If you’re planning a memorial service, graduation party, or a birthday celebration, consider making a memory board for your event. Memory boards are a great way to share photographs and mementos to celebrate the people you love.
Our Top Picks for Making a DIY Memory Board
- Tri-Fold Display Board ($22.99)
- TapeRunner Double-Sided Adhesive Tape ($13.95)
- Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad ($14.89)
- DCWV Card Stock ($11.34)
- White Linen Fabric Memo Board ($80.10+)
- Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro ($99.99)
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Tips for a Memory Board for a Funeral or Memorial Service
- Tips for Making an Online Memory Board or Memorial Page
- Tips for a Graduation Memory Board
- Tips for a Birthday Memory Board
Here are some basic tips on how to make a memory board for your next event. Tips include what different materials you can use and what you can include in your memory board. Whatever event you are creating a memory board for, the time you spend on the project will be time well-spent.
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Tips for a Memory Board for a Funeral or Memorial Service
Many websites recommend creating a memory board to display at a visitation, wake, or funeral service. There are several reasons why creating a memory board could be a good idea.
First, a memory board honors the life of the person you loved. Second, those attending the service will appreciate seeing photos of your loved one from their life. Finally, the process of creating a memory board gives you time to sit with your emotions. It may end up helping you process your grief.
Gather your materials
When creating a memory board for a funeral, consider using a tri-fold display board, similar to those used in science fairs. You should be able to find display boards in almost any color, but consider using a muted color or you could go with a simple white or black one. Depending upon the number of photos and mementos you would like to share, you may need to buy several boards.
Since you’re using a tri-fold display board for this project, you won't have to worry about how to showcase it. Tri-fold display boards are designed to stand without any support. The board can sit on top of a table. Just make sure there is a table that is the appropriate height at the funeral location.
While you are in the craft store, buy adhesive for the project. Since you will be using a lot of materials, consider purchasing scrapbooking adhesive. It usually comes in a tape dispenser. Make sure you read the label to confirm that the tape is of archival quality. If you’re worried about ruining the photos, you can try to find an adhesive that isn’t permanent. That way, you can remove photos from the memory board after the event is over.
You can buy nice paper and pens for labeling your memory board or purchase printer paper and ink so you can print labels.
Gather the images and mementos
If you’re able to, reach out to family and friends of the deceased. Ask them to contribute their favorite photos for the memory board. If you can, find pictures from various stages of the deceased’s life. Try to depict every member of your loved one's family on the display board. Leaving out people from the display may cause hurt feelings.
Consider whether you would like to use adhesive on your original images. Even if the makers of the glue tape say it can be removed easily, do you want to risk it?
If you decide to make prints from your original photos, you can also consider enlarging the images. Your display board could have more impact with larger photos.
You may also want to look for one-of-a-kind mementos. You might be able to gather awards, medals, and certificates to include. It may seem counter-intuitive, but a funeral isn’t the time to be modest. It's time to celebrate the life of someone you loved—so show off what an amazing life they had.
Invite others to take part
If you’re grieving, it sometimes helps to have others around you. Invite a few friends over to help you create the memory board, talk about the photos, and share memories. You might find yourself laughing, but you may even shed a few tears together, too.
Organize the photos
Consider organizing the photos in chronological order. Divide the pictures among the boards and narrow down your choices. Try to pick the photos that best represent your loved one. Your photos may have more impact if you only include the best images.
Or you can consider organizing the photos by topic. For example, use one board to share images of your dad fishing and hunting. One board may show your dad interacting with his grandkids. Another board could be photos of your dad with your mom.
Label the images
Print or write out labels for your photos. Don't worry about whether you know the exact dates or locations of the events. Even general tags can be helpful, such as, "Dad with his mom in the 1920s." or "Mom with her sister Susan and brother Michael visiting the Grand Canyon in 1988."
Tips for Making an Online Memory Board or Memorial Page
Memory boards or displays at events are a great way to celebrate a person’s relationships and accomplishments, but they also serve a practical purpose. Memory boards give people something to look at while waiting to interact with the key people at an event.
However, during crowded events, you sometimes don’t have the opportunity to peruse a display as much as you would like. That’s one reason that online memory boards or memorial pages come in handy.
Here are some tips for making an online memory board or memorial page.
Find the right website for your online memory board
If you are having an event to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, wedding, retirement, graduation, or any of those life events, you may want to use your online invitation website to encourage others to share photos and memories. For example, Evite has a private sharing feed that allows invited guests to share pictures of the event or send a message for all to see.
However, there are unique memory board websites dedicated to honoring a deceased loved one. Some are paid sites, and some are free.
Include photos from various phases of life
A person viewing an online memorial page is probably interested in seeing older photos of the person being celebrated—share photos of the deceased from various phases of life.
You might even include group pictures that the deceased left behind. Visitors to the website might help you identify unknown people in photographs.
Don’t forget to share stories
It’s easy to share photos, but an in-depth memorial website also shares stories about the deceased. At a minimum, include the obituary of the deceased on the website. You may also wish to share the eulogy (either a video or a copy of the text) on the memorial website too. However, take the time to write other funny stories that have become legends among your family members.
Create a list of “favorites”
An online memorial allows you to easily share links to videos and other website content. For example, create a favorites section and link videos to your loved one’s favorite songs, books, or poems. Also, show images of your loved one’s favorite TV shows, movies, or teams.
One benefit of creating an online memorial is that you can use a wide variety of media to showcase the personality of your deceased loved one.
Invite others to share
Others may be too timid to share on an online memorial page for all to see. If people aren’t sharing, consider reaching out to individuals you think may have something to say. For example, you might say, “Mom really valued your friendship. Would you mind sharing a few memories of her on her memorial page?”
Tips for a Graduation Memory Board
Graduations are a special time for students and their parents. It's the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. If you are having a graduation party, consider making a memory board for your child.
Print photos of your child
Find as many photos as you can. Try to find baby photos, and photos from different stages of your child’s life so far. The photos of your daughter taking her first steps or the pictures of your son at his drum recital would be great additions. Photos of other special events would be appropriate to include. Photos from birthday parties, family vacations, and Eagle Scout trips would work well.
Before you do anything with the photos, let your child look at the pictures you are planning to use. They should get the opportunity to nix embarrassing images. After all, the graduation party is about your child, so they should be given a say in what photos are displayed.
Look on Pinterest for display ideas
You will find an overwhelming number of memory board ideas on Pinterest. Use some of those ideas, but don't be afraid to get creative. There are a lot of ways to display your photos that don’t involve a board.
You can hang photos on stair railings, from light fixtures, and on your front door. Or you could cover a magnetic board with decorative paper.
Mount your photos on black or white cardstock
Mounting the images of your child on black or white paper will make them pop. Alternatively, you could mount the pictures on cardstock that matches your child's school colors.
Organize your photos by theme
If you are like most modern parents, you have thousands of photos of your child. Try to organize your photos by theme. You could place all your daughter's dance photos on one display and her volleyball photos on another. Is your child continuing his or her education? Create one display in the college's school colors to celebrate their new adventure.
Tips for a Birthday Memory Board
Are you helping a loved one celebrate a milestone birthday? Consider snazzing up the party by creating a birthday memory board. Why wait for a person's funeral to show them how extraordinary their lives have been?
Create a French memory board as a birthday gift
If you are organizing a birthday party for a close friend or family member, you could create a memory board as a gift. French memory boards are an especially nice gift. French memory boards are crisscrossed with ribbons and padded. One can tuck the pictures and mementos beneath the ribbons, so they can be swapped out at any time. Look online for instructions on how to create a French memory board.
Use the French memory board as a decoration for your party. Before gifting it you could print some photos from the party to add to the board.
Embellish your memory board with glitter, stickers, or balloons
It's a birthday party! It's time to celebrate. Add glitter around your image and stickers to your memory board. Add ribbons and bows. Look for embellishment ideas on Pinterest.
Include printed quotes on your display.
Search online for free downloadable images of quotes. You will find plenty of quotes about friendship, love, and the importance of family. Tell the special person in your life how much they mean to you.
Create a display of photos in an interesting shape
Is the birthday girl turning 40? Arrange the photos, so they are in the shape of the number 40. Or arrange the pictures in the form of a heart. Your photo display can double as a decoration for your party.
Make one as the party happens
Polaroid cameras are making a comeback. With their return, it’s getting easier to take fast photos. Why not create a memory board while celebrating your loved one? You can make an area for photos with a backdrop and props for guests to use.
Leave your memory board blank or decorate it, whatever you’d like. Ask guests to glue their photos onto the board after they take them. By the end of the party, you’ll have a new memento!
Showing Your Love Through Photos
Creating a memory board or photo display is a loving act. That's why a memory board can be made for lots of occasions. There's no right or wrong way to create a memory board. Use your creativity and your heart, and your display will be one to remember.