For many of us a treasured family cookbook is a great way to recreate the beloved foods from our youth. Many of us have fond memories of particular foods or occasions. Incorporating these recipes within a scrapbook can create an heirloom that will be treasured for years to come.

Cookbook scrapbooking is taking recipes and incorporating them into a scrapbook. This can be done by transcribing the recipes onto paper or index cards and placing them into the album. But unlike a traditional cookbook, it’s not just recipes that are included. Adding comments and stories to correspond with each recipe is what makes these books so special. For instance, taking Grandma’s recipe for pumpkin pie and write it out on an index card. Attach that card into an 8X8 scrapbook page. Underneath the card, write a journal entry that includes when she made the pie, why you loved it, and special memory.  You can even write about the first time you tried to make it, maybe it was burned or flopped. This makes the recipes special for your children, their children, and continues throughout each generation.

To enhance cookbook scrapbooking, ask family members to write out their favorite recipes and include their own comments. Attach each handwritten note to a page and write who the recipe is from. You can also include your own thoughts on the recipe. If you have any photographs of the preparation or finished project be sure to include them. Maybe someone won a prize for a bake-off, include the newspaper article or other item. Let your children write out their favorite recipes, or if they are very young, ask them why they like a particular item. You can also add notes about where the recipe came from, why it was a hit. Maybe your favorite party appetizers came from the internet, write a short story depicted why you chose that and why.

When you are done creating your cookbook scrapbook, include blank pages at the end, so that other family members can include more recipes as the book gets passed down through the generations. Add page protectors to each page to avoid damaged pages. This will not only protect the pages from water or other spills, but make them easy to wipe clean.

Cookbook scrapbooking is a great way to pass on a tradition to our children. These are a great way to spend quality time together as a family by cooking and baking together. Not only will our children learn how to follow directions and patience, but they will also learn a little bit about their family history. It is a great item to pass down and it will still be useful for many years to come. Include your prized holiday meal recipes and it will sure to be a much sought after item. Other family members will be begging to borrow it. It’s an easy, innovative way to keep our recipes organized and our traditions intact for now and the years from now.

Learn how to Organize and Protect Your Entire Photo Collection in as Little as 10 Days...Without Losing Your Mind

Have you got years and years worth of photos that have never even made it out of the film developers' envelopes? Worse yet, have you got rolls and rolls of film that haven't even been developed? Are you up to your eyeballs in boxes and stashes of photos that are a jumbled mess?

You're not alone . . . and there is help.

You’ll love this simple, step-by-step plan to help you organize your entire photo collection in as little as 10 days . . . without losing your mind!

Here is what some of the people who used this system said:

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“I had read tons of stuff, asked for tips in chat rooms and purchased boxes & stuff to get it done. Your web site was my final stop.... You guy's got me to do it ! . . . It was the female touch in your book that clicked with me. . . . I have been riding high on the sense of accomplishment with that enormous weight lifted from my shoulders”

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If you want to learn how to organize your own photos click here.

The Cricut machine is an innovative machine that makes projects easier and faster than ever before. For those that are into paper crafting, the Cricut is a must have tool. It can create letters, numbers, and shapes quickly and accurately with just a few button pushes. Nothing is better than seeing your design ideas come to life quickly and with no mistakes. Forget having several pairs of scissors to get the shapes you want, this machine does it all. Just load the cartridge and get to work. There are several Cricut projects that you can do and surprisingly, it’s not just for paper crafts.

Cricut projects can be as varied and original as each user. Traditionally, the Cricut can be used to create custom scrapbook pages. There are several design patterns available, or you can create your own. Since the cartridges come in themes, coordinating fonts and shapes is a breeze. Using cardstock and the Cricut machine you can create a template for your scrapbook page, and then just add them to your album, insert the photographs, and use the Cricut to create messages. Since it does all the cutting the time to create beautiful pages is cut down drastically. The coordinating themes and fonts also allow users to stop driving from store to store looking for supplies that match.

Other projects that you can use the Cricut for include cake decorating. Surprised? Well, it’s easy once you get the hang of it. There are patterns and projects for beginners through advanced on the Cricut website or you can try your own pattern. All you will need is a cake, fondant, gum paste, and shortening. It’s really easy and you can have a professional looking cake in minutes. First, layer the cake tiers and cover with fondant. Using gum paste and the Cricut Cake cut out the borders and attach to the cake using shortening. Then use gum paste and the Cricut Cake to cut out the desired design like a flower or other shape. Attach the shapes to the cake using shortening. You can try your own Cricut project ideas to create many types of cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, holidays, and even weddings. Just use one of the Cricut Cake cartridges and your Cricut Cake machine to make a one of a kind original.

Another Cricut project can be done to create fantastic throw pillows. Just take the desired fabric and tape it to the cutting board. Select the cartridge and design you want and let the Cricut cut out the fabric. From there the cut outs can be sewn onto a square of cloth to create the cover. When everything is placed as desired, sew the back of the pillow on three sides. Stuff the fabric with polyester fill and then finish sewing the last side. For a quicker project, Use Heat n Bond so that the fabric cut outs can be ironed to the fabric.

Cricut projects are numerous and many ideas, patterns, and directions can be found across the internet. With its versatility and ease of use, the Cricut can be used for many projects for years to come.