Joseph Cornell (1903 -- 1972), a pioneer assemblage artist, is known for the works of art that he built in wooden cabinets. He built his meticulously created cabinet assemblages around themes such as ancient Egypt, the Medici family and natural history. You can make a similar assemblage using a discarded cupboard or cabinet. Choose a theme and find items that you can use to create your assemblage.
With this project you will create an assemblage to represent a part of your own life. Consider using images that hold particular meaning for you, souvenirs and other items from your life, letters, dolls and ceramic animals. Arrange them until you are satisfied with the composition and then build your personal assemblage.
Pocket shrines are built within small containers such as little tins or matchboxes. Although they are not necessarily for sacred purposes, they are usually constructed around a theme. You can make a pocket shrine to celebrate someone's life, a favorite artist, a great book or some aspect of the universe that holds particular meaning for you. Decorate the outside of the container with mixed media such as paint, collage and found objects while the interior should hold your three-dimensional assemblage.
Small metal objects can be soldered together to form assemblage jewelry pieces. For jewelry projects you will need a soldering iron, flux, a roll of solder, small pieces of metal, old jewelry and findings such as brooch backs and earring wires. This is a good way to make use of single earrings, old watch parts and tiny charms. Arrange your pieces until you are satisfied with your composition and then solder them together. You can also use metal glue for parts that do not require a very strong bond. Attach the appropriate finding for the kind of jewelry you are making, clean it with rubbing alcohol and your creation is complete.