Monday, July 27, 2009

Recipe Card Dividers & Binder Cover


Today I finished a project that I've been obsessing about for awhile now. I had already been mulling it over when Erin contacted me and asked me if I was ever going to post digi recipe card dividers for my recipe cards. There's nothing like a little peer pressure to get my butt moving.

My dilemma was how to create the dividers themselves. The set that I originally made for myself took for-EVER and I didn't want to have to go through that process again. I had used chipboard, which had to be covered with scrapbook paper, then the digi divider, then it had to be Modge Podged to within an inch of its life. And then the scrapbook paper still peeled off. Grrr.

It wasn't going to be a helpful solution to anyone, so I had to come up with something else. And I did, and I'm giddy with excitement to finally be able to share it with you today. But before you get your hopes up, it's nothing extraordinary, it's just something that works and doesn't take blinking forever to do.

Come on, let me show you.


First I typed up my divider tab labels in MS Word and printed them out. The font I used was Edwardian Script ITC at 36 pt. I chose this particular paper because a) it wasn't white, and b) I already had it.

I made divider tabs for you in this post, if you don't want to make your own.


The next thing I did, is cut card stock into 6" x 8-1/2" pieces. The card stock is the backing for the divider cards.


Next, I carefully cut out divider tabs. Each tab was 3" long x 3/4" deep, cut on the 8-1/2" x 11" side of the card stock piece. Cutting out the middle tab was the most difficult. I cut in 2-3/4" from each side. See, I saved you from having to do some basic math. It doesn't happen around here very often because I prefer the eyeball method.


After I cut all the tabs, I carefully wiggled my corner rounder onto the tabs and rounded them. I did this on the top corners of the divider cards too, at least when I remembered.


Then I cut out my labels and affixed them to the tabs with a little Tape Runner.


Then I took my 5x7 digi divider card and stuck it on with Tape Runner too.


Repeat. Again and again and again, until you're done.


Before I go on, I have to show you my new BFF. It's my new laminator. I've always been a laminating fool, it must be the teacher in me, but I had no idea these things were so cheap. I picked this one up at Sam's Club for around $30. Of course you could probably spend an arm and a leg on thermal laminating pouches. Theoretically.

But I love it! By the way, I blame Janae for this purchase. She's such a bad influence.


Back to the divider cards. After all the cards are made, I put them in laminating pouches and laminated all of them. And a bunch of my recipe cards too.

Until 3:00 a.m. It was sooooo much fun.


See, it's magic.


The last step is to trim the laminating plastic away. I only trimmed it from the top, about 3/8" away from the edge of the cardstock in order to keep it from peeling apart.


As I mentioned I did a bunch of recipe cards too. I didn't do them all because I ran out of laminating pouches. Oopsie. I mean theoretically I could have run out of laminating pouches had I kept going. But I didn't. I stopped. Ahem.


Ta-Da! I'm loving this method over the page protectors. Now I don't have to worry about the recipe cards sliding out of the page protectors. And they're just plain pretty now.

So, if you want to make your own recipe card dividers, I've posted all my digi dividers below. Just make sure you click on each image before saving it to your desktop and uploading to your photo processing place. That way you'll get the highest resolution possible. If you forget to do that, they'll look like crap and you'll hate them. So just be sure you do that, okay? I don't want anyone getting mad at me.


















UPDATE: Since I first did this post, I've added some divider cards and divider labels. You can find those at the following links:








Here's a binder cover if you want to put your recipes in a little half size binder. This method is perfect if you're going to use the half-size page protectors.


And here's a binder spine. Just cut the width to fit your binder spine after you print it.

Good luck!

UPDATE: Erin, the lovely blogger who peer pressured me into doing this post, shared another alternative to laminating. She ordered some heavy duty 5x7 photo/postcard protectors here. Also, she made a cute clipboard to hold her recipe card in use. Go here to check that out.

50 comments:

  1. I'm not going to go all OCD and make recipe dividers, but I think I DO need one of those laminators. Going to Costco to see if they have them....

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  2. Wow, I am really impressed! Thank you so much for sharing!!

    I am with you on the laminator - I got one for Christmas and I lurve it!

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  3. Thank goodness Erin peer pressured you into doing this for all of us to use. And man I need me a laminator...
    Can't wait to use these. I have the chore charts and love them. Do you have one for husbands? :)

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  4. Okay, I know I threaten to kidnap you and keep you, but maybe I'll just come live with you, (and my little doggie too!) I can sleep in your craft room, I don't mind! :)

    *giggle* now you know I'm going to totally blame you if I go out and buy that laminator. (I've been considering getting one -- but like you mentioned about the laminating pouches, that's where it adds up... but then it adds up to go to Staples every time and pay 2 dollars per 8x10 sheet (even if you're not using the whole 8x10 that's what they use. )

    thanks again for inspiration and/or making me feel totally unorganized. lol ;)

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  5. Oh you sweet thing! My girl is getting ready to leave the nest and this will be a great project to help send her off. Thank you for sharing.

    Have a happy Monday~ I am slowly making my way through all of the comments that I so lovingly received last Thursday when I was featured on SITS. Thank you so very much for visiting me.

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  6. Wow! That is a beautiful thing. I think I just renewed my girl crush on you:-) Hee, hee, hee.

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  7. I found your blog and love it! I could easily see myself doing all that you do - except that I'm a bit lazy I guess. I LOVE lists and organization (you wouldn't know it looking at the desk I'm sitting at). I'm new to blogging and haven't upgraded my computer skills in a VERY LONG TIME. How did you make your "digi dividers"?

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  8. My word, you are the craftiest woman alive! This sounds like a good project to work on when my daughter starts kindergarten in 2 weeks!

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  9. oh....I love these little divider cards. I've also been looking for a place to buy a mini-album for a recipe book...so thanks for the link!!

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  10. Ohhhhh the laminator. Everything in my house would be run through that thing. I'm crazy like that. That's part of the reason I still haven't bought a label maker.

    Thanks for sharing the recipe dividers : )

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  11. These are so cute! Thanks so much for sharing all your hard work to make it easier on the rest of us! Your recipe cards all look wonderful too. I can't wait to get them all printed up! (and laminated!)

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  12. Thank you, thank you, thank you-this will be made for my mom and sister for their birthdays-
    Love it!!!

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  13. LTD has good prices on laminator's and the sheets. So does Harbor Freight if you have one in your area.

    BTW: This post is just one more reason that I love your site. If you ever move to MO. let me know. I'd LOVE to be neighbors!!!

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  14. I love it when you do all the work and we reap all the reward! I love it! I hope you made 2 - one for each daughter when their older (ha ha)!

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  15. I am SO copying this. I must! I love the simple way to do it and everything. You're the best. I need to find out how you make your recipe cards and then I'll be all set. Maybe it will improve my cooking. Thanks!!!!

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  16. Jill...YOU ARE THE BEST!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! Nothing like a little POSITIVE peer pressure to get you to do something you already wanted to do, right?? Instead of page protectors, I purchased some heavy-duty 5x7 photo/postcard protectores from www.the2buds.com and I just finished altering a clipboard to hold the recipe card I'm currently using. I will take pics & post them on my blog this week! Thanks again for all your efforts!! Erin Blair

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  17. I love these! This would make an awesome bridal shower gift or even Christmas gift! I may make some.... if I could just find the time!

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  18. wow. I want another year of mat leave without the children to do stuff like this. :-P

    I love your ideas!!!!

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  19. Not only does this look terrific, but makes me feel I could be a crafty person.

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  20. AWESOME! Thanks so much for sharing...now if I can just get enough time without the kids around I could get that done for my recipes too:-)

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  21. How funny, I had purchased the same laminator at Wal-Mart just before the 4th of July. I was looking for a chore chart to laminate and found yours. My magenta ink on my printer ran out so it didn't look right.

    I returned today to try a reprint and read the first part of your post. You mentioned that you were having problems getting it to stick and my mind said "laminate it!" I chuckled when I scrolled down to see the part about the laminator.

    As for the pouches, it all depends on where you get them and what brand. I just went to Staples (to get my printer ink) and purchased note card size. The brand name came in a pack of 5 for 7.99 and I paid 9.99 for the Staples brand that had 25. Same with the page size. I bought a pack of 50 along with the laminator and it really didn't cost much. I saw the price of the brand name at Staples and my jaw dropped.

    But guess why I wanted to laminate the chore chart? To use dry erase markers on it! It's not as easy to get the writing off as a dry erase board but it works.

    I love your recipe dividers. Yay, Something else to laminate! Maybe someday I'll get a binder and start binding everything!

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  22. I just found your blog about a week ago and I LOVE it!!! Your Chocolate Chip cookies are the BEST EVER!!! My daughter even changed them to her new favorite cookie. Thanks so much for this idea it is FABULOUS and I can not wait to make it!

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  23. I love your recipe cards and dividers! I wonder if there is a short cut in making those beautiful scrapbook style cards...

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  24. I so love you right now! My recipe book is in a sorry state right now. I keep printing recipes and adding them to the back of my book. But not for long! I feel a recipe makeover coming on. Too cute, thanks again!

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  25. I've looked at laminators for the longest time and have so far held off. Now I'm not so sure.

    My only saving grace is that I like to keep my recipes in a three-ring binder. But these are so cute I might not be able to help myself. I'm wondering if there is some way I can convert them to a regular size sheet of paper that would fit in a page protector the right direction (for the recipes of my own that aren't so pretty in my binder).

    You do good work, Jill!

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  26. I love, love, love your blog. I found you through sugardoodle and check your site often. So many great ideas.

    We have struggled lately with our family budget. Something I'm not use to. Christmas time will be all about making our gifts this year due to my husbands lack of work. Darn economy. Grrrrrr. Oh well, I'm trying to look on the bright side and look at it as a blessing.

    Thank you thank you for this great idea. I'm going to be putting these together for family as gifts. Coodos to you!!

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  27. wow - thank you! I love it!!

    I am currently transitioning all my recipes to a file box and this is perfect!

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  28. Can I just say WOW! Very awesome!

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  29. I am new to your site and love it! I just made my recipe book with all of your wonderful printouts. I am blogging about it today and am putting a link from my site to yours. You are very creative and I just love my new book. I love getting organized in such a cute way!

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  30. Jill,
    You are some clever and crafty lady, and on top of that, you're creative and know you way around a computer! Just browsing and came across your website. Fantastic! Want to come here and sit down at my computer and show me how to do all these??

    What is that adorable little metal box that you have your cards in? Where did you buy that?

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  31. Thank you so much for making these and then sharing them. You are AWESOME!!!

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  32. I don't know how I came across your blog but I'm SO glad I did! I made these and LOVE them. Only one small problem...I need somewhere to put all my breakfast recipes...I think you might need to add another one! Since I certainly am NOT artistic enough to make my own! :) I totally rely on you!

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  33. Jill
    I recently purchased a Michael's box for my recipes, I just haven't found a creative way to type up/print out my recipes. Then I found you! Where in the world do you get those scrapbook-like backgrounds for your recipes? I'm printing a bunch of your recipes, but don't want to neglect my own :). Thank you!!

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  34. I am putting together a recipe book for my sister and these are exactly what I need to add that special touch! I have a silly request...would you make one that said either Desserts or Treats?!

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  35. For all of you out there wondering if it is worth it to spend money on laminating sheets, for heaven's sake yes! And, here is the trick, just by a pkg of 100 at Sam's club or Expedx (for those of you that live in the Salt Lake area). They come out to be somewhere between .10 and .20 cents a piece, totally worth it!!! Thanks for your wonderful orginazation tips, and I am with Jill on asking how in the world can I get some of my own recipes on such cute scrapebook backgrounds to grow my book with some of my own recipes as well as your tasty ones? Thanks!

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  36. Your website was a great find!

    I have been searching for a new
    method to CONTROL MY RECIPE CHAOS
    also... beyond photo albums and
    small index cards. knew there was
    a better way!

    P.S. loved your website, esp.
    the 'pimp my crib'...

    Have a great day & Keep Smiling!

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  37. I was right in the middle of putting together a binder of our family favorites when I ran across your blog. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful dividers with everyone. You are very talented!

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  38. These are soo cute! Thank you so much for sharing them. I'm making a recipe box for a friend for her wedding and these are pefect. I just came across your blog and I already love it!

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  39. I love the website - I just discovered it yesterday. Can you tell me where you get your recipe card templates? They are super cute and I really, really want to make awesome ones like you have! Thanks so much.
    Liz
    elizabeth.b.garner@gmail.com

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  40. I used your dividers for a recipe binder of my own. I also took all of your recipe cards and added them to my recipes, too. Thank you very much for posting them for free. I flip through my binder for nothing in particular just so I can soak up how awesome it is. You're awesome!

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  41. I am making soon to be daughter-inlaw a recipe box and you really helped me in making the dividers..My husband bought me a laminator while I was on a road trip..he surprised me!
    Thanks again for doing all the work on these cards!

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  42. LOVE your blog!! What a hoot, I laughed, and am inspired, and can't wait to begin work now on next year's Christmas gifts!!! Thank you Jill, for the inspiration, and the fun!

    Lori

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  43. I searched all day for recipe deviders ~ I'm so glad I found you!!! Thank you so much for sharing and I can't wait to come back and explore but now I need to go make dinner! See you soon! Laura K.

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  44. I have been looking for recipe dividers and love the ones you posted but I was wondering if you have in portrait format instead on landscape? I would love to put them in a three ring binder. The artwork is awesome! Thanks for sharing! Cool site. :)

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  45. How have I just now found your site?! I'll be here all afternoon, you know, catching up! Thanks for all the great tips!

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  46. I love the designs of all your dividers and tabs. I have a strange request, though. Could you design a divider and tabs for DIY Household Cleaners and other DIY items, like face washes, moisturizers, lotions, and makeup? I have a few that I use regularly but I have nowhere to keep them!!!

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  47. I love your dividers!! I have a huge folder with various recipes and am trying to organize them (ugh) Is there any way you could make dividers for ethnic foods like Mexican, Asian, and Italian? That would be wonderful!! Thanks for the beautiful designs!

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  48. Stacy, I will add it to my list and let you know when I have it up. I can't guarantee when it will happen though. I'm a little back logged on my recipes.

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  49. I don't know if you are still making these dividers and tabs, but I would love it if you could make one for Miscellaneous. I have lots of recipes for gravy, icing, different sauces etc. and no category for them. Thank you. Love your dividers!!!

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