In a world where you can be anyone, wear anything, create your path, and be unique—many of us wish for something that reflects that uniqueness in life and death. We have hobbies, favorite art pieces, colors, seasons, and more. These things are just part of what makes us individuals.
When our loved ones pass, all these one-of-a-kind quirks and traits often become comforting yet bittersweet memories, and many of us may seek a means to express our loved one's distinctive aspects through art or DIY keepsakes.
Have you ever wondered: can you add DIY memorial art or keepsakes to a cremation urn? Whether you wish to create to help your journey through grief or to make a tribute to a unique aspect of your loved one, we hope the following inspires and brings healing.
Before You Begin
We must note that DIY Art or keepsakes on urns within a cemetery may be subject to different guidelines. Every cemetery has its own set of guidelines on grave and urn decorations, so it is essential to be familiar with and contact the cemetery to ensure that you can add your DIY art or keepsakes on an urn within their grounds.
Wooden Urns
Painting on wood, or painting on rigid supports, ordinary wood, or panel painting has been an art form for thousands of years. Before the canvas, we expressed our dreams, hopes, sorrows, and longing in paints and surrounding surfaces.
You can create DIY artwork on a loved one's wooden urn or a custom wooden container to hold a portion of their ashes and reflect any aspect of their life, personality, what they loved, their hobbies, and more.
Acrylic paint is one of the most affordable and readily available paints and works well with wood, but it is essential to prepare the wooden urn before you go ahead and paint.
- Clean the wooden surface of the urn or container you will be using with a slightly damp, soft cloth thoroughly and let dry.
- Use fine-grit sandpaper on the area you will be painting, going with the grain gently until it is smooth. Remove all dust and debris, gently wipe it with a damp cloth, and let it dry completely.
Now that the surface is primed and prepared, it's time for you to paint.
- Apply acrylic paint in thin layers. Remember that acrylic paints dry relatively fast, so if you wish to blend colors, keep that in mind. Thin layers will help prevent the paint from cracking over time and allow it to adhere better to the primed wood.
- When you are finished, it is also critical to seal the paint to protect it from fading, cracking, and moisture. To do so, once the paint is completely dry, apply a varnish or acrylic top coat.
Eco-Friendly
If your loved one is passionate about nature and our environment, an eco-friendly paper mache cremation container might be the perfect choice for them and you. A paper mache urn that has dried completely and been sealed can last for as long as you choose, whether your loved one requested to be scattered or kept within a home.
Paper mache is relatively simple on its surface. You create a glue paste with either white glue, wood glue, or flour and water at around a 1:1 ratio. You then dip strips of paper, such as tissue, newspaper, and so on, through the mixture and create a shape or use an armature to create a container.
An armature is like the skeletal base or underlying structure for paper mache to be applied to or over. Using an armature for the base of your paper mache cremation container creates a stable, durable foundation. You can use artists' armature, chicken wire, newspapers, or a box, and remove the armature if needed once the paper mache thoroughly dries.
Embellishments
What if you aren't crafty? Not everyone has the time, energy, or knack for doing it yourself. In this case, there are many ways you can still add personal touches that reflect both the life of your loved one and the impact they had on your life. Many striking embellishments and keepsakes can beautify an existing urn to make it more unique. With keepsakes and embellishments, you can personalize what may be a plain urn into a stunning tribute tailored to the memory of the one you love.
If you are grieving now or have ever experienced the loss of someone close to you, we know you are viscerally aware of how grief can break us open, bringing deep and powerful emotions that often take away our words. For many, when we are in this place, turning toward art and creating something can be a light to follow on this emotional journey.
We hope we have provided solace to those seeking it during these emotionally challenging times.