Honor Family Recipes With Rustic Decor You Can Find At The Thrift Store

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While online recipes can provide convenience while cooking, they simply cannot match the undeniable charm of handwritten cards. Especially if they're time-honored family favorites, your recipe cards should have a proper place outside of cluttering your kitchen counters. You can DIY a recipe card box with Dollar Tree supplies, but they tend to collect dust when you're not using them. Why not display your traditions by creating a gallery wall full of handwritten recipe cards? By simply hanging framed recipe cards on a kitchen or pantry wall, you can inject a bit of character into the heart of your home, celebrating the dishes that make your family unique and keeping them convenient for your daily usage.

The best part of this trick is that you don't need to spend a lot of money in order to make it meaningful. Thrift stores offer a variety of frame sizes and materials that are rich with character, helping to create a stunning wall display without breaking the bank. Mix and match sizes and finishes for a more eclectic feel, or paint each frame in the same shade for a cohesive look on your gallery wall. It not only provides a creative way to repurpose old frames in your kitchen or pantry, but it also protects these invaluable pieces in your collection from dust or spills.

What makes a gallery wall filled with recipes truly special is that it is constantly evolving and growing alongside your family, so picking frames that are special, unique, and eclectic will reflect the personality and individuality in each recipe. Plus, the style of frame you choose can enhance your rustic kitchen decor. A floating frame can allow a wood paneled wall to shine as a backdrop, while ornate gilded frames give a polished, Old World feel. 

Once you've gathered your thrifted frames, you'll want to take a bit of time to wipe down the wood and polish the glass. You may also want to choose a mat that will complement your frames and existing decor. To maintain the rustic feel, consider using a strip of burlap or kraft paper as a mat or go bold with a contrasting color to match your kitchen's palette. At this time, you should also decide whether or not you want to display the original recipe cards. Some recipes have information on both the front and back. You can photocopy your cards to store the originals in a secure place, placing both sides in the same frame for a variety of sizes on your gallery wall. Additionally, if your framed recipes become part of your kitchen decor, you can consider adding Personalized Engraved Brass Name Plates with labels like "Mom's Famous Peach Cobbler."

Now it's time to decide on a layout that works with your space. There are a few helpful tips for creating the perfect gallery wall and it all starts with the right arrangement of frames. Depending on the size difference between your recipes, you may need to move each frame before you settle on a layout that works for your kitchen. Lay each frame on the floor in front of your wall to avoid any unnecessary holes in your wall. Once you're content, you can use a level to hang each frame. 

Spice up your decor by adding various shelves or hooks to integrate additional kitchen or pantry storage elements like aprons, spices, or decorative jars. Friends and family can contribute to the wall by leaving handwritten recipe cards in varying sizes, allowing you to swap out seasonal meals or new found favorites. It can also work in areas with large amounts of wall space, where you can continually expand it as you receive new family recipes. It not only keeps the wall feeling completely fresh, but it also makes it a practical addition to your kitchen so that you never forget how to prepare time-honored traditions.