Christmas Recipe Mini Album by Debbie Olson

Have you started thinking about your holiday baking yet?  I'm serving Thanksgiving Dinner here, so I've been thinking lately about what I'm planning to cook. While looking for some of our traditional family recipes, it occurred to me that I really should have them stored together in a mini album. I have expansion plans for this album, but right now it contains just three sweet-treat recipes. I thought I'd share this idea with you in case you might enjoy making one too. If you would like to see a larger picture, click on the picture.

I started by die-cutting four curved rectangle shapes from Craft-a-Board with the largest die. The die basically cut cleanly through my Craft-a-board; I used a craft knife in a couple of places where the board was not completely cut through. Next I stamped, then die-cut eight curved rectangles from Memory Box cardstock in assorted colors: Dill, Holly Berry, and Willow. I chose these stamps: the Polka Dots backgrounder with white Brilliance ink on the Dill cardstock, the Fine Houndstooth Scrapblock with Adirondack Oregano ink on Willow cardstock, and the Perfect Plaid Scrapblock with Adirondack Cranberry ink on Holly Berry cardstock.  I covered the back and the front of each piece of Craft-a-Board with the stamped backgrounds.

Next, I trimmed the tops of all five of the covered boards to make it simpler to bind the edge.( I set up my Carl Cutter with a stop in place so that all of the pieces would have the same amount trimmed off of the top.) I inked all of the edges with some Antique Linen Distress ink, then sanded the edges to reveal parts of the white core. Why both? I wanted my little album to look like it had been in the family for long enough for the pages to darken a bit around the edges and wear on the edges too.

 

I used a Bind It All to punch four holes in each side; I set a stop so that they would all be the same--a great feature on the new pink BIA's! (Of course, you can use the blue one if you have it; you would just need be careful to be sure that you punched in the same amount from each edge. After getting my four boards punched, I was ready to start decorating my book. The first order of business was to choose and format some recipes! I'm attaching a page of four recipes here, in case someone wants them. You can print out this pdf version, then trim to 3" x 5" cards. Just a little note about one of the recipes: if the coconut bars are too sweet for you, you can leave out at least 1/2 lb of the powdered sugar and add extra coconut to keep it the right consistency. Download christmas_recipesdolson.pdf

I started with the cover: I knew that I wanted to use some of the Kim Hughes images, so I wanted a whimsical type to work with those images. You can obviously use stamped letters, rub-ons--whatever you have. I chose to use my Cricut (which has been needing to see some action) along with the Opposites Attract cartridge. I did a bit of tweaking to pull the cursive letters closer together, then cut my letters and attached them to the front cover. I added some clear and red Stickles to the letters after they were in place to give them some pizazz. For the image, I chose a snowman from Heart Warmers and colored him with Copic markers (C-1, R24, R29, Y68). I trimmed carefully around him, then attached him and applied red Stickles to his heart. For the snow, I die-cut another curved rectangle from white cardstock, then cut it in curves and stitched the edges of the curves before gluing them in place on the bottom edge.

For the first spread I chose old faithful, the fudge recipe. Another image from Heart Warmers, the trees, was colored with Copic markers (G82, G94, G99, R22, R24, R29, E35). I made a snowbank similar to the one on the front cover and added a picture--easy! The felt snowflake was from a packet found here.

 

English Toffee is another favorite around here, but, as with fudge, I need two versions--a nutty and a non-nutty version. I used a little hinge clip to hold my list of who likes which version. The "yummy stuff" image is from the Baked with Love set, cut with a Tags trio die. I snipped the end off and rounded its corners by hand to get the tag short enough.

 

Finally, the last spread (for now, at least) was reserved for one of my husband's favorites, coconut bars. After having fresh, moist, homemade ones, the bought ones aren't quite as appealing! I made a whole batch of these tonight just so I could get a picture. . . but he's not complaining. ;-) The "kiss the cook" sentiment is from the Baked with Love set.  I added a few Dew Drops to the top of the recipe for a dash of color, as well as ribbon and button.

My Merry Cherry Cheesecake album spread isn't finished yet; I still need to make some and take a picture. It's included on the pdf recipe sheet as well though. I'd love to see a link if you make your own Recipe Mini Album!  Thanks for visiting.

Debbie Olson, for the In Touch Newsletter

Comments

[Sharyn Davis]

Believe it or not, I am planning a party in early Dec. and have coupons sitting next to me for shopping tomorrow.....and looking for something sweet was on the list.
Thank you for inspiring me to make an album to share with others. You think of everything!

[Morag MacKay]

Debbie I obviously need to slow down and read a little more carefully as I had not realised you had used the curved rectangle as the basis of the book. Once I clued in (maybe it was a pre- morning coffee moment LOL!) I was bouncing (and that without caffeine!!). Love the project and can see this in my future. I'm thinking of doing up books for my sisters and sister-in-law with all my Mum's recipes that we talk about missing. It won't be the same as having her there to cook - that happens once or twice a year - but it will be years of memories captured. Thanks so much for the inspiration! And can I just say that your holiday recipe book is the darned cutest thing - that snowman and trees from the Kim Hughes set have not been better utilised in my opinion and you made me (only for a short moment mind you) second guess myself on not purchasing a Cricut. Thanks for your continued inspiration and the recipes - my mouth waters as I read!

[Patti]

Yikes! How am I going to fit this project into my life! I have to make one NOW!!!!! Thanks for sharing. This is a gret project.

[Aimee]

Beautiful project, and I'd love the recipe for those coconut bars! We love Almond Joy and Mounds.

[Cindy H.]

Debbie, this is a fabulous idea!! Your recipe book is so adorable that it's just as much fun to look at, as it is make those delish recipes...yummmmm! I think Homemade Mounds Bars might be in the making - soon! :) TFS

[Ann Lind]

I love your recipe book . I think the pictures are a great addition they look so yummy. Thanks for the PDF file of the recipes I will add them to my collection of favorites to make for Christmas. Our sons live a 2 day drive away in northern B.C. so we don't see them for Christmas . I bake and we send a huge box of Christmas goodies on the Greyhound . TFS Ann Lind

[Leslie]

What a beautiful way to showcase family recipes. I have been trying to decide how to do this for my children and your idea might be the one.

[Betty McCommon]

Cute idea for CHristmas recipes. I made a larger one of all my mother's recipes for my brother's one year for Christmas. I think it was my best idea/gift ever. They all say they use it all the time. I didn't have pictures though but there were about 60 recipes in it.

[Kathyc on SCS]

Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering!!!! Your project is amazing and the recipes look soooo scrumpious. Thanks for sharing (and inspiring!).
Kathy

[Dawn Brown]

Debbie, the album is wonderful. I was thinking about making a family keepsake for my sisters this year for Christmas and you have helped me make up my mind. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful creations with us.

[Sharon Harnist]

Girl, I tell you it's scary how much our minds think alike ... I had this exact same project in mind for this holiday season! Yours is gorgous -- love every little detail AND the yummy recipes!

[KathyN]

Debbie, this is adorable! I love it!!! Thanks for all your inspiration!!

[Karen Q]

Debbie, this is amazing. I have been giving thought to how I can preserve family recipes for my daughter. I am making her a recipe box, but small seasonal recipes books would be great. Thanks so, so much for the idea.

[Debbie Fisher]

Debbie, this is absolutely wonderful! Those candies are favorites in our family as well. I will never forget the first time I had homemade "mounds". Oh my.... I was living in MI and the recipe came home with me and I make them almost every year. I have a brother that doesn't like almonds or dark chocolate, so I make him milk chocolate "mounds".

This project is such a great idea. I might try to do something like this for Christmas gifts of all the recipes that are "musts to bring" when we get together.

Thank you for the inspiration!!

[Joan Fricker]

Oh Debbie, this is wonderful! I would love to do something like this for my granddaughters. Guess, I am going to need to invest in the Bind it All soon.

Thanks for all the details.

Joan