Display Case and Assemblage

Okay so this is something I’ve wanted to share for a while, but with so many other little projects going on, this one got pushed back again and again. Luckily it’s turned into a handy little post to fall back on whilst I’m up to my eyeballs with volunteering and writing for NaNoWriMo. (I only wrote 2,000 words today, which is appalling compared to the first few days!)

So! A few weeks ago I yielded this awesome display case from a local charity shop, for the princely sum of £1.50. I took it home, intending to fill it with Stuff:

At first, I decided to opt for a natural, autumnal look. I braved the breeze and headed out into the back garden to grab what bits and pieces nature had to offer.

I also threw in some beads and cord, and some pine cones and conkers that I’d picked up on the way home.

And I ended up with this:

I opted not to use the feather or the green beads for this one. Neither quite fit: the feather didn’t match the ‘flora’ theme and the green beads were too bright. The green from the tree would go brown over time and still fit in with the rest of the contents.

Or would have done, had I not decided I didn’t like it enough and turfed it all out again!

Next I came up with this one, which I think is my favourite:

For this I used all the old cottons and scissors from the vintage sewing box I blogged about a while ago, along with some cardboard reels of cotton from a pound shop sewing kit.

Didn’t realise until editing the pictures that one of the thimbles slipped out of place...

Anyway. Again(!) I had the urge to switch everything around. I was really doing a lot of playing about with this case. Back in school I loved when we did an ‘assemblage’ project and remembering this I became desperate to make lots of little displays!

Here’s the final one I made, using a ‘metallics’ theme:

This display was probably the most fun, since I got to throw in lots of interesting objects I had floating around! 

I may end up staining the wood a darker colour, since I think dark wood gives more of a ‘cabinet of curiosities’ feel, which is what I’m after!

For now, here is one final assemblage I put together. It lies beyond this box…

Just a plain old cigarette box, bought from a charity shop, right?

Open the lid, and you have this:

This happened of its own accord really! I’d been planning to use the box for assemblage and had been keeping things in it that I’d use. I began to line up the little bottles and the corks, then threw in some tiny crystals. Suddenly my little box had a jewelled beach-like theme! For good measure, I filled the clear bottle with more crystals.

Putting together a neat-looking display in a case or box is easy. It’s basically home décor on a tiny scale! So long as you take into account colour, size, shape and theme, you’re all good!

I haven’t decided upon a permanent theme for the display case yet. Since I don’t have my own mantel to decorate, the case might become my answer to that! 

Now over to you. What do you think is integral to creating an interesting and eye-catching display? 
Do you have a particular way you like to display things?

Linking up along with all the creative people at the link parties listed in the side bar! :)