Monday, June 4, 2012

Simple Stories Mix & Match Blog Hop & Giveaway

Do any of you consider yourselves Foodies?  I've had the Simple Stories Summer Fresh collection and the Mix & Match 6x8 album on my mind and was thinking together they would make a perfect recipe book.  The 4x6 clear page protector pockets and Summer Fresh journal elements are just the right size for recipe cards, so below is the beginning of what could be a super delicious summer recipe book.
Tip # 1 - Label your albums.  They are so fun and easy to use that you will probably acquire many of them and will not be able to tell them apart unless you label them all.
I used my Dymo label making tool, which was getting a little dusty on my shelf, to create the tag for the photo album.  Set it to medium size and on the clear tape for a quick and easy label.
I know food is fun all year round, but it is especially fun in the summer when you can find so many fresh foods right in your own area at a farmer's market or from local farms that supply grocers in your town.  I thought a photo of berries would be a great starter for this summer cookbook and was inspired by many of the designs in the 12 x 12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers, especially the tiny strawberries.
I added the 12 x 12 Expression Cardstock Sticker letters to the photo of the berries and then backed the photo with a 4 x 6 journal element and a piece of 6 x 6 patterned paper and then adhered it to the 6 x 8 album page.
When I start thinking about planning these little albums, I always feel like I will have a lot of detail and elements in them, but the truth is that I love how simple they are and the fact that Simple Stories "embellishes" a lot of their patterned papers in the design, so that I don't have to do a lot of it myself.  These 4 x 6 journal cards make great recipe cards and their fun designs, especially the summery ones in the Summer Fresh collection made it possible for me to type the recipe, add a photo and call it good.
When I first bought my typewriter, my husband was sure I would use it once and never touch it again, but truth be told, I use it all the time to type on journal cards.  It is more accurate and faster than trying to mess with my printer and I happen to like the old school font.
I am ready to make some wings on the barbeque grill.  This book will be such a great reminder about the stuff we love to eat in the summer.  Hope you found some inspiration as well and will start a recipe book of your own...

Giveaway - Now for the fun part - would you like an opportunity to win your very own Mix & Match 6 x 8 album with an assortment of Simple Stories coordinating papers?  There are two ways to win...
  1. leave a comment here on my blog for a chance to win
  2. leave a comment on the Simple Stories blog for an additional chance to win 

Please hop to these other talented Simple Stories designer's blogs for more ideas with the Simple Stories Mix & Match 6 x 8 albums and another chance to win one for yourself.

Liz Qualman (Your are Here)


Thank you so much for stopping by today!

111 comments:

Deanna said...

What a great idea to make it a recipe book! I really love the pages you created inside it!

Mary said...

Very creative!

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Theresa & Keith said...

This would make such a great gift!!

Teri said...

Wow what a wonderful idea!!

Teri said...

Wow what a wonderful idea!!

Miriam Prantner said...

What a GREAT way to use the album and store your recipes. This will be something that stays in the family for a long time!

April said...

What a fabulous and creative idea Liz!!

PamSpradlin said...

I saw these albums at Archievers in April and am still kicking myself for not getting any. I just hope that they still have some on my next trip through. They do look like the ideal way to document special events.

blupixy said...

What a cute recipe book! Thanks for sharing!

Jenn said...

This would be fun to make and give as a gift or to pass around the family.

Mary-Anne V said...

What a great recipe book. Thanks for the chance to win. jeandonny2000 at hotmail dot com

eandnsmom said...

I love your album. What a neat idea and the colors from the Summer Fresh collection are perfect!

Angeline Choo said...

this is a cute idea to store all my recipes. the typewriter idea is neat. thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

So cute. great idea!

Beth said...

Oh, I LOVE the recipe book idea! I would love to win an album to use this way! Thanks for the inspiration!

rhibrix2 said...

This is adorable!! :)

Court said...

LOVE your album/recipe book and of course I would love to win one myself!!! Thanks for the chance and I agree on the old school typewriter font. Love it.

Donna Jannuzzi said...

My favorite part of summer is definitely the food too. =)

What a great idea to use the album as a recipe binder. Would make a great gift too. Thanks for the inspiration, Liz.

Kristi said...

What a great idea! I think I need a typewriter!

Ines said...

I will love to put my hands on the fabulous prize... great ideas

Valerie said...

What acute recipe book. Love it what you did.

Kay said...

Summer recipes . . . GENIUS! I love this idea!

Mette said...

Gorgeous <3

Mette said...

Gorgeous <3

Joycee said...

I really enjoy your blog, and so many of your contributions to other sites. I really LOVE what you've done with the Simple Stories, and this recipe book! What a great solution for something I've wanted to do for a long time!

Monika Wright | I Love It All said...

What a super fun idea and this mini book is the perfect size for recipes...love it!

Anonymous said...

Liz...I love the idea of using this as a recipe book. I love all the typing too!

Anonymous said...

This is something I have wanted to do for my children. I just can't believe how beautiful and easy you have made it look. Fabulous project.

Nicole Doiron said...

Oh my Liz! This recipe album is SO beautiful! I want one just like it!!! :)

Melanie said...

Your album is fabulous!!!! It's making me hungry :)

Carol said...

The recipe cards are such a great idea! How inspiring! Thank you. :-)

Rebecca said...

I LOVE Simple Stories! Such a great and fresh idea as a recipe book. Thanks for the chance to win!

Andrea said...

Love this idea!

Laura C said...

Oh I need to dust off my Dymo label maker too! LOve both of these

tegan said...

Wow! Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing your project and for the inspiration!

Celeste B. said...

I love this idea. Going to start taking pics of summer recipes so I can create one of these.

Celeste B. said...

I love this idea. Going to start taking pics of summer recipes so I can create one of these.

connie said...

I also love the idea of a Recipe Book! Thanks for a chance to win.

Kendra said...

LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing!

Lisa Rukin Swift said...

So glad your summer recipes found such a wonderful home, Liz! The photos are beautiful and the recipe for the grilled salad is right up my alley. This is an awesome project and I love the different ways you embellished the Summer Fresh elements, like adding in the strawberries and "things that make me" to the "happy" element. :)

Ruth G said...

Fabulous idea! Now I know how to make a recipe book look amazing (or at least how you made one look amazing;-)! TFS!!!

Melissa D. said...

I love this idea! My recipes are *everywhere* so this would be great organization for them!

Tamika said...

Wow just the snippets have me hungry! Great recipe book!

Karen Moore said...

LOVE the idea of making a recipe book with this album. Your HAPPY letters were great and I'm SO going to scraplift that!!!

Стокли said...

It's beautiful, and the typewriter makes it even more inspiring (I would cook more if I had such a great recipe book=)

Rosann said...

what a great idea. i love how you used ths album

julie e said...

I love the recipe book idea. Thanks for sharing.

Janet's Joy said...

Liz that is a brilliant idea for an album!

cghundley said...

This is a cute fun album. Thanks for the idea.

Carla from Utah

JPScraps said...

I love the idea and the look of your album! So fun!

Sue D said...

Fabulous idea--my recipes definitely need organizing and this album size looks perfect.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

cutiephinphin said...

That's a great idea. This will definitely be something I'll keep in mind to do.

Anonymous said...

what an amazing idea...

Ellie said...

This is just too much fun! I so love it.

Lisa P said...

Super cute job! I love the summer fresh you used too. I could definitely make a recipe book like this.

Maria Meza said...

Love your recipe book!

Maria Meza said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
smahrty said...

Liz, this is a very cute idea! The recipes fit in there perfectly.

Fran said...

This recipe book is a great idea. Love it!

Carol said...

Great Mix and Match ideas! Thanks for a fun hop!

Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com

Bethany Becker said...

Great ideas!!! Thanks for sharing!

CJ said...

Love this idea of using it for a recipe/journal...I've been wanting to do a family food history kind of project and this would be perfect for that...combination of scrapping the stories and recording the recipes!

CJ said...

Love this idea of using it for a recipe/journal...I've been wanting to do a family food history kind of project and this would be perfect for that...combination of scrapping the stories and recording the recipes!

Cara B said...

I love how you used the Summer Fresh line in a recipe book - really cute! Thanks for sharing.

Cynthia Baldwin said...

Awesome idea for your album! - looks delicious...You had me at the strawberries. :)

Anonymous said...

oh i love the way you play with this album..makes me wanna do the same thing and put something extra using the paper on my way...

really want to have it

bcats0318 said...

I love simple stories! Your recipe album looks fantastic. My sister was just talking the other day about doing a family recipe album scrapbook...the mix and match album would be perfect!

bcats0318 said...

I love simple stories! Your recipe album looks fantastic. My sister was just talking the other day about doing a family recipe album scrapbook...the mix and match album would be perfect!

lula1206 said...

Love the recipes book idea! Thanks for the chance to win.
Lula1206@yahoo.com

lula1206 said...

Love the recipes book idea! Thanks for the chance to win.
Lula1206@yahoo.com

yuki.s said...

great idea, Liz! I love your cute recipes book!

Gabi said...

Great idea, and beautiful recipe book. Thanks for the chance to win ! Would like to do something similar !

KatKat said...

Oh my! This collection is a must have for me this summer~~~ :)

Leanne said...

Loving the recipe book idea, thanks heaps for your wonderful inspiration
God Bless
Leanne

Diane said...

I absolutely love this recipe book!

CatherineScrap said...

Ohh it is a very good ieda I love it
bizzz

Leisa said...

A recipe book is a fabulous idea! I think I need to find a typewriter - that's a great idea for journaling cards :)

Jen said...

What a great idea!! I love the thought of looking through this in the winter and remembering all the cookouts and picnics of summer!

Laura T. said...

Love your projects ... Oh how I wish I still had a typewriter.

bird said...

Thanks for the great ideas!!

Ruby said...

Just a great project. Thanks for the inspiration.

Ruby said...

Just a great project. Thanks for the inspiration.

jengd said...

Lovely project! What a great line for a recipe book!

Mollie Deem said...

Oh, I so need to make a family recipe book filled with our summer favorites now! :)

Mollie Deem said...

Oh, I so need to make a family recipe book filled with our summer favorites now! :)

KellyG said...

so cool, great idea! Love it!

Peggy said...

I love your summer recipe album. This Simple Stories Summer Fresh Collection is my favorite. I don't have one of their Mix and Match albums yet and would be thrilled to win one. Thank you for sharing and for the chance to win.
God bless,
Peggy Allen

karennarelle said...

what a fabulous idea. Another thing to add to my shopping list!

Unknown said...

Very cool!

Unknown said...

Very cool!

Unknown said...

Very cool!

Unknown said...

Very cool!

Unknown said...

Such a nice idea - I love it! I live in South Africa and we do not get these mix and match albums here at all. I would love to win one of these. Thanks for the inspiration.

Carol W. said...

What a fabulous idea! Love simple stories but it's hard to get where I live in Texas - none of the LSS stores carry them. Thank you for the chance to win!

Lisa said...

A recipe book is a fantastic idea!! Thanks for sharing!!

Queen Mary said...

Liz, I love your recipe book idea and yes, I'd LOVE to win the album and paper set -- I want to make a mini-album of my friend's Adirondack camp where she has had a women's weekend over Memorial Day for a couple of years. I wonder if there's any chance of winning 6 of these -- one for each of the participants! LOL!!

Karenladd said...

OH, I just love this! The papers and embellishments are so perfect for the theme and love your label!

Robin said...

I love your recipe book - what a great idea!

Rebecca Keppel said...

LOVE the recipe book idea and the food photography rocks!

DebraD said...

What a great way to scrapbook faster.. Hope I win....

Silvia Mendoza said...

Thanks for sharing your cook book idea. I have been trying to make one for my family but did not know how to start. You are right this book will be great for this. Hope to win it!!!

Unknown said...

Just love this idea!!! And the book is the perfect size....thanks for the great layout plans....Sandy

Nitasha said...

What a fabulous album! I just adore the Summer Fresh line! And after seeing your gorgeous project I'm pretty sure I NEED a typewriter!!! Loveit!

Janet said...

I love that paper line! I had actually bought one of the albums already to do a recipe album with! I am going to make one for each of my girls for Christmas with our family favorites.

Caroline Hackney said...

Really like how you made the recipe book! This would be great for one's own kitchen or as a wonderful gift!

Izzy Anderson said...

I love the old-school typewriter font, too. Darling project.

Lisa C. said...

Love your recipe book!! What an awesome idea!

Marit said...

Lovey album

{erna} said...

Love your album!!

Vianna said...

I see you do a lot of journaling on your typewriter. I'd like to know if you have an internet supplier for typewriter ribbons. I no longer can find any for mine (and I have 2) and would sure love to use one again ... I enjoy your blog and all your creations - Beautiful! Greetings from Holiday, Florida!