Prosperity Pocket Shrine

This is one of my workshop samples. It’s a pocket shrine in an embellished matchbox.

When I made this, I was inspired by a visit to the China pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase, in Orlando, Florida.

The left photo shows the outside of the shrine, and the right photo shows the matchbox, opened.

For this shrine, I used a plain matchbox that I’d covered with pieces of a Chinese newspaper.

I glued the hare (rabbit) sticker (from a swap) to the outside of the box, partly because I was born in the year of the hare. Then, I added the word “Prosperity,” since—in Chinese culture—the hare is a sign of longevity, peace, and prosperity. I like that idea.

Also, I cut the outside (the cardboard case) of the matchbox so that it would serve as a “door” to the shrine. It opens and closes, making the shrine interactive.

If you’re going to do something similar, I recommend gluing the case to the matchbox. For this shrine, I attached the case with a small amount of hot glue. So far, it’s held up well.

Inside the shrine—and for fun—I used decorated origami papers and other items that seemed to fit the theme.

Elements in this shrine include:

• a gold paper notary seal
• the Chinese symbol/word “prosperity” from a rubber stamp
• a yin/yang symbol on a Chinese newspaper
• and a small replica of a Chinese coin, held in place with hot glue.

You can learn more about making matchbook shrines at my how-to article, Tammy Faye Bakker Matchbox Shrine.

Also, if you’d like a peek at EPCOT’s China pavilion, here’s one of my videos for you to enjoy: