Picture this: It’s 2055. Your grandchildren are gathered around a dining room table, sorting through the things you left behind. 

There are old calendars. Birthday cards. A stack of Christmas letters. Theater tickets. Concert stubs. A faded postcard from a beach you barely remember visiting. A receipt for something that definitely seemed important at the time. 

And then...They find the letters. Not one. Not two. A whole cache of handwritten love letters addressed to Grandma. Naturally, they assume they’re from Grandpa. How sweet! 

Except...the handwriting doesn't look like Grandpa’s. The dates are...interesting. And one letter begins, “I still think about that night...” 

Suddenly, Grandma's perfectly respectable family history has become a limited-series streaming drama. Who was this person? Who was Grandma before she was Grandma? And why did she keep all these letters? 

Cue the dramatic Mama Mia music. 

The Secret Lives Hidden in Our Paper Piles 

Okay, maybe your grandchildren won't discover a scandalous romance. Maybe they will. But that's part of the magic of the seemingly ordinary paper things we save. 

Cards, letters, calendars, ticket stubs, postcards, programs, invitations, notes, receipts, newspaper clippings, children's artwork—we save them because they connect us to a version of ourselves, a person we loved, a place we went, or a moment we don't want to forget. 

And sometimes they reveal parts of our lives that aren't obvious from the outside. Because here's the thing: we all have secret parts of ourselves. 

• The version of you who went dancing until 2 a.m.
• The you who saw your favorite band before they were famous.
• The you who kept every birthday card your mother ever sent.
• The you who fell madly in love in college.
• The you who had an adventure you never quite told the whole story about. 

Those versions of us matter, too, and often, we keep little physical breadcrumbs that lead back to them. 

The Problem with Keeping Everything 

The trouble is that paper is sneaky. One card doesn't take up much room. Neither does one letter. Or one ticket stub. Or one calendar. But 40 years of them? Suddenly you're storing the Library of Congress in a plastic bin labeled MISC. — DO NOT THROW AWAY. (Sound like you? You may enjoy reading, We All Deserve A Purple Bin.)

We keep the paper because the paper feels like the memory. But often, what we're really trying to preserve is something else—the handwriting, the words, the feeling, the story, the evidence that this happened. 

Artifcts offers a way to preserve those memories without automatically committing yourself—and your future descendants—to a lifetime of storage bins. 

Before You Toss It, Tell the Story 

Imagine your grandchildren discovering those mysterious love letters someday. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, instead of having to launch a family investigation, they could also discover your story? 

Maybe the letters were from an old boyfriend. Maybe they were from someone who became a lifelong friend. Maybe they were from Grandpa after all—and Grandpa's handwriting had simply changed. Or maybe Grandma was living a whole, complicated, wonderful life before she became the Grandma everyone knew. That's the story worth preserving. 

So when you pull out that box of cards and letters, don't start with: 

"Do I really need to keep this?" 

Start with: 

"What am I trying to remember?" 

Then Artifct it. 

Photograph or scan the item. Add the names, dates, places, people, memories, and context you still remember. Group related cards or letters together when that tells a better story. And if the story is easier to tell out loud, use your voice to record an audio snippet in the Artifcts App. 

Then—and only then—decide whether you need the actual stack of paper. Maybe you do. Maybe one particularly important letter deserves a permanent place in the family archive. Or maybe you can finally let the 1997 appointment calendar go. No one needs to know what was happening on Tuesday, March 11. Unless, of course, Tuesday, March 11 is where the story gets interesting. 

Leave Them the Story, Not Just the Mystery 

The goal isn't to create a perfectly curated museum of your life. It's to make sure the little pieces of your life don't disappear without a trace, because someday, someone may hold your old ticket stub and wonder where you went. They may open a calendar and discover what filled your days. They may find a stack of love letters and wonder who Grandma really was. Give them something better than a mystery. Give them the story. 

Artifct those cards, letters, calendars, ticket stubs, postcards, and other paper treasures today. Preserve the memory, the context, and the story while you still can. Then decide what deserves to remain in physical form—and what can finally leave the storage bin. 

Because the real keepsake was never the paper. It was you, then.  

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Pro Tip! Create a custom tag to quicly sort and share the Artifcts you create for your life "way back when." Our co-founder Heather uses #themanylivesofme for the Artifcts she makes that highlight her life before she became a mother, wife, senior executive, and mostly responsible adult. Hey, we all have our stories! 

Looking for more tips? Check out our How to Artifct Cards & Letters series for additional inspiration.

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

At Artifcts, we've seen this question come up again and again—and we understand why. 

Today, there are more than 150 publicly Artifcted cards and letters on Artifcts.com, each preserving a story, a relationship, or a moment in time. Our Co-Founder, Heather, has also privately Artifcted more than three dozen cards and letters from her own life (and still has a couple dozen more to go!). 

We hear you, and you are not alone. Cards and letters are sneaky. They don't take up much space individually, but together they can fill boxes, bins, closets, and entire storage shelves. Unlike many other possessions, they're full of sentiment, emotion, and something increasingly rare, handwriting. We want to keep them because they connect us to people and moments that mattered. 

But then life happens. The bins overflow. The storage area fills up. Years pass, sometimes decades. And despite keeping every birthday card, holiday greeting, love note, sympathy card, or handwritten letter, we rarely pull them out to read them again.  

So...what should you do with them? 

Start with a Different Question 

Instead of asking, "Should I keep this card?" ask yourself: 

"What am I really trying to preserve?" 

Most of the time, it's not the paper itself. It's your grandmother's unmistakable cursive. It's the note your child scribbled before they learned to spell. It's the anniversary card that reminds you exactly how you felt in that moment in time. It's the laugh-out-loud birthday card from a friend who always knew how to make you smile. 

Often, the physical card is simply the vessel that carries the memory forward, lest we forget. 

You Don't Have to Keep Every Piece of Paper 

Many people feel guilty even considering letting go of cards and letters. It can feel like discarding the relationship itself. But preserving memories doesn't have to mean storing every card, letter, note, or envelope forever. 

As you sort through your collection, consider categories like: 

• Cards that mark major life milestones.
• Letters from people who have shaped your life.
• Notes that tell a meaningful story.
• Cards with especially memorable handwriting or artwork.
• Messages that still make you smile, laugh, or cry. 

These are often the pieces worth preserving—not because they're old, but because they continue to have meaning and someday someone else in your family may be curious enough to want to see them or even keep them as part of their family history too. 

Preserve the Memory, Reduce the Clutter 

Whether you're downsizing, helping parents organize decades of keepsakes, or simply reclaiming space at home, preserving the stories first makes it much easier to decide what to do with the physical items afterward. By photographing or scanning meaningful cards and letters and pairing them with your own memories, you create an archive that's easier to revisit than a stack of bins tucked away in the attic. 

Here's an easy way to get started: 

1. Choose the cards and letters that matter most. Start with a small group—perhaps birthday cards from your parents, letters from a grandparent, love notes, or cards that commemorate major milestones.
2. Photograph or scan each piece. Capture the front, inside message, back, and envelope if it adds context. Don't worry about perfection; your goal is to preserve the memory.
3. Add the images to an Artifct and tell the story behind them. Who wrote it? What was happening in your life? Why has this particular note stayed with you all these years? Those details transform a simple card into part of your personal history. 

Once you've preserved both the images and the story, you'll find it much easier to decide whether the physical card belongs in a keepsake box, should be passed on to family, or can finally be recycled.  

Less Clutter. More Memories. 

Cards and letters were never meant to spend decades hidden in storage bins. They were written to be read, remembered, and cherished. That's exactly what Artifcts helps you do. 

Artifct your cards and letters to create a fully accessible, shareable archive of the notes, sweet sentiments, heartfelt messages, and laugh-out-loud moments that matter most. Add the stories behind them, preserve the handwriting, and revisit them anytime, from anywhere. 

Because the goal isn't to keep every piece of paper. It's to keep the memories. Happy Artifcting!

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Looking for additional tips on how to Artifct cards, letters, and other ephemera? Check out our How to Artifcts Cards & Letters article to help you get started. 

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Our co-founder Heather is getting ready for her fourth move in five years. At this point, you'd think she'd have moving down to a science. 

Spoiler alert, she doesn't. 

The thing is, even if you've moved multiple times, no one prepares you for the inevitable chaos. The boxes all start out neatly taped and labeled. Then somehow, hours later you find yourself surrounded by a sea of cardboard, balled up packing tape, and a child on the verge of a meltdown screaming "Mom, where's Shimmering Star?" For the record, Shimmering Star is the stuffed bunny you repeatedly reminded said child NOT to pack in a box and instead carry in their day pack.  

Bonus points if your spouse simultaneously chimes in with, "Honey, where'd you put the coffee maker?" while the dog is desperately looking your way with his patented, please-tell-me-you-remembered-my-kibble-mom look.  

Moving has a remarkable way of making even the most organized person question every life choice that led to accumulating so much...stuff. 

The good news? While you can't eliminate every "Where's the XYZ?" moment, you can make the entire process dramatically easier by getting organized before you pack your first box. 

It's tempting to start packing as soon as you know you're moving, but taking the time to declutter and organize first will save you time, money, and stress. Even better, it's the perfect opportunity to preserve the stories and details behind the belongings that matter most with Artifcts. 

Step 1: Declutter Before You Pack 

Why pay to move things you no longer need, use, or love? 

Every box you eliminate means less to pack, less to transport, less to unpack, and less to find a home for in your new space. Decluttering before a move also gives you a fresh start, allowing your new home to reflect your current lifestyle—not years of accumulated "just in case" items. 

If you're wondering where to begin, consider tackling items like: 

• Duplicate kitchen gadgets and cookware
• Clothing that no longer fits or hasn't been worn in years
• Expired pantry items and medications
• Old paperwork and manuals that can be securely shredded or recycled
• Broken electronics and tangled cords
• Outgrown toys and games
• Decorative items that no longer match your style
• Boxes of forgotten keepsakes you've been storing "for someday" 

Our article, 108 Objects to Declutter from Your Home, offers even more ideas to help you make meaningful progress room by room.  

As you sort, remember that decluttering doesn't have to mean losing the memories attached to your belongings. If you want to keep the memory of those keepsakes while maybe not the actual items, take a moment to snap a photo and create a quick Artifct in our App. You can always go back and add the details later.   

Step 2: Organize What You're Keeping and Artifct Before You Move 

Once you've decided what deserves a place in your next home, resist the urge to immediately start boxing everything up. This is the ideal time to organize and Artifct your most meaningful possessions. 

Think about family heirlooms, artwork, collections, antiques, military memorabilia, jewelry, childhood keepsakes, vintage toys, furniture, and other objects that tell the story of your life and your family. Heather also likes to Artifct anything that is or has the potential to be breakable, which with a 75-pound golden retriever underfoot is quite a long list! 

Before those items disappear into moving boxes, take a few minutes to: 

• Photograph each item.
• Record its story, history, and significance.
• Note its current condition.
• Attach any appraisals, receipts, or insurance information. 

Not only are you preserving memories, you're also creating a digital record that can be invaluable later. 

No matter how careful your movers are, accidents happen. Boxes get crushed. Furniture gets scratched. Artwork can be damaged. Sometimes items are even lost. 

When you've already created an Artifct, you have: 

• Photos showing the item's pre-move condition.
• Documentation of identifying features and provenance.
• Purchase information or appraisals when available.
• A centralized place to store supporting documents. 

This information can make insurance claims much easier should something unfortunate occur during the move. 

And for the items that simply can't be replaced—a grandmother's quilt, a handwritten recipe book, a child's first artwork, or your grandfather's military medals—you'll always have their stories preserved, regardless of what happens to the physical object. 

After you've decluttered, organized, and Artifcted what matters most, packing becomes far more intentional. You'll know exactly what you're moving and which items require extra care. Instead of simply moving boxes, you're moving the pieces of your life with confidence—and protecting both the objects and the stories they carry. 

Let Go Without Losing the Story 

One of the hardest parts of moving or downsizing is deciding what to part with. Matt Paxton, author, television personality, and longtime advocate for helping families through life's transitions, beautifully captures why Artifcts changes that experience: 

"Take a picture, tell the story in Artifcts, and you can donate it away. The story lives on, and the memory lives on, and the person lives on. You don't need the item to do that." 

When the memories are preserved, letting go of the physical object often becomes much easier. Families can confidently donate treasured belongings, knowing the stories behind them remain accessible for future generations. 

Make Your Next Move Your Most Organized One Yet 

Moving is more than changing addresses. It's an opportunity to decide what deserves space in your next chapter. 

With Artifcts, you're not just preparing for moving day. You're protecting your memories, simplifying insurance documentation, making downsizing easier, and ensuring that the stories behind your most treasured belongings live on for generations to come. 

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Looking for more ideas on how to Artifct during or after a move? One of our Artifcts community members, who grew up in a military family, shared that they Artifct the house they are moving from prior to the move so that they will always be able to remember what the house (and rooms!) looked like. We love this idea! Sometimes Artifcting those big items (like a house, car, etc.) may not seem obvious at first, but they are just as important as the small items we tend to Artifct most.

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The wealth being passed down from Baby Boomers isn’t just dollars — it’s decades’ worth of ‘stuff.’ As we enter what many call the Great Wealth Transfer, the children of Boomers are discovering that a big chunk of what they inherit comes in the form of physical objects: collections, vintage items, and sometimes things nobody quite knows what to do with. 

Our Co-Founder, Heather, discovered this firsthand after losing her mother and having to sort through SO. MUCH. STUFF. 

What’s Actually Being Inherited 

According to a recent Bloomberg article by Chris Rovzar, as much as $90 trillion in assets will change hands over the next few decades. But alongside financial assets lie a mounting inheritance of physical belongings. We're talking about antique furniture, sterling silver flatware, model trains, Hummel figurines, cut-crystal glassware — even miniature pianos. 

Some of these items carry deep sentimental value. For others, not so much. The result? Many heirs feel buried under a mountain of ‘stuff’ they didn’t necessarily ask for. 

Why There's So Much ‘Stuff’ 

Collectors never stopped collecting. Boomers who built their collections over their lifetimes didn’t always see them as clutter. Their passions were real — and they hoped their kids would appreciate them too. 

As we age, many of us may want to downsize. But instead of letting go, we hold on to beloved items or leave the bulk to the next generation. Matt Paxton, star of both Hoarders and Filthy Fortunes, and Advisor to Artifcts sees this daily as he and his team help families downsize and somehow deal with all the ‘stuff.’ 

We are also great at avoiding tough conversations. Not all families talk about what to keep and what to let go of. Without clear plans, decisions fall to the children — who are often under emotional stress. 

The Impact on the Next Generation 

For many Millennials and Gen Xers, dealing with their parents’ estates isn’t just a financial task — it’s deeply emotional work. Rovzar describes cleaning out a parent’s house as “upsetting, stressful and deeply sad,” but also cathartic when you find unexpected treasures like a long-lost recipe or beloved childhood memento. 

On the practical side: 

• Storage is becoming a challenge. Some families use storage units to hold inherited objects, which can be costly. Self-storage is a $59 BILLION dollar industry in the US alone.  
• Selling isn’t always easy. Vintage doesn’t always mean valuable. Many items have limited resale markets.
• Keeping the legacy feels heavy. Not every object has a clear inheritor, and not all heirs want what their parents collected. 

What Can Be Done — Thoughtfully 

Do you find yourself or your loved ones staring at the oncoming ‘stuff’ tsunami and not sure what to do? We asked experts across the organizing, downsizing, and photo management industries on how to navigate this transfer of stuff. They offered up the following advice: 

Have conversations early. Parents and children should talk about what matters, what doesn’t, and what to do with sentimental vs. practical belongings. 

Prioritize what to keep. Not everything needs to survive for another generation. Choosing key heirlooms can help reduce clutter while preserving meaning. Check out our guide to Swedish Death Cleaning to help you purposefully choose which possessions to hold onto and which possessions to rehome or let go of altogether. 

Our Co-Founder Heather kept these vintage hot cocoa mugs after her mother passed--not for the financial value but because of the memories. 

Be realistic about disposal. Items that don’t hold value may be donated, recycled, or sold. A professional estate sale service can help. Learn more about estate sales and other online options for selling items in our Everything You Need to Know Before Heading to Your First Estate Sale ARTIcles story. 

Document provenance. If a piece has real historical or monetary value, keeping a record helps with future decisions and may make it more meaningful. It can also help your heirs not be “the ones” who accidentally donate a Picasso to Goodwill.  

Why This Matters 

This isn’t just a story about stuff — it’s about generational legacy, memory, and how we value our lives through objects. As wealth moves from one generation to the next, what we inherit isn't just bank accounts; it’s a tangible piece of who our parents and grandparents were. 

For many heirs, sorting through these items is more than a transaction. It’s a way to understand their loved ones, decide what to carry forward, and gently close chapters in a responsible and emotionally respectful way. Matt Paxton shares, "I always tell clients it's not just a chair. It's the person that sat in the chair, and the stories that they told. That's why THAT chair matters."

As you look around your home — or your parents’ if you happen to be heading home for the holidays— notice the items that hold meaning: 

• The broach worn on a wedding day
• The tool passed down from a grandfather
• The ticket stub from a once-in-a-lifetime concert
• The odd little figurine that always sat on the mantel 

Those keepsakes aren’t just things, they’re experiences, memories, and connections waiting to be captured. Take a moment to Artifct those items, capture the story, the history, and all the little details that make you smile, laugh, or remind you of your loved one(s). Give future generations the context they need — not just the clutter, because the real inheritance isn’t the ‘stuff.’ It’s the life stories and memories behind it. 

Still with us? Extra credit if you use our “In the Future” field to tell your heirs what to do with the item when the time comes — keep, donate, sell, bequeath, or “as you wish.” Lift the weight of uncertainty before it ever lands on their shoulders. 

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Before you decide what to do with a meaningful item, preserve the story behind it. One photo, a few memories, and the details only you know can help ensure that future generations inherit more than an object, they inherit the context, history, and meaning that made it matter.

Start with one item that tells part of your family's story.

Ready to preserve your own stories? Create a free Artifcts account and begin documenting what matters most.

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The last school bell rings, backpacks explode by the front door, and suddenly your house is overflowing with kid “stuff.” Crumpled artwork. Half-used notebooks. Science fair boards. Recorder instruments. Team shirts. Yearbooks. Awards. Mystery cords. And somehow…47 pencils. 

The end of the school year has a way of turning kitchens, mudrooms, and dining tables into temporary museums of childhood. Some of it is practical. Some of it is sentimental. And some of it leaves you staring into a pile wondering, “Wait, why did we save this again?” 

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. At Artifcts, we often say it’s not about the object—it’s about the meaning behind it. The tricky part with school keepsakes is that they arrive in waves, year after year, often faster than we can process them. One day your child proudly hands you a macaroni self-portrait, and the next thing you know you have six overflowing bins labeled “school memories.” 

The good news? You do not need to keep everything to preserve what matters most.  

What To Do with All That School Stuff 

School memorabilia falls into the same category as sports memorabilia, baby items, and family keepsakes: emotionally important, physically bulky, and surprisingly difficult to sort through. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to curate thoughtfully, so the memories survive without your closets disappearing in the process. 

Here are a few ways to tackle the end-of-school-year avalanche. 

Start with the “Greatest Hits.” Not every worksheet deserves permanent storage. But certain items instantly bring back a story, milestone, or stage of childhood. 

Keep an eye out for: 

• Firsts (first handwriting sample, first school photo, first big project)
• Personal favorites chosen by your child
• Artwork that reflects personality or growth
• Awards or achievements tied to meaningful moments
• Notes from teachers or classmates
• Items connected to funny family stories 

Think of yourself less as a storage manager and more as a curator of your child’s story. 

One meaningful drawing with context often matters more than 200 anonymous papers in a plastic bin.  

Create a “School Year Capsule” 

Instead of endlessly adding to random piles, create a simple system: 

• One bin per child
• One folder per school year
• One digital album for photos and scans
• One Artifct for especially meaningful items 

This naturally creates boundaries. When the folder fills up, it becomes easier to decide what truly matters most. 

Some families even involve kids in the process by asking: 

• What are your top 5 favorites from this year?
• Which project are you most proud of?
• What would future-you want to remember? 

You might be surprised by what they choose. 

Artifct Before You Let It Go 

Some school items are impossible to keep forever. Poster boards bend. Paint flakes. Glitter somehow multiplies. And eventually, even the most sentimental parents hit a storage limit. 

Before tossing or donating something meaningful: 

• Take photos
• Record a quick story or memory on the Artifcts App
• Add context: who, what, when, where, and why
• Include your child’s own words if possible 

That is where Artifcts can help transform clutter into preserved memories. A photo of a papier-mâché volcano becomes far more meaningful when paired with the story about staying up until midnight adding lava because “it needed to erupt properly.” 

Without the story, future generations may just see cardboard and glue.  

Tackle the Digital School Clutter Too 

School “stuff” is no longer just physical. Today’s parents also accumulate: 

• Thousands of school photos
• Classroom app downloads
• Concert videos
• Screenshots from teacher messages
• PDFs of report cards and projects 

And unlike paper clutter, digital clutter quietly expands without anyone noticing. 

One helpful strategy: dedicate 15 minutes each week to sorting school-related photos and files. Save the meaningful ones, delete duplicates, and Artifct the memories that deserve a lasting story.  

What About the Stuff Kids Don’t Want? 

Eventually, many kids outgrow their attachment to trophies, certificates, uniforms, and projects. Parents are often the ones holding on longest. 

Online decluttering communities are full of parents asking the same question: “Will they regret letting this go someday?” The answer is usually less about the object itself and more about whether the memory survives.  

If an item no longer holds meaning: 

• Donate usable school supplies
• Pass along gently used backpacks and lunch boxes
• Recycle old papers and broken projects
• Repurpose trophies or awards creatively
• Save only representative examples instead of entire collections 

You are not erasing childhood by letting go of excess stuff. You are making room for the memories that matter most. 

Preserve the Story, Not the Pile 

Every school year tells a story of growth: changing handwriting, evolving interests, new friendships, proud moments, disappointments, creativity, resilience, and discovery. 

The challenge is not whether those memories matter. Of course they do. The challenge is making sure the meaning survives longer than the clutter. 

Because years from now, your child probably will not remember every worksheet or participation ribbon. But they may cherish the story behind the ceramic pizza slice they made in first grade or the essay they wrote about becoming a veterinarian. 

And that story? That is worth keeping. 

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© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dusty shelves. Packed boxes. Maybe even a forgotten bin in the attic. Old trophies have a way of quietly accumulating over the years. We keep them because they are symbols of effort, achievement, teamwork, and growth. And yet, when it comes time to declutter, they can leave you wondering: Do I keep them? Toss them? Hide them away?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. At Artifcts, we often say: it’s not about the object, it’s about the meaning. And trophies? They’re packed with meaning.

Let’s explore how to thoughtfully decide what to do with them—without losing what matters most.

Why Trophies Are So Hard to Let Go

Unlike everyday clutter, trophies represent moments when you showed up, pushed yourself, and were recognized. Whether it was a childhood soccer season, a debate championship, or a workplace milestone, each trophy holds a story.

But here’s the catch: over time, the object stays… while the story fades.

We’ve seen this happen with photos and albums, too. One generation later, people often can’t identify the faces or remember the context. The same is true for trophies. Without context, they risk becoming anonymous objects—metal, plastic, and wood with no voice, no story, no memory.

So before you decide what to do with them, start with this mindset shift: Your goal is not to preserve every trophy. Your goal is to preserve the meaning behind the ones that matter.

Step 1: Curate—You Don’t Need Them All

Take a deep breath: you do not need to keep every single trophy. In fact, trying to keep everything often leads to overwhelm and inaction. A more effective approach? Curate.

Choose a handful that truly represent:

• A first (first win, first season, first breakthrough)
• A peak moment (championship, personal best)
• A meaningful memory (team, coach, or experience that shaped you)

Think of it like editing a photo collection—you’re keeping the highlights, not the duplicates or blurry extras. 

Step 2: Capture the Story Before It’s Lost

Here’s where the magic happens. A trophy without a story is just an object. But a trophy with a story becomes a lasting legacy. Ask yourself (or your family member, if they’re the one who earned it):

• What was happening in your life at that time?
• Why did this achievement matter to you?
• Who was involved? Teammates, coaches, friends?
• What did you learn from the experience?

Even a few sentences can bring a trophy back to life. At Artifcts, we call this adding context—and it’s the difference between something being forgotten and something being cherished.

A trophy with an excellent story and history. Click the image to learn more. 

Step 3: Decide What Stays (and What Goes)

Once you’ve curated and captured the stories, it becomes much easier to decide what to physically keep. Here are some options to help you along the way:

1. Keep a Select Few
Display the most meaningful trophies where they can spark conversation and reflection—not gather dust. Consider incorporating one as a bookend on a bookcase.

2. Artifct and Let Go
Take photos of the trophies you’re ready to part with and pair them with their stories. Our App makes it super easy to snap a photo, record a story, and share with family. This way, you keep the memory without the physical bulk.

3. Repurpose Creatively
Remove engraved plates and incorporate them into a shadow box or memory display. Alternatively, think about ways you can regift them, creating new memories and stories. 

One of our members shared with us that they hosted a family Olympics last summer, and gave out old trophies for the winners! Fastest swimmer, most excellent hula-hooper, champion of the ice cream eating contest. He said, “not only did I get rid of all the kids old trophies, we made new memories in the process.” That sounds like a win-win to us!

4. Donate or Recycle
Some organizations, schools, or clubs can reuse old trophies by replacing nameplates. You may be able give the trophy a second life—and someone else a moment of pride. Check with local schools, libraries, recreation centers, and Boys and Girls clubs. 

Step 4: Share the Stories

Stories are meant to be shared, not stored away. When you document and share the meaning behind a trophy, something powerful happens: others begin to see its value. We’ve seen time and again that once a story is known, an item that “no one wanted” suddenly becomes meaningful to someone else.

A personal victory, and a story worth remembering for generations. Click the image to read the full story. 

Maybe your child never realized how much that award meant to you. Maybe a grandchild will see themselves in your story of perseverance. Objects connect generations—but stories make that connection stick. With Artifcts, you can easily (and privately) share the stories with loved with a single click. 

A Final Thought: It Was Never About the Trophy

At the end of the day, the trophy itself was never the point. It was about:

• The early mornings and late practices
• The wins and the losses
• The people who supported you
• The person you became along the way

The trophy is just a symbol. The story is the legacy.

So whether you keep one, ten, or none at all, make sure you hold onto what truly matters.

And if you can, Artifct it—so those stories live on, ready to be discovered, shared, and remembered for generations to come.

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Looking for more downsizing tips? You might also enjoy reading these related ARTIcles:

What Should You Do with Old Photo Albums? 

What Should You Do with Old Scrapbooks?

How Swedish Death Cleaning Helps You During a Move

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