Pin It!

No, this is not a post about pinterest (although I've very recently started pinning and enjoy it a lot), but rather my response to the current Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge.  Linda is giving us two weeks to work on a configurations project. All of the details you need to create one of your own can be found on pages 33 and 34 of C of C, Vol. 2.   You know, those boxes that Tim Holtz designed with many smaller boxes inside that can be used to create all sorts of things in the shadow box style.  I've made a few, as well as some printers trays (same idea, just shallower sections), and wanted to do something a little different.  Although the configurations pieces lend themselves to collections of memorabilia, they certainly can serve other purposes.  I had an idea percolating inside my head for some time, and Linda motivated me to finally put it into action.

Here's my piece.  Any guesses what it is to be used for?

C'mon, doesn't the post title give you a hint?   I have a huge collection of pins (that I mostly forget to wear), and I think they are too beautiful to keep tucked away all the time in jewelry boxes.  I've long wanted to have some way to display them but still be able to wear them if I want.  Enter the configurations box.

Admitedly, this project would have been easier to do with a configuration tray, but that's not what I had on hand.  First thing I'd need to do (well, not the first thing.  First I decorated the outside of the box with Tim's vintage subway sign paper.) was raise up the insides of the inner boxes, and at the same time have something to poke the pin backs into.  The solution, foam.  This is really easy.  Just use foam that is the correct depth, cut pieces slightly smaller than each inner box and wrap them in the fabric of your choice.  Gift wrap style.  You don't have to be  terribly neat in your cutting as the fabric hides all sins.  Put a glob of strong glue (I used Ailene's tacky glue) in the bottom of the box and stick the fabric wrapped foam inside. 

That's what I did.  If I had it to do over, I'd to the tissue tape part first.  It would have saved a little time, but it will work out either way.

The other thing I would  have done first was attach the decorative finial on top.  As it worked out I had to do a tiny bit of deconstruction to make the hole for the screw. 

It's helpful if you have some coordinating fabric, and I had this pack of different patterns within one color scheme by Moda:



So, here is what my finished piece looks like filled with just a few of my favorite pins.  The best part of all is that I can change out the pins whenever I want.  And I'll be able to enjoy them even if I forget to wear them.  Maybe if I see them on display I will put one on from time to time.

Looking at it makes me think it gives the expression "think outside the box" a whole different meaning, LOL.