i realized i probably hadn't shared this with you .....i hope you won't mind me recycling a craft project from 2010?
Supplies
1- 2 ¾ ” round aluminum tin (Lee Valley)
Hand held hole punch
Florist wire (i like using wire because i think it 'disappears' when you hang your ornament on the tree)
Wall Paper or other Decorative paper
Assorted decorative items or figurines to fit tin
Not shown: tacky glue, cotton swab for applying glue, pencil for tracing
Remove the lid from the tin and set aside. Punch 2 holes in your tin approximately ¼” apart—this will be the top of your ornament.
Cut a piece of decorative paper to line the interior of your tin using your tin as a template.
Glue into place.
Using a cotton swab, apply glue to the interior walls of the tin.
Fold your florist wire in half and insert an end into each hole + pull up through so that the wire is on the outside + at the top of your tin. Pull taut.
While glue is still tacky sprinkle a spoonful of mica flakes along the perimeter of the tin interior. Gently shake it around the same way you would flour a cake pan for baking. Shake excess mica back into container.
Mount your figurines within the tin. I snapped the pick off of the bottom of the snowman and used “instant tac” to position the figurine. Swab around your figurine with glue and add additional mica flakes if desired.
You can permanently glue the lid into place by swabbing a bit of glue onto the exterior rim of the tin before repositioning the lid.
Your tin shadow box ornament is ready for hanging.
additional notes:
last year i made these with 3 boys ages 6, 8 and 9 and they loved it! we were able to complete these ornaments in approximately 30 minutes. they picked out penguins to nestle inside and i had them each sign the back of their ornament, along with the year. of course their favorite part was sprinkling the mica flakes!
there are so many possibilities and variations with these little "ornament curios":
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insert a tiny watercolor painting as the back drop
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there are many different miniature figurines available that you could use--think skating, skiing
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reduce a family photo and use it as the back ground
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you can use a thin ribbon for hanging instead of wire
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don't limit these to holidays only--create a small "curio" for your inspiration board--you can find miniature figurines doing everything from working behind a desk to hanging out clothes, to sunbathing
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personalise your ornament for the recipient--with miniatures + color schemes
here are some others that i made:
{this is a craft project i contributed to Creature Comforts' 2010 Gifted Magazine}
(holiday revisited is a random series devoted to project ideas from holiday past that i am curently re-sharing' + adding additonal notes + ideas)
Copyright 2010, 2011-Janice Rusnak/ Papier Valise
