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Make a Mini-Shrine!
by Susan Beal

A small tin with a hinged lid makes a perfect little shrine for a gift, for good luck, or to celebrate something you treasure. It’s a very open-ended project—you can make it whatever you want it to be. I’ve included some techniques and ideas that have worked for me!

I made two shrines this month—a good-luck one to help me get more freelance work, and a love shrine for my fiancé as a little surprise. I started working on them together on a Saturday afternoon, and just a few hours later they were sending out their good love and luck vibes! I got a new freelance writing assignment a couple of days later, and my boy and I have been getting along, well, just like a cup and saucer!

You’ll need:
Tin or box
Art paper or origami paper
Paint (paintbrush, sandpaper, and spray sealant if needed)
Scissors
Glue
Glue stick
Small pictures, figures, trinkets, words, lucky pieces, images, fortunes… whatever jumps out at you!

1. To create a solid background for the inside of your shrine, trace the bottom of the tin shape on a piece of paper and cut it out. (For my lucky shrine, I used bright red paper, my favorite color!) Place inside the bottom of the tin. You may need to trim the edges slightly so it fits perfectly. When it’s the right size and shape, use a glue stick to lightly coat the bottom of the tin and then put the paper in, using your fingertips to smooth it down.
2. If you’d prefer to paint the inside (or outside) of the tin, you can either use spray-paint or acrylic paint. If you are using acrylic/water-based paint, lightly sand the shiny part of the metal (especially where text or pictures are printed on it) so the paint will adhere. Use even strokes to cover the tin, let it dry, and add a second layer.
3. I used gold spray paint as the base for my cup and saucer shrine, which is a quick, easy, and even layer. Always use good ventilation if you’re spray-painting! Two layers with drying time in between helps here too—it will look smoother and more solid. With either paint method, use a spray sealant as a final layer to protect the paint from chipping.
4. Layer images or objects over the background. This can be a fun, gradual process of choosing and rearranging. For my lucky shrine, I used a flattened good-luck penny and some star stickers to decorate the back as well as some lucky cat erasers to guard the front. Attach these with glue—I used silicon sealer, but tacky craft glue works well too. For my love shrine, I cut a vintage child’s cup and saucer bingo card to size, gluing it down with silicon sealer. I added skinny strips of green paper above and below to balance out the orange background, attaching them with a glue stick.
5. Now consider what works with the facing side—the inside of the tin’s lid. What complements the “main” part of your shrine? I used yellow notebook paper to write a little note for my cup and saucer, while I added a good horoscope, fortune, stars, and an icon of the Virgin Mary to my lucky shrine.
6. Add finishing touches if you want to. I glued mini ball fringe along the top of my lucky shrine, replacing the middle ball with a tiny vintage locket. You could use lace, pinked or fancy-edged paper, a string of beads… whatever you like!
7. If you give it away, send it off to its new home with love. If you’re keeping it, find it a nice spot in your house to reside. Next time you need some luck or just a little pick-me-up, your shrine will be waiting for you!

 

Susan Beal is a crafter, jewelry designer and writer in Portland, Oregon. For more of her how-tos and handmade art, check out http://susanstars.com and http://pdxsupercrafty.com!