agree it may be the only cookbook a young wife would need :) I was able to leave a good amount of info intact- I was happy about that! I'm so glad you stopped by today!
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  22. Great idea for repurposing! Thanks again for sharing my my What Are You Doing? social hop!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just found this same cookbook at a thrift store for $3. I snapped it up! Now I need to collect some vintage papers and my family recipes. Such a cute idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kelly, Great find !!!
      I'm so glad you found one.
      It's a fun project for summer-
      xo Lisa S

      Delete
  24. So enjoyed your cookbook ideas. I have several that I found at resale shops and I have been collecting vintage recipe cards and papers. Now I just need to get started! Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Stumbled across your post and loved the repurposed cookbook idea. I ordered a vintage cookbook for myself and am hoping to put my Echo Paper to good use, too. Thanks for the idea! :)

    ReplyDelete