favorite recipe utensil crock.

hello noodleheads!

I make cookies a lot. Like every day. And even though I pretty much have the recipe memorized, there are some times the kids want to make them or I forget to add the baking soda or something wild and crazy happens and all things good and lovely are lost and forgotten; so I've been wanting to display my recipe somehow where it's always visible. Kind of for nostalgia, too, because cookies are a big part of our kitchen. I thought about making a cute poster or embroidering it to hang on the wall, but I have no wall space to spare.

So there I was, craving Nestle Tollhouse one afternoon and staring at my blank utensil crock when it came to me: Put it on the crock. hmmm, good idea.

{the contact paper is for another tutorial below.

Don't worry about it right now.}

Cover the surface you're going to paint

with the Delta Surface Conditioner and let dry.

I wanted the recipe to be in my handwriting,

for nostalgia's sake,

so I decided not to use a stencil for this.

I tried using a paintbrush

but the paint is pretty thick

and it didn't turn out so well.

Just keep lightly dipping the end of your pencil in your paint

and write quickly so you get your real handwriting look.

You can wipe it off and try again if you don't like it.

Now slowly fill in your writing with more paint

using your pencil or a toothpick.

Carefully "drag" the paint along your outline

to fill in your letters.

Don't get too much paint on your pencil;

less is more. Go slowly.

Don't worry about it being a little sloppy.

We'll fix that in a minute.

Now do the same thing for the rest of your recipe.

As you've probably noticed, your writing doesn't look

as clean and streamlined as you'd like it to be.

This is because the PermEnamel paint is thick

and not easy to glide around. It's kinda gloppy.

So let your paint dry for 5 minutes or so

and clean it up with an x-acto knife.

Carefully scrape away any blobs or messes,

and thin out any thick and wonky letters that annoy you.

this is a little better:

remember, you're going for a

homemade handwritten recipe look,

so don't clean it up too much.

The paint dries fast but takes 10 days to fully cure,

so don't wash it for at least 2 weeks.

{PermEnamel paint is dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe.

However, I wouldn't put it on a surface that touches food

because it's not FDA approved. It is non-toxic, though.}

After finishing this and seeing it on my counter, I thought this would be a great wedding or anniversary gift. Cover the crock with special recipes in your handwriting and pass it on to your daughter. Love it.

I'm going to put my pizza crust and bread recipe on it, too, I think.

Here are a few other ideas and kitchen stuff i love using ceramic paints:

Martha Stewart painted china.

Wildflower Mugs by thimbly things.

Stenciled Animal Mugs by Country Living.

ps. This is my basic cookie recipe; I mix it up a lot. Sometimes I use 1 cup wheat or oat flour, shortening instead of butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, pecans. Whatever. I almost always add 3 Tbsp ground flaxseed though; it's good for you. Use a big cookie scoop and bake them at 350 for 10 minutes. Your life will be happy.