I read about a wonderful idea to create a leap day time capsule from Ella Publishing (the site has since closed). The idea was to create a snapshot of leap day and open it 4 years later. After I initially read the article I decided to go look for a container to put my time capsule items in but then a thought occurred to me. My scrapbooks are chronological and would be the ideal place to keep my leap day time capsule. Then I knew that I already had the perfect “container” for my time capsule: a big envelope page from Becky Higgins.
The big envelope page is big enough to hold 12×12 paper and is translucent. I didn’t want to be able to see inside so I inserted some of my favorite scrapbook papers (by Imaginisce) to the front and back. I printed my time capsule label on the back of the label that comes with the envelope page. Voila! My construction of the time capsule is complete!
The contents of my time capsule will include:
– photos from today – I will take a photo of our family and a few others that will tell the story of what we are doing today. Here’s one I took this morning of my kids walking into preschool together.
– personal stats – This list will include everyone’s current height, weight, hair color, etc.
– drawings – My daughter loves to draw family photos so I will ask her to draw one today. I will also outline my children’s hands.
– 4 handwritten letters – One letter to myself, one to my husband and one to each of my children. Each letter describes what is going on with each person now and what I predict will be happening in 4 years. I plan to read the letters to the recipients in 2016!
– weekly routine – This is a page with the days of the week and any activities that we routinely do each day of the week (i.e. school, work, exercise, shopping, sports, etc.).
– receipt – I included the receipt for my most recent grocery store shopping trip with notes on what our dinner menu is for this week.
– news websites – I printed out a few of the main pages from CNN.com and the website of my local newspaper for all the news headlines.
– current costs of living – This list includes the price of gas, milk, postage stamp, etc.
Do you have any other ideas of what to add to the time capsule?
This time capsule isn’t limited to just leap days. Here are a few ideas for when to create a time capsule:
– birth date of a child
– anniversary
– graduation
– before a move
– before an armed forces deployment
– wedding day – You could look at the contents every year on your anniversary!
– milestone birthday – You could see how things have changed since you were 16, 21, 30, etc.
– any birthday – You could include any special cards, photos, invitations, etc.
In 2016 when we open our leap day time capsule, we will go reminisce with the contents and then put them back in the envelope to remain in our family scrapbook for ourselves and future generations.
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What a great idea – I’m going to tell my daughter about this!
Thank you Jeanie! I’m making another one on Monday.
Hi Kelly!
I came by to catch up with you a bit and WOW, this is a SUPER idea as opposed to the “traditional” type of time capsule!
I am going to put this on my projects list and though I may not have the opportunity to start it right away, I am truly looking forward to the moment I am able to begin!
With this being a huge transitional year for us, it is going to be thrilling to what we have to look back upon four years down the road 🙂
Thank you for sharing! XO
Hi Linda. Thanks for dropping by! It is great to hear from you. I am glad you are inspired to create a time capsule. Maybe you could do one for little Henry while you are visiting him! He is simply adorable!
I LOVE this take on the time capsule idea!
Thank you for the idea! I loved your time capsule and knew it would be so much fun to make one of my own! 🙂
This is an amazing idea! Wish I had read this yesterday! I’d have taken some extra pics with my son (he managed to stay at the college campus all day yesterday). I’m filing this idea away and pinning it! Thanks!
Hi Deborah! I’m glad you like it! You can really do it any day so don’t wait 4 years for another leap year! 🙂
This is such a fun idea! Becky Higgins linked your idea to her FB page yesterday, where I found it. I’m going to be busy today finishing up our Leap Year Capsule. Thanks so much for sharing this!
You are very welcome! Enjoy putting your time capsule together!
I included a printout of the weather from weather.com, current mortgage rates (I will also include our salaries and mortgage payment in our stats) in addition to some of the other things you listed. Thanks for sharing, this is a great idea that I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of!
I didn’t think to include salary but I did add mortgage rates to current cost of living. Thanks for the great ideas!
Genius! Pure genius! I just ordered the Big Envelope so that I can make one too. Also, I think I’ll follow your advice and make them for other special occasions, too!
I’m so excited to do this!!