Memorial keepsakes are one of the best ways to honor someone who has passed away and remember them in a personal way.

We honor our loved ones by preserving their memoryin our hearts and homes and with our words, even if they are no longer with us.

Powerful reassurance quotes to add to your crafts:

“Death Leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

– Unknown

“I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.”

– Leo Buscaglia

“We are all pieces of what we remember. We hold in ourselves the hopes and fears of those who love us. As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.”

– Cassandra Clair, City of Heavenly Fire

Although, it is never easy to lose someone close to us, having something to remember them by makes the grieving process easier.

A memorial keepsake or sympathy gift can be for yourself as well as for someone you know who has experienced a loss of a friend, family member, or even a beloved pet.

Loss of a cousin sympathy gift

No matter who you wish to honor the memory of, a memorial keepsake or gift should always come from the heart and a personal place.

A handmade treasure that encompasses fond memories of deceased loved ones can be all the more sentimental than a just a standalone picture from last year’s family reunion.

That is why we are sharing these 5 DIY craft ideas for honoring those who we miss and are no longer with us

• Portrait art
• Display handwritten keepsakes
• Time Capsule
• Holiday Ornament
• Scrap book

Although nothing can replace beloved family photos, a handcrafted artwork of your loved one is a great way to always remember your loved one how you want.

The medium of art work you want to use is entirely up to you but sketches and paintings are the most traditional styles.

The size of your artwork also depends on how you want to memorialize your loved one.

You can do a large painting would be hung on the wall of your favorite picture of your loved one and can make them a permanent part of your home.

Or you can do a small sketch of them that you can keep in your pocket or wallet, so you can always have them with you no matter where you go.

No matter what your vision is, I recommend contacting and supporting your local artist for the type of artwork you want, or if you can make it yourself if you feel artistic!

An old letter or a written recipe, or even a written post-it note that your loved one left as a note for you can become handwritten keepsakes that you can frame or hang in your home.

This can also be a great gift for someone who has just lost a loved one.

Its already so common to display framed quotes as a form of interior decorating, there is nothing more personal and special than displaying the handwritten words of a loved one.

Most people imagine a giant buried metal container when they hear the words “time capsule”, but in reality a time capsule can be anything and are an amazing way to memorialize a loved one.

For example, if you wish to memorialize your dog Fluffy, you can save his old collar and favorite ball for playing fetch and store them in a nice box that you can decorate with drawing or pictures.

Any personal items that belonged to your loved one can work and will make you feel all the more closer to them even after they have passed.

Small items work best, like jewelry, an old tie, even old concert tickets from fun times you spent together.

The holidays are a time when we reflect most on the things we are grateful for and the people we cherish in our lives.

What better way to honor the memory of a loved one during this time than with a homemade ornament dedicated to them.

There are so many ways you can make an ornament. One of the easiest ways to do so is by using hollow plastic ornament balls specifically intendedfor you to decorate, like these.

You simply open them up and can fill it with you favorite picture of grandma or grandpa’s vintage button collection.

Another idea that the kids can have fun with is model clay ornaments that simply use inexpensive air-drying model clay commonly used in classrooms.

You can shape the clay into any shape and in different colors, make a cat shape and dedicate it to the family pet, or make miniature pie full of love like aunty used to make.

The most important part is that the idea comes from you and how you best remember your loved one.

While scrapbooks are already a common way people enjoy treasuring memories like a family vacation or the holidays, why not dedicate an entire one to a loved one?

A scrap is the perfect space for including special items and a personal touch better than a plain photo album would.

You’ll want to start by using your favorite images of your loved one.

Then take it to the next level by getting creative! Add their favorite poem or quote, maybe some pressed flowers or a an old movie ticket from a movie you saw together.

Adding small things that represent times you shared with your loved one will bring back vivid memories and honor everything you miss most about them.

We hope you give these ideas a try!