Recipe cards? What year is it… 1996?

One of my goals for 2026 is to spend more of my time like it’s 1996 (a.k.a. analogue). I deleted ChatGPT off my phone, moved some social media apps into a folder so I’m not tapping on them subconsciously, and picking up physical books instead of audio or Kindle. I’m not nay-saying technology - I actually spend quite a bit of time on my computer and phone for work and leisure. But I also want to “touch grass” as they say, and do something off a screen now and again.

One of my analogue choices this year has been to source recipes primarily from cookbooks and magazines I already have in the house. I spend a lot of time home with the kids and am aware of how much they see me refer to my phone. One simple change I can make is to use a physical copy of a recipe rather than a digital one. Not only does that mean I avoid endless adds (which irk me beyond belief), but also my kids watch me pull out a physical book from the pantry. Maybe that’s not actually going to translate into anything for them, but I want to see that there are other sources of information than a computer or phone.

I love looking through a cookbook!

Not only for inspiration on what to make for supper, but also for painting ideas. The photography in most of the books I have collected is stunning!

Side note, I’ve heard that kids don’t see the adults using pen and paper as much these days, which can affect their own ability to learn the skill of writing. Kids learn through imitation, so I try to write things out whenever possible: grocery lists, to do lists, recipes, cards, etc. I hope you notice everything coming together - this is part of the reason I make stationery!

So back to recipe cards: I still browse for new recipes online occasionally, or see them come across my social media platforms. And when I find something that looks particularly good, I make a point to try it out. Usually I’ll just use my phone the first time, to make sure it’s a good fit for our family. But once the recipe has passed the test, I write it down so I can refer to it more easily.

The four themed recipe cards in my Kitchen Companion Bundle

one for baking, one with herbs, one with veggies, and one with fruit. Maybe you choose to write a recipe that matches the theme, or not!

Recipe cards have been on my Nicnacs Crafts to do list for a while now. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make these user friendly, so the first step was layout. The front is dedicated to the list of ingredients, and the back to steps. I chose to pass on several elements I’ve seen on other recipe cards, like having a dedicated space for prep time, number of servings, oven temperature, etc. Most of these details are embedded in the recipe already, so having them recorded twice seemed redundant.

I also chose to make them 5×7 inches rather than 4×6. My writing is on the bigger side and I’m not able to fit a full recipe on a smaller card. Plus it’s harder to read when you are trying to actually make the recipe! While 5×7 isn’t the "traditional” size, there are 5×7 recipe card boxes available anywhere you would look for them (kitchen stores, online, etc.). I actually put mine into plastic sleeves in a binder, so the card is protected while cooking and it’s easy to find back again.

A sample of my recipe cards in a binder sleeve.

I only put one card in each sleeve, so it’s easy to see the instructions on the back. No taking them in and out of the sleeves while cooking!

I also adore stickers and just couldn’t help making a matching sheet when putting these recipe card bundles together. Several of the stickers match pictures on the cards, but others are paintings that didn’t clearly fit on an individual ard, but still fit the overall kitchen theme (namely the frying pan, margarita, and jar of pickled carrots). I love the stickers because they can add a bit more personality and colour to your recipes… and it's also fun to use stickers, even as an adult!

For example, let’s say you have a skillet lasagne that you choose to write out on the veggie themed card: you can add the frying pan sticker to make it fit your recipe more closely! I also have a few phrases, like “family fave” for even more of a personal touch.

My kitchen themed sticker sheet.

Personalize your recipe collection even more with a few stickers!

Ok, that’s a lot to say about recipe cards! But I hope this shows you some of the intention I put into this project, and perhaps some ideas for how you could use these in your own home. My mom has several hand-written recipes from my grandmother and great aunts that have become favourites in our family and I’m excited to keep the tradition alive. I’ve called this collection of 12 cards and a matching sticker sheet the Kitchen Companion Bundle, which you can find on my website or Etsy shop. Wouldn’t this make an excellent bridal shower or hostess gift? If you already have yours, let me know how you are using it!