A lot of what I deem tiny art is really just tiny junk, but with sentimental strings attached. It typically is banished to sock drawers or coin jars, never to be admired or talked about. We must, as tiny art supporters, put an end to all that under-appreciation! All that precious junk needs is a lovely little home–this matchbox frame DIY is perfect for your tiny treasures! My sister Eirene (who you’ll be lucky enough to hear from tomorrow!!) came up with the original matchbox frame (more on that later), but here I’ve come up with a few different variations, all of which are amazing. They are my tiny little frame-pets, and I love them.
Now to it. First of all, print off my matchbox frame templates, and then pick yourself up some of those mini little matchboxes. I had to look pretty hard for these, babies. In Walmart, they are NOT with other picnic items (they only have the large boxes there), but with the houseware/tupperware stuff. All I can remember was they were near the nutcracker. Don’t ask.
For the black art-deco matchbox frame, draw on a scant quarter inch border, then add some squares in the corners (see templates). Bust out the exacto and make quick work of it. Touch up any edges that needed cleaning up with a sharp pair of scissors.
For the showcase matchbox frame, simply measure and cut down the center of the outer sleeve, and then trace and cut a cool design on both sides (see templates again). 
Glue (Elmer’s) the sleeve back on at the sides. 
For the fancy matchbox frame, cut out a cool design from cardboard (templates here), 
and then paint it and your other frames. The showcase and art-deco frames are all one color, but for the fancy frame, paint the box portion white. See top picture for reference. 
After everything is dry, trace around your matchbox onto some pretty corrugated paper (or any other nice paper), cut it out, and pop it into the backs of the frames.
Your showcase and art-deco frames are done at this point, but for the fancy frame, hot-glue the cut-out-fanciness on top of the painted box portion. 
Round up all your little treasures. Here’s my booty: A centavo from Argentina (where I served a mission) that I flattened by putting on the train tracks , a pressed flower that Josie picked on a nature walk, an old Mia Made broach that I got with some trinkets I got from my grandma, a pin from Taiwan where my husband served his mission (love that it says Touch Your Heart!!!), and last but not least a very old Goodyear button (1851) that I got along with other antique buttons one year from my brother for Christmas.
I used tacky wall putty (what’s it called?? We call it Goma) to both stick the trinkets into the frames, and then also stick the frames to the wall. It’s easily removable, and the trinkets are easily swapped out.
Now my tiny little Mia Maid broach shines with these other pressed flowers from Argentina (each frame holds flowers from a city I lived in). 
My showcase frame and defaced Argentine currency now shines a top my gallery, (as well as ties in that minty green color!)
16 Comments
That is fantastic! I’m on it…..
This is awesome! I squee over tiny things and before this had just been sticking them on bookcases. This will be a much better way to show them off.
Ah Mary. Of COURSE we share an infinity for tiny things!!
this has got to be the cutest thing, I adore them all!!! Saw it on Instagram and had to investigate.
Thanks Jessica! I seriously am thinking about making a ton and then just leaving them in special places for people to find…it could be the start of something really hysterical..
Que Tal!
Hice mi mision en Argentina tambien!
BA Oeste
En SERIO?? A mi tambien! Me pregunto si servieramos en algunos do los areas iguales! That’s rad!!
Brilliant! Simply brilliant.
I stumbled upon this blog post earlier today – you’ll appreciate her love for the tiny stuff : http://www.annilygreen.com/2012/08/little.html
Oh! I love this! Tiny anything is the best.
Isn’t it?? Thanks for stopping by!
my lttle “borrowers” heart is full of joy!
Mom, you HAVE to go check out this little DIY, it will make your borrowers heart EXPLODE. http://www.designsponge.com/2012/10/diy-project-tiny-doors.html
Love it! I made one and I it turned out great. I also linked to you
Thanks for the project idea. It was great fun! http://yearoflivingcraftily.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/tiny-art-mini-matchobox-picture-frame/
Wow, I love it!! That paper works great, thanks for the link!
i am stunned with the possibilities…i think of all the little children in church on sunday morning and how thrilled they would be to find a little box tied with a tiny bow only to open and find a little something…can you tell i don’t have any grandchildren?
Joy! I found you via a link at A Fashionable Stitch. A great new way to frame my tiny treasures! I needed a new project to keep me busy during the winter days ahead. Thank you for sharing!!!