Taming the
Keepsake Clutter Life is a string of great experiences, and we all love to bring something home to remember an epic trip, music festival, or marathon. But what to do with all the souvenirs? And why keep them if you can’t enjoy them? Here are a few tips to tame the keepsake clutter and repurpose your treasures! Kamarie Naase, PCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, is a Professional Community Association Manager who has been affiliated with SunWest Management and the SunRiver Communities for over 20 years.
Collect Christmas ornaments when you travel? Create a timeline garland by stenciling or writing the year along a ribbon. Weave it through holiday garland or hang alone to display your ornaments by year and relive the journey. Did your chocolates or treats come in a unique basket, box, or tin? Don’t stash them away in a closet! Use them to store everyday items, and enjoy the memories every time you pull them out.
Wooden shoes make a great door stop or pot for succulents. Magnets don’t need to stay on the fridge, an enclosed and framed magnetic board will keep them dust free! Hang charms, trinkets, or spoons from string lighting to create a conversation piece, unique holiday table runner or add to any décor. Love that unique oil or wine bottle? Display with others to catch the light, or use as a flower vase or candle holder. Do you have a Venetian mask, Scottish tartan, boomerang from Australia, or a piece of the Berlin Wall? Shadow box frames are a great way to show off your treasures with a photograph of you there! And what to do with all those marathon and concert t-shirts? Fold them so the applique is front and center, and lay them side by side on the floor to create a colorful mosaic. Then get the ladder out and take a picture to frame and proudly display. Keep the memory and donate the t-shirts. The point is, don’t leave your treasured memories in a box, unseen and unenjoyed. Your life’s journey and accomplishments are uniquely you and deserve to be displayed!
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