These little recipe card holders are made from scrap wood with a notch cut in the top. But if you don’t want to get out the table saw, just about any place card holder will work. It’s a fun way to show off the recipe along with the cooked dish at a family gathering. Print extra copies on card stock for thoughtful party favors.
4 Easy Ideas for Displaying Favorite Family Recipes
Family recipes are a special kind of priceless heirloom—the kind that transport us back to our favorite times with our favorite people. So should you keep them shoved in a recipe box or scribbled on a piece of paper tucked in a book? Definitely not. Give your favorite family recipes the place of honor they deserve with these do-it-yourself display ideas. They’re just right for gift-giving—especially for weddings, house-warming presents, and holidays—or to decorate your own kitchen, dining room, or breakfast nook.
Handwritten recipe cards carry more than a memory of the meal—the cook’s penmanship makes it extra personal. For this gallery wall, choose a variety of frames in the same color and print recipes to fit. If you have a scanner and printer, this one’s easy to do at home. You can also print a photo taken with your phone. Otherwise, head to a print center or office supply store. You can also tweak the color and texture with photo editing software or apps.
This DIY idea appears on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family. Just scan in the recipe and print it onto fabric transfer paper. Then follow the instructions to transfer the image to a linen tea towel. Several towels printed with different family recipes and tied with a gingham ribbon would make a wonderful holiday gift.
Combine recipe cards, photos, and mementos to make a meaningful heirloom shadow box. You can scan and print your recipes or use the original. Hang this one in the kitchen for lasting inspiration.
- Start with a shadow box or tray about 1” deep.
- If your shadow box doesn’t already have one, add a sawtooth picture frame hanger to the back at the top.
- Gather and arrange the contents: recipe cards, photos, kitchen utensils, even dried herbs or flowers. Our example features a snapshot of the cook, measuring spoons, and an ingredient in a small glass jar.
- Once you’re happy with the arrangement, attach items to the frame. Use a photo-safe spray adhesive or rubber cement for photos and recipe cards. The rest can be hot-glued or attached with craft adhesive.
Jennifer is a Hallmark writer and culinary student who is always on the hunt for new, easy recipes for celebrating the holidays and seasons.