Photo & Ideas from Martha Stewart
With summer vacations on the horizon, now is a great time to think about simple, meaningful ways to preserve memories. This idea has been shared before, but it’s worth repeating: encourage kids or grandkids to collect small mementos throughout the season so they can assemble one or more keepsake jars or shadow boxes when the trips are over.
Gather shells, ticket stubs, small toys, labels, and other tiny reminders of special moments. Then display them in a clear jar or frame to keep those memories visible.
Happy travels!
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My son loves collecting little treasures. We often take relaxed walks together, hand in hand, searching for interesting finds—pine cones, pretty rocks, interesting shells, and other small discoveries. He also enjoys picking up keepsakes on our beach trips.
All too often those small items end up in a drawer or get misplaced during the busy rhythm of life. While we sometimes place shells in apothecary jars in our entryway or a lantern on the porch, I find it especially meaningful to let a child create and fill their own jars as a hands-on project.
Why let those small moments be forgotten so quickly?
I first noticed these keepsake jars on Martha Stewart and loved the concept as a simple way to capture summer vacation memories. The jars are charming and versatile; Martha recommends using bendable wire to help slide trinkets into jars with narrow mouths. Wire can also be useful to prop items upright or give them a floating appearance inside the jar.
Beyond vacation mementos, these jars make thoughtful personalized gifts or commemorations for many occasions, such as:
- An anniversary—collect keepsakes from courtship or the wedding day
- A baby’s first year—tiny booties, a hospital bracelet, a small photo, or a lock of hair
- A year-in-review jar—mementos that represent highlights from the past year
- A gift for grandparents or other loved ones—filled with items that evoke shared memories
- A teacher’s gift—small tokens from the school year or class activities
Another lovely variation is creating shadow boxes filled with vacation keepsakes. Shadow boxes let you arrange and highlight items like photos, shells, postcards, and small souvenirs in a framed display.
Do you have any fun vacation plans this summer?
Inspiration: Martha Stewart