Wearable Diorama

Every time I go into a craft store I end up browsing around just to see the latest craft supplies. I enjoy viewing various projects, or supplies, to get ideas of my own. I've got to tell you, I fell in love with the tiny tins - complete with lids - that I found at my local craft store. They're available in a lot of different sizes and shapes and the tiny ones are perfect for creating a wearable diorama. It's the cutest little thing: a scene, inside a tin, made into a pin.

Choose a tin that is very small and really shallow. No one wants a huge, bulky pin to wear. The tiny tins often have scenes already on them, but you can also purchase tins that feature a solid color. Many of these really little tins are actually made to carry medications in a classy manner. Once you've settled on the size, design, and shape of the tin you can easily turn it into a diorama with any theme you want. If you can't find a tin with a picture on the front - one that you like - simply cover an existing image by gluing on decorative paper or fabric.

Set the bottom of the tin on a piece of scrapbook paper, foil, gift wrap, or even fabric. Draw around it and cut it out. While cutting it out, though, cut it a fraction of an inch smaller, all the way around, than the actual drawing. Glue this piece to the inside bottom of the tin. It will become the background for the diorama.

A craft store has a huge selection of miniatures you could use inside the tin. Look for tiny people, trees, pets, lighthouses, or even furniture. Make sure the pieces you choose are proportionate to the size of the tin.

Besides miniatures, there are all sorts of craft supplies you can use to make just the scene you want. Cut out shapes or images from paper or cloth to add to the scene. Or, use things like beads, shells, toothpicks, small-diameter dowel pieces, tiny bottle lids, and other small items. With these types of supplies you can make furniture, characters, and other things, inside the diorama.

Instead of a diorama the little tin pin can also be a tribute to someone. It can contain a photo, and some precious, tiny items, as a remembrance to a lost pet, a soldier, or to a living child. A child can draw a small picture for you to put inside the lid, or to use as the background.

After the diorama looks like you want it to, use super glue to attach a pin backing to it. Hot glue can hold the pin but will often break loose later. The pin hardware is sold at any craft store that has jewelry-making supplies.

When others see the tiny tin you're wearing, they'll ask about it. By itself, it's beautiful but, when you open it, they'll see a spectacular - albeit it tiny - scene inside.