If you want a really unique and thoughtful gift for your friend, a homemade book is just the ticket. You don't have to be a whiz at scrapbooking or even have artistic skills to create it. A memory journal will help your friend remember all the great times in your relationship and become a keepsake for years to come.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Several days for planning and writing
Here's How:
- Take several days to think of the best moments you've had with your friend. Include all the fun, hair-raising, or special times the two of you have shared. As you think of them, note the specific details you recall.
- Start jotting down the memories you thought of in a plain notebook. You'll be writing these out by hand later in the journal, but for now just do some brain storming until you have 20-50 moments.
- Grab your journal book and begin writing about each moment. Be sure to include the reasons why you enjoyed each moment, what you learned from your friend, or how the time made you appreciate your pal.
- The more detail and personal reflection you can provide, the more your friend will appreciate this as a gift, so take your time on this. For example, instead of saying, "I'm happy we get together every Friday night" you could say, "I love our Friday nights at Joe's. Can you say half off margaritas?" Or, instead of saying something generic like "I'm so thankful you are always there for me" say something like "It meant so much to me when you helped me through the time after my mother's death. You made meals, cleaned, and just let me cry on your shoulder. I'll never forget it."
- In between the moments you write about, glue any small mementos you might have saved, such as ticket stubs, movie passes, notes, pictures, etc. If you don't have these types of items, don't worry. They're optional. The meat of this gift are the reflections written in your own hand.
- When you've finished writing, include a note at the end reiterating how much your friend means to you, and that you are happy you have him or her in your life. Your friend is sure to appreciate the time and effort that went into this gift, as well as the memories it brings up each and every time the book is read.
Tips:
- It's best to start several days in advance to gather your thoughts before writing.
- Recall as much detail as you can to add to the memory. What type of song was playing? What was the atmosphere like? The fun part about this book is looking back at how many things you and your friend have been through.
- You might want to purchase a second journal in case you decide to rip out pages or start over! The first time you do this, it can be a little intimidating writing about all your memories.
What You Need
- Journal book
- High quality pen
- Your memories
- Collection of favorite quotes
- Small mementoes (ticket stubs, Chinese cookie fortunes, notes, etc.)
- Glue stick
- Photos (optional)
