As a parent, we know that our kids are making memories every second of everyday and sometimes with everything that's going on in our hectic day-to-day lives we forget to stop and appreciate all those special little moments with our darling dears!
In light of this, here are 8 absolutely adorable memory book and project ideas to make for you and yours!
1. First and Last
This super cute photo album follows your littlie from day one of preschool/kindergarten to the last day of high school (or even college!). Simply take a picture on the first day and last day of each school year and arrange in a cute album! Not only does this keep track of their progress from year to year but even their progress throughout the year! It's so much fun to see how much they can grow in such a short time.
**Bonus: Cute picture of your child's grad day from high school holding a picture of their grad day from kindergarten! Or for the techies among us, Photoshop the two together!**
2. Quote Book
Kids say the darndest things, but no matter how cute it is, it's hard to remember all of their quotable quips! Creating a book of quotes not only assures they will always be remembered, but gives you a rather unique (and possibly extra embarrassing) memory book to show prospective suitors later on :)
3. Handy Artwork
This super cute wall art is very inexpensive and easy to make and doubles as a visual reminder of just how much they've grown! Simply trace your child's handprint year after year on the same piece of paper. I love the sketchy layering affect that's achieved!
**Bonus: Add footprints to the collection as well!**
4. Lost in the Laundry
I can't say I'm not jealous of this mom and her creativity. In an attempt to get her son to stop leaving things in his pockets when he brought her his laundry, she began collecting the items in a "time-out" like jar in the laundry room. He was forbidden from touching it or retrieving any of the items he so carelessly abandoned to the metal monsters. At his wedding, the mother announced she would finally be lifting this restriction and returning all of his "lost" items to him. She fashioned them into an adorable table lamp that served as the couple's first gift for their new home together. AH! I'm about to cry!
**Bonus: read the full heart-wrenching story here!**
5. Teacher Tales
Here is yet another adorable idea I wish I'd had first! Graduation gifts are not always easy to come up with, but one Dad blew pretty much all others out of the water. He presented his daughter with a copy of Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go". Not an amazing present, you say? But wait! There's more! For the past thirteen years, ever since she started kindergarten, he had each of her teachers write a little something about her inside the book. So sweet! Although the book idea is cute, you could also just use a regular journal for this project (but I think I might just be a copycat :])
**Bonus: read the full story here!**
6. Recreate Old Photos
These are not only potentially hilarious, they're potentially ADORABLE! This makes a great project just for you and yours or to give as a gift to grandparents!
7. A Wall in their Shoes
This idea is absolutely to die for! Take your child's shoes and make them into a shadow box decoration that is a wonderful and sentimental wall piece! The creator of this project (Maggie Terryn : Mom Colored Glasses) posted this over at Honest to Nod. << click for instructions!
"I think that little baby shoes can be significant in any moms life. They remind us of those early days, the excitement of putting those adorable little sandals, tennis shoes, moccasins, and slippers on our babies feet for the first time. They’re what we ooooo and ahhhh over at our baby showers and we can hardly resist paying way more money than we should on tempting, novelty footwear for our new ones."
You couldn't be more right, Maggie!
8. Pillows of the Past
There are many variations on this project; pillows of all different kinds, quilts, blankies, stuffed animals. The list goes on and on. But my favorite has always been the pillow! My grandmother and I have been making memory pillows out of my too-small shirts as far back as I can remember. Not only is it a great way to upcycle old clothes, but it's also a fantastic way to keep away the tears when a child outgrows something! Instead of having to argue about how "that shirt is just too short for you now", you can present them with a positive "now we can finally make it into a pillow!". I have a pretty sizeable collection of these memory pillows, I use the prettier ones as decor in different rooms of my house and the more personal ones as extra fluffing on my bed. And they make great dorm room decorations!
**Bonus: using zippered items such as hoodies/onesies has an additional upside besides just being cute. Sew it the right way and you've got a little storage pouch! Great for roadtrips!**
**Bonus 2: here is the complete tutorial to make the above darling pillows!
Photo sources below each picture. Editing by me.
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