Provide your child with a box and plenty of decorating supplies. Let them make a special box to collect their memories, or let them make a memory box for someone special in their lives.

Materials:

• Sturdy shoe box or gift box with a lid
• White Glue
• A low melt glue gun (will speed up this project)
• Paint and paintbrushes
• Variety of embellishment materials (lace, buttons, old greeting cards*, old calendars,paper hearts, stickers, paper flowers, ribbon, pieces of fabric, glitter, etc.)

What to do:

I’ve done this project two different ways: the first time I did it I actually decorated a memory box before I showed it to my children. Into the decorated box I had put an assortment of treasures that I felt were my personal memorabilia such as some ticket stubs, special photos, some important greeting cards, pressed flowers, sports cards, and stickers. I thought it was important to show them what a really nice memory box should look like.

The next time I did it I explained the project and the process and let them go forth on their own. I like this process best, because it allows them to create it in their minds, and then with their hands, and they are not constrained by seeing what I thought it should look like.

After explaining the concept of memorabilia and how there are many objects that can hold memories for parents, relatives and friends. I let them share with me what they thought they would want to put in their memory box.
Provide them a box, and plenty of decorating supplies for each child, then let their creativity take over. You will find that each box will become their own work of art and they will be thrilled with the creation of it and with the way it looks when they are done. Then let them have complete choice on what goes into the memory box.

This may become a memory box that they continue to fill through the years, or they may want to put in memories of them and then share it with a grandparent or special aunt or uncle. It’s up to them because it is their creation.

Some fun products that I’ve let my children and grandchildren use with making their own memory boxes are Elmer's Washable Glitter Glue, 6 oz Bottles, 3-Pack, Green/Pink/Purple (E316), Wrights 117-403-001 Cotton Printed Rick Rack Trim, Rainbow, Medium, 2.5-Yard, Craft adhesive tape- White Lace Transparent Deco Tape Sticker Tape, and 100pcs Mixed Wooden Buttons in Bulk Buttons for Crafts Button Round Colorful Painting Buttons Bu-91. These products are available from Amazon, or you may find them at your local craft store or you may have them readily on hand.
If you haven’t already invested in a low-melt glue gun – it might now be time. This is a good one: Adhesive Technologies 0440 Low Temp Mini Glue Gun, be sure to get some extra glue sticks for the gun: Surebonder DT-25 All Temperature Mini Glue Sticks, 4-Inch. Once you have a mini low-melt glue gun you will wonder how you ever lived without one.



*If you have old greeting cards or calendars, save them, because there are lots of good crafting ideas that will use them.