Organizing Keepsakes {Free Download}

I am a keeper. My dear sweet husband likes to refer to it as hoarding, but that's a bit harsh! I just can't bring myself to throw aways sentimental objects! But as I started accumulating things after my little boy was born, I realized that if I didn't nip this in the butt, it was going to be a big mess before too long! So I went into 'organizer' mode and came up with this little system!

First, I printed a page of labels, nothing fancy, but they get the job done! (I added a less 'personalized' version for you to download at the end of this post)  Then I gathered my keepsakes into categories:Baby Shower (cards, the invite, etc.) Hospital (newborn hat, his eye mask for the billi lights, hospital bracelets, etc.) 1st Birthday (bday cards, the '1' on his cake, invitation, cupcake topper, the birthday banner, etc.) My baby just turned 1, so those are the big milestones I needed so far, but I'll also someday add things like each year of school, each birthday, baptism, and things like that.

 Then I just separated them into gallon Ziploc baggies, wrote on a label, and put it inside the front! There were a few things that didn't fit in the bags, but I just put them in a folder in the bottom. You could also use manila folders, but I just wanted to be able to see inside. I think when he starts school I will add a school folder for each year to keep things like report cards, handwriting samples etc.

 I took a large, flat storage container and placed the bags inside. I keep my boxes like this under my bed, so the short container fits perfect, but you could use any size you have available.

 Here's a less persoal version of the labels! Since I know not everyone names their babies Blake :)

Download 8.5x11 sheet

I hope this gets your keepsakes a little more organized!