Five years ago, as one of my thirty-gifts-for-thirty-years birthday presents, my husband presented me with this little homemade vessel. It’s been sitting in a desk drawer ever since. Next week, as I reluctantly welcome yet another year, it will be the gift that gives again.

It's a time capsule! Etched with the words, "To be opened 8/16/10," the husband suggested I stuff it with little pieces of my life, circa 2005. I honestly don't remember what's in this little box so opening it next week will be quite a surprise.
A time capsule would also make a thoughtful housewarming gift - for a friend or for you. Imagine stuffing a little capsule with remembrances and photos of your old home then packing it away for a few years. Or present a time capsule to a friend to fill then keep it for them. You could also fill a capsule when you sign the lease on an apartment and then save it to open when the lease ends.
While mine is quite small (it’s actually an upcycled Eclipse Mints tin) you could make a time capsule any size. Of course, you wouldn’t want to make it too large. The idea is that you’ll be storing this box for the next few years. If it’s too big, it will just become a burden!
Images: Jason Loper


Commercial Flour Sa...
Open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it open it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How fun. I think if I were to do that I would make it for longer. I have a good memory and would probably recall even after 5 years what I put in it. My birthday is next week also although my partner isn't nearly this creative I could do it for myself. I'll be turning 45, so perhaps I could even make it 20 years and hopefully I'll be looking forward to retirement or already retired by that time and a look back at the past would be a fun trip down memory lane (assuming I have a memory at that point!)
When my son turned one year old, we had friends and family members contribute items for his time capsule. On his 18th birthday, he'll be able to see what life was like when he was a baby. Some people also contributed cards and 18th birthday gifts, which was pretty special. Many contributed items which were wrapped, so we, too, will have to wait 18 years to see what's inside!
OMG that is such a cool idea for a gift! My brother just got married and they had a "wine ceremony" thing where he & his bride gave each-other a bottle of nice wine and wrote a letter to one another and it was sealed at their wedding ceremony, to be opened in 10 years or "in a time of difficulty". Very neat.
i'm a scrapbooker, so an idea like this excites me to no end. i also love encouraging teens to do this - a letter to themselves at 18 to open at college graduation. a letter at 20 to open at 30.
jessica
http://www.jessicafulkerson.blogspot.com/
Oh, what a wonderful idea!
Hi, I am completely gutting my kitchen, and since we have the drywall torn down, I thought it would be fun to include a time capsule in the wall. The walls we tore down were 60 + years old, so I am assuming that it will be at least 60 years before my capsule is found. Does anyone have any great ideas on what I can put in my time capsule? If you want to see me remodel check out
http://kitchenundone.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Brittany