Displaying Vacation Souvenirs

Do you come home from trips with arm fulls of things? Do they get put behind closet doors or tucked away in drawers? Usually when we go on a trip we don’t have a lot of extra money to spend on souvenirs, but I want to remember my special time away from home with a memento or two from our vacation. So I get pretty picky about what I bring home and try not to spend a lot of money. Some of the things I bring home are free and those are the things that usually have the most memories attached to them. But how do you display these treasures from a memorable trip? Here’s what I decided to do with some of our souvenirs from Oahu.

This is how we brought the sand and shells home in our carry-on. And just for some info, we were questioned about what beaches we got the sand from. That was a little scary. I thought they were going to keep my sand. Next time I’ll put it in my checked baggage. She did laugh at the coconut shell I had wrapped up in a bag though.

I love old bottles and have too many to count, so I knew they would be the perfect thing to use to diplay my treasures.

First I sifted the sand through a piece of screen to get out the small pieces of bark and leaves.

Then I filled the other 2 bottles the same way.

I have dozens of these little tags, so I just tied some string on them and labeled them with the contents of the bottles.

Then I tied them on the appropriate bottles. I didn’t know shells were so hard to find on Oahu. That’s okay, that makes them more special because hubby was even digging in the sand helping me find them.

I also picked up the vintage looking postcard there. It’s an old depiction of Waikiki Beach (where we stayed). I bought the shell in the front from a little shop on the North Shore (much bigger than the ones I found).

I’ll keep this display through the Summer.

And then I’ll move it to the bookcases with other vacation mementos. Of course, to bring it front and center again next Summer. The other shells and coral in the cheese crate were found by my boys in Florida.

How do you display your vacation souvenirs?

{ 23 comments… add one }
  • Eos Mom June 15, 2010, 3:05 pm

    What a great way to display the sand and shells, and I love that retro postcard!!!

  • joanie June 15, 2010, 3:43 pm

    We long ago stopped bringing souvenirs home from vacations. We now try to buy one good piece of art (preferably a miniature) and bookmarks. They take up no room except a small space on the wall and the bookmarks get used.

  • Beth June 15, 2010, 4:59 pm

    Super cute display! I don’t do anything creative with my souvenirs really. I scrapbook anything I get that will fit in my scrapbook though! I also buy a frame as a souvenir and put a picture of us on the vacation into it!

  • Sarah @ The Domestic CEO June 15, 2010, 5:09 pm

    Very cute display! I just wanted to mention that there is an old saying that you need to bring back anything that you take away from the islands. I’m not sure what is supposed to happen if you don’t, lol!

  • Going Jane June 15, 2010, 6:10 pm

    I love your display! What a super-fab idea! 🙂 I esp love that postcard…great find!

  • Bonnie @ House of Grace June 15, 2010, 8:44 pm

    Great Ideas!!! You are soooo creative! Thanks for sharing. I have some shells from Florida that I have been meaning to decorate with.
    Bonnie

  • Susan June 15, 2010, 10:51 pm

    What’s a vacation?

  • Pearl Maple June 16, 2010, 1:08 am

    Nicely done, we all pick up little treasures on vacations with a creative display can be continue to add smiles to our day.

  • hattie June 16, 2010, 4:19 am

    Those are awesome little bottles! I’d love to find some. Your whole display is so simple and beacy – I love it!

  • the thrifty ba June 16, 2010, 6:33 am

    coming from santa shoppe…i love the tags you got on these! here are the vacation jars i made-but im going to add your tags i think! http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QfpxOO_w3Ug/S7JRnHik0SI/AAAAAAAAAtY/_M0a3FVJzNU/s1600/DSCN4370.JPG

  • Jennifer L. June 16, 2010, 9:45 am

    This is such an awesome idea. I can’t wait to try something similar to it after my beach trip in August! Thanks!

  • Sherry @ No Minimalist Here June 16, 2010, 5:51 pm

    Great idea and so cute! I love the vintage postcard as part of the vignette.
    xo, Sherry

  • Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage June 16, 2010, 8:40 pm

    Great way to display your memories! I would love for you to link this post to my Tips & Tricks linky party that just started last night.

    Come join in on the fun for all three of my linky parties:

    ASK THE YANKEE – MONDAYS
    TIPS & TRICKS TUESDAY
    TIME TRAVEL THURSDAY

    You can get the details here:

    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/2010/06/brambleberry-cottage-linky-party.html

    Each party runs for six days, so come on by!

    Hope to see ya there!
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

  • Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage June 17, 2010, 7:03 am

    Fabulous idea as always!

  • Laura June 17, 2010, 11:07 am

    How cute. What a fun idea!

    I am hosting a giveaway and I’d love it if you stopped by!

    Laura @ along for the ride

  • Amy Kinser June 17, 2010, 3:52 pm

    Great way to showcase your souveneirs. I also try to bring something back free or very very cheap. This year I found a beautiful perfect sand dollar on the beach along with some other shells. They are now proudly on display. Partying with you tonight.

  • Becca June 17, 2010, 9:35 pm

    Ooooh! This is so pretty. I have a great sand collection that needs to be displayed. Thanks for linking up!

    Becca

  • Marie June 20, 2010, 4:34 pm

    Excellent tips. We’ve got tons of stuff from Hawaii and I use it to decorate the bathroom.

  • Kaysi @ Keeping It SImple June 22, 2010, 11:31 am

    What a GREAT idea!!! Thanks!

  • Emma June 24, 2010, 7:50 pm

    I just came over from Keeping It Simple and I love this idea! I have some bottles very similar so I will have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing.

  • Emma June 24, 2010, 7:55 pm

    PS, I was looking for a way to subscribe to your blog. Do you have an email subscription? That is my preferred way to follow. Like with feedburner. I found a tutorial that makes it pretty simple to do if you are interested. (And Keeping it Simple just added it) Thanks so much!

  • Beth July 20, 2010, 12:15 pm

    Love your little bottles of sand. So cute!

  • Laurie October 11, 2010, 11:43 am

    That’s for the great ideas!

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