Your baby is coming soon. Learn what to include in a Baby Time Capsule, especially the first month after your baby is born. There are many milestone moments you want to capture.

On the back of this decorative Baby Time Capsule it reads:

Once upon a time you were born…

…and this magical year –

long, long ago – was a time 

of excitement and great

change in the world.

The wonderful day 

of your birth and year

that followed is what this

Time Capsule celebrates.

Your family and friends have gathered a unique

collection of everyday items that will – with the passage

of time – most assuredly become priceless to you. They 

wanted the memorabilia in this Time Capsule to afford

you a small glimpse back in time – an opportunity to 

recapture s an adult the events, trends, and popular 

culture that would become part of your very being.

Your capsule has been sealed for many years…

waiting for that special day – that once-in-a-lifetime 

reunion with the beginning of it all. When you open it,

you will take part in one of the most personal history

lessons ever. You will have the unique opportunity to 

know what life was like the year you were born. 

What to Include as Keepsakes in your Baby Time Capsule:

When I was cleaning out my closet the other day, I saw items I thought I lost. It was a tragedy to see some mice had eaten some of the paper items. I almost felt like I was hurting my mother and father in some way, for not taking better care of these items.

I do not want this to happen to you, so I have made a list of items to keep in your Baby Time Capsule now before they are destroyed.

1. A local daily newspaper
2. A video of the local nightly news
3. A national newspaper (USA Today)
4. A television guide
5. A weekly news magazine (Time, Newsweek)
6. An entertainment magazine (People, US)
7. Special interest magazines (Sports Illustrated)
8. Baby’s and Mom’s I.D. bracelets from the hospital
9. Baby’s name card from the hospital
10. New baby cards and letters received from friends and family members
11. Baby’s first outfit
12. Baby’s first photo
13. Souvenir birth certificate
14. Newspaper front pages with major headlines throughout the year
15. Gas receipt (so your baby knows how much gas was when he or she was born)
16. A list of popular expressions (slang)
17. A popular toy, doll or fad item (Beanie Babies, Pet Rock, etc)
18. A sample of product packaging (empty Coke can, etc)
19. Your extended family tree
20. A roughly drawn floor plan of your home
21. A popular CD or recording of your favorite radio show or music.
22. A copy of a future-oriented magazine (I wonder if their predictions will be true 20 or 50 years from now, or whenever you have your baby open their own Time Capsule).
23. A menu from a favorite restaurant
24. Items from your job to show where you were working when your baby was first born. (business card, etc)
25. Drawings or messages from siblings (include a photo or video of how you announced to your children that they will be having a baby brother or sister soon.
26. A current postage stamp.
27. Coins or money from this year.
28. Year-in-Review issues of magazines or newspapers
29. Lock of hair from Mom and Dad (before it turns gray)
30. Message to the Future letters from Mom, Dad, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, and Friends.

Get your own decorative Baby Time Capsule today for 45+ other ideas of things to include in this unique tin.

What do you wish you would have saved or protected from your childhood? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post What to Include in a Baby Time Capsule appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

I have been looking for songs to walk down the aisle to at my wedding.  The first time I heard it I knew it was the one. I was working and it came on the radio. I was hooked to the words. It was perfect. It described my father and I to a T. If you have been following our story, this is a continuation blog about the category of “Meeting the Love of your Life.”

There are so many different wedding aisle songs to choose from. Check these other ideas out here.

I have typed up her lyrics here along with the story behind the song for me.

In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride

Story behind this section: Who are you to your children? What do you want them to remember you for? If you were to write your kids a “Message to the Future” letter, what would you say? Reminisce with your child years later with a decorative Baby Time Capsule. Keep their memories and mementos in the time capsule. Then in 20 to 40 years re-open the time capsule and relive what life was like when your baby was first born.

I am a reflection of my father in many ways. I am sure you can relate. I have his determination, passion, longing to constantly learn, playfulness, entrepreneurial heart and drive, good looks (Ha Ha – just kidding), love for others, and other quirks. What did you pass on to your children?

Ask yourself, how are my babies “a reflection of who I am and what will be?” It was hard moving out of my parent’s house, when I grew up, but I knew I had to. It was time to start a new journey. New memories only come, when you let go and move on. My husband and father are very close and very similar. It is a rare honor to marry someone as close to my father as Mark (my husband) is. For that reason, my father will always be there.

What songs to walk down the aisle to, do you recommend? Do you have a story behind your choice? Share with us below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Did you know that memories are tree stumps? Recently, my wife and I watched the animated movie, “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.”  I have read many Dr. Seuss books in my lifetime, but I honestly do not remember this one.  As a renewable energy guru, this book made some interesting points to me.

Let me back up a little.  I believe that we need to take care of our environment.  I believe in Solar power, Solar Heat, and Wind Energy.  I have a small solar power system, and I have solar heat on my home.  I believe that fossil fuels are an old and antiquated idea whose time has past.  I believe we can do better and if we do not start doing better soon, our children will pay the price.  Now, with that said, I am also a realist.  I do not believe in “tree hugging” as trees are a renewable energy!  You cut a tree down to build a house, and we can plant 50 more with the seeds from that tree.  Yes, the process will take between 20 and 50 years before those trees can be cut again, but in many ways, this is good for our environment!

Creative, fun nurseries start memories early in your child’s life.

To me, this story was more a commentary on 2 things  . . . One, we need to manage our resources, and two, we are too eager to move on when we have over-exhausted our resources.  It was not the cutting down of the trees that caused the problem in the story – it was the lack of “paying the price” for cutting down those trees.  The price for cutting down the tree was to plant several more.  This price was not paid, and soon, all the trees were gone.

Manage your Time Well

This can be easily translated into our lives.  The reality is that most of us do not manage our time very well.  We spend too much time at work and not enough time at play.  We spend too much time making money and not enough time making memories.  We spend too much time buying a house, and not enough time making a home.  By the time we figure out that memories are more important than money, and play is more important than work, it is too late for most of us.

This is how memories are like tree stumps. This is the very reason why our company exists!  We help you to preserve memories. Just like a tree has long roots and takes time to grow, so it is with our memories.   When you begin to look at your life as different opportunities to make a new memory, you want to preserve those memories.  This is paying the price for our existence.  We do not want to look back at our life and think about all the opportunities we could have made a memory (All the tree stumps from cut-down trees) . . . we want to look back and see a memory forest of wonderful things we have done that enrich our lives, and the lives of those we love.

Make a Memory Today

I have ready many mommy-blogs on the internet about, “what to do with your child on a rainy day.”  These days can be tough.  The kids can’t go “out and play” and mommy has no alone time.  The great part about it is that you can spend this time “preserving the memories!”  What if you used that time as an “arts and crafts” time where each child thought of a memory they had over the past week, month, or couple of months.  Once they have an idea, they can find a way to “preserve the memory.”  This can be place into their Any Occasion DIY Time Capsule.

Here are some of the ideas we came up with:

• Write a letter to their future self talking about their memory
• Put together a photo collage of them making their memory
• Write a story about the memory
• Write a poem about their memory
• Write a song and record it.
• Write a poem
• Draw a picture
• Paint a picture
• Make a sculpture
• Make a video
• Make an audio/video recording of them telling the story about their memory
• Make a souvenir that will remind them about their memory
• Write a story about all the things you would rather be doing on this rainy day

Be sure to mention or draw the people that were involved in making the memory, how it came to be, and why it is important to them.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Mark

The post Memories are Tree Stumps appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Check out these great baby time capsule reviews from mothers, fathers, grandparents, and friends just like you and I.

I know when I am looking for a product to buy, I try to check out the testimonies or reviews that people leave. I also look for how many stars the product received.

Check out some of these great reviews from Amazon. 

3. great idea!

By Jessica on May 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

Such a cool way to save those special things. I have everything from the outfit we brought him home in to newspapers, hospital braclets etc. Can’t wait to see their faces when they’re allowed to open it!

4. unique and easy

By Cheri on July 17, 2012

Verified Purchase

Love this item and usually it’s my “standard” gift for both baby and weddings. It’s different, unique and fun! They’ll always think of you and be thankful when they add items and can later share the memories.

5. Great Baby Shower Gift

By Laurie McNary on January 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

I received this 14 years ago at my baby shower and love it so much that I bought one for my sister. It is something you can add to over the years. Great idea and better than just a baby book alone.

Other Reviews and Testimonies received by our Company

At The Original Time Capsule company receive phone calls from our customers all the time telling us how much they like the concept of a time capsule. We decided to include a card with each time capsule we sent out asking, “Tell us what you think about your time capsule?” These are some of the comments we have received.

“I think this is a wonderful, fun way to organize some “memories” for our children. The stores here in Dubuque are having a hard time keeping them in stock. “

“It’s a great way to share our lives with our children. This time capsule is the best idea. In 20 years it will be memorable for us too. Put together very well. I can’t find anything, that you have not included.”

“A cute idea and a lot of fun!!”

“Best Baby Gift I received. I am even going back and adding things to my first child’s collection of stuff I didn’t think about collecting the year he was born!”

“I think the time capsule is a wonderful idea as a keepsake. It’s something special we as parents can do for our children. What a gift to give then when they’re older that says I love you!”

” What a great product!”

“Very Cute. I love it.”

Contact Us

If you would like to be included as one of our raving fans of the Baby Time Capsule, just call our office at 1-317-891-8463. We would love to hear your comments. If you would like to purchase one of the Baby Time Capsules, click here.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post Baby Time Capsule Reviews appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

As you prepare for the big day, check out these newborn baby gift ideas. What unique and needed items are out there for you to use when your baby is first born?

For this special occasion, most people choose to buy baby clothes, bibs, and cute toys. What else is out there, that mother’s have found creative and useful? The best newborn baby gift ideas are the ones that come from the heart and you get a great deal of usage.

One of the most important newborn gift to get is a baby car seat. After all, the baby does have to get home from the hospital in a safe and cuddly way.

Other unique newborn baby gift ideas.

1. Personalized Items are great ways to help establish your baby’s name in the world. You could get things like a baby blanket or toy that has their name on it. Don’t forget to get a baby book to help capture all the important information of your baby as he or she grows so fast each day. If you feel like you do not have time to do that, make sure you at least write down all the milestone moments (like the date when your baby first walked or ate solid foods.)

2. A Baby night light that matches the baby nursery to help your child feel safe at night.

3. Cute and different baby cribs can help set your nursery apart and have a great focal point for the room. You could even get the crib that grows with the child as they get older and turns into a regular adult bed. What a way to get great use out of that item and it be a very personalized bed as it becomes a lasting memory for them as they grow.

4. It may seem like a luxury, but it is also a necessity for the new mothers who do not want to feel guilt and shame later. You are a busy mother, yet you do not want to miss out on the memories of your child (especially their milestone moments). How cool would it be to share with your baby, years later when he or she is grown up, about what life was like when they were a child? Save time and energy and save their favorite toy, first baby blanket, or shoes in a decorative Baby Time Capsules. It is a faster way to preserve your baby’s memories, compared to scrapbooking. You can get your own cute and unique Baby Time Capsule here.

5. Don’t forget the baby stroller. This is something that is needed soon too. You may even be a great friend to someone pregnant and buy their first weeks worth of groceries so they do not have to get out with the newborn. What a great gesture that would be for the mother.

6. Picture frames for those first newborn baby photos.

7. Other necessities include a Nursing pillow to help you nurse your newborn baby. Don’t forget to throw in a peaceful baby music cd for the mother and newborn to listen to, helping the baby fall back asleep.

8. A baby changing mat or table is very important as you will be changing diapers from day one. Include some extra onesies, as the mother will be changing the newborn quite often at first.

9. A diaper bag with all the necessities are also a great gift idea. Include nursing pads, hand sanitizer, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, toys, etc.

10. A cradle or bouncer with a cute, soft blanket is nice for the newborn too. If you can find one that vibrates it helps your baby fall asleep.

11. Look for a fun play mat to help your newborn baby discover the world of toys and stimulate their brain.

12. Get a baby monitor, so you can always know what is going on with the baby no matter what room you are in.

13. Nursing covers or nursing nightgowns are great to have when the baby is first born too. You will also want to get a breast feeding pump, especially if you are a busy, working mother. It will save you time.

14. Get many burp cloths and bibs so you never have to run out and waste your time washing.

15. The famous baby gift baskets are always fun to put together and give to a mother with a newborn. There are always important newborn necessities you need the first week a baby is born. You can never have too many diapers, so you could also make a diaper cake for the mother. You are guaranteed that this gift will be used. You can include things like the diapers, baby lotion, bottle, pacifier, blanket, baby powder, onesies, socks, etc. Be creative and have fun putting together your basket of love.

For more great ideas, read here. Let us know what were some of your must have, unique newborn baby gifts you received. Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post Newborn Baby Gift Ideas appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Looking for creative ways to save college money for your baby. Congratulations on being a first time parent. I am sure there are many things going through your head right now. This is an exciting new time in your life. I know for many parents, as they have a new baby, one of the major things they try to take care of is starting a college savings fund. You may feel like your personal piggy bank account is anorexic after having your baby, however this is also a time to plan for the future life of your child. It seems like tuition rates increase about every year. When you start now, it makes it easier as your child is ready to go off to college.

1. Open a baby’s college savings fund, IRA, or Roth IRA

It is never to early to start saving money for your child’s college. You could even ask friends and family members to help get the savings started at your baby shower by donating to their college fund.

2. Save coupons

You would be surprised at how much money you save up over time, if you donate the amount you save from a coupon into their college fund.

3. Accept Hand Me Down items

Mothers love to help out other mothers. Accept hand me down items, like clothes, toys, walkers, strollers, etc and calculate how much you would have spent on each one. Then, put that money saved into the baby’s college savings account. It all adds up over time.

4. Find a friend or family member to babysit

I would love to just pick up my work and take it to my niece’s house to help my sister in law out financially. Not everyone can do this I know, however many times there is a family member or friend who may know of a friend (who charges cheap) to watch your baby while you are at work. It never hurts to look around and ask. Put the extra money you would be spending on a normal daycare or babysitter aside in your baby’s college fund.

5. Celebrate a Milestone event in your child’s life with a money card

When your baby grows up and has their birthdays, graduation, first communion, bar mitzah, gets straight A’s on their report card, or other milestone moment events, family and friends can send a card with money in it specifically donating to their college fund.

6. Save all change in a basket 

When you go somewhere to eat, get gas, or do anything try to pay with cash. When you get change back, throw it in a basket to go donate to your child’s college fund at the bank later. Again, change adds up fast.

7. Buy cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers

If you have to, have a diaper themed baby shower, and each guest to bring at least one cloth diaper. Reusing cloth diapers alone, will help the savings add up over time, which means more money in your baby’s college fund. When guests feel like they are buying the cloth diaper for a good cause and it is a part of your baby shower party fun, then they are more likely to do it and bring one.

8. Get a library card

When you go to your local library, many times there are many free books to read to your child, videos to watch, or CDs to help your baby go to sleep. All these will add up and save money to donate to your baby’s college fund instead. Many times your baby is so young that he or she will not even remember some of the books until he/she starts growing up. So save the money, and go to the library to get them.

9. Use Credit Cards wisely

There are credit cards and programs like Upromise or BabyMint, which help you save money for your baby’s college fund by donating a percentage of everyday purchases to your child’s savings account.

10. Use a Baby Time Capsule as a Piggy Bank

Set a baby time capsule in your baby’s nursery on a shelf to collect savings bonds, or put money in each time a birthday card comes from grandma or other loved ones. You can also save things like baby’s first shoes or other sentimental mementos in the time capsule, for your baby to open when he or she graduates high-school. How much money will be saved in this time capsule, or their first piggy bank? You can even leave “Message to the Future” letters of predictions or words of advice for the baby in the time capsule. See if your predictions of what college they go to comes true when they open the time capsule 18 to 20 years later. Get your decorative Baby Time Capsule here today.

So have you heard of some creative ways to save college money for baby? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post Creative Ways to Save College Money for Baby appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Carpe Diem or Seize the Day!

This is a letter to my unborn child. It is like a “Message to the Future” letter I would include in my decorative Baby Time Capsule, for her to open and read when she grows up. When she opens her own Baby Time Capsule, I hope she finds inspiration in this letter, and looks forward to reading the rest of the letters I will include. Also she can reminisce about what life was like when she was born, while reading the letters, as she finds her favorite teddy bear from her childhood in the Baby Time Capsule, or other nostalgic items. you too, can write a similar letter to your unborn child or blessed baby now, with a Baby Time Capsule from www.timecapsule.com.

“Message to the Future”

Dear future child,

I want to name you Trinity. I am a woman who has made mistakes, but feels like I have also been taught to give my all in everything I do. I want to be able to pass that lesson in life on to you too. It is hard to do that when you have not gotten pregnant yet. It hurts, as we keep trying. I have seen years of great lessons my parents have taught my brothers and I and now I want to have a baby to pass on these lessons to you.

I am just writing and thinking out loud about all my thoughts in this moment, to let you know what life is like for me right now. Sometimes we get so busy in life that we do not stop to think about how today will affect our future. I know as my future child, I want you to understand what life is really like at this time in my life, so you know what to expect yourself. I do not want you to one day wonder what it was life for your mother when she was trying to get pregnant. I do not want you to not feel like you knew your real mother, even during her dull days of life. All days are important, because the boring times can even shape who you are by what you do in your spare time. Some lessons in life I would like to pass on to you are:

• Never take one day for granted. You never know what will happen from day to day in your life.
• Always keep learning and surround yourself by those who are wiser than you.
• Do not ever put anyone down. We are all humans and make mistakes. Instead, help someone who may be being bullied or struggling.
• Try to make learning fun, when you do not understand something. It helps you remember what you are learning, and encourages you to learn more.
• Do not ever give up. Nothing is accomplished by giving up on projects, school, work, or life.
• Spend more time with your family and friends, instead of worrying about “keeping up with the Joneses.”

• Help others in life. You grow more financially, mentally, and emotionally when you serve others and walk with integrity and empathy.
• Preserve your memories to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Find ways to keep your family traditions alive. That is what helps families continue to bond together, now matter how many generations apart.
• Do what you love. Be able to wake up each morning and say, “I cannot wait to go to work.” When you love what you do, it is not just a “job.”
• Keep like minded people around you to motivate, tell you the truth, and guide you to better your life.
• Whatever happens in the future social media wise, keep your nose clean. You never know who is watching. Not only are you representing yourself, but you are representing me and your dad as your family and how you were taught as well. Represent us all well.
• Treat yourself and your body with love. Take care of your own self-esteem. You can only keep giving to others, as long as you keep giving to yourself.
• Remember to keep a journal or blog for your future child. I could go on and on, but I will add more as I continue to get the strength to blog to you.

Sometimes it is hard to share your heart. Sometimes it is hard to keep giving of yourself when you do not feel you are being given back to. Sometimes you have to do things you do not want to do. Do everything with 110% effort. Live as if each day is your last.

I love you and cannot wait to write my next letter to you.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie (mommy)

The post Letter to my Unborn Child appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

When is the last time you wrote a love letter to someone? So I was curious what that large box was in my parent’s closet for years. No one ever opened it. The box was extremely heavy for my eight year old arms to move, so I had to push it out of the closet with my feet. Once I got the box out, it was filled with a lot of old photo albums and letters. The letters were written from my mom and dad back and forth while my father was in Vietnam and my mother was still in college in Texas. It is interesting what you can learn about your parents when they are not looking. Secretly I started to read the letters. They were definitely in love. Yuck. I was not into boys at that age.

Now that I remember this moment when I was eight, I reflect back and realize how romantic that was. It was a collection of moments my parents might have forgotten about had they not saved every letter. It was a priceless moment.

Hold on to Love Letters

With Valentine’s day coming up, it is important to realize that love letters are not just meant for a girlfriend or boyfriend. They are meant for anyone we care about deeply. Handwritten letters add intimacy and interest to your heritage scrapbook pages or “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsules. You can also pass on touching, love letters to your baby or grandchild in a Baby Time Capsule from www.timecapsule.com.

Hold on to your love letters for you never know when that special person may be gone and you long to hear their voice again. Just pull out that old letter again, and it is like they are still here with you.

What could be better than a love letter from your Grandfather to your Grandmother during the war or a sweet note from your sister about your baby? Document these memoirs in a scrapbook or preserve them in a time capsule. You will regret it if you don’t.

What to Write About

A message from the heart means the most. Your letter can express appreciation from those who have significantly affected your life. Who brought special joy, pleasure, or happy memories to you? Express love, apologies, seek forgiveness, reconciliation, or use the opportunity to express unfinished business (especially if you know someone is about to pass). Please be cautious not to give the letter to someone if it may harm their health more and stress them out more. Use the letter opportunity as a means to get things off of your chest that you have held onto for years. Then put the letter in a balloon and as the movie Frozen teaches, ‘Let it Go.’

Share your hopes and good wishes, or predictions of what happens to survivors. Share your values, or what you hope your family remembers from you. What do you want your children and grandchildren to pass on into the future and never forget.

Share Wisdom

Watching my parents now raise their own grandchildren has taught me a lot. Grandchildren love to talk. Grandparents are there to listen. It is a great role to use as a grandparent and explain to your grandchildren how things work in the world, answering their questions with a great amount of patience. You can use letters to let your grandchildren know you are always there for them. Teach your grandchildren what life was like when you were born through a letter. Explain about colors, flowers, animals, or share with them experiences you have when you were their age. You can communicate to them through the love letters. Save your art projects you make with your grandchildren in their own time capsule, so when you are no longer around, they can open the time capsule and hold something tangible and remember the time spent with you making that craft together.

With so much social media available nowadays, it is even easier to track your life everyday. Record what you do on a daily basis and put it on You Tube. You could even write down in a love letter to your children or grandchildren, the links to your videos, so when your child is older he or she can go back and watch the videos to know better what life was like for you while they were growing up. What were your questions as a parent or grandparent? What were your emotions or thoughts while raising your child? If you are a parent who is not allowed to see your children currently, due to a divorce or something else, use things like social media or You Tube to record your messages of hope, advice, or words of wisdom you want to offer your child in the future. You can still teach your child, even when they seem out of reach.

So go now, even if it is only a small scrap piece of paper. Get started sharing your messages of hope, stories of unconditional love, humor, and recipes you want to keep in the family. Write them down, save them in a time capsule, or give to your loved ones today. It is the greatest gift I can think of for you to pass on to your family this Valentine’s day.

Who do you want to write a love letter to today? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post How to Write a Love Letter to Someone appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

So, why am I writing this blog after Christmas? You need all year to experience different memories, to pick the one you will make an memory ornament for. I want to get you in the Christmas mindset early in the year, in January.

What was Life Like when Your Parents were Younger?

Wouldn’t it be so cool to open up a blog every day that your parent wrote? Can you imagine living your life along with your parent each day? For some of us that sounds great, if you are very close to your parents like myself. For others, like my husband, that  may not be so easy if you do not always get along. For this particular blog I will be thinking about a close family that gets along most of the time. My brother and his wife recently had a baby. It would be so insightful and interesting to have a blog to read each day as it followed the life of my mother or father and what their feelings were as they were raising my brothers and I when they were a young couple. I wonder what Christmas time was like for my parents when they had their first baby? I am sure Christmas shopping was different that year. Can you imagine the average time it took to get out a a car to go shopping (before their baby was born), versus after they had a baby (much longer to get out of the car, unstrap the baby from the car seat, get the stroller, etc.)?

Pictured above is our family memory ornament Christmas tree. We have snowflakes made out of old cd’s, pictures of a whale seen by my brother and his wife on their vacation together, and other homemade ornaments with stories and meaning.

Reminisce with a Memory Ornament Christmas Tree

Every Christmas, my family adds a new ornament to our tree. This is not just any ordinary ornament. It is an ornament from the heart. An ornament that expresses how we felt or what we experiences as a good or bad memory this past year. We call it our memory ornament. We realize it is a different kind of Christmas tree. For us, it is kind of a time capsule tree.

Today I am grateful for a family memory tree to help put up each year. It is like opening a family time capsule every Christmas, to reflect upon, as the next New Year begins. There are a flood of all kinds of stories, memories, and emotions on that sentimental tree. 

We only have one life. Make your life last with a time capsule. Pass on your own memory ornaments and stories about your family and past heritage in a time capsule.

How to Make a Memory Ornament

At The Original Time Capsule company, our goal is to create, inspire, educate, and help you decorate your home and life with meaningful, keepsake gifts. With this blog we want to offer you several videos to help you create your own memory ornament. Keep in mind a memory ornament is personal. It can be something that gives significance to your past year or a memory from growing up. As you can see from our own family memory ornament tree, there are several odd looking ornaments. For my family, it is not always about making the tree look good. Instead, it is important to us to make a tree with meaning. It is fun each year putting each ornament on, reminiscing about each memorable, funny, or inspiring story of growth.

What you will need:

• stencils
• glass or plastic clear decorations
• markers, paint, stickers, or scrapbooking crafts
• cardboard
• clay
• paper
• popsicle sticks
• glue gun
• rhinestones
• construction paper
• photo paper
• ribbon
• scissors
• glue
• printer
• camera
• anything you can think of extra to make your unique ornament

Personalized Christmas Ornament Steps:

1. Think of something that happened this year or in years past, that has impacted you the most.

2. Think about how you would make an ornament representing this memory. You can use a pre-created glass or plastic decoration you buy and fill with items yourself. You can also print out a photo of your memory and frame it in a decorative or other creative way. You can also capture your memory in a memory ornament made completely from scratch using the materials listed above or anything else you find in your home or at a store. The sky’s the limit, as far as your creativity. That is what truly makes your ornament personalized. Be creative.

3. Place stickers on ornament, put items inside of your ornament, decorate your ornament. Don’t forget to take a picture of it to write about the story behind the ornament. Save this photo and story in a photo album, so no one in the family will ever forget the full story behind your memory ornament.

Examples of Memory Ornaments

Check out the following videos to help you get started with your memory ornament. Save your own memory ornament in a Family Christmas Time Capsule to open each year when you set up the tree. What a fun way to reminisce and bond closer together, as you relive each story. Get an “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule to make your own Christmas time capsule today at www.timecapsule.com. Also check out this cool journal memory ornament you can make with a FREE Printable available to get you started at http://www.boho-weddings.com/2014/12/08/christmas-ornament/. Journal your life throughout the year, and save it in an ornament. What a great way to reflect about several memories over the year, all at once in one ornament. A perfect keepsake to preserve in your time capsule.

Picture Frame Memory Ornament

Clear Ball Memory Ornament Idea

Baby’s First Christmas Ornament

Don’t forget to save all these memory ornaments in your time capsule. So what was your greatest memory of this past year? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post How to Make a Inexpensive DIY Memory Ornament appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

There are many different topics, hobbies, interests we all have. What would you make a time capsule about for future generations to learn more about what life is like now?

With Christmas coming and the new year approaching, what would you put in a time capsule to represent 2014?

There are many different themes or ideas you could make a time capsule for. Basically, anything you see pictures for on your cell phone you could probably create a time capsule for. See the suggestions below. Then read on about ideas of what to put in some of these topical time capsules.

Different Time Capsule Ideas

1. College years
2. School (elementary and high-school)
3. New Career
4. Business
5. Housewarming (Welcome Home)
6. Family
7. Pets
8. Clubs (boys and girls club, academic club, social club, etc)
9. Vacation
10. Youth Group
11. Military
12. Church
13. Anniversary
14. Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
15. Memorial
16. New Years
17. Christmas
18. Easter
19. Thanksgiving
20. July 4th Independence Day
21. Valentine’s Day
22. Hanukkah
23. Any hobby
24. Farming
25. Sports
26. Any holiday
27. Baby Shower
28. Bridal Shower
29. Relationship or Dating
30. Bucket List
31. Cars
32. Music
33. Movie
34. Outdoors or Camping
35. Science
36. Nature
37. Eras (80’s, 90’s, or whatever you want)
38. Social Media
39. Best Friends
40. Adoption
41. Sweet 16
42. Quinceanera
43. Bar Mitzvah
44. Birthday
45. Over the Hill
46. Weight Loss
47. Inspiring Life Quotes
48. Self Help
49. First Car
50. Baby
51. Wedding
52. etc. (Other or anything you can imagine). The sky’s the limit.

What to Put in a Time Capsule

So what would you put in these “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsules? What items from your time period, are important to you? Make sure to include modern things and heirlooms of the past. If you include any digital or electronic items, make sure you also include the media to play your videos or audio recordings in the future as well.

•  Daily local and world newspaper
• DVD of family, friends, social events, etc.
• Television guide
• Favorite magazines
• Event programs, ticket stubs, or passes
• Pictures
• Receipts from events, or daily life (like the cost of gas at this time)
• Popular toy
• Items (heirloom and new) that show significance to your for a specific subject or event.
• Floor plan or first key to your home
• Popular music recorded
• Menu from a favorite restaurant
• Daily calendar showing your life in just one month
• Drawings or messaged from friends and family sent by cards, email, text, etc.
• Current currency
• Year in Review worksheet filled out
• School, work, or club rewards and certificates.
• Message to the Future letters from friends and family
• Bottle of your favorite candy or drink.
• Fashion Catalog
• Travel pamphlets
• Current ads
• Papers written
• Party trinkets
• Souvenirs
• Favorite quotes or sayings
• Cards
• List favorite books, authors, etc.
• Top 10 movies or actors
• Future goals
• etc.

Talk with your friends and family for other ideas of what to put in your “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule. Get your time capsule today at http://www.timecapsule.com/product/milestone-collection-any-occasion-diy-time-capsule/. Also check out the other helpful ideas from Mashable listing 13 Must Have Items in Your 2014 Time Capsule.

What are some other items you can think of to put in a time capsule?  Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post What to Put in Any Occasion DIY Time Capsule appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.