Shadowboxes, Memory Quilts, and Scrapbooks
Ways to Save, Display, and Use Sentimental Momentos
May 25, 2009
People hang onto all sorts of things, from concert ticket stubs to wedding dresses, because of the fond memories they bring. But without a plan for displaying or using them, mementos just become junk stuffed in the back of a closet or drawer.
Here are some of the best ways to preserve memories of a special trip, event, or person, whether for displaying around the house or giving away as meaningful gifts for friends and family.
Make a Memory Quilt
With a minimal knowledge of sewing, it's possible to create a beautiful memory quilt that is both functional and a sentimental keepsake. The squares of a memory quilt could be be cut from almost anything:
- Children's old baby clothes
- Team uniforms or dance costumes
- Commemorative T-shirts from volunteer work or running races
- Large scraps of fabric leftover from sewing projects
- Old pairs of jeans (include the back pockets on some squares for visual appeal)
Preserving Memories with Photos
Some items are just too bulky and inconvenient to save, no matter how much a person would like to hold onto them. An avid runner, for example, may feel a special attachment to the pairs of shoes he or she has worn during marathons. But it isn't very practical to hang on to a multiple pairs of worn-out running shoes.
With items like this, perhaps the best way to preserve the memory is by taking photos of the objects and scrapbooking them. For a fee, scrapbook shops will take your photos and create a scrapbook from them. Make sure the photos are taken in good light and from lots of different angles. Journaling on the scrapbook pages tells about the significance of the items pictured.
Saving Memorabilia in a Journal
Many people keep a journal or diary, so it's simple to include 2-dimensional mementos like ticket stubs, programs, admission bracelets, and greeting cards right alongside the text. Doing so gives depth to a journal and provides context for any piece of memorabilia. People who do this will never find a ticket
Use Digital Pictures
A person who loves taking photos finds themselves drowning in photo albums sooner or later. It's hard to locate or display pictures when they become so numerous and bulky. Digital cameras are becoming very inexpensive, and they offer a lot of ways to display treasured photographs.
Use a different digital picture every day for your computer desktop background, or set up your computer screensaver to play a slideshow of photos from your digital library. Another option is digital photo frames, which display pictures directly from a memory card.
Make a Memory Shadowbox
To save memorabilia that isn't exactly 2-dimensional, a memory shadowbox is a great idea. A large center photograph showing the theme of the shadowbox can be surrounded by related items around the outside. Here are some examples:
- A shadowbox for a high school cheerleader might include a photo of her in uniform along with a pom-pom, class ring, or team jewelry.
- A box commemorating a family trip to Hawaii might include a landscape photo surrounded by a plane ticket, sand, and sea shells.
- A shadowbox celebrating a deceased loved one could feature a color photo of the person, surrounded by items that represent their favorite things.
With a little thought and ingenuity, it's possible to bring lost and forgotten memories front and center. Memory quilts, scrapbooks, and shadowboxes are some examples of the creative ways people are using to give new life to their old memories.
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