My son loves collecting small keepsakes and treasures. We often take slow walks through the neighborhood, hand in hand, hunting for interesting finds. Pine cones, bottle caps, pretty rocks and colorful leaves all make the list. Those walks are some of my favorite moments — a simple way to explore together and notice little things.
On beach trips he likes picking up tiny mementos too, and sometimes we buy small souvenirs. Inevitably, however, many of these treasures end up tucked into a drawer or misplaced in the day-to-day shuffle. While we sometimes display shells in the apothecary jars in the entry or place items in the porch lantern, I like the idea of him creating his own keepsake jars as a hands-on summer project.
Why let those small moments be forgotten so quickly?
There are still a few weeks before school starts, so to make the most of the remaining summer days I plan to encourage him to decorate and fill jars with his finds.
I first noticed the concept of vacation memory jars in a Martha Stewart feature and thought it was a lovely way to preserve summer memories. Simple glass jars become miniature displays of a trip or a season. If the jar opening is narrow, bendable wire can help guide trinkets inside, and wire can also be used to position items so they stand upright or appear to float within the jar.
These keepsake jars work well for many occasions and make thoughtful, personal gifts. Some ideas:
- An anniversary jar filled with mementos from dating or the wedding day.
- A first-year baby jar containing first booties, tiny hats, hospital bracelets, a lock of hair or a favorite pacifier.
- A year-in-review jar holding small reminders from highlights of the past year.
- A gift for grandparents or other loved ones, filled with shared memories.
- A teacher appreciation jar labeled and filled with small tokens from the class.
What other ideas do you have for using jars to hold keepsakes?
If you enjoy collecting jars, aqua-tinted mason jars make charming vessels for memory collections; their color adds a nostalgic touch and they look lovely displayed on a shelf or mantel.
Keepsake jars are an easy, creative way to gather and celebrate small moments. They preserve texture, color and story in a simple, tactile way — something a photo alone doesn’t always capture. Encouraging kids to choose, arrange and label their own jars can turn ordinary finds into meaningful heirlooms and a fun family ritual.
inspiration: Martha Stewart