This past Christmas was a rough one. I had a newborn baby, no energy, a very very nasty case of post partum depression and not much money.
I needed a simple, inexpensive gift that I could work on during my sleepless nights and required next to no shopping.
Everyone knows I love to cook and my favorite sous chef is my 3 year old son. He's the best mixer upper and taste tester around!
Here is what I came up with. This is an awesome gift for ANYONE and for any occasion.
Start with a trip to the dollar store. Items you will need:
Mini photo albums (I got mine at 2 for $1.00)
Lined note cards (A buck a pack)
Potholders (2 for a $1.00)
Wooden Spoons (4 pack for $1.00)
I then flipped the covers inside out, and cut scrapbook paper to fit, covered the cheesy beach scenes and replaced the covers.
Next, copy your favorite recipes onto note cards. Since this was technically a gift from my son, I included some silly ones too; "Jacks Favorite Dessert Recipe," then I let him "write" the recipe and I translated it at the bottom, writing in "Marshmallows."
Next, take a cute photo for the cover. My family really gets a kick out of how much Jackson likes to help cook, so I posed that photo above and slid it into the cover. Next, just stick all the recipes in the photo slots. I then paired each book with a cute potholder, tied a spoon with a ribbon and Viola!
And by the way, if any mama's reading this are suffering from PPD, please don't hesitate to contact me if you need a listening ear. All those things you are feeling, are ones Ive had too and I am more than happy to let you vent. Sometimes its easiest to talk to someone we don't personally know. If you aren't comfortable with that, please check out postpartumprogess.com
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What an adorable idea! I've done these on Blurb before, but this has the added bonus of being budget-friendly and crafty. I love it!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! Too cute! :) BTW...when I discovered this was the 2nd time I'd linked to you today off 2 diff parties, I decided it was time to follow! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea. It is super heartfelt, useful, adorable AND thrifty. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up today.
GREAT idea!! I especially love homemade gifts and who *isn't* strapped for cash these days?
ReplyDeleteThank you guys! Im more of a baker than a crafter but I was rather proud of these so I thought I'd share =)
ReplyDeleteStopping by from 733...love these crafty gifts! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI did something similar to this at a recipe swap with some of the girls in my building. We all brought our favorite recipes so everyone could copy them down and put them in their new cookbook. Love the idea as giving it as a gift with a picture on front!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea! How cute and fun! Thanks for linking up to Hoo's got talent!
ReplyDeleteI featured this idea on Hoo's got talent this week! Feel free to stop by and grab the button I've got talent!
ReplyDeleteThanks Leslie!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! I love the cute photo of your little guy! I just made a little cookbook of my favorite recipes as part of a shower gift for my nephew's soon to be wife. She loved it! Saw you over at Beyond the Picket Fence :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!!
ReplyDeleteI've done this before but I have used mini photo albums in different colors and labeled them for specific recipes-ie: Appetizers, main dishes and dessserts. OR snacks, main dishes and side dishes. I print off blank recipe cards and tie a ribbon around them. Then they can put their "go to" recipes in these.
Everyone loves them.
Melinda
Oh, that is tooo cute, I am sure the picture of your son is eveyones favorite part. I had PPD 29 years ago and there was noooo one that talked about it back then. Oh how I wish I had known you, I thought there was something wrong with me as everyone else reveled in their precious newborns and all I could think was "I have made a huge mistake". it's so nice of you to offer to lend an ear!
ReplyDeleteI am visiting from Girl Creative
Carol
This is such a cute idea! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! Thanks for sharing and linking up to Home and Family Friday!
ReplyDeleteBecca
Well, I'm reading this way past when you wrote it, but please check out my website: www.make-homemade-gifts.com for all kinds of ideas you can use to make inexpensive gifts for your family and friends. I'm going to be adding this link to it, too.
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