How to: Memory Jar...

Okay right. First things first - yes I did make/take the photo above, yes I do realise it's pants but hey. I tried.
Second things...um...second, I have never done this sort of thing before, so if I miss something out, I am terribly sorry. Once again, I tried.
And third things third...ly...I realise I haven't done a blog post in a while - but a) I'm back now, b) I have a life that does not always revolve around this blog, c) There is this thing called Christmas, and Christmas tv which happened to have happened recently, and d) I have a cracker of a blog for you. So be excited.

Okay now that's covered, let us crack on!

As you may have now guessed, this is going to be a tutorial-y type of thing. I really enjoy making things, so I thought I'd make something and turn it into a post too! That is what I'd call a 'Creative-double-whammy'!.
In this particular creative-double-whammy, I'm showing you how you can have one of these marvellous creations called a 'memory jar' for yourself!
'What is a memory jar?' I hear you say - well, a memory jar, is a jar full of memories (they call me Sherlock).
Throughout the year (starting on the 1st of January) you write something good/a good memory that has happened on that day, on a slip of paper, and put it in the jar. You keep doing this throughout the course of the year, and on New Year's Eve, you open the jar, and read all of the nice things that happened that year - aaah, beautiful!
Now before you start calling me the Queen of good ideas - the overall idea...wasn't mine. Yep.
As you already know, I spend a lot of my time on tumblr, and that is where this idea came from. I'm not sure who first thought of this idea, but whoever you are - I bow to you *bows*. However, the little ideas of what you could make it out of/what you could decorate it with are, in fact my own:)

You may also be thinking 'why are you showing me how to make this when it's not even the New Year?' well, I shall tell you.
I decided to make this post now because, being the kind of child who always has/always is making things, I realise the frustration involved when trying to find a jar, if that is what the creation involves. Waiting 3 weeks for the jar of jam to be empty, and then coming home from school to find it's been thrown away is INFURIATING. So, I thought I would tell you about it in advance, so you have time to find/wait for a jar (or two if the first is thrown away...)
'Wow Elspeth, how considerate of you!'
'Thanks, I thought so!'

Things you'll need:

- An empty jar: could be a bottle (a wine bottle, even an old fashioned coke bottle!) a big sweetie jar, a jam jar etc
- Felt tip pens: or any kind of colourful/decorative pens, such as gel pens (if you do use those, use the smelly ones, not for any particular reason, just because I say so. I love them - especially pineapple flavour!)
- Sticky labels: Pretty or plain. It doesn't matter if you only have the plain kind, you can decorate them later.
- Chalk labels (optional): I found these and thought they'd make a nice alternative. If you desperately want to buy some, I got mine from Staples in the Martha Stewart range (all hail Martha Stewart. Goddess of mint coloured stationary)
- Braids/bracelets, ribbons, short scarves etc: Anything you can find, really, that would look nice tied around your jar.

Instructions:

1) Find a jar. Two weeks and a lot of jam and toast later, you will have an empty jar.
2) Wash the jar out (you never know what's been inside it, my jar had a label on it saying 'Pickled shallots - 2000' nice.) and dry it so that when you put the paper inside, it doesn't get ruined.
3) Wash any old labels off (if you can't get them off because it's leaving all the sticky bit behind - I hate that - run it under a hot tap and let it soak for about 5 minutes. When you come back to it, the label will be easy to pull off - clever eh?!)
4) Gather anything you can find that you could decorate the jar with. I've only given examples, you might think all mine are pants, if so scrap them and do whatever the heck you like!
5) Start with the label. Stick it onto the front of the jar. Take your time to make sure it's straight and doesn't have any creases in it.
6) Write something on the label with your decorative pens (don't forget what I said about that pineapple pen!) this could be just simple 'my memory jar 2014' or 'memories' or it could be something more imaginative:
- Song lyrics about memories?
-A quote about memories? Maybe from your favourite book or poem?
I wrote 'happiness' on mine, because that's what it is, really, happiness in a jar!
7) Decide on the ribbon/bracelet/scarf you want to tie around the top, or whatever other creative ideas you may have, and tie it on. At this point, I also found a tiny pair of keys that came from one of those lockable diaries you used to get in magazines! I thought it might be a nice addition, so tied them on too.
8) Find some small slips of paper (or just rip some apart - lined paper actually would look really nice) and, when the 1st of January comes, start writing your memories and fill it up!

So there you have it! I lovely addition to your room, and another thing you have to remember to do! Good luck!
Love
Elspeth x