Here is a quick little thing that takes few materials and works up in a flash. Useful for a tiny gift at a place setting or to hang on the Christmas tree.

What You Will Need
One flat scollop shell (the kind that looks like a fan)
One small wooden bead
Short piece of gold braid
Circle of tule (party places have packs of tule circles in all colors).
1/4" ribbon
sissors
glue (fast drying or hot glue)

What You Do
1.Fold the tule circle in half and crease. Unfold it and pinch the circle together along the crease.
2. Tie the middle with a bit of the ribbon, and fan out the sides.
3. Glue wings to the back in-curved side of the shell near the top and trim the edges to about an inch from the edges of the shell.
4. Glue the bead to the flat top of the shell.
5. Glue the gold braid into a little halo to fit the "head".
6. Make a small bow of ribbon and glue to the front of the shell below the head.
7. Make a loop of ribbon and glue to the shell behind the head and hidden by the wings.

If you are like me,you hate to throw out a magazine that you might possibly need one day. Here's a good way to recycle and at the same time have a neat storage for the mags.

What You Will Need
Empty box from laundry detergent.
Marking pen
Sharp knife
Scissors
Sticky backed patterned drawer liner paper or material.
Ruler

What You do
1...Cut the lid flap off the box.
2...Hold box with narrow side facing you.
3...With ruler, measure 6 inches up from the bottom and mark a line across the narrow side of the box.
4....Mark a line angling from the top corners at the back of the box to join at the edges of the line across the front.
5....With the knife,cut on these lines, so that you have the wider sides of the box angling down toward the lower side which is now the front of the holder.
6......cover the box with pieces of the sticky backed paper, cut to fit.

You can photo copy the index of each mag and tape them together to keep in the box. It's easier than hunting through each mag for the information you're looking for, but then you never know what you might come across while you are looking. Each box will easily hold a year's worth of mags so you can label the front of the box with the year if you wish.

Whenever I go places, I always find things I want to keep or collect and then they just sit in a drawer, and get forgotten. Here's a nice way to be able to display them if they are small,delicate or just something you want to be able to look at often. Before you begin, lay out the objects the way you want them to be in the box, and measure around the edge to give yourself an idea of how large the box will be. That way you can have the material cut to the lengths you need.

What You Will Need

Lengths of 1"x1" doorstop. The people at the Home Depot are very good at helping to cut the wood to the lengths you need.
Corresponding lengths of fancy molding.Mitred or not as you wish. You will need extra length if you are going to mitre the corners. Again, the people there are glad to help.
Wood glue
Thick bristol board in a color to complement your display.
Stain or paint.
Picture hanger kit
Small nails (brads)
Glass and wall paper is optional.

What You do

1...Arrange your collection on the bristol board to make sure of the fit and placement.
2...Glue the pieces of 1"x1" doorstop together to make the initial framwork. Nail in the corners with small nails. Wipe any excess glue away with water or the stain will not soak in.Leave to dry overnight.
3...You can paint or stain the framework and the molding now. It is easier than trying to do it when the box is complete.Make sure it is dry before continuing.
4...When the frame has dried, measure and cut the fancy molding for the top frame, and glue to the bottom frame. You can align the molding to the outside or the inside edge depending on how you want the shadow box to look. Try it both ways before cutting and gluing. It is not necessary to nail the molding to the bottom frame if you put weights on the top until the glue has dried.
5...Cut the bristol board to fit the outside dimensions of the bottom frame and glue into place. Be careful about having the glue show through on the inside. Wipe it carefully with a Q-tip, as wood glue dries quite yellow, and will show on the inside of the finished box. Weight and let dry overnight. Long project ,eh??? But nice when it's done.
6...This is the fun part!! Attach the picture hanging stuff on the back of the box. Then arrange your collection and hot glue into place.
7....Find a spot on the wall to hang it where everyone will be able to admire your work, and be sure to take all the credit.


Another idea for the background is to use wall paper on a board. You can also put a piece of glass over the front to give some protection. If you like that...use the non-glare glass and have it cut at the window store to the right dimensions. They will also sand the edges for you.

If you do decide to use the glass front, have the top piece of 1"x1" doorstop cut to 3/4" so there is a slot to slide the glass into, and the dimensions of the glass will be the inside of the frame.
There are all kinds of ideas at White Rose or other craft places for decorating the frames, from gilding to the newest paint that looks like sand, or try you hand at faux marbeling.

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