Travel & Hotspots

FROM UGLY SOUVENIRS TO VALUABLE TREASURES

5 ways to turn souvenirs into art

Every time I go on vacation or set foot in another city, I fall for it again: I come back with a few souvenirs that are actually really ugly. Indeed, I now have a collection of fridge magnets, thimbles, keychains, and superstitious little pocket treasures at home. I have even made it a sport to take home the ugliest ones from the store, because something beautiful would look quite ridiculous next to them.

But. I have also become a pro at displaying ugly things magnificently at home, making it seem as if I brought back very valuable treasures. Because while most souvenirs end up under the bed or the couch in a closed box, I have found ways to display them so that the memories of your trip become even more precious. Just take a look, it’s going to be fun. Really.

Souvenirs in a shadow box or under a glass dome

This might be the easiest option, although it’s still quite an art to create a really nice scene. There are actually two possibilities: you gather all those lovely little items together, creating a colorful jumble that is precisely very nice. Or you take one souvenir and combine it with a piece of a map, a cool postcard, and who knows what else. Also work a bit with height, so stick things on sticks and choose items in different sizes. That makes it a bit more exciting to look at. Extra handy: with a glass dome you don’t have to dust all those little trinkets at least.

Framing maps

With the original maps that you have completely scribbled on with fun addresses or on which you have marked a thing or two, you can still create something beautiful. For example, cut them out to A4 size and frame them. I’ve added a little extra by writing the names of the cities on the list with a golden pen in the most beautiful handwriting.

In the lampshade

Get a transparent lampshade or a kind of transparent bucket that you can hang above the table. You glue all the souvenirs on it (with good glue, otherwise they will sadly fall into your food) or drop them into the bucket. This creates a very cozy collection and immediately gives the dining area some color.

Bottle finds

In addition to all those lovely souvenirs, also collect all kinds of small cute bottles. They can be from the thrift store, but they can also just be those glass water bottles or jugs with cork stoppers. In each bottle, you place a nice little souvenir. Cap on, bottles together, and it becomes a little work of art.

Cushions

Do you always take a scarf from each country? Such a silk one with intense prints for example? And at the moment of purchase, you think that scarf will be a daily addition to your outfit wardrobe, while it actually just lies wilting in a corner of the closet. That needs to change. Be creative and make pillow covers out of them. Lay it square under the sewing machine, put a cushion inside, and you’re totally back in vacation mode.