Let’s be real for a second. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a drawer (or, let’s be honest, a whole box) filled with tiny odds and ends. You know the ones: that cool vintage key you found at a flea market, the shell from a beach vacation five years ago, or the random pretty button that fell off a shirt you no longer own.
We can’t just throw them away, right? They’re small treasures! But they also don’t look great just rattling around in a junk drawer. I’ve been there, staring at a pile of “precious” items and wondering what on earth to do with them that isn’t totally lame.
So, I put on my thinking cap and played around in my craft room to come up with some solutions. I’ve rounded up 12 of my favorite DIY trinket crafts that are perfect for displaying, organizing, or upcycling all those little keepsakes. These projects are fun, mostly simple, and guarantee to give your small treasures the spotlight they actually deserve.
Getting Started: What You’ll Probably Need
Before we jump into the deep end, let’s talk supplies. Most of these crafts use common household items or basic craft store finds. I’m not a fan of projects that require a million specialty tools—ain’t nobody got time (or money) for that.
Here’s a quick hit-list of stuff you might want to gather:
- The Treasures Themselves: Obviously! Go dig through that box.
- Adhesives: A good hot glue gun (my personal BFF), strong craft glue like E6000 (it smells, but it holds like crazy), and maybe some Mod Podge.
- Foundational Pieces: Old picture frames, small shadow boxes, plain wooden plaques from the dollar store, mason jars, and empty jewelry boxes you can upcycle.
- Jewelry Findings: Jump rings, headpins, earring hooks, and chains. These are gold (sometimes literally) for turning loose items into wearables.
- Basic Tools: Needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, a small hammer, and a paintbrush or two.
12 Clever Ways to Showcase Your Small Treasures
Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s get our craft on! Here are my go-to projects for when I need to give my tiny collections a proper home.
1. The Classic Shadow Box Display
This is the granddaddy of trinket displays for a reason, and it’s my favorite way to commemorate a specific trip or memory.
Why it works: It gets everything out of the drawer and onto the wall where you can actually see it.
I recently did one for a trip to the Oregon coast. I grabbed a deep-set shadow box from a craft store (wait for a sale, please, I’m begging you) and arranged my finds inside: a piece of driftwood, a few perfect sand dollars, a cool feather, and my favorite sea glass pieces.
My top tip: Don’t just toss them in. Layer them! Use a little tacky glue to attach smaller items to larger ones. I glued the tiny sea glass pieces onto the driftwood before placing it in the box. It creates way more visual interest than just having stuff sitting on the bottom.
2. Resin Geode Bookends
Okay, this one sounds fancier than it is. I promise. Have you seen those gorgeous agate slices and geode bookends that cost a small fortune? We’re making a version using our tiny treasures.
You’ll need a pair of basic wooden bookends and some clear casting resin. Arrange your small treasures—think tiny gears, fossils, miniature game pieces, or pretty beads—on the flat face of the bookend.
Then, you create a “geode” shape with the resin. You don’t have to cover the whole surface. Instead, build up a thick, uneven layer in the center or along one edge, embedding your treasures as you go. Once it cures, it looks like a piece of modern art that actually serves a purpose. My books have never looked cooler.
3. Vintage Key Wind Chimes
Got a bunch of old keys that don’t open anything? Me neither. But I do have a small collection I bought specifically for this project. 🙂
- Find an old fork or spoon with a bent handle to use as the top hanger. It adds to the quirky, vintage vibe.
- Tie different lengths of fishing line or thin twine to each key.
- Attach the other ends to the bent fork.
- Here’s the sarcastic part: For maximum annoyance to your neighbors, make sure the keys clank together in the wind. You’re welcome. I hung mine on the porch, and honestly, the sound is pretty charming. It’s like a tiny, metallic melody for my small treasures.
4. “Specimen” Cork Board Art
This is one of the easiest crafts on the list, IMO. It’s perfect for the scientifically inclined or anyone who just likes the look of collected specimens.
Grab a simple cork board (the kind you’d use for notes) and some glass-topped insect pins or just regular straight pins. Arrange your small treasures on the cork board. Think pressed flowers, pretty feathers, interesting seed pods, or even lightweight fossils.
Pin them right through the cork as if you’re a Victorian naturalist displaying a rare butterfly. You can leave the cork natural, paint it a fun color, or even cover it in fabric first. It’s a living art piece you can rearrange whenever the mood strikes.
5. Upcycled Jar Lid Magnets
Stop throwing away those jar lids! Metal soda bottle caps work amazingly for this, too.
- Flatten the prongs inside the bottle cap with a hammer (carefully!).
- Glue a small, flat treasure inside the cap. A photo cut to size, a tiny button, a game piece, or a stamped metal charm all work great.
- Fill the rest of the cap with a thin layer of clear epoxy or a dome sticker to give it a glossy, professional finish.
- Glue a strong magnet to the back.
Now you have the coolest, most personalized fridge magnets on the block. Ever wondered why store-bought magnets are so boring? :/ Now you don’t have to settle!
6. Found Object Candle Holders
This project transforms simple glass candle holders (think the cheap, thrifted ones) into stunning, textured pieces of art.
Use E6000 glue—seriously, don’t use anything weaker for this—to attach your small treasures around the outside of the glass. You can cover the whole thing or just do a band around the middle. I used a collection of tiny shells and sea glass for a coastal-themed holder, and some old silver-plated buttons and broken watch gears for a steampunk version.
Once the glue is dry (give it 24 hours to be safe), place a tea light or small pillar candle inside. When the candle is lit, the light flickers through the glass and plays off the textures of the objects. It’s pure magic.
7. Miniature Shadow Box Jewelry
Okay, this one requires a tiny bit of patience, but the payoff is huge. You can buy very small, locket-style glass or metal shadow boxes at most craft stores. They usually come with a bail so you can wear them as a pendant.
Open up the little box and create a minuscule scene inside. Glue down a tiny photo, a few grains of sand from a favorite beach, a mini dried flower, or a minuscule charm. Close it up, and you’re wearing your memory. It’s such a personal and unique conversation starter. “Oh, this old thing? It’s just a piece of my heart from our honeymoon.” 😉
8. Domino Pendants & Keychains
If you have a bunch of old dominoes (or can find a bag at a thrift store for a dollar), you have the base for a fantastic project.
You can:
- Leave the domino as-is for a retro look.
- Sand and paint over the dots, then glue a small cabochon or flat-backed treasure right in the center.
- Decoupage a small image or piece of pretty paper onto the face.
Drill a small hole in one end (check YouTube for tutorials on drilling into dominoes—it’s easier than you think with the right drill bit) or simply glue on a strong bail. Add a chain or a key ring, and you’re done. I made a set of these for my nieces with their birthstone-colored beads glued on top, and they wear them constantly.
9. Shadow Box Shelf
Take the shadow box concept and kick it up a notch. Instead of just mounting the box on the wall, attach small shelves or ledges inside it. You can buy these pre-made or create your own using small pieces of wood or even sturdy cardboard covered in decorative paper.
This is perfect for displaying tiny figurines, thimbles, or a collection of miniature cars. They’re not just sitting in a jumble; they’re each on their own little stage. It turns a simple collection into a curated gallery.
10. Memory Wire Bracelets
Memory wire is a revelation for someone like me who is plier-challenged. It’s a pre-coiled wire that holds its shape, so you don’t need a clasp.
Just take a coil of memory wire and start stringing your small treasures onto it! This works best with beads, of course, but you can also use small charms, coins with holes in them, or even create spacer beads from polymer clay. String on a pattern you love, use pliers to bend a loop at the end, and you have a wrap-around bracelet that’s totally you. No fasteners, no fuss.
11. DIY Confetti Coasters
This is such a fun, quick project, especially if you have a collection of tiny, flat, translucent items. Think microbeads, iridescent glitter, thin pressed flowers, or small sequins.
You’ll need a set of plain white coasters (ceramic or tile work best) and some clear epoxy resin. Arrange your “confetti” on the coaster. Mix up a small amount of resin according to the package directions and pour it over the top, covering the treasures. Use a toothpick to spread it evenly. The resin creates a perfectly smooth, durable, and glossy surface that looks like it came from a high-end boutique. It protects the treasures and your furniture at the same time.
12. Game Piece Ring Dishes
We all have that one board game with missing pieces, right? But we also have the game that’s missing us. 🙂 I’m talking about those chunky plastic pieces from games like Monopoly or Trouble.
Find a large, flat-ish game piece with a cool shape (like the hat, the thimble, or the car). If you’re feeling fancy, you can spray paint it a uniform color—matte black or rose gold look amazing. This instantly elevates it from “toy” to “decor.”
Once the paint is dry, glue a small, flat treasure right in the center of the game piece’s base. Now it’s a perfect little ring or earring holder for your nightstand. It keeps your jewelry from getting lost and adds a pop of playful personality to your room.
Wrapping This Crafty Party Up
So, there you have it! Twelve ways to finally do something with all those bits and bobs you’ve been hoarding. I hope I’ve convinced you that your small treasures don’t have to live in the dark. They have stories to tell, and now they have a cool way to tell them.
My personal favorite from this list is probably the jar lid magnets, just because they make me smile every time I grab a snack from the fridge. I’d love to know which one you’re going to try first!
Now stop reading and go make something awesome. Your small treasures are waiting. 🙂
