Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Time Capsule
This Mother’s Day, it might be nice if you could simply stop time and live in the moment. But since you’re not Marty McFly from Back to the Future, you probably won’t be able to toy with time.
Instead, give your Mom the gift of the past, present and future by creating the ultimate homemade Mother’s Day gift: a Time Capsule.
It’s heartfelt and sentimental, and gives Mom the opportunity to enjoy some of her most cherished memories.
Here’s how to make a time capsule of your own:
The Time Capsule Container
Before you start hunting for all of the mementos to include in your time capsule, find the right box or container to house them all. A traditional time capsule is buried underneath the ground for years, which means the container must be dirt proof, waterproof and sealed tight. If you want to go the less traditional route, you could use a wooden or decorated box for your time capsule and put it on a shelf or in a closet instead of under the ground.
A trip to the craft supply store should yield some ideas for capsule containers. For instance, an apothecary jar allows the items inside to be viewed from the outside, and they come in showcase-worthy shapes and sizes. If you’re artistic, pick up an unfinished wood container and use paint or stain to make it one-of-a-kind.
Containers don’t have to be fancy – if you have smaller items or are helping a child create this project for his Mom, use a two-liter soda bottle. You can cut it width-wise with a craft knife.
Whatever you choose, look for a container large enough to house all your items. Find one that suits its surroundings so it’s intact when it’s time to revisit the past.
The Memories
While you can’t put actual memories in your Mom’s time capsule, you can use items that represent those memories.
The things you decide to include in the time capsule are very personal to you, your Mom and your relationship. Include items such as locks of hair, old pictures you drew at school, letters you wrote and bits of jewelry or cloth that mean something special.
Or, if you’re helping a younger child put the time capsule together, include things like a tracing of his hand or a ribbon cut to the length of his current height.
If you’re a little more on the tech-savvy side, a CD of pictures or songs can also help jog Mom’s memory and maybe even bring a tear to her eye. When it comes to time capsules and Mother’s Day gifts, the same rule applies: the more personal, the better.
Place all of the items inside, then seal the container and decorate it with inexpensive washi tape from the craft store. Get creative and remember that Mom always likes homemade gifts the best anyway.
The Presentation
As with any good homemade Mother’s Day gift, the presentation is part of the sentiment.
Talk to Mom about why you chose to do a time capsule instead of a more traditional gift, and go through each of the items together. That way, it’s not just another present, but a bonding experience.
Give your Mom instructions as to when she should open the capsule again and where it will be stored. It’s a gift that truly keeps on giving by providing a walk down memory lane each time it’s opened.
