Always be on the lookout. You might notice the box laying on the sidewalk on your way to school, or stuffed into the depths of your garage, or jutting out of a dumpster behind your apartment complex. Consider using a suitcase, or an old lunchbox, or a shoebox. The “box” can be any container that holds your memories.
If you are making a memory box for someone else, then you’ll want to decorate it with their needs in mind. Think about whether this person would want a colorful, heavily decorated memory box or a plain, discreet box. Consider that people might be less likely to snoop into the box if it looks boring and ordinary. On the other hand, personalized decoration can be a signal to stay away. People might open an ordinary-looking box thinking that something else is inside it.
Use glitter and rhinestones to add sparkle and flair to the outside of the box. Cover the box in chalkboard paint so that you can write on it with chalk. Glue ceramic tiles and/or mirror shards to the surface to make a mosaic. Try gluing or sewing fabric to the surface of the box. If you’re into furry things, attach fake fur to the outside. Use a floral print, or flannel, or denim – anything that says something about your personality! You can cut swaths of fabric from old clothes, curtains, blankets, and other textiles.
Make a memory box for a specific trip or time. For instance, you might make a memory box to preserve all of your photos, letters, and items from summer camp, or from the past year at school, or from a memorable trip that you took. [2] X Research source
Fill the box with old letters, notes, and birthday cards. Fold up and save any words that people have written to you. Later, you’ll read back over these words and cherish the connections that you’ve made. Store photographs of special times. If you don’t have any physical photos, you can print them from your computer, or you can save them to a flash or USB drive and put the drive into the box. Keep art, broken things, and found objects. Perhaps you want to preserve the picture that your best friend drew for you, or the remnants of your favorite charm bracelet that broke, or a special rock that you found on the beach.
If you have a relative with Alzheimers or another memory impairment, a memory box can be a great way to help him or her keep in touch with the past. [3] X Research source
