Heartfelt Memories in a Box: Creating Your Keepsake Treasure
Creating Your Keepsake Treasure
Like most homes I work in, there is always a small (sometimes large) collection of sentimental items that relate to cherished moments in childhood, relationships, school, or even a past job.
Like most homes I work in, there is always a small (sometimes large) collection of sentimental items that relate to cherished moments in childhood, relationships, school, or even a past job. Things like wedding invitations, trophies, letters, cards, concert tickets, travel souvenirs, or special items of clothing (christening dress, first pair of shoes, or even a favourite childhood dress-up outfit). Quite often, these items are randomly located in various places around the house because my clients simply don’t know what to do with them or where to store them. A keepsake (treasure) box is the perfect solution for this. Like a personalised time capsule, keepsake boxes safeguard our sentimental items and allow us the joy of revisiting the heartwarming and significant moments of our lives.
It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or custom-made—just a simple decorative box or even a plastic tub, but something with a lid is preferred. Of course, you can always personalise any type of box with paint or decals or create themed keepsake boxes. If you need more than one, it’s also a good idea to make them the same size, as you may need to stack them for storage. And, of course, don’t forget to label them. You may also want to use acid-free tissue paper or some lovely fabric to provide a base for the box and to keep delicate items protected from damage.
I love this idea so much and have been using it since I was a young adult—definitely pre-OOW times. Some of the items I have in my own keepsake box are concert tickets, school reports, my HSC jumper, love letters (showing my age here – when we used to use pen and paper), postcards, and even my first payslip (Coles Myer 1985!). I have three daughters, and they each have two treasure boxes. I also have two, and my partner just has one—men don’t seem to accumulate as much and are generally not as sentimental (in my opinion). My daughters love nothing more than occasionally revisiting the items in their keepsake boxes and having a little laugh or giggle at some of the fond memories.
What are some of your most cherished items, and how do you store them? Share your keepsake box ideas or stories in the comments below!
