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May 20, 2011 By Brandy 10 Comments

Home » Holidays » Gift Ideas

Time Capsule Birthday Gift! 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s

Filed Under: Gift Ideas

Send a family or friend on a nostalgic journey and make a time capsule birthday gift from the 1920’s 30’s or 50’s! Brimming with treats and gifts.

I’ve been thinking about my grandma lately. She is one the biggest inspirations behind my love for sewing. Today I’m sharing a gift that I made her a few years before she passed away. A nostalgic time capsule gift from the 1920’s, brimming with treats and trinkets from the decade she was born. When she passed away I received the tin back that I used to put everything in. It seems only fitting to use it for holding sewing notions now, and I think of her every time I use it.  I shared this gift idea on here before, but I thought it would be fun to look back on this oldie, but goodie!

black and white picture of author's grandmother
Wasn’t she beautiful?

She loved the gift so much that she refused to open or eat any of the treats inside! I labeled everything with the year it was created and a brief back-story to it and she saved them to show to people when they came to visit her.

Time Capsule Birthday Gift! 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s

Saturday Evening Post themed Tin

I had this tin in my craft closet for awhile. I used to use it in my kitchen decor, but haven’t for awhile. It has The Saturday Evening Post picture on it. An issue in 1922. Perfect for the era I was going for! And just the right size for everything I collected to put in it.

laminated pages about the 1920's
cd of music from the 1920s

My mom told me a couple of her favorite songs, so I made her a CD with them. The photo on the front is her! She grew up on a farm in Boulder, Utah. I also included a photo book that included more facts about that decade (price of a loaf of bread, gallon of gas, etc.). It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the time she was a child.

vintage candy from the 1920s
We lived at Ohio at the time and one of my favorite restaurants to go to was Cracker Barrel. I especially loved their Old Country Store. I found these fun items to include in her tin and labeled everything with the year it came out and fun facts about its history. MOST all of the chocolate candy bars that are around today, came out in the 1920s. I picked a couple of favorites and one that I hadn’t tried before like this marshmallow one. Doesn’t look appetizing, but it is classic of the era so I think she will remember it.

labeled treats for time capsule birthday gift

Did you know that Kool-aid, Scotch Tape and Band-aids were all invented in the 1920s and early 30s? I didn’t until I made this gift! I attached descriptions, time frames and facts to each item. It was fun reading through them!

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About Brandy

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

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Comments

  1. Alison says

    May 20, 2011 at 4:42 am

    I love this idea! I’ll be on the look out now for tins to use for little gifts like this!

    My parents, though not born in the 20’s are at the point now, where it’s so hard to buy them something and I hate just giving a gift card. This would be a great little gift to go along with a gift card!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Connie the crafterbug says

    May 20, 2011 at 4:49 am

    This is such a fabulous and thoughtful gift! She is going to love it! Who wouldn’t? I want one and I wasn’t even born until 1981.
    Connie

    Reply
  3. jennie w. says

    May 20, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    Just as an FYI there’s a really great book called “Candyfreak” that talks all about the invention of popular candy bars in the 1920s. It’s super interesting. Especially if you love candy!

    Reply
  4. Life As A Pepin says

    May 21, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    what a thoughtful idea! perfect for grandparents and parents! thanks!!

    Reply
  5. my spare time design says

    May 25, 2011 at 12:55 am

    When each of my boys were born, there’s three!!, I took a favorite tin and filled it with special things that were unique to them. I’ve added a few things over the years but each tin is uniquely them….it’s a great idea that doesn’t take up lots of room and the tin keeps things much more secure than cardboard boxes.

    Reply
  6. Stephanie Hillberry says

    May 25, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    This is a wonderfully thoughtful gift. And it gives me ideas for doing the same for babies born this year! Great idea!

    Warmly,
    Stephanie from stephanie hillberry [dot] com

    Reply
  7. PartyMom says

    May 25, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    What a fun idea! I love the ‘average item cost’ listing. If only houses were still $7k!

    Reply
  8. Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming says

    May 26, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    Hi Brandy, this tie capsule is the cutest idea. I would have so much fun just researching the facts. The costs sheet is so much fun. Love this! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase party – I greatly appreciate it. I hope you don’t mind that I have included this in today’s features. Hope you have a lovely holiday weekend ~ Stephanie Lynn

    Reply
  9. Kierst says

    May 27, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    I love it! You out-do all of us! I know Grandma loved it too (my mom told me).
    P.S. How did you subscribe her to your blog? I need to do that.

    Reply
  10. Handy Man, Crafty Woman says

    June 28, 2011 at 2:51 am

    this is the coolest thing ever! thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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About the Author

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you! Learn More About The Author

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