After cremation, families often expect a clear “next step.” Instead, you may be holding a temporary container and realizing the logistics are finished while your heart is still looking for somewhere to place love. If you’re searching for creative things to do with ashes, you’re not asking for novelty. You’re asking for a memorial that feels tangible, respectful, and personal—something that fits your life as it is right now.
One reassuring truth is that you do not have to choose one option, and you do not have to decide today. Many families begin with a secure urn, then later create one or two smaller keepsakes—especially when relatives live in different places or when the long-term plan involves travel, scattering, burial, or water burial. A thoughtful plan can be layered: a primary container that protects the remains, plus a smaller choice that brings comfort day to day.
Why Creative Memorial Choices Are Becoming Normal
Cremation is now the majority choice in the U.S., and that shift has expanded what families do afterward. According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8% in 2024. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025.
That growth also explains why so many families live with remains at home while they decide. In a discussion of cremation memorialization research, CANA notes that nearly one in four U.S. households have human cremated remains in their homes (described as 21.9 million families). If you feel “not ready,” you’re not behind. You’re simply living through the part of grief that doesn’t fit on a checklist.
Start With the Plan, Then Choose the Container That Supports It
Even when a family wants art or jewelry, it usually helps to start with a primary container that feels secure. That is where cremation urns come in: they protect the remains and give you time. Funeral.com’s guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Fits Your Plans is built around real scenarios (home, travel, scattering, burial) so the choice feels practical rather than overwhelming.
If you want to browse broadly, Funeral.com’s cremation urns for ashes collection is a good starting point. And if keeping ashes at home is the first step, Funeral.com’s practical guide Keeping Cremation Ashes at Home in the U.S. walks through safe placement, household considerations, and the legal basics families commonly ask about.
When sharing is part of the plan, the difference between “small” and “keepsake” matters. Small cremation urns are often chosen for meaningful portions that still feel substantial. keepsake urns are designed for small portions—ideal when multiple people want something tangible, or when you want to reserve most remains in one place while still creating a personal keepsake for a child, sibling, or spouse.
Memorial Jewelry From Ashes: Close, Private, and Practical
Memorial jewelry from ashes is often chosen by people who want closeness without a public display at home. Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry collection shows the main types, and cremation necklaces narrows it to pendant-forward options. If you’ve been searching for a keepsake urn necklace, what you’re typically describing is a cremation necklace that holds a very small amount and can be sealed for everyday wear.
If your question is where to buy cremation jewelry and how to evaluate quality, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry Brands and Buyers Guide helps you compare details like closure type, durability, and filling tools. One reassuring reality is that most pieces require a very small amount. That means you can create jewelry without feeling like you are “using up” the remains, and you can still keep a primary urn as the stable center of the plan.
Art and Keepsakes: Glass, Resin, and Modern Memorial Objects
For many families, art is the most natural answer to what to do with ashes, because it turns remembrance into something you can live with. One well-known option is ashes in glass art, where a small portion is incorporated into a glass orb or sculpture. The result can feel like a centerpiece—beautiful, meaningful, and quietly present—without requiring you to “explain” your grief to anyone.
A resin keepsake with ashes offers a different kind of flexibility. Resin can become a small heart, stone, ornament, or pocket keepsake, sometimes combined with dried flowers or a tiny photo insert. Whether you commission a maker or do a DIY cremation keepsake, the best-looking pieces usually use a small amount as an inclusion rather than the bulk material. If you’re comparing premium options like diamonds, treat memorial diamond cost as a budgeting conversation rather than a quick “price check,” because timelines and pricing can vary widely based on size and specifications.
Plantings and Living Memorials
Plantings can be deeply comforting because they create a place to return to in the seasons. The most reliable approach is usually symbolic: keep most remains in a secure urn and use a small portion in a planted memorial container designed for that purpose. Focus on choosing something you can maintain with care—something that feels gentle rather than complicated—so the memorial remains a source of comfort instead of another task.
Water Burial and Burial at Sea
Families use water burial to mean two different experiences: scattering on the surface, or placing a water-soluble urn into the water so it dissolves and releases gradually. Funeral.com’s guide Water Burial and Burial at Sea explains the difference and why it matters in the moment.
When the ocean is involved, it is worth reading the baseline rule directly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that cremated remains may be buried in or on ocean waters provided the burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land. Knowing that early can shape your location and timing so the ceremony feels peaceful instead of stressful.
Pet Urns and Pet Keepsakes
Pet grief is often immediate and daily, because routines change overnight. Choosing pet urns is also different in scale and style: many families want something warm, personal, and display-friendly. Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns and pet urns for ashes collection includes many styles, and pet figurine cremation urns are a natural fit when you want a memorial that feels like a small piece of art as well as a tribute.
If sharing is part of the plan, Funeral.com’s pet keepsake cremation urns make it possible for more than one person to hold a tangible piece of the bond. For sizing and material guidance in plain language, Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide for Dog and Cat Owners is a helpful companion when you are making decisions through grief.
If You’re Doing DIY: A Clean, Low-Mess Way to Handle Ashes
If you plan to handle ashes at home for resin, jewelry filling, or a small keepsake, the goal is control. Work on a still day with fans off, use a rimmed tray to contain any spill, and take a small portion first. The ashes in tattoo ink myth is worth a gentle caution: there is no standardized, medically endorsed way to mix ashes into tattoo ink safely, and non-sterile additives can increase infection and irritation risk. If a tattoo feels meaningful, many families choose a memorial design that symbolizes the person or pet rather than trying to incorporate material into the ink.
- Use gloves and a small spoon, transferring over a tray with a funnel or folded paper for control.
- Keep a slightly damp paper towel nearby for cleanup; avoid sweeping, which can spread fine particles.
- Label any temporary containers, and reseal the primary container immediately after you take your portion.
How to Vet a Provider for Jewelry or Art
A reputable provider will explain their process clearly, tell you exactly how much they need, and describe how they label and track what you send. The simplest way to protect your peace of mind is to ask specific questions up front, especially when the keepsake matters as much emotionally as it does practically.
- Ask how much is required and whether unused material is returned.
- Ask how the material is labeled, tracked, and protected during the process.
- Ask how the piece is sealed and what care instructions matter long-term.
- Ask what happens if the item is delayed or damaged in transit.
Where Cost Fits Into Funeral Planning
Cost questions are part of responsible funeral planning. If you are asking how much does cremation cost, you are usually trying to understand what is typical before deciding what to add. The National Funeral Directors Association reports a national median cost of $6,280 for a funeral with cremation (including a viewing and funeral service) in 2023. For a clear, practical breakdown of direct cremation versus cremation with services, Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? walks through common fees and what drives price differences.
The Best Choice Is the One That Lets You Breathe
You do not have to solve everything at once. A secure primary urn now, a small wearable keepsake later, art when it feels right, or a water burial ceremony when travel is possible can all be part of one respectful plan. The best memorial is the one that fits your family and gives your love somewhere steady to go.
