9 Creative Ways to Preserve Handwriting

Coping with Grief / Coping with Grief : Litsa Williams



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My dad had the most perfect penmanship. He attributed it to his Catholic school education: "The nuns beat it into me," he would say. Whether he was writing with his left or right hand, his handwriting was better than most people’s. As the story went, he broke his right arm three times in a year and got no slack from the nuns. They smacked his left hand with a ruler until his handwriting looked just as nice with his left as it had with his right.

After my dad died, I found comfort in almost anything with his handwriting on it. One might think this had to do with what he wrote, and of course, sometimes it did. But more often it was just that he wrote it. A grocery list, a random phone message, whatever. Throwing away anything with his handwriting on it? Unthinkable. Well, unthinkable until it started to seem a little unrealistic to keep every scrap of paper around the house with his handwriting on it. At some point, things slowly had to go.

When my grandmother died several years later, I went through this all over again. She was my dad’s mom and, not only was her handwriting sentimental in and of itself, but it also reminded me a lot of my dad’s.  As I cleaned out her house, I knew I couldn’t keep everything... but there were some things I couldn’t part with.

Recently, I have been thinking about ways to preserve handwriting of those we love and have stumbled upon some really cool ideas. I figure I might not be the only one with some handwriting-nostalgia, so here I am compiling some of these ideas in case you are looking for ways to hold on to your loved one’s handwriting without having a room in your house piled high with every scrap of paper they ever wrote on.  I have linked back to the source where possible, so click on the image to go to the site.

Handwriting Tattoos

I know more than a few grievers with one of these babies. A good tattoo artist will be able to replicate anything you bring in that your loved one wrote. It may be best to seek a tattoo artist who specializes in text to make sure you get something you are really happy with. There are a zillion examples, but here are a few:

handwriting tattoo: "All my love, Dad"
"Marcus Matthew Alex"

Framing Recipes

This is from yours truly at WYG. My grandmother’s recipes had her beautiful handwriting and seemed a perfect decoration and memorial for my kitchen. You can always just throw the recipe itself in a frame, but if you click the image below there is a tutorial on how to blow the recipe up and frame it at a larger size.

recipes 4


Create a Handwriting Scrapbook Page

Though this blog hasn’t been active for many years, The Good Grief Scrapbooking Blog provided 24 scrapbooking prompts to remember loved ones. They had a great handwriting prompt and some of the submissions are really cool.

handwriting scrapbook

Handwriting Jewelry

If a tattoo seems a little too permanent, you can still wear your loved one's handwriting in a more temporary way. There are TONS of jewelry makers who will take something your loved one wrote and turn it into a beautiful necklace, bracelet, keychain, etc. Etsy is a great place to start. A search for handwriting jewelry there brings up over 15,000 options, so I am guessing you'll find something you like!

handwriting bracelethandwriting necklacedaddy handwriting 3


Overlay Handwriting on a Photo

writing on photo
handwriting on photograph

If you have a card, letter, or something else that is meaningful that your loved one wrote, you can use photoshop to impose the handwriting onto an image that you may also find meaningful (or just a nice image that you want to use!). If you have a little photoshop knowledge, this tutorial will help you get it done! And if you still can't, you can order custom handwriting-photo overlays from this Etsy store.


Binding Letters into Books

binding letters into books
binding letters into books

This is such a neat idea. I am a disaster when it comes to crafty things and this looks like it takes some skill, but for those of you who are more ambitious and talented than me, it could be a VERY cool memorial.


Framing Just About Anything with Handwriting

I love this look and it could be done with just about anything: grocery lists, postcards, letters, recipes, or anything else. I saw this on Pinterest but couldn’t find the source of the image, please comment if you know the original source!

preserving old letters

Obviously, this is another Pinterest find. I thought it was another cute option for hanging just about anything with handwriting on it. Plus you could mix in some photos, etc.

preserving old letters 2
preserving old letters 3

Recipes on Tea Towels?  Yup!

handwritten-recipe-tea-towel

I love this idea! Erin of the Sometimes Homemade blog transferred her grandmother’s recipes onto tea towels. I guarantee this would be a train wreck if I tried it, but I feel certain some of you are talented enough to make this work. And if you do, you better send us a photo!

Recipes on a Cutting Board? Yes!

Will the creativity never cease? I am OBSESSED with this idea. Obsessed. I saw this one first on the Nutfield Geneology blog, but I have links to some Etsy sellers too.

handwriting on cutting board
handwriting cutting board
handwriting cutting board 2

I'm sure there are many options to preserve handwriting that I missed, so leave a comment to let us know. Then subscribe to get our new posts right to your inbox!

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21 Comments on "9 Creative Ways to Preserve Handwriting"

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  1. Cathy  May 8, 2022 at 5:24 pm Reply

    My mom passed, how can I take her hand writing into one of her recipes.

    0
    • Litsa  June 8, 2022 at 4:09 pm Reply

      If you search etsy there are many sellers there who can do different things with a photo of handwriting. That is where many of these ideas are from.

  2. Elaine Hamilton  December 30, 2019 at 4:27 pm Reply

    The framed postcards are actually a poster of vintage postcards by Cavellini & co. They make large wrapping paper style posters.

    1
  3. Wendy  October 18, 2019 at 9:47 am Reply

    My daughter has her grandmothers signature ( my mom) tattooed on her wrist. They were very close and her grief was overwhelming to the point of anorexia and cutting. I love that she now has a loved one so near her to remind her of her healing. It has helped tremendously.

  4. Stephanie  October 10, 2019 at 8:21 am Reply

    I sat with my sister for 3 days on life support and knowing she was going to pass, I wanted something of hers that would never go away. As a cosmetologist, I know that hair does not deteriorate. Also, as her sister, when we were little she would ask me to rub her hair for her to sleep. I found myself doing that for 3 days. I cut a lock of her beautiful curls and now have it in a locket I wear so she is always with me.

    1
  5. Gill Curwen  November 24, 2018 at 5:00 am Reply

    My husbands parents have now both passed away. We discovered 2 bundles of love letters. We don’t want to read them as they’re private, but would like to preserve them in their bundles as they are. Is it possible to paint or spray them with some sort of varnish or lacquer suitable for paper, so that they won’t deteriorate

    1
    • Elistariel  December 22, 2018 at 4:03 am Reply

      While they may be private to you, but in 100 years time or more your descendants or relatives may want to read those letters. As a genealogist, please, please, PLEASE don’t do that.

  6. Jolene  January 7, 2018 at 10:17 am Reply

    Hi ladies, as always, thanks so much for your ideas, thoughts, and overall awesomeness. You two really rock (sorry, I just thought you might need to hear that and since I haven’t said it recently…)

    Anyway, heads up that a couple of the links above don’t seem to be going to the proper places any more (The Good Grief Scrapbooking Blog goes to a page with coins in a language that uses symbols, the Photoshop tutorial link for photo overlays goes to the blog but not the page with info mentioned, and basically the same for the tea towels). I’ll look for the info with my buddy Google, so no big worries, I just wanted you two too know. From someone who says it nicely and thinks you two are awesome… ❤️

  7. Jolene  January 7, 2018 at 10:17 am Reply

    Hi ladies, as always, thanks so much for your ideas, thoughts, and overall awesomeness. You two really rock (sorry, I just thought you might need to hear that and since I haven’t said it recently…)

    Anyway, heads up that a couple of the links above don’t seem to be going to the proper places any more (The Good Grief Scrapbooking Blog goes to a page with coins in a language that uses symbols, the Photoshop tutorial link for photo overlays goes to the blog but not the page with info mentioned, and basically the same for the tea towels). I’ll look for the info with my buddy Google, so no big worries, I just wanted you two too know. From someone who says it nicely and thinks you two are awesome… ❤️

  8. Cathy  January 7, 2018 at 10:15 am Reply

    I’ve been debating different ideas to preserve my husband’s signature closing line “love you bunches” with a drawing of a bunch of flowers. My kids gave it to me as a painting to hang on the well by Etsy seller TheJulietRose. I’ve also considered having the flowers stamped into a piece of clay for a pennant or broch. Lots of options on Etsy!

    1
  9. Cathy  January 7, 2018 at 10:15 am Reply

    I’ve been debating different ideas to preserve my husband’s signature closing line “love you bunches” with a drawing of a bunch of flowers. My kids gave it to me as a painting to hang on the well by Etsy seller TheJulietRose. I’ve also considered having the flowers stamped into a piece of clay for a pennant or broch. Lots of options on Etsy!

  10. Candice  January 7, 2018 at 10:07 am Reply

    I made a Shutterfly digital recipe/scrapbook. I Scanned handwritten recipes and photos of my grandma and dad who had passed away. I also scanned some of my mom’s handwritten recipes & other family favorites too. I included stories and memories with some of the really special family recipes. It honestly took me years to complete ( procrastinater here) but the end product was so worth it! I’m now in the process of making one with all the funny sayings my dad used to say. It is taking longer than I would like, but mostly because I keep remembering ‘one more thing’ that needs to go in there. The finished product should be something that makes my family smile for years to come.

  11. Candice  January 7, 2018 at 10:07 am Reply

    I made a Shutterfly digital recipe/scrapbook. I Scanned handwritten recipes and photos of my grandma and dad who had passed away. I also scanned some of my mom’s handwritten recipes & other family favorites too. I included stories and memories with some of the really special family recipes. It honestly took me years to complete ( procrastinater here) but the end product was so worth it! I’m now in the process of making one with all the funny sayings my dad used to say. It is taking longer than I would like, but mostly because I keep remembering ‘one more thing’ that needs to go in there. The finished product should be something that makes my family smile for years to come.

  12. Jane Marie Gigliotti  May 16, 2016 at 10:48 am Reply

    I love this! I recently lost both my parents just 9 weeks apart and now my brother, and sisters are cleaning out their house. I realize we can’t keep everything either but, I am thinking about making a memory box and/or album of photos of their special things. It is just so hard to loose someone you love. Thanks again!!

  13. Judith  May 16, 2016 at 9:21 am Reply

    As a bookbinder this kind of work is the delight of my profession. I love working on people family treasures and creating something meaningful and wonderful around the objects for them.

  14. Laura  April 5, 2016 at 8:27 am Reply

    I love the idea of
    over laying a loved one’s handwriting over a photo, I would really like to have one of the photos made for a friend, however, I am having trouble getting to the Etsy store that makes them. Can any one help me with this? Thanks!

    1
  15. melinda braley  September 17, 2015 at 11:39 pm Reply

    I lost my mom this sept 24 2015 will be 4 years and i still have hard times getting thru all of it

  16. Clif Martin  June 13, 2015 at 9:47 am Reply

    My latest “Death Happens” blog post is a big fat glowing major review/promotion for WYG. You’re welcome. http://www.tadrn.blogspot.com

    • Litsa  June 13, 2015 at 11:03 am Reply

      Haha Thanks Clif!! Much appreciated 🙂

    • Eleanor  June 13, 2015 at 11:07 am Reply

      Cliff,

      Thank you so much! Your post is awesome, thank you so much for your generous words. Thank you so much for sharing your general thoughts and observations on death with people, I am sure they are helping.

      Eleanor

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