Well I got it done! If you missed part one it is here. I have discovered more and more over the last little while that I’m more likely to use something if it’s not only functional but fabulous as well. My old recipe binders were not exciting for me. In fact they were old and falling apart. The rings didn’t work properly anymore and I was irritated everytime I pulled them out. So I set out to correct that. I bit the bullet and bought two new binders from Staples with beautiful one handed operation rings (oh my goodness what a difference this makes!) and clear slots on the front so I could scrapbook covers and slide them in. I gave up scrapbooking a couple of years ago because I hated that my pages were stuck in albums where I couldn’t enjoy them on a daily basis. Then I discovered that I could do projects such as these, still get to use the beautiful paper that I can’t seem to get enough of, and enjoy them each and every day. It’s a win win for me and now I can’t wait to pull my binders out to use them!
So once again here are my binders before:
And here are my binders after. I managed to consolidate three binders into two. Sorry about the dark pictures.
(and yes I did them exactly the same. My creativity only goes so far :) )
I did up new tab dividers inside as well.
I purchased a set of 12 mini tabs and used my Dymo Labeler in tiny mode to print up the labels. It also has the ability to do two lines which helped out a lot. You can read my review of this labeler here.
I got my backlog purged down and filed away and boy does it feel good to have it done! I even found some old recipes I haven’t made in awhile so I’m definitely looking forward to putting those on the menu plan again sometime soon :)
How are you making out with this month’s challenge?
37 Comments
I do very much the same thing with my recipes. They are all in one binder. I have no cookbooks, but I’m also just not a big cook. Most all my recipes come from the internet. :)
Those look very nice. I need to work on mine to make them look more exciting. Thanks.
Your binders are so pretty!
Just lovely! And I’m like that too…I’ll love to use it more if it’s just “pretty”. :)
I’ve gotten off to a good start! I definitely don’t have as many recipes hanging around as many of you do, but I think I’ve made my life much easier with the progress I’ve made so far. Thanks for the inspirational posts!
I totally agree with you on how important it is that something not only be functional but look nice as well. Maybe it’s just us visual people, but it gives my heart a little thrill every time I open a file drawer and see all the pretty folders and labels.
I have my magazine recipes in binders, but they are not organized at all. Thank you for the inspiration, I know what I’ll be doing this weekend.
Go you! I soooo need to organize my recipes, but I’m not sure that February is the right month for me. I have so much going on right now! And they’re very cute ;-)
That is a very beautiful binder you have there! I hope that one day when my boys grow up a little more we can start to have family favorites. My husband has favorites… but his mom already made him a cookbook :D.
Your binders are so cute. Are all of your recipes typed up? I went through my recipes last week and pared it down a lot. They are all a mess of sizes, though. Some are handwritten on various types of paper. Others are cut from magazines or off the back of a box or label. I even have a marshmellow bag thrown in the box.
That’s it! I’m officially inspired! I’m definitely joining your challenge – I’m now looking forward to jumping on my mess of a recipe binder. Thank you!
Rena, no my recipes aren’t typed. Most of them are printed from the internet. Some are odd sizes from magazines and those I usually tape to an 8.5×11 size piece of paper so it fits nicely with the rest of them.
Another great thing about these binders is that they have not one but two pockets on both the inside front and back pages. Love that!
Laura
I really need to work on this. My current recipe binder has been bugging me for awhile now and I will definitely try to join in this month. I also want a picture to go with my recipes, so I’ve been working on taking pictures of recipes as I make them. I have a recipe program on my computer called YummySoup. I just need to work on getting all my recipes – with pictures – in there, print them off, and reorganize my binder.
I’m struggling with this month’s challenge because I’m pretty organized in this department. I like your idea of making things just a bit more pretty and functional, though. I guess I’ll focus on that.
I did this quite a few years ago, I find that I organize and use the recipes more now that I can FIND them.
Great job!! Those are so cute! I am still working on mine:-(
I was excited to see your update! I was able to get my recipe favorites typed up and printed out for my sister-in-law. I have already packed a small album to go to Orlando with me this weekend. I would love to be able to come home and add the picture of that to my blog. LOL!
Unfortunately, I have not done anything with my bits of recipes, but I am adding it to my project list so that I will get to it, it just isn’t going to be February. I am ok with that, I feel I have done a bit of the recipe challenge anyway .
I love how a visual appeal invites us to “do the right thing.” Lovely project! Thanks for sharing.
Great job! You are further ahead than me in the organizing of recipes. :)
It is to be really crappy weather wise over the next couple of days so I am not planning on going out on the town which should help me tackle the recipes. :)
Can we get a peek of the inside?
I have just now made the time to read through all of your recipe organization ideas. They were very helpful. Thanks!
Wow – beautiful binders! What a challenge, and it turned out so well, great inspiration!
Wow, that is amazing! I have a frightening cabinet with an “interesting” filing system for my recipes. Everytime I have to go in, I think “there’s got to be a better way”! Thanks for your ideas…
AWWWE Recipe heaven!
I am still working on mine. I made dividers by laminating pretty 8.5 x 11 paper. I typed the name of the category before laminating. I have inserted all of my already typed recipes. Now I have to either tape (if they are printed on one side) or retype all of the loose recipes….newspaper clippings, note paper, and recipe cards. Do you put all of your pages in page protectors? I think I can fit all of my recipes in one binder. I will post pics when I am done.
That’s a really neat idea!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your binders, they’re so pretty.
I have a binder as well, only one, mind you. And it’s broken up by tabs. I also have plastic sheet protectors in the back that I can slip a recipe into while I’m cooking. I also got a binder where the front folds completely back. This way I can set it i a countertop easel and be able to read the recipe without hunching over.
Those are lovely binders. My goal this month was just to PURGE. I am a recipe addict. I had back issues of cooking magazines that I couldn’t part with, but never used. I gave away soooo many old recipe magazines on freecycle! I am really wanting to narrow things down more, but I’m taking baby steps.
I love the idea to scrapbook for the covers, so that you can enjoy them. I know what you mean about wanting to use pretty things more than utilitarian things. Great creativity, and thanks for the pictures! I love seeing before and after pictures.
I am going to Office Max today to purchase my new binders so that I can get started!
They look fantastic Laura! You’ll be proud of me. I actually got rid of a couple of cookbooks. Yipee.
I have something similar but didn’t think to separate into TWO binders! Genius! One for baking, one for meals…I love it.
Those are so pretty… can you come and do mine? I organized my recipes into a 3 ring binder, but I have a hard time maintaining it. I think the system you have for your friend might be a better one for me too! Thanks for your ideas and inspiration!
regarding your dark photos, if you have a zoom lens, try standing back and zooming in then take the picture. the flash works with the distance and prevents glare. i find this works really well and you get a nice clear and brighter pic.
Those are beautiful binders..where did you get the floral ones? I do buy binders where one can slip an 8 1/2×11 sheet of paper in the front and back but on the spine of the binder, it’s a bit difficult. Share your secret, please. What a neat idea. Why couldn’t you scan a favorite piece of wrapping paper and use it for the covers? I can invision a lot of ideas but don’t know how to put them into action. I hate being computer illiterate!
I finally did it! I’m so excited that I had to post a comment rather than waiting until the end of the month (3 whole days!) to link up. My binder isn’t pretty yet, but it is functional.
I love your site and challenges!!!
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