Last year, when it was time to clean up the Truth in the Tinsel ornaments, I got a little sad. Those ornaments were more than ornaments–they were 24 days (ok, probably more like 19 days…) of memories with my kids! I wanted to be like Mary and treasure up all these things in my heart!
Lots of people on our Facebook page said the same thing, “What should we do with our ornaments?!”
I didn’t keep Lydia’s first ornaments from when she was 1. *sniff* And I so wish I had! But I do have them from when she was 2 and she loves loves loves to look at them. It’s amazing at how much I remember holding those little memories in my hand.
However, do you really want a box of ornaments every single year for each of your kids? Yowza. That could be an episode of Hoarders waiting to happen.
Then. I had an idea.
I have some beautiful (and I mean beautiful) photo memory keepers from Paper Coterie. One is for Asa’s baby stuff, one is for all our ticket stubs to local events and special activities. The other is all of our souvenirs from our last Disney vacation.
These boxes are gorgeous to display and super fun to look through.
HOW PERFECT WOULD THEY BE TO KEEP ORNAMENTS IN?!
I made a Truth in the Tinsel Memory Keeper this year and look how awesome it is!
I could not love it more. I just couldn’t!
Then, I had another idea. Say you don’t want to keep the ornaments. You could make a photo book including close up pictures of the ornaments, Scripture references, memories from the craft-making time or additional pictures of your kiddos crafting.
Here’s a few pages of the book I’m working on right now…
How much do you love that?!
Now here’s the fun part: Paper Coterie is giving away a FREE Memory Keeper to one super special Truth in the Tinsel reader today. Enter with the Rafflecopter widget below.
Woot! Thank you, Paper Coterie!
How are you preserving your Truth in the Tinsel memories?
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Those memory keepers are great. I learn something new everyday!
I would LOVE a photo book! They look awesome!!!
I want one of those memory keepers. Great idea!!
I loved doing Truth in the Tinsel with my 2-year old son this year. We used the printable ornaments and it worked out perfectly. And I was amazed at how much he remembered from day-to-day. I will definitely be doing this again with my kiddos next year!!
I love the idea of taking photos and making a book so we don’t become hoarders. I have problem with keeping too many things around. Maybe can take photos and keep 1 ornament every year. I don’t think 1 is too many, but then again I only have 2 kids. I bet it could add up really fast if you have more children. I’ll be sure to post what we decide. For now, we’re still enjoying them all.
I like the photo book idea too. I agree. I don’t want to be a hoarder.
I would choose a memory keeper.
We would love the memory box. What a special way to keep special things! Thanks so much for Truth in the Tinsel. We had a great time!
I love this!
I would like a photo book. We are going to video the kids telling the story of Christmas using the ornaments for visuals. I wanted to have a way to record this experience and more over, record the fact that they learned something! I’m so glad I did this with them this year. Their little hearts are focused on Christ and full of truth!
i loved the memory keeper what a great idea
I would love the memory keeper! That is such a great idea!
Probably a photo book.
I would love this! I was thinking about just saving the pictures we took in a collage to reduce the amount of “stuff” we have stored away, but this is a great idea!
Love this idea!
Photo Book! Photo Book! Photo Book!! I want a photo book:)
Love the memory keeper!
The memory keepers are cute, but I think the photobook would work best for our family.
Such a great idea!
A memory keeper would be good. I would enjoy looking back at my son’s handiwork next year.
Love this idea!
I choose the memory keeper! We had a Christmas homebook and we take notes about our Christmas time! Also a photo album its great…
The memory keepers look great!
LOVE it! Pick me, pick me!!
Memory keeper for me!!! Love it!!
Thanks
I have never seen the memory keepers – they are so amazing! What a wonderful, compact, lovely, organized way to recall memories for years to come.
I would love to win. They look like a lovely way to preserve memories.
What a great way to store the ornaments! My daughter wants to keep them all in her room when we pack up the tree. Maybe we’ll do this instead!
Love the memory box idea! I have three kids and was wondering what I was going to do with all of the ornaments.
I LOVE THE MEMORY KEEPERS! WHAT A GREAT IDEA! ALL OF MY ORIGINAL CUT, PASTE, & GLUE SCRAPBOOKS FROM MY FIRST CHILD ARE ALREADY FALLING APART SO THIS WOULD BE GREAT! WE DID TRUTH IN THE TINSEL FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND MY SON LOVED IT AND SO DID OUR WHOLE FAMILY! I TOOK A PHOTO OF ALL 24 ORNAMENTS AND HAVE THEM IN A ZIPLOC RIGHT NOW. I PLAN TO KEEP THEM AND GIVE THEM TO MY KIDS WHEN THEY ARE GROWN AND THEY CAN USE THEM TO DECORATE THEIR OWN TREE EACH YEAR THAT WE MAKE THEM! THANKS FOR THE IDEA! I WOULD LOVE TO TRY ONE OF THOSE MEMORY KEEPERS OUT!
The memory keeper is such a great idea!!
I have actually had my eye on the Memory Keepers for a while now..fun!
Great idea! I’m going to make a photo book.
I can’t choose between the two
I love the photo book idea!!! I already have a box of the ornaments we made together and I was thinking how this could get very overwhelming with trying to keep them each year. I want to remember these memories and record how my children learn about Christ every year! Love this idea! Thank you for thinking of it and sharing!
I love the memory keepers! I have got to order some for my keepsakes!
Great idea, love it!
I haven’t been able to take our ornaments down yet because I’ve been waiting to decide what to do with them. Thanks for the ideas!
I don’t have any Truth in the Tinsel ornaments (I think we’ll do it next year!), but with 6 kids I could definitely use a Memory Keeper…or a dozen!
~ Mara
Love the memory keeper boxes that is so cool.
What a great idea! I would love a Memory Keeper. I didn’t find out about your book until today, well after Christmas, but I’m going to send a link to my mom to have her gift it to me sometime next year so that I can do it with my girls next year when they are 4.
Simply love the idea of memory keepers! I love how it’s stored so neatly – like a book on the shelf.
I would LOVE a memory keeper. Then I just need a spot for it
I would love a memory keeper!! I like that I can have it neatly stored all in one place and I wouldn’t have to worry about them, because right now they all are in ziplock bags in with my other ornaments.
I would love any of these! I am a hoarder when it comes to saving stuff for my girls! Very cute idea!
I would LOVE this! I am a scrapbooker, and I have been wanting something like this to put all the ticket stubs, memorabilia, what have you… Currently my Truth in the Tinsel ornaments are in a Christmas golden present-looking box, but with this year’s ornaments I have no more room for next years!
I would love a Memory Keeper!! Such a great idea!
The memory keeper is a great idea!
I would love a photo book because I already have a place for the ornaments/crafts the kiddos make. I’m already looking forward to next years Advent celebration! LOL!!