Apron Cookbook

Materials:

pkg. of plastic craft sheets (2)
decorative paper or card stock
text paper
recipes*
permanent marker
pencil
scissors
2 binder clips
1/4" hole punch
ruler
1/2" wooden dowel
wire snips
glue
2 beads for end of clothesline wire (optional)
round-nose pliers for bending wire (optional)
approx. 2' plastic coated clothesline wire (optional)
approx. 2' armature wire (optional)
book binding system (optional)

*The recipes can be written by hand, typed or written on index cards and adhered to the pages in the book; or they can be rubber stamped directly onto the pages. There are a number of very clever stamps featuring some very good recipes (figure A). For rubber-stamped and hand-written recipes, you might find it easier to add them to the pages before assembling the book. If adding recipes written on index cards, you might prefer to add them after the book has been assembled.

1. Fold a piece of paper in half and draw a half-apron shape. Cut out and trace onto cardstock for your pattern (figure B). Or, use an apron template (available in many stamp stores), or make a plain rectangle-shaped book. Whatever shape you decide on, you will need a pattern or template for cutting out the plastic covers, the decorative paper or card stock covers, and the book pages.

2. For each book, trace the pattern and cut out two plastic covers (front and back) (figure C), two decorative paper or card stock covers (front and back), and the desired number of pages for the book. Cut out all pieces.

3. Stack together as follows, from back to front: plastic craft sheet (back), decorative paper or card stock (back), text paper (cookbook pages), decorative paper or card stock (front), and plastic craft sheet (front).

4. To make book one: On the front paper or card stock cover, measure and mark 1/4 inch in from the left edge at 1/2-inch spaces down the length of the left side. Punch holes at these marks on all pieces of the cookbook, including the plastic covers.

5. After assembling the book, cut a length of clothesline and wrap it around and around the dowel (figure D). Place next to cookbook to determine if you have the right length (figure E). Too long is fine--too short is not.

6. Cut and peel off about 2 inches of the plastic coating from one end of the clothesline (figure F). This will be your threading needle.

7. Work the wire through the holes in the stacked covers and pages (figure G). When you get through all of the holes, determine if the clothesline needs shortening. If so, cut it off allowing about 1 inch at the end. Peel off the wire, add a bead, and curl the extending wire back to secure the bead. Repeat this procedure at the beginning of the clothesline.

8. The title of the book was generated on the computer and printed on decorative paper, then cut out and glued to a scrap of coordinated card stock cut slightly larger than the title. This was glued to the front cover with clear drying glue and embellished with chef's hat buttons, from which the shanks had been removed (figure H).

Our second book was for craft recipes, so we crafted on the plastic cover.

1. To make book two: Paint several stripes of metallic paint on the plastic front cover; then pull a craft comb through the wet paint to make a decorative pattern (figure I). Allow to dry.

2. When the paint is dry, assemble the book with the painted side of the cover on the inside (figure J).

3. Wrap armature wire around and around the dowel. When wire has been completely wrapped, slip it off of the dowel.

4. Use wire snips (figure K) to cut the wire into individual jump rings (figure L).

5. Insert the rings through the holes in the book and use pliers to shape the rings so the ends meet.

This time the holes were punched using the Rollabind Binding System that punches several holes at a time through a number of layers of paper. When all the holes are punched, the unique little discs are inserted to hold everything together (figure M). Manufacturer's instructions are included with the binding machine.