Connecting your family stories with the physical items using Artifct.

Photographs are a key element of our family history but most families have items in their homes that are also part of their family stories. How are you sharing with future generations why you kept a certain knickknack, furniture, or other items that keep a special memory?

Artifcts is the perfect way to save all your family stories. Artifct does a great job of connecting physical items with stories through pictures, videos, written word, or audio. They even have QR code stickers that you can attach to items and when someone scans the code, they can see all the relevant information.

I first learned about Artifcts in the spring of 2023 at The Photo Managers conference. The founder, Heather Nickerson wanted a better way to connect her family stories with several items after her mother died. She also has a background in privacy and security so she knows that what you share with family and friends via Artifcts is secure and private.

You can begin sharing your family stories using the website on a computer or using the app and doing it all on your phone.

You start by adding a photo or video to start an Artifct. You can add up to 5 media items. (photos, videos, audio)

Getting started:

• Name Your Artifct
• What is it? (choose a category)
• Write a description. (if you use the app, you can use voice to text to tell the family stories vs typing it up)

More information can be added (some vary by category)

• When acquired
• How old is it?
• Market, shop, or vendor
• Country of origin
• Brand or Artist
• Value
• Dimensions
• Weight
• Current location
• In the future (this is awesome if you really want it to go to a specific person or donate it to a particular place)
• Documentation – you can attach valuations, documents of authenticity, etc.
• Tags (to organize your collection)

One of my favorite things about Artifct this that the family stories don’t have to just stay there. They give you four options for downloading the information. (xls, cvs, pdf, and zip) Personally, once I have all the information, I want attached to a specific Artifct, I download the PDF and save it under keepsakes in my Memories Hub. (as I love knowing I have a backup copy offline) 

A few recommendations for a great Artifct experience:

• Photograph or video items where they live in your home if they are on display or in daily use. If there is a large collection of something, you may want to take a picture of the entire collection and then each item on its own without the distraction of other things in the background.
• If items are packed away for safekeeping, take all pictures with a simple basic background with natural light if possible.
• Set a goal to do 1 to 3 Artifct a week (or what works best for your schedule) It is one of those things you really want to do but may never actually do without a goal.
• Set a time limit for yourself because you may go down the rabbit hole – you can always add more information later. (for example, when writing about the rug we purchased on our honeymoon in Turkey I was trying to find the name of the shop – I don’t have time for that right now)

Pick the plan that works for you!

Free – 5 sample Artifcts

Arti Lite – $45 a year – create up to 30 Artifcts

Arti Unlimited – $119 a year – unlimited Artifcts – receive 3 extra memberships to share with friends and family.

Need help with saving your family stories with Artifcts? Set up a free 20-minute consultation with Lisa to see if we can help.