'Joy' Altered Art Tin

This tin opens sideways to reveal a dolphin jumping for joy in a cloud of gold glitter. Opposite the dolphin you’ll find a small origami butterfly pinned in place.

The dolphin reminds you: "Life is short: find joy, spread joy." It serves as a reminder to the owner to practice gratitude and find joys even in tiny things, every day. The butterfly, while beautiful, is pinned and can no longer fly, as a reminder to look on the bright side before it’s too late.

This is portable art. Art that grows along with you as you travel. Small art. Talismanic art. Amulets. Memory boxes.

The outside of this tin is layered with hand painted papers.

I create these diorama displays in tins that are covered with my own artwork. Each one is handmade, containing a kitschy combination of anything from origami paper butterflies to Sylvanian Families figures, recycled textiles, and religious objects.

Each altered tin story box arrives carefully gift wrapped with a handwritten explanation of the process and objects inside.