In a world where messages often zip by in seconds and memories can slip through the cracks of daily life, Artifcts offers something beautiful: a way to say “you matter” that’s tangible, personal, and lasting.  

An Artifct isn’t just a photo, a story, or a digital file — it’s a love note stitched together with meaning. It’s a moment preserved in time, carefully captured and shared with intention. It becomes a topic of conversation, a happy memory shared, a new story discovered. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, reconnecting across time and distance, or simply saying “I love you,” Artifcts transforms everyday objects and memories into meaningful expressions of affection. 

How Artifcts Becomes a Love Language 

At its heart, Artifcts is about connection: between family, across generations, and even between friends. When we slow down to document why something matters — not just what it is — we invite others into our world, our stories, and our hearts.  

Objects gain power when their stories are told. A simple recipe card becomes a warm memory of Sunday dinners. A well-worn baseball glove becomes proof of childhood dedication. These are the stories that make the Artifcts priceless. 

When you share an Artifct, you’re doing more than sending a file — you’re offering understanding, appreciation, and connection. 

A special Valentine's Day gift from mother to daughter. Sorry, this Artifct is private! 

Artifcts: Love Across Time and Distance 

One of the most magical aspects of Artifcts is that it lets you share love no matter where you are. Whether family members are across town or across the globe, an Artifct carries emotions and memories in a way that text messages and social feeds simply can’t.  

You can preserve: 

• Family traditions and heirlooms
• Stories and mementos from loved ones who’ve passed on
• Milestones and awards big and small
• Meaningful moments and photos you never want to forget 

This shared remnant of life becomes a bridge between your world and someone else’s, a shared narrative that deepens relationships and invites ongoing conversation. 

Tips for Creating Truly Heartfelt Artifcts 

Ready to make Artifcts that resonate deeply with those you love? Here are thoughtful tips and tricks to ensure your Artifcts are full of heart value: 

🧡 1. Start With Why 

Every meaningful Artifct begins with a why — a reason that goes beyond the object itself. Ask yourself: 

• Why does this keepsake matter to me?
• What memory does this memento spark?
• Why have I kept this item all these years? 

Share those answers as part of the Artifct’s description. 

📸 2. Combine Media for Richer Stories 

Blend photos, videos, and voice recordings to tell a fuller story. Hearing someone’s voice or seeing a moment in motion adds emotional depth that text alone can’t match. Whether it’s the history behind a treasured heirloom or the tale of a favorite trip, capturing details while they’re still fresh and in your loved ones own words adds richness that’s irreplaceable.

🗣️ 3. Include Personal Reflections 

A heartfelt Artifct isn’t just about facts, it’s about feelings too. Take a moment to reflect on: 

• What this object means to you
• How it connects to someone else
• Why you’re sharing it now 

These reflections will help make your Artifcts feel personal and intimate. 

🎁 4. Share with Intent 

When you share an Artifct, think of it as a digital gift: add a message that tells the recipient why you chose to Artifct and share this item with them. Just like thoughtful gifts in real life, these intentional Artifcts become keepsakes of the heart. 

The Art of Saying “I Love You” with Artifcts

In a culture filled with fleeting interactions, Artifcts invites us to pause, reflect, and communicate what matters most. It’s more than documentation, it’s devotion. It’s a love language for our digital age. So whether you’re commemorating a birthday, sharing a treasured family memory, or simply telling someone you’re thinking of them, let Artifcts help you speak from the heart.  

This Valentine's Day as you pause for a moment to absorb all the positive in life, surprise someone—friend, sister, neighbor, professor, parent, son—with an Artifct!

Happy Artifcting! 

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© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The holidays leave behind more than sweet memories and leftover cookies—they often leave behind piles of holiday cards, envelopes, and handwritten sentiments that can accumulate year after year. Many of us have bins tucked away in closets filled with cards we think we’ll revisit someday. But what if there was a better way to preserve the heartfelt thoughts without keeping a mountain of paper?  

At Artifcts, we believe you can keep the memories and reduce the clutter creating a win-win for all. Read on to learn how to give your holiday cards a second life that actually honors the story behind them. 

Rethink What You’re Really Saving 

Holiday cards are meaningful because of the thought and connection behind them—not because of the paper they’re printed on. Most cards are never meant to be kept forever, yet many of us hang onto them like keepsakes.  

According to a recent article in the New York Post, 85 percent of Americans say they will not throw away their holiday cards this year, with the average reader claiming to have 17 cards. We get it! We like seeing our loved ones’ handwriting, and we love looking back at the old photos and re-reading the funny stories contained within. The beauty of Artifcts though is that you can capture the memory and meaning before letting go of the physical card.  

Step-by-Step: From Card Clutter to Meaningful Memories

1. Artifct the Best Ones 

Take a photo of your favorite holiday cards—the ones with truly personal, handwritten messages or special photos. Upload the images to Artifcts and add a story or description: who sent it, what the message meant to you, and why it stood out. You can even add audio or video too. This way, you preserve the heart of the card forever, even if the paper gets recycled later.  

One of our co-founder Heather's favorite holiday cards. Sorry, this Artifct is private!

Pro tip #1: Consider grouping cards by year or theme (e.g., “Holiday 2025”) so you can see how handwriting, designs, and messages change over time. Add a custom, private tag to the grouping so you can easily sort and search through your collection years from now. Our co-founder Heather uses a tag #frommattwithlove to quickly find the cards her husband has sent her over the years. 

Pro tip #2: Feeling overwhelmed by the number of cards? Group the photos into a single PDF and upload the PDF to Artifcts thus creating a single Artifct for all your cards this year.   

2. Let Go Without Guilt 

Once you’ve preserved the memory with Artifcts you can recycle generic or less meaningful cards and maybe keep only a few select physical favorites if you really want. Downsizing your card collection from 17 (!) to three creates a more manageable, meaningful collection. This approach keeps holiday clutter under control while also preserving the memories, without bins and boxes taking over your home. 

It also helps you avoid the bin of forgotten cards. How many of us have that bin? And when was the last time we looked at it?  Feelings of guilt around tossing holiday cards are common but holding onto every single one can quickly become a burden rather than a joy. 

Creative Ways to Give Cards New Life 

Feeling creative? Hate the thought of simply recycling your old cards? If you enjoy repurposing things physically, here are some fun ways to reuse parts of old cards in lieu of recycling them: 

• Cut out decorative fronts to make gift tags
• Use images in a holiday scrapbook (with your Artifcts QR code inside!) 
• Repurpose card pieces in crafts or family projects
• Donate card fronts to local schools or nonprofits that reuse them  

These ideas let you enjoy the look and feel of your cards without storing them all year long AND ensuring the paper that they were printed on is kept out of a landfill.  

Make It a Holiday Habit 

In case you missed last week's ARTIcle, it should come as no surprise that we're all about habits here at Artifcts. Next time you finish celebrating (be it a birthday or a holiday), take a moment to Artifct your favorite cards. In a short time, you’ll have a beautiful digital collection of holiday love that you can revisit and share anytime with family, inspire future generations, or simply enjoy reflecting on year after year.  

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Old cards, photos, and letters on your mind? You might also enjoy these related ARTIcles:

What Should You Do with Old Scrapbooks?

Rescue Mission! That's More Than a Photo

How to Artifct Cards & Letters

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The holidays have a way of stirring up memories—some wrapped in joy, some tucked quietly into the corners of our hearts. This year, Artifcts is celebrating those moments in a way that’s meaningful, creative, and deeply personal with the 12 Days of Artifcts holiday challenge. 

If you’ve been following along on our social channels, you’ve seen how powerful a single object can be when paired with a story. An old photograph. A travel souvenir. A well-loved family quilt. These aren’t just “things.” They’re touchstones to the people, places, and moments that shaped us. 

The first four days of our 12 Days of Artifcts challenge. Objects with stories, your stories!

That’s what the 12 Days of Artifcts is all about—and we’d love for you to join in the fun. 

Are You Up for a Challenge? 

We promise, our “challenge,” doesn’t involve Tik Tok or ice buckets, and it’s simple enough to do even if you’ve never done one of those “I-saw-it-on-the-evening-news" challenges before. 

Over 12 days, we share 12 different themes, one per day via our Facebook and Instagram pages. Each theme invites you to choose a meaningful item from your life and Artifct it—capture a photo, add the story behind it, and preserve the memory digitally for yourself and for the people you love. 

By the end of the challenge, you’ll have: 

• 12 Artifcts
• 12 memories preserved
• 12 stories ready to share with family and friends—now or for generations to come 

There’s no right or wrong way to participate. Some people choose deeply sentimental items. Others lean into lighthearted or unexpected objects. Every Artifct tells a story worth saving. 

A Theme for Every Kind of Memory and Artifct 

Each day’s theme offers a gentle nudge to look at your life through a new lens. One day might spark a story about family traditions. Another might bring back a personal milestone, a favorite place, or a meaningful relationship. Some themes make you smile instantly; others may surprise you with memories you hadn’t thought about in years. That’s part of the magic. 

You don’t need museum-worthy artifacts. The beauty of Artifcts is that meaning isn’t measured by monetary value—it’s measured by connection. If an item holds a story only you can tell, it belongs here. 

Why Participate? 

Because memories fade—but stories don’t have to. 

The 12 Days of Artifcts is more than a creative challenge. It’s an opportunity to pause during a busy season and reflect. To document the moments that matter. To create something lasting that you can revisit, share, and pass on. 

Many participants tell us that once they start, they can’t stop. One Artifct leads to another. One memory unlocks three more. Before you know it, you’re building a living archive of your life (and your holidays!)—your way. 

Share the Joy 

One of our favorite parts of the challenge is seeing how people share their Artifcts with others. Share yours on social media, tag us, and use #12DaysofArtifcts to be part of the community countdown. Or keep them private, sharing only with family and close friends. However you participate, you’re contributing to something meaningful. 

And don’t worry, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, and preserving lasting memories and stories during the holidays.

It’s Not Too Late to Start 

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I missed a day… or five,” take a deep breath. You’re right on time. 

The 12 Days of Artifcts isn’t a race. Start today. Pick the theme that speaks to you most. Go back and fill in the others when you’re ready. The stories will wait for you. All that matters is beginning. 

As we count down the 12 Days of Artifcts, we invite you to reflect, remember, and create. At the end, you won’t just have a collection of items—you’ll have a collection of stories that only you can tell. 

So choose your first theme. Find your first item. And Artifct that {old photo, handmade ornament, special gift} or other holiday keepsake. From all of us at Artifcts, happy holidays and happy Artifcting! 

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As the holiday season approaches and families search for meaningful, memorable gifts, one option rises above the usual sweaters, gadgets, and gift cards: a gift membership to Artifcts.com. For grandparents, who are often the keepers of stories, traditions, and treasured belongings, Artifcts offers something far more valuable than another item to unwrap. It offers a way to preserve their legacy, share memories, and connect with loved ones in a lasting, joyful way. 

A Modern Solution to a Timeless Desire: Sharing Stories 

Grandparents often have homes filled with objects rich in personal history—photographs, souvenirs, heirlooms, handmade pieces, letters, and charming odds and ends. But the stories behind those items aren’t always written down or passed along. 

Artifcts.com changes that. With an easy-to-use platform, grandparents can upload photos of meaningful items and record the stories, memories, and details behind them. Each “Artifct” becomes a digital keepsake—part story, part history, part heirloom—preserved beautifully for future generations. 

It’s the perfect way to capture moments like: 

• The origin of Grandpa’s well-worn fishing hat
• The recipe card with Grandma’s handwritten notes
• The ornament that’s hung on the tree for 40 years
• The ticket stub from their first date 

This isn’t just documentation—it’s storytelling. 

A Thoughtful Gift That Builds Connection 

A gift membership to Artifcts isn’t something that sits on a shelf. It’s a shared experience. 

Grandparents can invite family members into their private circle, allowing children and grandchildren to explore the stories behind the items they’ve always been curious about—or never knew existed, sparking conversations across generations, bridging distances, and helping younger family members better understand their roots. 

It’s especially meaningful for: 

• Families who live far apart
• Grandparents who want to connect with tech-savvy grandkids
• Loved ones who want to preserve memories before they fade 

Perfect for Legacy, Estate, and Family Planning 

In addition to emotional value, Artifcts has practical benefits. Grandparents can document: the provenance of their heirlooms; instructions for what should happen to certain items someday with our "In the Future" field; and the significance of objects family members will inherit. With Artifcts you can pass down the stories, meaning, and value along with the actual item.  

This avoids confusion, conflict, or lost historical context later. Family decision-making becomes clearer—and more heartfelt—when the story behind each item is preserved. 

Tech-Friendly for All Ages 

Artifcts was designed to be simple for anyone to use—tech-savvy or not. The platform walks users through the process step-by-step, making it enjoyable and unintimidating. Our Quick Start Guide helps anyone age 16-97 get started right away, while our YouTube Channel offers dozens of short, easy to follow videos that will have you up and Artifcting in no time!

Plus, because it’s digital, grandparents can create and share Artifcts from the comfort of home or even use the mobile app when inspiration strikes. 

A Gift That Lasts Long After the Holidays 

While most holiday gifts are eventually forgotten, Artifcts grows more valuable with time. With every story uploaded, the gift becomes richer, deeper, and more meaningful. 

It's not just a membership—it’s: 

• A storytelling tool
• A memory-preservation system
• A family-connection platform
• A legacy-building experience 

And it becomes a treasured part of a grandparent’s life year-round. 

The Heart of the Holiday Season 

Ultimately, the best gifts are those that bring people closer together. A gift membership to Artifcts.com celebrates a grandparent’s life, honors their stories, and preserves them for generations to come. It transforms holiday giving into something timeless—ensuring that the memories, laughter, lessons, and love of today remain part of your family’s story forever. 

This holiday season, wrap up something truly meaningful. Give the gift of Artifcts. 

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

If you want to truly enjoy the holidays and not just operate in survival mode, take some advice from Santa Claus himself, who’s known for “Making a list and checking it twice.” 

While you could potentially remember everything that needs to get done and also smoothly delegate along the way, why would you do that to yourself when you could plan it out and recycle and update those plans year after year? You wouldn’t be the first person to wing it and then gasp when they realize they’re missing a particular gift, key ingredient, or even the tickets to the annual holiday lights show that they never miss.

Today in ARTIcles by Artifcts, we’re sharing tips from the pros in hopes of keeping your holiday season merry and bright.

The following is based on the Fall 2023 Evenings with Artifcts episode featuring C. Lee Cawley of simplify YOU, Jill Katz of One to Zen Organizing, and Samara Goodman of Samara Interiors. If you prefer to watch the Evenings conversation, pop over to YouTube now.

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Shift Your Frame of Mind and Start with Clear Goals

The holiday season is filled with micro changes to your routines and your home, which can make even the most laid back among us a bit stressed out and edgy, Jill told us. While Jill specializes in organizational services for neurodivergent people, you’ll discover her strategies and tools can keep us all in the holiday spirit.

WHERE IS YOUR MIND AT ON ALL THINGS HOLIDAYS?

To counteract feelings of frustration and anxiety, Jill suggests shifting your frame of mind about the lead up and the moments that make up your holidays in two key ways:

First, embrace that preparation is part of the holiday fun. Give yourself the space during the weeks ahead for prep activities like: 

• • • Choosing gifts thoughtfully, not frantically 
    • Hand writing notes on holiday cards 
    • Planning menus that come together to light up everyone’s taste buds 
    • Creating music playlists

Second, absolutely avoid urges for perfection. Take a step back and remember why you are doing all this to start with and breathe. What do you want to remember about this holiday one year from now? Five years from now? We bet it’s about how you felt, not whether that centerpiece matched Martha Stewart’s design or that cake looked as good on your table as it did for Ina Garten.

WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

Now let’s consider your goals for the season. Are your holiday plans designed to guarantee more family time? Are you seeking to create a new holiday tradition this year?

To reach your goals and avoid madly racing thoughts that will detract from what’s important, track your holiday routines and to-dos. This will also help you to avoid starting from scratch next year. While you might like a pad of paper or digital note, hands down our panel recommends digitally accessible and customizable spreadsheets.

Before you decide spreadsheets are too intense or complicated, hear us out. A spreadsheet lets you simply list out your to-dos based on when they need to be done, e.g. 4 weeks out, 3 weeks out etc., so you can keep track of the multitude of tasks and subtasks that are part of your holiday routine.  

Common holiday to-do items from our panelists’ own spreadsheets:

• • • Taking out and putting up decorations 
    • Buying tickets for a holiday event 
    • Planning the menu and its corresponding shopping list 
    • Ordering custom holiday cards (and noting the “no later than” date for getting them mailed) 
    • Gathering or buying materials related to annual traditions  
    • Making any needed repairs around the house before guests arrive  
    • Choosing and selecting a hostess gift for parties you’ll attend 
    • Tackling cleaning tasks big and small 
    • Pressing tablecloths and napkins 
    • Buying flowers for the table or around the house 
    • Ordering items that will sell out early or have shipping timelines that could threaten your fun

Creating a Welcoming Space 

Hosting this year? Great. We’re ready with tips for you.

PAPER CLUTTER

As the holiday season begins, get a strategy in place for one of the top sources of holiday clutter: paper! We’re talking about cards and flyers, donation requests from charities, and holiday cards, too.

C. Lee suggests buying or repurposing a decorative bin (with a lid) that you don’t mind setting out in your space to catch all the incoming catalogs and other generic mail. “But have a second box just for holiday cards that you do not want miss and may also include checks, cash, or gift cards.”

You’ll also likely generate some necessary paperwork during the holidays that C. Lee recommends you place into a durable labeled folder. What might this include? Copies of travel documents and itineraries, last year’s holiday card (to help you decide on this year’s), gift lists and ideas, receipts, and more.

ALL THINGS HOLIDAY

Clutter aside, let's move on to holiday decor and more! As an interior decorator who naturally embraces many principles of home organizers, Samara suggests that in decorating for the holidays and preparing for guests you think about all five senses.

“Often people think about what the room looks like, and what the menu will taste like, but what about touch? Cozy blankets and that feeling of warmth around you can be so inviting. As for sound, music sets the tone, ranging from upbeat and playful to quiet and calming, and helps you to transition through an event, too. And smell can go beyond your menu. Keep a pot of simmering mulled cider on the stovetop to evoke memories and warmth. And use cloves and cinnamon sticks to fill a decorative vase.”

Samara also favors natural decorations that are compostable, inexpensive, and reusable. You can check out ideas from her here. A simple glass hurricane with a white pillar candle can be filled with red and green candies during the winter holidays, sand and shells in the summer, and acorns or lentils in the fall. Likewise, you do not need a Christmas bowl. An elegant neutral bowl of clear glass, bronze or silver, or smooth wood can grace your home during any season or occasion. Just add festive ornaments at Christmas and enjoy!

GUESTS WHO WILL SPEND ONE NIGHT OR MORE 

If guests are coming to stay, you can easily discover online list upon list of items that you may want to have out and about to make your guests feel at home. Some things are small and easily done if you think of it, such as a small sign with your wi-fi password in a high traffic location as well as by their bedside.

Other things you maybe already have and/or do by routine anyway. Our favorites:

• • • Laying out a sleep mask in case the sleep space is brighter than in their home
    • Providing a fan or sound machine in their bedroom
    • Clearing closet space and adding spare hangers along with a luggage rack 
    • Placing a carafe or similar for water in their bedroom
    • Topping up or replacing basic toiletries

C. Lee also suggests repurposing wine glass tags for regular coffee mugs and glasses to avoid stress and confusion as to which glass belongs to which guest (and reduce dishes). And we also love her suggestion to leave out a note along with some plates/bowls, breakfast foods, and coffee/tea directions so that they can help themselves when they wake up and you can relax into your day.

It's Okay to Control the Chaos When Guests are Staying

About those guests of yours: Keep your eye on the prize. Priorities shift when guests are in the house. Do you feel more like, "Your home, your rules?" Maybe treat your rules more like guidelines.

Set boundaries only where necessary to keep everyone (pets included) safe and to preserve your sanity. We’re willing to wager that more often than not your friends and family will follow along if they know your boundaries and general modes of operation. Just give them a nudge! For example, add a temporary over-the-door rack to hang multiple coats so people know where they can store coats and bags if you don’t want them strewn about. And if you are a shoe-free household, post a little sign and offer skid free socks to put on for their comfort and safety.

Guests are gone? Now is when you can reset and return things to normal around the house. Do not try to do this while they are there; it’s like fighting gravity. Is that really how you want to expend your energy while they are there and you’re trying to enjoy time together?

Tips for Making the 11th Hour Less Stressful

Remember that spreadsheet? We mentioned sorting it by weeks. Well, you may also want to create a timetable for the day of your event, says C. Lee, so you and everyone else remembers/knows when each thing needs to happen. When does each dish need to go in the oven? When will you light the candles and start the music? Who is arriving and when?

And what are old school sticky notes good for when it comes to the holidays? Delegation! Jill reminded us all to ask for and accept help. And even if you truly have it under control, you can appreciate that you’ll have folks joining the festivities who will feel more comfortable if they can help in some way.

Pop a sticky note next to the salad bowl, ingredients, and recipe, and say, “Make me!” Or add a note next to the stack of plates, flatware, and glasses and, write “Ready for the table.” If you coordinated in advance or simply know who will want which task, label the note with their name.

Samara encourages you to work ahead to set the table, which can be a serious effort depending on the number of place settings, the distance your table is from where all the essentials are stored, and how many layers of decorations, flatware and glasses, and more you add to complete the table.

“And if you don’t have a separate table you can decorate in advance, create a table setting box with everything you’ll need, including the tablecloth, napkins, candles, candle sticks. For items you can’t put in the box, like place settings, platters and glasses, make a list and add to the box to check off as you set the table.”

One more 11th hour prep tip is about gift opening. Have your helper tools stationed and ready. This might mean a bag for ribbons (to reuse) and another bag for non-recyclable wrapping and tissue papers. And to avoid losing anything in that holiday mess, have a box set out where small gifts can be popped into temporarily. Oh, and don’t forget to have a safety cutter on hand for eager gift receivers to open tough tape, boxes, and plastic covers without landing in the emergency room.

The Final Word 

We asked our panelists for their final few words of advice to avoid getting our tinsel in a tangle. Here’s what they offered:

• • • Simplify hostess gifts by picking one item to give to each hostess that season. Avoid more ‘stuff’ and go with consumables like wine, an evergreen potted plant, or special gourmet treats. 
    • Which leads to… embrace regifting! If it’s a distinctive and memorable gift, perhaps just avoid regifting it inside the same circle of friends or colleagues to avoid awkward moments.  
    • Centerpieces can be created well ahead of time and even done as an event, together with friends and family, for an instant tradition!  
    • Minimize how much new you take on during the holiday season: one new decoration, one new recipe, one new tradition.   
    • Plan in downtime so you can enjoy the season without being drained by it. 

And with that, happy holidays AND happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Who doesn’t love the board games, flag football, and annual viewing of movie favorites like Miracle on 34th Street, The Grinch, and Home Alone over the holidays with your family?

Get ready to make some new traditions, have fun with your family, and avoid awkward conversations like, “Have you seen Aunt Dot's new hairstyle?” Instead, you'll get to enjoy more of those, “I never knew that about you!” moments! We’re putting a spin on those traditions of togetherness with Artifcts, to help you AND your family save and share the memories and laugh-out-loud stories from holidays past and present. 

New Family Memories and Traditions with Artifcts 

We asked some of our most avid Artifcters, “How do you Artifct with family” and distilled the rather humorous stories we heard into a step-by-step process anyone can do whether you're hosting your crew this holiday season, or traveling across country (or next door!). Bonus, not only can these steps be used during your next holiday gathering, they also work great for you next family reunion too. 

#1. CREATE YOUR FREE ARTIFCTS MEMBERSHIP

If you're going to use Artifcts to preserve and share the memories and stories, you're going to need an account. Sign up free in 30 seconds, start to finish. Already have an account? Fabulous! You can skip to step #2.

#2. DECIDE ON A THEME

Give your family a focus for all those stories and memories. Here are some ideas to get you started, but we also offer free checklists to inspire you. Some families even send a link to the checklist/theme they choose ahead of the family gathering!

• Recipes. Request modern family favorites to expand your repertoire. Or stick to oldies but goodies that have been passed down through the years. Make sure you include those "secret" ingredients too. 
• Photos. “Oldest” and “funniest” competitions could be fun. One person told us last year they used, “Rarely do you see so many of us together,” types of photos and it was a blast. So many long-forgotten photos, and so many family members. Go for it! 
• Family treasures. Maybe they’re family heirlooms or sentimental pieces created by your kids. Maybe they're mementos purchased while traveling and make for a good story. One family told their loved ones to each bring a cherished item to be Artifcted after Thanksgiving dinner. The result? A virtual timecapsule to be enjoyed for years to come!  
• Going, going, gone. This one made us laugh and came from a reader after our recent “Epilogue: Family Keepers” story. The idea here is that if you are holding on to family heirlooms, antiques, or similar items, and you don’t really WANT to hold on to them, Artifct them to let others know so they have a final chance to call “Dibs!” 
• All things sports. This final example was from a family of running enthusiasts. Maybe your family is made up of musicians, artists, or travelers; same idea applies. This family Artifcted photos, running bibs, and race medals from the year, including videos of each of them crossing the finish lines. Personal best in a 5k? Awesome! 

Keep the memories, but maybe not every last running bib from the past year. 

#3 ADD FAMILY MEMBERS TO YOUR ARTIFCTS "NETWORK"

(This step is optional, feel free to skip to step #4)

You need only each person's name and email. You can make it easier by filling in this template and then returning to your Account Settings > Content & Network > Network and clicking “Import” to add them all at once.

Don't have their email addresses? Text, call, or post a message wherever you and your family communicate to ask them to create an account on Artifcts.com and then send you their screen name. You can easily add them that way too.

#4 CREATE AN INVITE-ONLY ARTIFCTS CIRCLE

Create an Artifcts Circle (we have a help video, too!) to easily unite and organize all the Artifcts your family creates and shares. Add each family member to it by: (a) selecting from your list if you completed step #3, (b) typing in their email address directly, or (c) emailing or texting them a link from your circle - they will have a week to accept the invite and you can always send a new link if needed.

• • • You can choose, per person, to let them invite others or to make another person an “admin” who can add AND delete others. 
    • In the “About” section, describe for your family what this circle is for, e.g., “Let’s gather up and share favorite recipes for the holidays.”  
    • Then click to invite them and leave a comment, e.g.:

“Please create a free Artifcts account so we can swap recipes this year and not lose them in email or texts! Tag them #Thanksgiving2025. Bonus points if you add a funny short video snippet or audio file! Don’t forget to click share and choose this Circle or we can't see it. Call me if you need help.” 

You can always edit the Circle details, image for the Circle, and members, so don’t worry if you forget something (or someone) or have a change of plans.

Our Co-Founder Heather's Artifcts Circle from Thanksgiving 2022. 

#5. CREATE YOUR ARTIFCTS & PICK YOUR MOMENT

When will you set aside time to share and reminisce about all your new Artifcts from your family? Maybe as the dinner is cooking or perhaps after dessert, you each take a couple of minutes and share the Artifcts you created and added to the Circle. You may discover new details, photos, and related stories you’ve never heard before!

Best yet, once your family starts Artifcting and sharing with your new Circle, they can contribute all year long! Next year you can pick right back up or choose a new theme to capture your family's history.

Togetherness and Remembrance this Holiday Season 

We want to acknowledge and talk about another facet of the holidays: grief.  

We know that the holidays can be an incredibly challenging time for many of us. We’re facing them with loved ones missing for the first time or perhaps facing the end soon. Artifcts can be a powerful way to spend time together capturing memories and stories for now and later, for you and for all your loved ones. It can also make it easier to decide what becomes of all the keepsakes that we ultimately leave behind one day.  

Our free Life Preparedness and After-Loss Support Guide may offer a helpful starting point. You may also find inspiration in some of our past ARTIcles by Artifcts such as Gift Your Loved Ones a Why and The Three Things I Wish My Mother Had Artifcted.  

Consider taking the time to watch the recording from our panel discussion about new traditions for the holidays as we process our grief. Our guests, Rachel Donnelly, founder of My AfterLight and Professionals of After Loss Services, and Garrick Colwell, of Kitchen Table Conversations, brought diverse and deep backgrounds to the practical and emotional aspects of grief. 

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