Collected Keepsakes

As an avid collector, I’m always looking for quirky little things to add to my collections. Like most collectors, I want pieces that nobody else possesses. It doesn’t have to be anything major, just a little something that sets my collection apart from all others. Then it dawned on me that I could make my own pieces.

I collect a lot of things. One of those is vintage jewelry. Sometimes, I’ll purchase a large lot of jewelry on eBay, simply to obtain 1 or 2 pieces. Because of this, I’ve come to own a lot of pieces (or broken pieces) that I don’t actually need. I’ve thought about selling those pieces off but then found something that seemed a much better idea. I found a way to reuse and/or recycle them.

The picture above is a small coffin-shaped diorama I made out of popsicle sticks, wood grain scrapbook paper glued over the top for that authentic look. On the top shelf, I made a crystal ball and 2 potion bottles out of miscellaneous beads. On the 2nd shelf, I placed 2 candles made from the bottoms of pushpins and the tops from beads. The candles themselves are made from toothpicks dipped in melted wax. The book on the 2nd shelf and the books on the bottom shelf are made from popsicle sticks covered in bits of leather. The spider on the side is made from beads, with a web string made from gold embroidery floss. The web in the corner is made from a scrap of black lace. Though I don’t normally collect this type of thing, I do know a lot of people who love the whole Halloween vibe and would love to have this in their collections. I can’t wait to give this to one of them. (I’m making something similar for the others).

This type of thing could fit into several different types of collections. As I said before, I’m giving this to a friend who collects Halloween stuff. However, it could also find a home with someone who loves coffins or for anyone who collects miniatures. I’m finding a new love for the miniature market. I’ve always loved dollhouse furniture, but I had no idea just how far one could go with this idea. The more I looked into the world of miniatures, the more I realized that it was way more than just doll stuff.

I’ve also begun working with clay. I’m trying to avoid using the pre-packaged polymer clay. I’ve found several recipes using stuff around my house. The pumpkins and tiny apples are made from salt dough. Simply put, they’re made from flour, salt, and water. The candles, skull, and bone are all made from air-dry clay I got in the kids’ section of my local hobby shop. And leaves in the potted plant are all made from masking tape and wire, painted with cheap acrylic paints.

I’m finding that it doesn’t take a lot of money to make your own collectibles. In total between the 2 pictures, I might have spent a total of $10. My goal is to try and recycle stuff I already have lying around the house, before going out and spending more money. I mean, how cool would it be to add pieces to my collections and NOT spend a dime in the process. I’m also working on a way to make some of these things and put them up for sale. I’m enjoying making a lot of these things, but they’re not things I collect or even have room to keep. Maybe I can give someone else a little something to add to their collections that nobody else possesses.

Think about all the things you collect and see if you can come up with some ideas yourself. You never know when you’ll come up with something that brings a sparkle to your eye, and maybe someone else’s too. Good luck and happy collecting.