Valentine’s Day gifts are by nature sentimental. My friend Martie McNabb, CEO of Thingtide Show & Tale®, holds regular sessions where people bring objects they treasure and tell the stories behind the “thing.”

Martie recently held a Valentine’s Day Show & Tales session, titled Love Letters, Lockets and Valentine’s. I shared a shadow box I put together representing my parents’ long love story. It includes two Valentine’s cards from the 1950s, their wedding invitation, a pack of matches with their wedding date, a picture of them from a photo booth before they were engaged, and other objects.

There’s a pair of ceramic plaques from their honeymoon in the Poconos. Totally not PC today, it’s an Indian “chief” and “squaw” pledging their love to each other. I remember these plaques lived in Dad’s workshop in the home where I grew up. Now they hold a place of honor to mark my parents’ 68+ years of marriage.

You can see the box and hear about its contents in the video below.

Tips for Keeping Valentine’s Day Objects

There are many creative ways to store Valentine’s Day objects. Here are a few ideas:

1. Memory Box: Create a unique box to store all your Valentine’s Day keepsakes, such as cards, gifts, and mementos. You can decorate the box with hearts and other symbols of love to make it especially distinctive.
2. Photo Collage: Print out your favorite photos from past Valentine’s Days and create a collage to display in your home. You can also include special cards, letters, or other meaningful items.
3. Shadow Box: Use a shadow box to display treasured items such as your first Valentine’s Day card, a significant piece of jewelry, or even a pressed flower from a bouquet you received. You can also showcase items from an engagement or wedding.
4. Scrapbook: Create a scrapbook filled with memories from past Valentine’s Days. You can include photos, cards, notes, and other keepsakes.
5. Wall Art: Create a wall display featuring your favorite Valentine’s Day items, such as cards, photos, and special trinkets. You can use frames, string lights, or other decorative elements to make the display unique.
6. Decorative Jar: Fill a jar with hearts, chocolates, or other small items from past Valentine’s Days. You can place the jar on a shelf or use it as a centerpiece for your table.
7. Photo Book: Use digitally created photographs or scan older print photos to make a printed coffee table book of your loved ones throughout the years. Companies like Shutterfly and A Life Untold can help.

Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death®, is doing her best to downsize all the stuff she has at her house. Learn more about Gail here.

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