Asked on Jan 21, 2016

Does anyone have an idea for storing or displaying old cookie cutters?

Julie Moyna
by Julie Moyna
I have over 100 antique and vintage cookie cutters in various sizes and shapes. Some copper, some galvanized and some red plastic. They are kept in two of my apothecary drawers, but I don't want to have to scramble and possibly break or dent these cuties. Any suggestions?
One pile
Mostly new copper here. I'm a sucker though...I'll never pass up a cute cookie cutter
And yet another drawer full!
  51 answers
  • Pam Lewandowski Pam Lewandowski on Jan 21, 2016
    I will have to find a photo I recently saw on here. But in the meantime --- how cool and what a flashback to my childhood. <3
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Jan 21, 2016
    First I would categorize them...stars, bells, trees etc. then I would add dividers to your drawers and divvy up the space. If you had shelf space, large vintage glass jars with zinc tops would be a great way to display them and still keep them organized. You could also store those that are out of season and display seasonal ones...hearts for Valentine's Day for example...on a simple wooden dowel tree or tied to ribbons and hung. Your collection is beautiful!
  • Pam Lewandowski Pam Lewandowski on Jan 21, 2016
    I'd organize by shapes as well. To display, here are some ideas I found on google. Still not finding the one I wanted to --- but will keep searching. Hope these will help to get the creative ideas flowing. :)
    • Merri Jo Ounan Merri Jo Ounan on Jan 28, 2016
      @Pam Lewandowski Thanks for posting these pictures. That second picture reminded me that I have a Christmas ornament hanging display very similar to this that is still in the box after 2 years... and about 300 old cookie cutters that I can't bear to part with. Have to figure out how to hang them without putting a hole in the cutter.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 21, 2016
    Heres two of many posts I found. www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/diy-cookie-cutter-holder-9633837 and www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/christmas/cookie-cutter-quandry-11566521
  • Polly Andrews Polly Andrews on Jan 21, 2016
    String on grass rope and use as tiebacks for kitchen curtains or as a swag underneath a valance.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Jan 21, 2016
    I understand your dilemma because I have several hundred cookie cutters and I love them all. What I finally did was to put them all in one huge pile and separate them into categories. New Year's, Valentine's, St. Patrick, Mardi Gras, etc. Beyond holidays I separated others like animals, alphabets, numbers, shapes, etc. Once I'd segregated all my cutters, I put each grouping into a large zipper-lock plastic bag. All the bags then went into a huge, and I mean huge, plastic storage tote. Now all the cutters are organized. I can see at a glance which bag I might want to grab for a project and they are kept safe from being broken and stay clean.
  • LINDA LINDA on Jan 21, 2016
    I put mine in a huge clear jar canister ,,,they look awesome in the kitchen
  • Bonny DeYager Bonny DeYager on Jan 21, 2016
    Just packed up for moving so no pictures, but I display mine on a white 4 foot tall Christmas tree all year long. I have too many to display all at once so I swap out different themes throughout the year.
  • Msw4095008 Msw4095008 on Jan 21, 2016
    I saw a large vintage picture frame with just a fabric covered back on it and the cookie cutters were hung on tiny nails in a neat display. It was unique and creative for the wall.
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 27, 2016
      Sounds adorable. If you ever run across a picture...id love to see it! Thanks!
  • Julie Julie on Jan 21, 2016
    i took several and tied them together with a pretty ribbon, and hung them in my kitchen....
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 27, 2016
      That is what I'm thinking I'll do. Moving and will def make sure there is room when choosing house. Lol. Thank you!
  • Gloria Sauve Gloria Sauve on Jan 21, 2016
    Perhaps you could tie a ribbon to each one and hang them from curtain rods attached to the wall. Several rows of pretty decorative rods hung one below the other would be spectacular! I hope this idea inspires you. Please share your photo when you decide what your going to do. Have fun!!!
  • Cindi Cindi on Jan 24, 2016
    I prefer to store them in clear plastic containers, which can be used for display or storage, I just store them since I don't use them that often. This way too, they stay clean so I don't have to wash them when I want to use them.
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    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 29, 2016
      Me too...so many ideas but I'm thinking of tacking them up when I move someplace in the kitchen. !
  • Timothy Sibbel Timothy Sibbel on Jan 25, 2016
    You could put a 1/4" piece of plywood on back side of a door or cupboard, Add finish nails to hang the cookie cutters. You can set the pattern to rows or whatever suits your collection. Option #2: find an old dresser at garage sale, put organizers in drawers then organize your collection in the dresser!
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 27, 2016
      GREAT IDEA Timothy! I do have them in an apothecary dresser now and one home talker told me that I shouldn't store like that. Lol. That's why I'm asking! Thank you!
  • Suzanne Schlabs Suzanne Schlabs on Jan 26, 2016
    I've seen them displayed in VERY large Glass container
  • Lulu Lulu on Jan 26, 2016
    Save the best.Sell the rest.
  • Marie Marie on Jan 27, 2016
    I took the old wood pant coat hangers the kind that open on one end..I painted them and slid them alone the hanging bar..it stores them and you can slide them...also you can take colored paper clips and hang them..securing them like like a hanger...as if you were hanging a bulb...good luck
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 27, 2016
      Marie, do you have a picture? That might get kind of bulky wouldn't it? Thanks though. I appreciate your input.
  • Marie Marie on Jan 27, 2016
    you don't have to make them bulky..I have them in my basement somewhere..I don't display them and store them in a crate now..but in my old house they looked beautiful in my kitchen hanging off the beam. you can also take a fancy curtain rod and hang it on the wall like you would curtains and then using shower curtain hooks you could hang them ans when you needed them you could just snap open the hooks.
  • Patti Britt Patti Britt on Jan 27, 2016
    I have a collection of antique wooden ware..known as treen ware. I got a bay leaf wreath from Wiilliams Sonoma which hung in my kitchen. I wired some of my favorite pieces onto the wreath Looked great. Since the bay leaf wreaths are not available at this time of year an artificial wreath would work equally well. I realize that doesn't solve the problem for hundreds of cookie cutters but it is an idea. Another thought...buy some large , different dimensions and styles where picture would go use cork board display the cookie cutters with in the frames. I guess you would need to use florist wire to secure them. There is a great detailed explanation of using various frames somewhere here in Hometalk. .
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    • Patti Britt Patti Britt on Jul 07, 2016
      Julie, I have lots of antique wooden ware but I don't have any wooden cookie cutters. To my knowledge, cookIEEE cutters were not made of wood.
  • Lulu Lulu on Jan 27, 2016
    TY Yes, Purging is fun.
    • Susan Box Susan Box on Feb 03, 2016
      @Lulu please tell me how purging is fun?? I have no room left to put anything so... Purging is NOT fun for me. It is agony. Please share your secret!!
  • Karen Carl Karen Carl on Jan 28, 2016
    I'd go through and match according to type and separate the duplicates and keep the best ones for you. Before/if I get rid of any, I'd take a picture of them. You could make Christmas ornaments out of the extras and give them as gifts or sell at a garage/craft sale.
    • Merri Jo Ounan Merri Jo Ounan on Jan 28, 2016
      @Karen Carl re: selling. Yes, be sure to check the value; some cutters are worth lots of money - more than one would think!
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Jan 28, 2016
    EBay.
  • Carolyn Carolyn on Jan 28, 2016
    I put all copper in a glass jar (antique Planter's peanut canister), and have all red handled in an old strainer, all green handled in a basket, etc. I also have a 3 tiered wire basket hanging that is full of plastic and more metal cookie cutters. Have an old bread box full of the silver ones. NOTE: at Christmas, I decorated a skinny live tree for my dining room with cookie cutters, using red and green slim ribbon to hang them. Looked great with an old quilt underneath, and baskets of more cutters, fruit, tins, and antique roller skates and toys displayed underneath. You could put a tension rod across a window and hang them with ribbon. I did that, but have red handled kitchen utensils hanging above my kitchen sink like a valance. Carolyn
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jan 28, 2016
    I have a a collection like this also.. many were my grandmothers,, some have green painted wooden handles or are riveted... Not a collection display idea, but what I've been doing, is sewing a apron, adding a recipe binder (Barnes and Noble) of family recipes and history, a few cookie cutters for the younger ones as they leave home or are married.. Its especially nice with notes as to if one was a favorite of their parents, or if he helped make them..When a baby comes along i make a pint sized version apron, add a mini rolling pin and and cutter.. Both boys and girls love to help.....
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jan 28, 2016
    BTW I see quite a few that I have also..
  • Patti Britt Patti Britt on Jan 28, 2016
    Julie, I don't have wooden cookie cutters. My wooden ware consists of lemon squeezers, mortar and pestle, tape loom, etc. I do not have a picture of the wreath...that was several houses ago. LOL
  • Patti Britt Patti Britt on Jan 28, 2016
    Julie, perhaps my message was ambiguous...I don't have wooden cookie cutters. My wooden ware collection has been trimmed drastically in my last three moves. I had some wonderful wood and metal nutmeg graters, a lemon juicer, mortars and pestles, tape loom, etc. I don't have a picture of my wreath...that was 7 homes ago. LOL.
  • Patti Britt Patti Britt on Jan 28, 2016
    Julie, my post might have been ambiguous. I do not have any wooden cookie cutters. I have other wooden ware. Much of my collection has been eliminated in the last three moves. I do not have a picture of the bay leaf wreath. That was seven houses ago. LOL.
  • Jan Brindley Jan Brindley on Jan 28, 2016
    Haven't actually got it done yet, but I purchased a shadow box, will use covers from the old red and white Betty Crocker cookbooks for a background, then use little brads to hang some. It's taken me years to come up with this one idea.
  • Sandra O'Shea Sandra O'Shea on Jan 28, 2016
    Julie, that draw you have some of the cookie cutters in looks like a deep enough space to store a lot of the cookie cutters in. What if you bought dowels that fit from one side to the other of the draw? Then, drill a small hole or indention on either side that is so the dowel can be placed on either side without sliding. After you drill that little hole indention, you can slide your cookie cutters on the stick dowels. When each stick is filled with the cookie cutters you can attach it on each side of the hole to stay put. I suppose you could even stack them by animals, Christmas cutters etc. if you choose, for easier identifying them when you need one. This idea would work best with the open cookie cutters that is. Not for the solid plastic ones or the ones that are filled in that have the handle in the middle. I have never tried this, so I am not sure how solid of an idea this is. So before you go out and buy all the dowels if you decide to try this at all I would experiment with one dowel first so you are not wasting time and or money. At any rate I hope you find what is suitable for you. :).
  • Tania Tania on Jan 30, 2016
    I have my favorite hung with lace on my "Go To" organizer. The wooden thread organizers. I love that they can stand up or be on the wall... I use them for tape, and a million other things. My average ones and duplicates a re in big glass jars that bought at the hardware store for 7$ , same one at Hobby Llobby and Michaels for 24$!!
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Jan 30, 2016
      Sounds adorable and would love to see a picture if and when you have one! Thanks!
  • G G on Jan 30, 2016
    You need to show them off...what a great collection! I could see them in a large glass apothecary jar on the counter. Also during holiday time, you could "string" the ones that are applicable on ribbon to drape across the kitchen window or across the rungs of a wooden ladder propped up against the wall...so many possibilities!
  • Valerie Valerie on Jan 30, 2016
    What a great collection! I would think that a peg board would be your easiest solution. If you can get your hands on an old picture frame you could attach the peg board to it. I would also attach a few small blocks of wood behind the frame and peg board, so that it is not flush against the wall, so as to facilitate the pegs. Here are some examples of how to do it and also how to decorate the peg board. Hope it helps. http://www.hometalk.com/b/2148626/peg-board-organisation
  • Patricia Zelechowski Patricia Zelechowski on Jan 30, 2016
    I have seen these displayed in very large pretzel jars or any large clear glass jar would work. This way they would stay clean and in sight . Hope this helps.
  • Polly Derr Gillespie Polly Derr Gillespie on Jan 31, 2016
    I sorted out all the Christmas cutters, put them in a very large glass jar with a lid, wrapped a ribbon around the neck, and used it as a Christmas kitchen decoration. Maybe you could do that with some of the other holidays like Valentines, Easter, Halloween?
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 03, 2016
      I do have some in jars that I display for each holiday. The smaller ones like biscuit cutters are adorable in them
  • Susan Box Susan Box on Feb 03, 2016
    An idea popped into my mind as soon as I saw your amazing collection. Picture this: a large white vintage picture frame, backdrop of plain raw linen, canvas or cotton, matching cookie cutters (same style of construction and materials) displayed on background like puzzle pieces fitted together filling the entire frame. the background material would be stretched over bulletin board material (wish I knew what that was called) and the cutters held onto the board with long straight pins or finishing nails. The antique-y white frame and buff background with the soft sheen and cast shadows of the metal cutters would make an interesting textural display. Also, the low key, neutral colors are very popular now in vintage design and this could be displayed in almost any room. You could use the frame size and style/color that best suits the cutters you're displaying. I'd love to know if you try this and how it looks!
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    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 03, 2016
      Thank you so much đź’•
  • Chris Anns Kreations Chris Anns Kreations on Feb 03, 2016
    I have a set of the copper All-Holiday Cookie Cutters with original recipe book and box. I display the copper cookie cutters in a vinyl coated mesh red Santa sleigh during Christmas. Love cookie cutters and vintage cookie jars. Happy displaying :)
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    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 03, 2016
      Adorable. My sleigh's are wood and just put them away. I will definitely try this this year! Thank you!
  • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 03, 2016
    Susan's comment and brilliant idea did it!
  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 03, 2016
    Susan.Hi, yes I love purging because..... everything takes up valuable real estate in your home,so you need to make it worth it,or pass it on by Good-willing it. G.W. gives you a tax deductible donation form,for your accountant to reduce your taxes. Items you have that are not in use are collecting dust and use up effort,energy, time+product- to keep clean. Someone else can get use and pleasure out of your items,especially if they cannot afford to buy new. You can have the mother of all yard sales. I did a "clearing" before leaving a former home and made $500 in a few hours. We were having a contest with another neighbor,so we won dinner as well.Feng Shui talks a lot about clearing clutter and the effect it has on unblocking energy flows in your life. Also the extreme results of HOARDING are well demonstrated in back episodes of "Hoarders" on TV streaming sites like HULU. Fresh and Clean is always better than cluttered and dusty. Of course hoarding is an extreme end result of cluttering. Does this help? If purging is agony for you, you need to start now. You will feel so fresh and free. If in doubt get someone to advise you on real value. Its OK,U can do it! Keep in contact.
  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 03, 2016
    hi Susan,yes purging is important,to your space,your heart and your brain. This is the site to catch all those ideas to get clear and create energy flow in your life. Feng Shui is all about clearing your space. Clutter jams energy,and clearing it leaves space for positive changes If u have no room left,then it's time to begin. Yard sales, charity gifts,sell or give away anything that is not currently in use in your life.You will get a clean,clear feeling as you progress and that is what is fun about it.......Space. It feels good.
    • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Mar 08, 2017

      Then that is what I have to do then is purge, and purge some more to learn my mind and room.

  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 03, 2016
    I have answered this twice.Where are the answers going?????
  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 03, 2016
    Heh Julie,good to hear from you LOL. I,m a Leo, and leo's love giving stuff away. For instance books.We read them,pack them in a box and drop there off at the library for reuse or redistribution. We pick most of our books at used book stores, and yard sales in good areas. We fill up the empty spaces on our shelves with books from the above sources and when we want a new book,its like going to a library, and almost as cheap. Where we are living now,they sell books by the yard. Now that's fun! The care cherie.
    • See 1 previous
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 04, 2016
      Thanks so much ❣
  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 04, 2016
    anyhow, u could make cookies,tie them up with ribbon in a cellophane bag,and attach the cookie cutter to the bow.Then sell them at a church sale or ball game.Anyway there's always some way to rehome them. How about craig's list.
  • Patricia Zelechowski Patricia Zelechowski on Feb 04, 2016
    I have seen cookie cutters displayed in very large glass jars with lids
    • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Mar 08, 2017

      That's what I did with some of mine, in a large glass jar, huge one, and put a pretty knob on top. During the holidays, I put fairy lights around them.

  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 08, 2016
    It changes energy flows(feng shui) ,freshens the air, Reduces dust catchment areas,provides you with more space. Also i like contributing stuff cluttering my life to families who haven't enough.
  • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Feb 21, 2016
    I just opened my Martha Stuart Valentines edition, (I hate to admit that I rarely look at magazines anymore) but I saw this and I had to share with all of you who have commented with tips and ideas for my cookie cutters.
  • Linda P Thibodeau Linda P Thibodeau on Jul 06, 2016
    I put up a small Christmas tree in my kitchen/dinning area and hang all my old cookie cutters on it..
  • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Jul 06, 2016
    I did the same as Linda, and had a small christmas tree on my large counter. I also put some in a large glass container and put that on a large candle holder, with a pretty knob on top. I didn't want them hanging, more dust, but it you have a hanging pot rack, then hang them from there, and trade them off. Or on a large frame and like Julia posted. Wasn't sure how it's done, but a great big frame and pin them on there. I would love that.
  • Leona Leona on Aug 28, 2016
    A friend of mine put multiple magnet sheets that she purchased from a craft store on a thin piece of plywood and attached it to her kitchen wall. She has old kitchen items hanging on it that she did not want to damage or that she still use Don't know if this will work with cookie cutters. Another Idea is a framed out piece of pegboard hung on your wall like a painting then using small pegs in it and then you can arrange the cutters in a nice visual.
  • Heidi Heidi on Apr 25, 2018

    Anyone know what the heck this shape Is?

  • Christal gretch Christal gretch on Jan 23, 2019

    A lion!!!

  • Dwebb Dwebb on May 29, 2022

    Use a paper towel holder or can hot glue a piece of pvc pipe or several to a piece of wood or tray then paint it and store stacked on it