A recipe box is a handy thing to have in the kitchen.  Despite the fact that recipes are readily available online, once you’re in the kitchen, it’s still much easier to refer to a recipe in your recipe box than it is to refer to a recipe on your laptop.  You can wipe away any spills on your laminated recipes (if you get any spills onto your keyword, now that’s another story).

Material for Decorated Recipe Box:

Recipe box.  You can find one in a thrift store or craft store.  Or, you can recycle an used cookie tin.

Material to decorate the recipe box with (paper, stickers, stamps, buttons, beads, etc)

Glue

Instructions for Decorated Recipe Box:

1. Glue pieces of paper onto the recipe box as desired
2. Decorate the recipe box with additional embellishments

Bonus Idea: If you’re looking for a last minute holiday gift idea, fill a decorated recipe box with your favorite holiday recipes. To make it really special, include a dozen cookies from one of your holiday cookie recipes.

This laminated paper placemats craft project is one of those kid craft projects that are truly versatile. There are so many variations – each only limited by your kids’ imagination.  These placemats are completely waterproof and can be easily cleaned by wiping them with warm water.  A wonderful way to showcase family photos, travel mementos and your kids’ artwork, these handmade placemats also make great housewarming gift or holiday hostess gift.

Material for Laminated Paper Placemat:

A sheet of 10×12 paper for every placemat

Artwork to decorate the placemats (photos, drawings, scraps, travel mementos, magazine clippings, leaves, stamps, pressed flowers etc)

Glue stick

Instruction for Laminated Paper Placemat:

1. Decorate the pieces of paper on one or both sides.
2. Laminate the finished sheets of paper.  For most people who don’t have a laminator at home, this can be done at your local copy store.

This is the 3rd in a series of post on back to school art and craft for kids. If you’ve missed the previous projects, it’s not too late to start crafting on versatile ribbon bulletin boards and decorative lunch bags!

For today’s project, we’re going to continue the theme of taking something ordinary and customizing it to our own taste.  The result is an one of a kind object that your kids will love to use all year long.  Our object of desire today?  Notebooks.

Ready?  Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Customized notebooks supplies:

1. Some notebooks or composition books
2. Pretty craft paper
3. Scissors
4. Glue
5. Linen tape

Customized notebooks how-to:

1. This is a simple way to add some punch to basic notebooks.
2. Cut two pieces of craft paper in the shape of the notebook.  One for the front; one for the back.  The paper should have enough room to leave a 1-inch border around the notebook.
3. With the pretty side down, apply glue all over the craft paper.
4. Carefully position the notebook on top & center of one craft paper.  Press the notebook down firmly.
5. Repeat for the other side of the notebook.
6. Trim the excessive craft paper from the edges of the notebook.
7. Cut a piece of linen tape, slightly longer than the spine of the notebook.
8. Stick the linen tape to the spine of the notebook. Cut off the excessive tape.

Do you want to take it up a notch?  You can decorate the notebooks with all kinds of material like felt, buttons, stickers and more.  Visit the gallery for more inspiration!

That’s it for today.  Stay tuned for more back to school art and craft for kids in the next few posts.