Jim On Film
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Another fun frame are frames that allow for many pictures together. When I saw Aida on Broadway, I waited at the stage door to meet the stars and have my picture taken with them. I used those pictures to create a collage picture, placing the faces of the different stars in the side slots and using an advertisement for the center. These frames would be a great idea to use for pictures of your trip to one of the Disney parks, pictures from your favorite Disney films (taken from magazines, calendars, etc.), or whatever. Unfortunately, many of the large frames available tend to have muddy brown or tan matting, which may not work as well for Disney pictures.

As for frames, select those that fit the room where you will be hanging the pictures. I like simple black frames, and since I like to hang all my pictures together to create a collage of pictures, I buy all black frames. Black is a simple enough color that it can match most any decor, and black frames can be purchased in a variety of styles from a variety of stores.

It works well to jigsaw these frames along a stretch of wall in halls or in stairwell landings. My personal goal is to create not only a touch of class in my framing but, by using pictures from a variety of sources, also a historical depth.

Mickey and Minnie Topiaries
The best and most elegant of all weddings I’ve ever been to was the Disney-themed wedding of two friends, Carl and Pamela Salerno. One Disney portion of this very traditional wedding was Mickey and Minnie topiaries that decorated the tables at the reception. Before leaving, Carl "forced" me to take two home, and though they’ve browned and needed a little face-lift in the nearly three years since the wedding, they’ve held up well as decorations.

They are an original creation of Pamela’s inspired by the wedding topiaries she had seen. She found Styrofoam balls for the Mouse heads and small Styrofoam balls for the ears. Using toothpicks, she stuck the ears to the top of the heads. With hot glue, she glued sheet moss (which can be found at larger craft stores) around the Styrofoam, completely covering the white. At the wedding, I never guessed that they weren’t real all the way through.

In small clay pots, she placed chunks of Styrofoam. She pushed a dowel into the bottom of the Mouse head and stuck the dowel into the Styrofoam in the pot. To cover the Styrofoam in the pot, she covered it with Spanish moss. For Minnie, she used white polka-dotted red ribbon to create a bow and used red and white hat pins to stick them into the Styrofoam head.

This is a great idea for weddings, parties, and summer decorating. Eventually, the sheet moss will start to brown, but even after that, it holds up well. The moss may need a little touch up with hot glue after several years, but with care, Mickey and Minnie will last.

Disney Movie Marathons
When I was a young Disney fanatic, I began something that I have continued to do on occasion. I would stay up late watching a string of Disney movies for a Disney Movie Marathon. Typically, these consist of at least three theatrical features from the Disney division, sometimes with shorts interspersed between them. I also often use this as a time to rent a classic Disney film I have yet to see. If you find yourself too busy to regularly watch your favorite Disney movies, this is a fun way to set aside a night to load up on them all at once.

I’ve even dragged friends into this. Before the release of one of the animated features, we held a Disney Movie Marathon, complete with Disney games (Disney charades or Disney Trivia), Disney music, and such. The next day, with Disney music in the car, we headed to the movie to complete our marathon.

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-- Jim Miles

-- Posted April 18, 2002

Copyright Jim Miles. Licensed to LaughingPlace.com.