How to Make a Thanksgiving Recipe-Card Stand from a Wood Block and Clip

Thanksgiving recipe-card stand made from a pumpkin-painted wood block and upright wooden clothespin

Give a favorite family recipe a place on your Thanksgiving table. A small wood block and an upright clothespin make a simple holder for one lightweight card.

A painted pumpkin ties the stand into fall table decor. Start with a precut block so you do not need a saw or drill.

Follow the 12 numbered actions below, grouped beside the matching images. You can repeat the pumpkin color in your Thanksgiving place cards for a coordinated setting.

Materials and Tools

Wood block, clothespin, blank card, sandpaper, paint and epoxy supplies for a recipe-card stand
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.

Gather these supplies for one lightweight recipe-card stand.

  1. Wood Block – One precut, untreated block, about 4 × 2 × 1 inches (100 × 50 × 25 mm), with a flat base.
  2. Clothespin – One wooden spring clip, about 1¾ inches (45 mm) long, with flat handle ends.
  3. Recipe Card – One lightweight 4 × 6-inch (10 × 15-cm) card, displayed horizontally.
  4. Sanding Supplies – 120-grit and 220-grit sandpaper, plus a clean dusting cloth.
  5. Marking Tools – A ruler and pencil.
  6. Paint and Brush – Orange and green acrylic craft paint, a fine brush and a palette.
  7. Adhesive – Clear two-part epoxy suitable for wood-to-wood bonding, with the recommended mixing surface and stick.
  8. Protection – A table covering, plus gloves and eye protection as directed by the adhesive manufacturer.
  9. Tape and Finish (optional) – Painter’s tape and a compatible clear finish for the painted front.

This illustrated plan has not been physically tested by Shilpidea. Allow for paint drying and the adhesive’s full curing time before using the stand.

Precautions Before You Begin

Follow these precautions while preparing and assembling the stand.

  • Adults should mix and apply epoxy; ventilate and follow the label’s protection and cleanup instructions.
  • Use sound wood, control sanding dust and follow your finish’s precautions.
  • Both lower clothespin handles are glued down. Slide the card into the jaws; do not squeeze the handles.
  • Use one light card only. Keep the stand dry and away from flames, hot pans, stovetops and steam.

1. Prepare the Base

Hands smoothing a plain wood block with sandpaper before assembling a recipe-card stand
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.
  1. Check the base. Rest the block on its broad 4 × 2-inch face. It must sit level without rocking; replace any cracked or uneven block before continuing.
  2. Sand the wood. Smooth rough spots with 120-grit paper, then finish lightly with 220-grit, following the grain. Remove all dust and let the surface dry before painting.
  3. Dry-fit the clip. Mark the top center. Stand the clip jaws-up, with both handle ends flat on the wood. Check that a light card slides into the jaws without force.

2. Paint the Pumpkin

Painting an orange pumpkin on the front of a wood block while leaving its top bare
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.
  1. Paint the pumpkin. Paint a small orange oval on the front face. Add curved pumpkin lines and a green stem, keeping enough bare wood visible around the design.
  2. Leave the joint bare. Keep the top attachment spot unpainted so the adhesive contacts bare wood. Mask this area before applying an optional clear finish to the front.
  3. Dry the decoration. Let the paint and any clear finish dry fully according to their labels. Check that neither surface feels tacky before handling the block for assembly.

For another simple finish, explore these wood decoration ideas.

3. Attach the Clip

Gloved hands attaching an upright wooden clothespin to a wood block with clear epoxy
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.
  1. Prepare the adhesive. Lightly scuff both lower handle ends and remove the dust. Make sure the contact surfaces are bare, clean and dry; mix the epoxy exactly as directed.
  2. Attach the clip. Apply a little epoxy to both handle ends and place them on the center mark, jaws-up. Keep glue out of the spring and jaws; support the clip as directed.

4. Let the Adhesive Cure

AI illustration of the pumpkin-painted wood block with its empty upright clothespin left undisturbed for curing
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.
  1. Allow a full cure. Leave the stand level and undisturbed for the adhesive’s full curing time. Do not insert a card, test the joint or lift the stand by its clip.

Setting is not full curing. Gorilla’s epoxy instructions list a 24-hour full cure; follow your own product’s label if it differs.

5. Add the Card and Check the Stand

Sliding a lightweight Family Recipe card into the upright clothespin on a pumpkin-painted wooden base
AI-generated illustration: Shilpidea.
  1. Insert the card. After full curing, steady the base and slide the card’s bottom edge gently into the upper jaws. Keep the card horizontal and centered; never squeeze the glued handles.
  2. Check the balance. Release the card slowly and inspect the stand from the front and side. If it leans or tips, remove the card and try a smaller, lighter one.
  3. Choose the display spot. Place the stand on a level, dry surface away from heat and spills. Use a recipe copy, buffet label or thankful note that fits without forcing the jaws.

Repeat the pumpkin color in your leaf napkin rings for a coordinated setting.

See the original project: DIY Wood Block Photo Holder by Sara Albers / Alice and Lois. Its fixed-clip method inspired this version.

Quick Fixes If Something Is Not Right

  • Card slips: clean and dry the jaws; try a smaller card that fits without force.
  • Stand tips: remove the card and check the base. A larger card may need broader, heavier support.
  • Clip loosens: stop using it. Clean and rebuild the joint as the adhesive maker directs, then allow a new full cure.
  • Paint stays tacky: wait for the drying time on the paint or finish label before placing it on fabric.

Bring the Handmade Details Together on Your Thanksgiving Table

Let the recipe stand be one small detail in the setting. A leaf napkin ring, paper pumpkin or simple place card can repeat its colors without crowding the dishes. If guests are bringing family favorites, give each recipe its own space along the buffet and keep the holders clear of serving spoons, hot pans and spills.

What would you display first—a family recipe, a buffet label or a thankful note? Share your plans in the comments. If you make a stand, we’d love to hear how you decorated yours and any tips you discovered along the way.