{ FRAMED CURIOSITIES } ! Cruelty-free !

Among the emblematic decorations of the Cabinets of Curiosities, there are the framed animals and insects! Both affordable and aesthetic, their status as creatures of nature (naturally dead or raised for entomology) framed for decorative purposes is often a discouraging aspect to own them.

Having some entomological frames found in flea markets and having always been careful about the well-being of living species, I wanted to create a tutorial to show you, if you want to own some, how with gift boxes and plastic figurines, you can create false framed insects and animals, without animal violence and with the protection of nature!

FRENCH VERSION : http://insolitis.com/tuto-curiosites-encadrees/

( 1 ) INSECTS AND ANIMALS made of plastic, polymer clay, figurines or toys. ∗
( 2 ) GIFT OR MATCH BOXES made of cardboard, preferably white or kraft.
( 3 ) PAINT white. ∗∗
( 4 ) BRUSH (unless you do not need to paint the box).
( 5 ) GLUE from glue gun.
( 6 ) PEN with black or brown ink.
( 7 ) ADHESIVE SHEET, kraft, white or in the colour of your choice.
( 8 ) SCISSORS classic.
( 9 ) PLASTIC PIECES transparent and thin (e. g. from packaging).

∗ I personally used beetle and frog figurines from AliExpress for 2€ per bag, feel free to ask me for the URL address if you want the same. Otherwise, this type of plastic insect toys are often sold in tubes with sometimes dinosaurs or animals in them in toy stores or on the Internet.

∗∗ As I only had a black gift box, I had to paint it completely and cover it in white and kraft color. However, if you already have a kraft-coloured box, paint or cover only the inside in white and proceed from step (1) to step (8). If you already have a white box, paint and cover only the outside in kraft and proceed from step (1) to step (8). These two colours give the box a "frame" look, white on the inside and wood on the outside like real taxidermy and entomology frames.

( 1 ) Choose the figurines and check if they fit in the box (a box can contain a total of 2 figurines, i. e. by placing one in the lid and the other inside the box).
( 2 ) Then paint your box white and let it dry.
( 3 ) Then check again if your figurines placed in their boxes stand out well.
( 4 ) Then measure the dimensions of the box.

( 5 ) Then transfer these dimensions to the adhesive sheet of the kraft color.
( 6 ) Then cut out these traced shapes on the adhesive paper and stick them on their respective boxes.
( 7 ) This results in a white box on the inside and a kraft colour on the outside.
( 8 ) Then apply glue to the back of each figurine and glue them in the bottom of the boxes.

( 9 ) Then search and write the names of your figurines (insects and/or animals) with a pen on the adhesive paper in the colour of your choice and cut them out to make labels.
( 10 ) Then place and stick the label with its name under each figurine.
( 11 ) Then collect a piece of plastic (for example, from any plastic packaging).
( 12 ) Transfer the dimensions of the face of the boxes to the plastic piece.
( 13 ) Cut the plastic to make small "windows" for your boxes.
( 14 ) Then glue them to their respective boxes with the glue gun or classic glue.

That's it! Your framed insects and animals made without animal cruelty are finished!