Monday, March 10, 2014

Recipe Box Makeover

This weekend I decided to give my recipes a new home.

My recipe box contains a few great family recipes with the handwriting faded, some cut from old magazines and newspapers. It's fun to go through them! It's like sorting through old memories.

Although a little outdated and beat up, my recipe box is very special to me.  I've had it for years, it just needed a little makeover.

I began with a couple of wallpaper samples from Serena & Lily, cut to size. (Thanks again, Caitlin!) I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the box after painting the lid and trim with paint.

Then I added an adhesive metal bookplate from Staples, on one side.

I used my printer to create the recipe label.

There are a lot of ways to manage your recipes online, but I love the traditional way of storing my recipes in a box tucked in the cabinet. Why do I feel like I was born in the wrong era?!




How do you store your recipes?  Do you keep them fresh in your head or pinned to your Pinterest boards?


*Recipe cards are available to print from here


63 comments:

  1. Looks fantastic Brandi! We have ours in binders. I love that I can pull them out, easily flip through them, and the plastic sleeves protect them while we are cooking from spills. I do keep a file of important ones on my computer as well, and keep copies of important family recipes in our fire proof box. Wouldn't want to lose them!!

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  2. My recipes are all over the place. I keep all my recipe books and my recipe box"es" in one cupboard, but they really need to be organized. It's always been in my head that I need to do something with them, I just need to do it. I also want to write some of our favorite family recipes in recipe books and give one to each of our daughters now that they are slowly getting places of their own. I have found a couple of recipe books with blank recipe cards at Estate Sales and so I have a plan. Again, I just need to do it! lol Your recipe box turned out very nice, good job!

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  3. LOVE that stylish recipe box!! SO clever, and that would be a pretty little gift, too!

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  4. I have mine in a drawer. YOU have given me a great idea…Thanks for sharing such an awesome idea. I truly loved it . Sherry @ The Rusty Pearl

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  5. I love how you redid that box. It looks great. I always keep my recipes in a folder that I stash in the kitchen drawer since I'm always tearing recipes out of magazines.

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  6. This looks great Brandi! Serena & Lily wall paper is always a winner! I have to have things written down...planner, recipe, lists. Whatever it is it needs to be on paper! I wish I could rely on technology to store all of those things for me but I just can't seem to do it!

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  7. I love that! It looks more modern :) and the bookplate is perfect! I have a binder for my recipes. I wish it was a little more organized though.

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  8. It looks beautiful and I love the color that you picked out for the paper. I have a book that I write my recipes down and it also has plastic sleeves that I put ones in too. I am hoping to pass it on down to our granddaughter.

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  9. I love your updated recipe box, Brandi! I'm like you...all my recipes are in a binder. I don't have any online. There's just something about flipping through the hand written recipes with stains and spills all over them. :) I love the ones in my great grandmother's handwriting. In fact, I've thought of framing one of them and hanging it in my kitchen.

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  10. What a great makeover and use of the wallpaper samples! Thanks for the mention :)

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  11. Absolutely love the makeover. You're revving up that craft engine in me. Too bad I'm already in bed, otherwise....LOL

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  12. Love the box makeover. I keep mine stored in a folder and the recipes are ones from online. But maybe i will organize that folder a little better thanks to you!

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  13. Brandi,

    I have a book of recipes and a few books of kitchen. I like your idea so I can save printed recipes

    Hugs

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  14. Love it Brandi! You have inspired me to make a recipe box in the near future :) xo Kristin

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  15. Love the paper choice you made for the box. I don't have a box for my recipes. I have a small little binder where all the special ones were hand written down by family members.

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  16. Great makeover! I need to make something similar, to put all the recipes in one box
    Thank you for stopping! and congrats on your blog! very interesting!!
    http://mygenerouslife.blogspot.it/

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  17. Love the new look! I have all my moms all recipes, might have to do this :)
    XO
    Kristin

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  18. That was a terrific transformation. I keep mine all bunched up in cookbooks and keep saying to myself "girl you know you need to organize yourself".. thanks for the kick in the butt to get started

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  19. Hi Brandi~thanks for the visit...I look forward to following you now. Have a great weekend!

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  20. Hi Brandi! Such a cute project! I love the pattern you chose and the hardware is adorbs!

    Just wanted to stop by and thank say hi and thank you for stopping by my blog!

    I'm a new follower!
    leelee @ paperbagstyling

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  21. I really need a cute box like this. Sadly mine are just stacked in a box in my kitchen. good idea for this weekend.Thanx

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  22. Hi Brandi: Luckily for your sister and I, the snow is melting, and my flower bulbs are starting to peek out a tiny bit.
    This is a great post.I love the end result of your recipe box transformation. I keep my recipes in binders sorted by soup, entrees, desserts etc. It was one of those winter projects I did when the winter weather was unbearable. So nice of you to stop by my blog, and I will certainly stop by here again! Have a nice weekend. ~Kathleen

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  23. Your recipe box transformation is amazing!! Love the gold and the paper you chose to cover it with!! Really well done!!

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  24. The box looks fantastic! I usually print off the recipe from the internet, and if I really like it, it goes in a plastic sleeve in a 3 ring binder. I have one for sweets and desserts and one for main courses and sides.

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  25. You are so very organized. I do really love the look of your box. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I have shared your blog on my social media accounts. I will follow you.

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  26. I'm right with you, my hubs constantly calls me an old lady. Hey I like my old time ways, lol. But, this is way better than my recipe drawer I have. I do avoid just keeping my good recipes "pinned" up on pinterest! :)

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  27. What a clever idea! I love the pattern that you chose. You would never know that's the same recipe box.

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  28. Love that recipe box makeover!! Wonderful idea!!!

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  29. Hi Brandi,

    What a great looking recipe box!

    I have a couple of recipe boxes that I have had since my home ec years (early high school). I have kept beloved recipes from family and friends in them over the years.

    In the past year or so, I have discovered the joy of Pinterest, and esp. the food boards there! What a great way to organize recipes.

    You have a lovely blog and I enjoyed visiting and reading!

    Trish

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  30. That looks fantastic Brandi. I'm so into decorative boxes. Especially lacquer boxes so you've inspired me to do something.

    I've been away from the DIY blog world for a while and just now returning to see what all my previous visitors are up to. So glad you are still updating. I'll be sure to let my sis know if she doesn't already. Toodles!

    Milla from Designpardeux.com

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  31. This is very clever! And quite adorable! Clearly I need a more sophisticated system!
    Carylee | morepiecesofme.com

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  32. Good Morning Brandi, I do have a lot of recipes in my head, but I also use my grandmother's and mother's recipe books as well. I also have books which I have hand written recipes in for my daughters to enjoy.
    I tend not to store recipes via the internet... well apart from my blog recipes, because like you, I prefer to see handwritten recipes.
    I love the idea of your much loved recipe box and how marvellous that you have owned it since you were a young girl.
    Best Wishes to you.
    Daphne

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  33. Hi Brandi!

    I LOVE your "new" recipe box. With all the technology that is out there, it doesn't surprise me that so many people cling to those recipes they can hold in the hands. Just like strolling through my cookbooks, I too find comfort in having those notes and memories right in front of me.

    You have brought your recipe box into the fashionable 21st century. I LOVE it! Thank you so much for sharing, Brandi...

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  34. Your recipe box makeover turned out great. Most of my recipes are in a recipe box that I've had since we were first married. But I have to admit that I have quite a few recipes pinned as well.

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  35. So cute! :) I use a combination of cookbooks and pinterest! Love cooking!

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  36. Brandi,
    Looks great! Love your snappy recipe box! I still have my lucite recipe box from when I was a teen.
    pve

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  37. I agree. I love pulling out recipe cards from a box. I especially love the ones in my Mom's handwriting. You just can't get those memories online. :)

    Great job on the box!
    Pam

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  38. such a cute idea. your recipe box is awesome!

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  39. Hi Brandi :) thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting on my recipe journal, I HAD to see if you had posted anything about your recipe box makeover - I LOVE it!

    I am now a new follower! Wonderful blog :)

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  40. What a beautiful box! You did a great job. My recipes are all over the place - I guess I need to get them organized. Great photography!
    Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

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  41. I love this! You've totally motivated me; I want to give my recipe box a makeover too! I keep mine in a photo box.

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  42. Thank you for stopping by to leave me sweet holiday wishes. We had a wonderful time at the beach. It was hard to come home to snow, but here we are. Your recipe box makeover is fabulous! Like you, I have many handwritten, sweet memories, recipes in my collection. My recipes are stored in a small vintage loaf pan. I should post about it. ~Kelly

    unDeniably Domestic

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  43. Brandi,
    This is a super cute idea! I love that you are using a recipe box-so cool. I have two of my Mom's and they are filled with her recipes in her own hand writing-means so much to me!
    Jemma

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  44. Terrific transformation! I like the idea of adding the metal bookplate to it. That really kicks it up a notch.

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  45. Hello, this is orchid from Japan;
    "Recipe Box" sure is wonderful to have one and GORGEOUS makeover(^_^)v
    I just cook my recipes in mind from my late mother p;) We use soy source a lot.

    Thank you very much for stopping by and sweet comment♪

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  46. Wow Brandi! So nice! You've def inspired me. All my recipes are printed and stuff into a junk drawer. I think I'll get those organized now. :)

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  47. Hi Dear,
    what a great idea and fabulous work! Wish I would have that much recipies o)!
    Have fun
    Elisabeth

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  48. My favorite recipes are written on cards and show lots of wear and tear...obviously they are good! Your recipe box is so cute!

    ~Trisha

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  49. What a neat idea! And I love the bit of makeover you did on the recipe box.

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  50. Hi Brandi! Just wanted to stop by and say thank you so much for the kind words on my video! It meant so much to me! I love your DIY recipe box makeover! Such a great idea! P.S. Following you now on Bloglovin! I tried following on GFC too, but I think GFC is down for the day?

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  51. what a gorgeous box; I love the colors you used. Sounds to me like you love s=to spend time in the kitchen, and I am sure your family REALLY appreciates that!
    :)
    “hugs” Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique
    Happy Spring!!

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  52. Love the finished product! I, too, still keep my fave recipes in a recipe box. Many of them are family recipes passed on to me--just feels right. :) T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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  53. Awesome project, Brandi!

    I love Serena and Lily and what a great way to put those samples to good use!

    I keep tons of printed and torn out from magazine recipes in a file folder located in the kitchen but I admit that I use the internet for most. Even when I know I have a copy somewhere up in the mess of papers!

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  54. Hi Brandi,
    Thanks for visiting my blog last month and commenting on my snowball wreath. I've been very negligent on my blog lately and just saw it. I love your post on the recipe box. I'm making my kids one for Christmas this year as my made gift to them with family recipes. Take care.
    Deborah

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  55. That looks awesome, Brandi! I can totally relate: I feel like I was born in the wrong era, too :) We are kindred souls. Cheers, L

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  56. What a great makeover! I love keeping some things the traditional way too. I will always prefer a handwritten note...:-)

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  57. very cute...I love boxes of all kinds but don't ever use recipes

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  58. I really need to get my recipes in order! I love how inspiring this is! I currently have my recipes all over the place, and to have it in one location would be awesome! I'm going to start to look for a box that I love and one that I can pass on to my kids! Thank you for the idea and inspiration!

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  59. Brandi,

    A brief lovely visit but with good purpose to celebrate: VIRTUAL FRIEND DAY - MARCH 26

    "I wish that we be blessed with peace, health and harmony"

    Hugs!

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  60. It looks fantastic! I love the idea of a recipe box but I store all of mine in a spiral recipe book that I write them in. Very inspired to do something like this though and to print out the recipe cards. So glad I found your blog ;)

    charity

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  61. Brandi, your recipe box makeover came out great - such a cute kitchen accessory with that fun pop of color! I have recipes stored on Pinterest, but I also use a recipe box I've had forever, and binders that have magazine cut outs, etc. Sometimes if I am hosting a holiday or party I like to go through them all and get inspired :) Thanks for linking this up to Best of the Nest! Now I am eyeing my little recipe box…it could use a little Serena & Lily wallpaper!

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  62. I adore your recipe box makeover! You did a fabulous job. I love lots of colour in my kitchen... you chose such a beautiful colour/pattern of wallpaper and I love the bookplate label.

    Gorgeous!

    Thank you for sharing (and for linking up to the SHINE Blog Hop).

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo

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