Building Memories - a Memory Jar or two - some creative ideas for a new year

I always like to have a project on the go - and there is NO WAY that project is going to be a photo a day again.

I will do an annual album as I always do, and have plans for a special monthly album which will have a double page for each month, but I wanted something more and also felt I wanted something Nigel could join in with too.

Then I saw an idea of Debbie's. I am not sure if I saw it on her facebook page or on her website (and if you don't know about Debbie then you must check THIS out - she is an amazing lady. She is a genuine domestic goddess, she cooks and bakes and crafts and creates and is a thoroughly lovely lady I am proud to call a friend ....oh and she does all of this with 5 beautiful children too. She has just brought out her first book ... and it is amazing ... and has met Kirsty and Ainsley in her many travels)

Anyway the idea is a memory jar which I have taken and adapted to suit us. 

You just jot down things as they happen and pop them in the jar, not opening it up properly until the end of the year.

I thought this was a fabulous idea.

I have used a just finished Yankee Candle Jar (I felt as the Christmas decorations were down it was time to loose the cinnamon stick candle) and some Crate paper and quotes.

 

I covered the jar with a band of scalloped Crate paper and then printed out some word art.

 

These three sentiments were stuck to the Crate Paper. I could have printed things on transparencies to preserve the clarity of the jar but actually I didn't want to see too much inside.

 

I printed something for the top and stuck that on and then added some flowers

 

I made a little packet with some card, paper and ribbon and have printed out some 200 little slips to write on and add a date too.

 

I think that if we manage to keep this up all year it will be great fun to look back on as we move into 2014. A very visible way of counting our memories and our blessings.

 

I made another jar years ago and it seems pertinent to share that here too.

It is the perfect gift for someone who is not very good at telling their stories. As scrapbookers one of our 'jobs' is to record the stories of those we love. Nigel isn't good about recording his stories and so I made him a jar of prompts.

 

Simply covered (and as masculine as I could bear) it is filled with little strips of paper each with a prompt on - a question to answer, a memory jogger.

I covered a notebook int he same paper and he sticks in a prompt and writes his response. It is a super book developing of all those stories he is recording. We both love it.

 

I also have a page to share made with a brand new collection by Fayette Designs at Pickleberrypop called YOU

It's a smashing collection with gorgeous colours

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a productive day
• the clean lines of the house now it is -de-christmased
• my little Fiki monster who is a little bemused about his new room, bless him
• the squirrel who made me jump when it scurried alongt he study windowsill - which is upstairs - and which freaked out poor old Boo.

 

 

And my page a day calendar page is

In the Bible verses calendar -

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.¶  MATTHEW 11 : 29

and the Zen page

To one who has had the experience there is no need to explain it. To one who has not, there is no way to explain it. What to do but to exclaim!  Reikichi Kita and Kiichi Nagaya

I think that is very true and it reminds me very much of when a Rwandan visitor came over and was taken to the sea. He had never seen the ocean and was fascinated by its appearance, its smell, its feel, its taste. How could he ever convey that to people back home?

 

 

 

Comments

[Barb in AK]

Amazing ideas :-) Thanks for sharing. I must get over to Debbie's website and see her ideas, too! Enjoy the weekend!

[Scrappyjen]

Lovely idea! My old headteacher used to do something similar. She called it magic moments. When we achieved something with the students, however tiny the achievement may be and not just related to academic achievement, we would write it down and pop it in the box. At the end of every half term, she would pull one out and the share it with everyone. That person would get a bottle of champagne. Then we would tip the box out and read all the slips. It was such a positive way to end a half term. Have a super Saturday, jenx

[Dorothy]

Hello there,
I just came upon your website through Freebies. I liked and enjoyed all the beautiful pages you created. Just wondering how to follow you on a daily basis.
Thanks a bunch.
Dorothy