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Welcome

Keepsake Jewelry

About The Artist

Christa is not just a birth doula, breastfeeding educator, and placenta encapsulation specialist; she is also a proud mother of three beautiful beings. Her journey through motherhood has inspired her to create beautiful jewelry pieces and watercolor placenta paintings.


Having breastfed her children well past their second birthday and experienced the loss of her second baby, Christa understands the importance of remembrance. She's found comfort in both breastmilk and cremation jewelry, which has led her to create affordable and high-quality keepsake pieces for others.

 Designed with empathy and care, each keepsake jewelry setting is crafted from sterling silver or sterling silver plated in gold, embodying Christa's dedication to offering affordable and accessible pieces. For those seeking an extra touch of luxury, options in 14k and 18k gold are also available upon request, ensuring that every piece is as unique and special as the memories it represents.

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Keepsake Jewelry Collection

FREE SHIPPING!

If you have any questions or if you're prepared to place an order, kindly complete the form below, and I'll send you an email with a link containing additional details and the option to place an order.

Thanks for submitting! Watch out for the email!

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  • What is keepsake jewelry?
    Keepsake jewelry is a unique way to save memories forever. It is a precious piece of jewelry made from your personal keepsakes. Each piece is custom-crafted using your own breast milk, a loved ones cremains, dried flowers, a lock of hair, placenta powder, sand, soil, or anything else that has deep meaning for you. The result is a beautiful and personal work of art that will forever remind you of a special time, your loved one, or your breastfeeding journey.
  • How do I place an order?
    Placing an order is super easy - all you need to do is fill out the form above, and I'll quickly send you a link to your email to proceed with your order. It's a hassle-free process, so you can sit back and relax while I take care of the rest. Looking forward to helping you out with your order!
  • What is your turnaround time?
    I am just initiating this aspect of my business and can't provide an exact timeframe. Currently, I anticipate a range of 4-16 weeks, but it may be completed sooner or later. Since each item is custom-made, the duration includes waiting for the setting to arrive, crafting your piece, and shipping it back to you. Rest assured, I will provide regular updates on your order status and keep you informed every step of the way! Quality is my priority, so I won't rush orders; each piece will receive its dedicated attention and time.
  • How do I send my inclusions to you?
    Whether you’re sending breastmilk, cremains, or locks of hair, the process is simple. If you’re local, you can either drop it off in my mailbox in Morris, IL or you can ship it to me for about $5. (If shipping, please do not require a signature for delivery) For cremation ashes- one level teaspoon is plenty. Be sure to double bag in ziploc bags and write your name on the bag before mailing in a small bubble mailer. Unused ashes will be mailed back to you with your piece. For breastmilk- you will need a small bubble mailer and 3 breastmilk storage bags. Please only send 1/2 ounce of thawed/room temperature breastmilk in a breastmilk storage bag. Place this bag in another sealed breastmilk storage bag, and then another (triple bag the breastmilk). Write the purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and invoice # on the outside (3rd) bag. Place in a small bubble mailer and send it on its journey! DO NOT SEND BREASTMILK IN ZIPLOCK BAGS - IT WILL BE A LEAKY MESS. Please only use breastmilk storage bags! It does not need to stay cold or be overnight shipped since it is not for drinking. For dried flowers- send 5-7 FULLY DRIED petals in a ziplock bag and place extra bubble wrap around the bag. Write the purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and invoice # on the bag. Send in a small bubble mailer. For hair- please send a small lock of hair, about 15-25 strands that are about 1.5in long, if possible, but I can work with any amount of hair. The best way to do this is tie a small elastic around the hair, THEN cut it right behind the elastic. Wrap in a paper towel, place in ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and invoice # on bag. I will return any unused hair. For placenta- put one enclosed capsule in a ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and invoice # on bag. I will not return any unused, unless requested. For umbilical cord- it must be fully dried. Only send a small portion of stump. Place in a ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and invoice # on bag. I will return any unused. For all other inclusions, please email me and I will give you specific instructions for your keepsake. DO NOT SEND ME THE LAST OF YOUR BREASTMILK OR KEEPSAKES. There are rare occasions when it can get lost in the mail. I am not responsible if this happens and will not issue refunds for this issue. Avoid this tragedy completely by you not sending the last of anything or by dropping it off in my mailbox, if you’re local, instead of mailing. After you place your order, you will receive the address and additional instructions for getting your inclusions to me.
  • Can I use old milk that's been in the freezer for a long time?
    Yes! Breastmilk can be in the freezer for many years and still work perfectly for jewelry!
  • How long do I have to send you my inclusions after placing an order?
    The sooner, the better! You have 6 months from the date of purchase to send in your milk/inclusions. If I do not receive your milk/inclusions within that timeframe, an empty setting will be sent to your address. I will attempt to contact you via email before I send the empty setting to make sure it didn't get lost in the mail. I do not keep stock inventory of settings. Each setting is made custom for each client. From time to time, our suppliers discontinue settings. Since I do not keep stock inventory, this is out of my control. If this happens, I will email you and give you store credit to use to choose a different setting of equal value.
  • Can I wear my keepsake jewelry everyday?
    If you plan to wear your piece frequently/every day, I highly recommend you choose sterling silver or white gold plated jewelry! Gold plating will come off at some point and I cannot guarantee how long that will take--it could be a couple months or it could be 2 years. For this reason, I would only suggest considering rose gold or yellow gold plating for pieces you plan to wear occasionally. The best choice for frequent wear and/or to pass down for generations is solid gold. 14K/18K solid gold is much more durable and less prone to tarnishing than the silver and silver with plating options. Solid gold options start around $300-$500. Sterling Silver is reliable but may tarnish with time. It can always be cleaned and/or replated later down the line if necessary. The keepsake stones in the jewelry are similar in hardness to an opal. While the stones are durable, they can scratch if worn frequently. I am looking into offering a repair service for this in the future.
  • How do I properly care for my keepsake jewelry pieces?
    Treat your precious keepsake jewelry with great love and care. Do not shower, bathe, wash hands, do dishes, work out, sunbathe, swim, or sleep while wearing your jewelry. Do not expose your jewelry to chemicals, especially hand sanitizer, when wearing your jewelry. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol which will eventually break down your stone causing it to fall out. (lotion, perfume, hairspray, laundry/dish soap, etc.), extreme temperatures, humidity, extended UV light, or essential oils. Do not store your jewelry in direct sunlight or in a humid area like a bathroom. I recommend storing in a dark, dry area - preferably small ziplock baggie with an anti-tarnish strip. Do not store mixed metals together as that can accelerate tarnishing. For example, do not store silver pieces in the same place as gold plated pieces. If plating wear or tarnishing concerns you, please ask me about solid gold options. It is much more durable and less likely to tarnish than sterling silver/plated, which is more suited for occasional wear. If solid gold is not within your budget, and you plan to wear your piece frequently/every day, I highly recommend you choose sterling silver or white gold plated jewelry! A polishing cloth and storage box/bag is included with every jewelry order. You can use this cloth to polish silver and solid gold pieces. We caution against using the cloth frequently on plated pieces as it can strip the plating. If you find that your keepsake ring is too loose, please do not resize it, as the stones do not hold up to the resizing process. Instead, you can purchase a ring wrap, which is a small plastic piece that you can cut to size and wrap around the bottom of the ring to make it fit as snugly as you'd like.
  • What do you do with the leftover breastmilk/inclusions?
    Preserved milk will be kept on-hand for 2 years from the date of purchase in case you would like to purchase an additional piece. Leftover cremation ash, hair, umbilical cord, and placenta will always be sent back with your the finished piece. I will not send back any preserved milk.
  • Is shipping free?
    Yes! I will cover the cost of shipping your finished piece back to you. You will only need to cover the cost of shipping your inclusions to me. (About $5)
  • Is shipping insurance included?
    Yes, it is. I am not responsible for lost or damaged items in the mail since it is out of my control, however, shipping insurance will cover the cost of another piece of jewelry. These items are precious and I don't want to risk sending these without fully insuring them.
  • Do you offer any warranties on the jewelry pieces?
    Yes, if your keepsake stone falls out of the setting within 60 days of receiving your item, I will repair it for free as long as you still have the stone. After 60 days, repairs may incur a cost. You are responsible for shipping the setting/stone to me. In case the stone is lost within the 60-day period, I can recreate it with additional milk/keepsake inclusion. Prongs may loosen due to rough handling, and local jewelry repair shops can fix this for a fee. Resin items may discolor due to their chemical properties, but I use UV-stabilized jeweler's grade resin to minimize this. For white breastmilk stones, opt for white pigment. Any preservation issues or discoloration within 90 days will be addressed. Inspect jewelry upon receipt and report defects within 5 days for resolution within 14 days. No returns accepted after the specified periods.
  • Do you accept any returns or exchanges?
    I will not accept returns or exchanges under any circumstances after your order is placed due to the custom nature of keepsake jewelry. Each piece is unique as all inclusions are one-of-a-kind (breastmilk, ash, dried flowers, etc.). It's crucial to be certain of your ring size before ordering, as refunds or exchanges cannot be issued for incorrect sizing. We recommend verifying your ring size at a local jewelry store or using a ring sizer. Please understand that variations and minor imperfections are normal in handcrafted jewelry, such as translucency, bubbles, or slight inconsistencies due to our custom process. By purchasing from Christa Burns, you acknowledge that your piece may not be flawless. Should you encounter any issues, contact us at birthdoulachrista@gmail.com for assistance. Our goal is for you to love and cherish your jewelry, and we'll work with you to resolve any concerns promptly.
  • What is the best way to get in touch with you?
    Email for sure! Reach out to me at birthdoulachrista@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

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