Cremation Keepsakes - Special Memorials to Honor Loved Ones

Cremation keepsakes are very popular these days and range in style and form. Cremation keepsakes use some or all of the ash left over after cremation. Some cremation keepsakes, like wearable urns or cremation jewelry, only use a small portion of the ashes. Other options, like cremation stones, can use all of the ashes (although for most stones, technically only a quarter cup of ash is needed). Similar to a traditional urn, cremation keepsakes are designed to keep part of your deceased loved one or beloved pet close by. And, since there are so many options, there is bound to be a cremation keepsake that works for you!

Glass Keepsakes | Cremation Jewelry | Cremation Planters | Cremation Stones

Glass Keepsakes

Cremation glass keepsakes are made from glass that has been infused with cremation ash. The ash is visible within the glass and can be used in a variety of ways as a cremation keepsake. 

• Glass Cremation Jewelry: glass jewelry and jewelry with glass elements is made by infusing glass with cremation ashes during the production process.. The ash adds visual texture and is often mixed with brilliant colors for a more artistic appearance. All types of jewelry can be made from cremation glass, including necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.

• Glass Art: glass lends itself well to artistic design since it’s so fluid a medium. You can likely find almost anything you can imagine, much less want, when it comes to cremation glass art. Popular shapes include orbs, hearts, spheres, eggs, and animal figurines. These beautiful art pieces are made with a small amount of cremation ash, with some companies asking for less than a teaspoon.

• Touchstones: A growing trend is to make a portion of the ashes into touchstones, which are pieces of glass infused with ashes and about the size of a small rock. Many families choose to make multiple touchstones and give them out to close family and friends - that way, each has a special piece of their loved one that they can carry with them or put at a special place.

• Household Objects: a popular cremation glass object is a paperweight. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. It is a larger, useful object that will be used in day-to-day life, thus fulfilling its purpose of keeping the departed loved one close by. Other household objects include planters. There are cremation glass planters available in a variety of styles. 

Cremation Jewelry 

Cremation jewelry allows you to wear part of your deceased loved one’s ashes decoratively and fashionably. Part of the appeal of cremation jewelry is that jewelry is something that can be used every day. It would give you many opportunities to remember your loved one, in addition to providing something tangible to hold on to, something that was a part of your loved one. 

Cremation jewelry comes in three different varieties, wearable urns, ash infused, and cremation gemstones. There is a good choice for everyone’s preferences, style, and budget with so many options.

• Wearable Urns: while many are ornate, wearable urn necklaces are a simple concept. Take a tiny portion of your loved one’s ashes and place them in a small container on a chain. These urns are often engraved with the name and dates of birth and death of your beloved. Wearable urns vary vastly in style and range from large to small, from ornate to simple. There is also an array of materials used, ranging from stainless steel to gold to glass to plastic. These necklaces are a wonderful way to keep your loved one close to your heart. 

• Ash Infused: jewelry of this type features cremation ashes infused into a hard, clear material, such as glass or epoxy. Given the flexibility of the materials, all types of jewelry could be ash-infused; earrings, rings, and necklaces are all very popular options. The ash becomes part of the jewelry’s aesthetics, often being swirled through a medium, giving a sparkly, galaxy-like appearance. There are numerous styles of ash-infused jewelry, which means there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes.

• Cremation Diamonds: the most beautiful and expensive option for cremation jewelry is cremation diamonds. These man-made gemstones are real diamonds and are made from cremation ashes. They can be colorless or colored, with common colors being yellow and blue. The naturally occurring conditions required to make diamonds in nature are replicated via modern technology. Carbon is extracted from the ash, then it is purified before being placed in a high pressure, high-temperature press. This press heats the carbon to over two thousand degrees and then puts immense pressure on the materials. The pressure transforms the carbon into a diamond that can be cherished for generations. 

Cremation Planters

Cremation planters or planter urns make wonderful cremation keepsakes. Planter urns consist of a vessel with an enclosed or separate space for the remains of your loved one, and a compartment for planting. These functional, yet beautiful urns allow you to keep part of your deceased beloved close by, attractively and unobtrusively. The Living Urn offers two beautiful planter urns, an artisan-designed wooden indoor urn, and a ceramic planter urn that can be used indoors or on a patio. And, being planters, they fit seamlessly into your home and daily life. Choosing a plant with a specific meaning can be a good way to honor your loved one, or yourself and where you are at in life. But, whatever plant you choose will have special significance because you chose it for your urn. If you’re curious about plant symbolism, here are a few:

Known as a lucky plant, golden pothos represents the qualities of dedication and a determined attitude to achieving one’s dreams or goals. Your dreams may have changed recently, and quite drastically, but you still have goals for life, even if the main one is to get through this season of grief. Support yourself in moving through this difficult phase of life with some borrowed determination from golden pothos. Also thought to attract good fortune and wealth, this plant is sometimes called the devil’s ivy because of how it can climb a tree and block its light. This plant likes to climb and can be grown indoors or outside. Pothos likes medium light. Keep its soil dry in the winter and moist in the summer. 

A very appropriate plant for an urn, the popular peace lily symbolizes peace, hope, and sympathy. These are two qualities that would likely be very comforting to you now in this time of loss. This lush plant features upright, shiny green leaves and delicate white blooms and represents the soul’s rebirth. The ivory-white flowers signify solitude and purity. According to tradition, this plant is highly valued in feng shui and brings auspicious energy into your home, making this a wonderful choice for your planter urn. Peace lily likes its soil kept moist and thrives in bright light. 

Also known as “mother-in-law’s tongue”, the snake plant represents good luck and determination, both of which are qualities you likely need as you transition into a new phase of life. Featuring vibrant green, upright leaves, this powerhouse of good energy purifies the air and releases positive chi into your home. These low-maintenance plants thrive in indirect sunlight and prefer temperatures above fifty degrees. Keep water off its leaves and water only when the soil is dry. 

This lovely houseplant represents the love of nature itself, new phases in life, health, and abundance. The lively philodendron has been a popular houseplant since the 16th century. In addition to being a houseplant darling, philodendron is a marvelous air-purifier and would make a charming addition to any home. This plant likes indirect light and water when its soil is half dry.

Cremation Stones

A modern approach to cremation keepsakes is cremation stones. Cremation stones are made from the ashy remains left behind after cremation. These beautiful stones are a soothing and tangible way to memorialize a departed loved one. They can come in many different colors, so they are as unique as the person they are made from. The colors range from soft white to foamy sea green, to deep grey or reddish-brown. While the stones are polished, they will also vary in texture from glossy smooth to slightly porous looking. Also unique is the number of stones created, it’s different for every person.  Almost 100% of the ash is used; a small amount is tested as a sample to ensure results, and a minuscule amount is lost during the polishing process. Cremation stones are quite similar to ceramic. The cremation ash is turned into a claylike mixture and then fired in a kiln, or a very hot oven used to set ceramics. The stones range from palm-sized to the size of a thumbnail. They are hard and durable and won’t break if dropped. However, since they are like ceramic, if you threw one against a cement wall, it would likely shatter. 

Choosing to turn your loved one’s ashes into cremation stones gives you many of the same options as having the ashes. You can scatter your cremation stones. They are also quite durable and will wear like real stones, and can stand up to the elements. You can display them in your home like you would a beautiful urn full of ash. Since they are so durable, you could set them up in a cairn outside in your yard or garden. Cairns are intentionally created rock piles and often indicate a gravesite. Cremation stones can also be buried, just like you would bury someone’s ashes. And, like ash, you could do two, or more, memorials with your stones. You could keep some and bury the others, or scatter some and keep the rest, etc. Cremation stones give you something tangible of your departed loved one and will help you cherish your loved one’s memory.