The objects cluttering your junk drawer are certainly not junk. OK, some of them are — those broken scissors, the plastic thingamajig, the metal thingamabob. But then there are those odd curios and offbeat collections, little things that you've stashed because they have big meaning: matchbooks from the restaurants of your first date, your engagement, your anniversaries. The tags from every dog your family has ever loved. The candles from your child's first-birthday cake. You can free these meaning laden items from the junk drawer with a few frames and a little hanging wire (which, come to think of it, you may well have in the junk drawer, too). Because there's no reason the things you hang on to can't be the things you hang up.
Corks
Celebrate life's big events every day.
What You Need One piece of 11-by-14-inch paper for the mat One piece of 9-by-12-inch paper of a different texture or color for the background Vintage-look self-adhesive labels Map pins (Latitudes Map & Travel Store, $4.50 for 100, www.latitudesmapstore.com) Craft glue (such as Aleene's Original "Tacky" Glue, at craft stores) Glue stick An 11-by-14-inch Umbra Shadow Box frame (also available in walnut and natural, $25, www.umbra.com) What You Do 1. Take off the back of the frame. Apply the 11-by-14-inch paper to the foam core back with a glue stick. (Using this instead of plain Elmer's prevents lumpy, wet paper messes.)
2. The smaller piece of paper should be a different color or texture to create the illusion of a mat. Since 9-by-12-inch paper is not standard, you'll have to cut a larger piece to fit. Use a metal ruler and an X-Acto knife on a cutting board to get the straightest edge.
3. Write out the labels, and arrange them with the corks on the smaller piece of paper.
4. Apply a generous amount of craft glue to one cork (enough to cover the surfaces that will touch the paper but not so much that it oozes out the sides). Position the cork. Repeat with the others.
5. Attach the labels. Center a map pin at the top of each label for a bit of color.
6. Allow the craft glue to dry overnight before putting the frame back together.
Best For: A collection of small items, such as toys, seashells, matchbooks, coral, medals, or swizzle sticks.
