My son loves collecting small keepsakes and treasures. We often take leisurely walks around the neighborhood, hand in hand, hunting for little finds — pine cones, interesting bottle caps, smooth rocks, and pretty leaves. Those walks are one of my favorite things to do with him. He also enjoys searching for or buying little mementos on our beach trips.
All too often these small treasures end up tucked away in a drawer or misplaced in the shuffle of daily life. We try to display shells and other beach finds in apothecary jars by the entry or in a lantern on the porch, but I like the idea of letting him create his own memory jars as a simple project he can personalize.
Why let those small moments be forgotten so quickly?
With a few weeks of summer left before school starts, I decided this would be a perfect time to have him make his own keepsake jars.
I first noticed these vacation memory jars in a Martha Stewart feature and thought they were a lovely, hands-on way to preserve summer memories. They’re charming and easy to personalize. Martha suggests using bendable wire to help guide small trinkets into jars with narrow openings. You can also use wire inside the jar to help items stand up or appear to “float,” creating a more dynamic display.
These jars make thoughtful, meaningful gifts or personal mementos for many occasions, such as:
- Anniversaries — fill a jar with keepsakes from the dating period or the wedding.
- Baby’s first year — include tiny booties, hair clips, hats, hospital ID bracelets, early photos, or a pacifier.
- A year-in-review — collect small items that represent highlights and memories from the past year.
- Gifts for grandparents or other loved ones — share a compact, personal collection of shared memories.
- Teacher gifts — a simple, creative way to say thank you at the end of the year.
What other ideas do you have for using jars to hold keepsakes?
Consider collecting colored or vintage glass jars, like aqua Mason jars, to give your memory jars extra character.
Related Travel Keepsake Idea: Easy map- and travel-inspired art can complement memory jars and create a fuller display of your journeys.
Inspiration: Martha Stewart