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Nowadays everyone takes pictures while traveling, whether by phone or personal camera. Pictures are a monumental way to reflect on all of the marvelous highlights you’ve experienced while traveling. But what happens when those millions of trips you’ve taken start to blur together? When you can’t quite remember where you were when you tasted the best Ropa Vieja in Cuba? Or what Art Gallery you saw that painting that you fell in love with but couldn’t afford?
We all want to remember the highs and lows of our excursions as we travel more and more. In addition to great photos, look into these 8 unique ways to look back at those famous travels.
Travel Journal
Travel Journals are ideal for capturing noteworthy details about your excursions. They allow you to write down the places you’ve visited including each of the unique memories, adventures, people you’ve met, etc. You are not limited to just writing, feel free to sketch or draw your feelings. Don’t be afraid to get personal!
*When choosing a travel journal be sure to look for journals with paper that doesn’t bleed, preferably acid-free paper. Try these options below:
Check out this beauty for only 6.99
Or this Travel Journal for only 14.99. Includes gift box!
Shadow Boxes
Shadow boxes are a unique way to preserve and showcase your traveling souvenirs. These boxes are helpful in keeping dust and insects out. Shadow boxes are easy to personalize and fill with your own personality. Depending on the size of your box you can fit anything in it from tickets to t-shirts. Whether you prefer to dump everything in all at once or strategically organize.
Shadow boxes can easily be purchased online or in any crafting store, these boxes can also be made from scratch. If the box that you purchase is not already decorated you can decorate the front with pictures, decoupaged map pieces, or you can use a Cricut to add some cool decorations with vinyl.
Scrapbooks/Photo Books
Oh yes, of course the age-old scrapbook for capturing your greatest moments in a vastly creative way. Scrapbooks are the most time consuming on this list but are extremely fun to create. Your creativity is allowed to roam free. Scrapbooking materials can be costly, so I would recommend being as resourceful as possible with your embellishments and supplies.
If hauling out the craft paper and glue stash is not up your alley try creating a photo book online. Using templates on sites like Shutterfly, Snapfish and Collage can make this task simple but still help add those personal touches. Photo books start at about 4.99, which makes them a more cost effective alternative to scrapbooks.
The best memories are the ones we make together.
-Unknown
Travel Suitcase
This is great idea if you want to up-cycle an old suitcase that you previously used for travels. Suitcase preservation is for the intermediate and novice traveler to house some of your bigger hauls, like afghan blankets, vases, postcards, maps, Dutch clogs etc.
When using a suitcase for travel memories people are going to expect exciting souvenirs. A suitcase let’s people know that you have amazing stories to tell. So, be prepared to have a few great adventures to recite.
Check out this beautiful vintage suitcase
Currency Collection
While traveling whether overseas or around the country, collect currency from every place that you visit and put in a travel jar or display in a notebook. This is a simple way to look back at all of the places that you’ve visit. For all you know that collection may be worth some money some day!
Post Card Ring
Post Cards can be found in gift shops, book stores and some indoor/outdoor farmer’s markets. This is a cost effective option, with a price tag that ranges from .25 to $5.00 depending on where you are. The idea is to collect various post cards and attach them onto a key ring that can be purchased at any hardware or dollar store.
If you want too add a more personal touch write a personal message on the back and mail the postcards to your house.
Travel Map Collages
Try collecting travel maps from every place that you visit. It doesn’t necessarily have to be maps of the country: it can be park maps, subway maps, street maps. Take all of those maps and make a pic collage portrait of them. This lets you piece together your travels from various places, while creating a conversational art piece in your home.
Resin Jewelry
Resin Jewelry is great for displaying small items. Items like seashells, sand, coins, dried flowers, pictures, small souvenirs, mini scrolls, toys. This is something that you can easily do yourself or have made.
If you plan to do this for yourself all you need are simple rings, necklaces, or earring settings and a resin kit. These items can be found at any hobby store (don’t forget to use any applicable coupons to lower cost), Here are two simple you tube videos to show you how easy this is.
Memories to collect while traveling
- shot glasses
- matches
- pictures
- post cards
- quilts
- blankets
- clothing/garments native to the land
- beach themed items: seashells, sand, starfish, sand dollars
- tickets – entertainment, plane, travel
- Menus
- key chains
- gift shop trinkets
- novelties
- money/coins
- Candy wrappers
- napkins
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