MEMORIES STORED IN TINY BOXES

A series of small frames, each holding a special keepsake, are arranged on a textured wall display as a reminder of happy times

TREASURED PICTURES OR mementos, collected on a holiday or saved from a special family event, can be combined to create a textured collage layered with happy memories.

Firstly, pages from an old book are glued onto a sturdy board or thick piece of cardboard, cut to the desired size for the display. A selection of empty matchboxes and cardboard trays, varying in size, are then lined and covered with scraps of fabric or patterned paper.

Strips of lace, ribbon or braid can be used to create texture, or the trays can be decorated with pretty embellishments, such as vintage jewellery or buttons, which are stitched onto a piece of fabric before being glued into place.

Arranged into a pleasing display on the board, the frames can hold cherished pictures, cards, stamps or meaningful items, such as feathers or sea glass, collected on favourite trips, to create a picture of memories.

A matchbox tray and sleeve make an ideal drawer for storing the most precious keepsakes. To make, a bead is threaded onto a piece of wire and the ends twisted together. The wire ends are then passed through a hole made in one of the short sides of the tray and folded down to secure. The bent wire can be hidden by a strip of card glued over the top. The sleeve of the matchbox is then covered with coloured paper and stuck to the board. Once the collage is finished, a length of ribbon can be added to hang the piece, or it can simply be placed on a tabletop to enjoy.