Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board (2024)

Preserve a special family recipe on aHandwritten Recipe Cutting Board to pass from generation to generation!

One of the first treats I ever tried from my mother-in-law was her oatmeal cookies. These are some of the best cookies I've ever had, and they are legendary in my husband's family. I've been wanting to transfer a handwritten vintage recipe onto acutting boardfor years now, and I was lucky enough to get my mother-in-law's permission to try it out with the original oatmeal cookie recipe written in her mother's handwriting. MyIkonart Stencil Kithelped to make this project a success, and I have been so excited to show you how easy it is so you to try one for yourself. Not only does this make a special heirloom, but it would be such a unique gift idea for your family members!

To make your ownHandwritten Recipe Cutting Board, you will need these supplies:

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To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Since my image is a handwritten recipe instead of a digital design, I started with a photo of the recipe card. Next, I followed this helpful tutorial from Ikonart onhow to turn a photo into a stencilto capture just the handwriting from the photo to use as my stencil. Size the recipe image to fit yourboard, and print the image as dark as possible on either inkjet or laserIkonart Printer Film.

The next step in the process is exposing the stencil film. Set up theexposure standwith UV LED Light by following the directions included in the kit.Ikonart Stencil Filmis light sensitive, so be careful tokeep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure. Cut a piece of the film the same size as the design print.

Ikonart stencils work best on wood that is smooth. Go over thecutting boardwith 220 gritsandpaperand wipe it clean afterward with a damp cloth to remove any dust.

Place the stencil down on the board, and use a ruler to make sure the words are straight. Once the stencil is in place, rub it down to make sure it's stuck on well.

Wood burning by hand can be a lot of fun, but I know I would not be able to replicate this delicate handwriting manually. With the help ofTorch Paste, you can wood burn practically any design with a professional finish!

Remove the stencil and let the paste sit for 2-3 minutes. While you're waiting for the paste to set, wash the Torch Paste from the stencil. First, get theclipboardwet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil onto the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paste.

Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.

Are you ready for someTorch Pastemagic?! Use aheat gunto apply heat to the design, moving the heat around continuously so that you don't burn one spot for too long. Go over the pasted areas until you get the amount of burn you want. The more you apply heat, the darker the burn effect.

Once you complete the heat process, take a minute or two to admire your work. I think this board turned out absolutely beautiful, and am blown away by the detail.

To protect the board from liquid and to keep them lasting as long as possible, cover with a coat or two ofsealant. If adding multiple coats, be sure to let the previous coat dry completely before adding another.

Instead of a sealant, I decided to take it a step further and cover it in a coat of resin. Working with resin can feel intimidating to beginners, but adding a topcoat is incredibly simple! Here's the supplies I used for covering my board:

Split the resin into two smallermixing cups. Leave one of the cups as-is (clear), and add somewhite mica powderto the other cup. Stir the mixture well until the powder has been combined with the resin.

Pour a small amount of the white resin onto the handle of the board, and use a stir stick to gently bring the resin near the edges. To prevent the resin from spilling over the sides, you need to carefully bring the resin to *just* the edge. If you see any drips going down the side, wipe it away immediately.

Pour the clear resin about an inch or two above the wood burned area, and down to the bottom edge. Decide how far you want the white resin to go down from the handle, and add resin to just above that area. Use a stir stick to blend the area where the resins meet. Be careful not to drag the resin down over the recipe!

If you tilt your head or angle yourself to see the light reflecting in the resin, you will be able to see any "bald spots" or areas that aren't covered in the resin top coat yet. Use the stir stick to fill in the areas.