Quick Start List to Make a Time Capsule

Review this quick start list to make a time capsule today. These are suggestions to help you create a beautiful and memorable DIY time capsule. Everyone has so many milestone moments in their lives. We all need a way to capture these special times and remember them years later. Imagine one day having a huge party with friends and family members over where you can all reminisce about what life was like when you were born.

I can hear the laughs and crying now, as someone pulls out an old hand written “Message to the Future” letter from someone’s grandfather who may no longer be around. It is a bitter sweet moment in time to treasure for years. We will be discussing more ideas in future blogs about getting started making your own time capsule. Check out our quick start list to make a time capsule here first.

• Most importantly, have fun. Don’t over think it. Just get started. It is just like your free writing time you had in your English classes. Your teacher wanted you to just start writing about anything. It will eventually come together as you sort out all your ideas and thoughts later, to make something beautiful.
• Find a temporary box to keep your items safe.
• Ask for people to help you (like grand parents). They are all full of great stories to add to the time capsule.
• To help with ideas, ask yourself, “What do I wish I had from my first year of life, school, career, etc?”
• Quickly collect as many of these items as possible:
  • Newspapers and magazines (from birthdays, first and/or last day of school, newspaper headings, ads, etc.)
  • Catalogs and brochures (fashion, general merchandise, new car, etc)
  • Year End Reviews (published books, newspapers, or our Year in Review on our website seen here.)
  • Lots of photographs from everyday life. (Have friends and family send you some of their photos. Be creative)
  • Videotaped recordings (from TV: nightly news, popular program, favorite cartoon) (from Video Camera: interview of child or other family member, friends, tour of home, predictions for the future, etc.)
  • Audio recordings (from radio, or parents reading favorite book to child, book you have written, letters, etc)
  • Your child’s artwork and school papers. Keep everything. If you think it will not fit, you can always take a picture of it to preserve the memory, then get rid of it.
  • Your child’s favorite toy, or your favorite item, saying, or photo that brings you great joy or inspires you daily.
  • Fad items — items from the popular culture at the time.
  • Collector’s sets (sports cards, happy meal toys, plates, etc)
  • Product packaging (make sure you empty anything decomposable)
  • Paycheck stubs, tax return, utility bills, etc
  • Menus and price lists from favorite places and restaurants.
  • Any items likely to change over time or that are newsworthy.

• Please remember, do not put food, liquid, or any other decomposables in your time capsule.
• Interview your child, family member, or friend on video. We will discuss a helpful list of questions to use in a later blog.
• Have family and friends write “Message to the Future” letters (and return them ASAP).
• Complete an About Me page or record your answers in the profile of my life and this world book included with your Baby, Wedding, or “Any Occasion” DIY time capsule sold here. It is easy to fill out, once you get started.
• Do not bury your time capsule.
• Store in a cool, dry place between 60 degrees and 75 degrees.

We hope this quick start list to make a time capsule helped you today. So what would you put in your time capsule? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie