getting crafty: memory jars

At our meeting last week, we kicked off 2013 by making memory jars... a simple yet fabulous way to record the happenings of your family this year. Instead of stressing about keeping up with a scrapbook or journal, just write your family's day-to-day happenings on small scraps of paper & add them to the memory jar. It's even a great place to put tickets, shells from the summer beach vacation, or other small memorabilia that will help you remember that special event.

And what better way to spend New Years Eve than reading through your memory jar with your family?? Love it!

Here's the tutorial if you'd like to make a memory jar at home:

What you need:

• Mason jar with lid
• cute paper for label
• ribbon &/or twine to decorate
• glue gun, scissors, hole punch
• Sharpie 

Instructions:

1. If you decide to use ribbon: Wrap ribbon around jar & mark where it overlaps. Cut your ribbon to desired length. Attach ribbon to back of jar with a dot of hot glue & wrap it tightly around the jar. You may want to add a few more dots of hot glue to make sure the ribbon is firmly attached to the glass. Use hot glue to seal the ribbon seam on the back of jar.
2. If you decide to use twine: Wrap twine around jar 4-6 times to achieve the desired look. Add approximately 6 more inches to allow enough twine to tie a bow or knot & cut twine to desired length. Attach twine to back of jar with a dot of hot glue & wrap it tightly around the jar repeatedly until you're happy with how it looks. You may want to use a few additional dot of hot glue to firmly attach the twine to the glass. Tie the twine in a bow or knot.
3. Use paper to make a label. You can use scrapbook paper or a label template such as this one. Use Sharpie to write "Family Memories" or "2013" or whatever you want.
4. Once your label is completed, attach it to your jar either with a dot of hot glue or by hole-punching it & threading it onto your twine. 
5. Write your family's happenings on slips of paper throughout the year & add to your jar of memories!

Click here to read about another family's memory jar... they've been doing it for several years now.