With the great numbers of our military people serving these days, the opportunity to frame mementos from the services will likely increase. Paula Eldridge, CPF, of Holly Hill Framing in Westford, Mass., is an expert in this area. Here are three examples of her work and thoughts on how she approaches these projects.

"Shadow boxes and multiple-opening collages are two of our specialties at Holly Hill Framing. Both formats lend themselves well to military memorabilia. Our clients often come into the shop with a box of photos, military ribbons, medals and all sorts of other memorabilia -- even including parts of uniforms.

"The process for creating a military collage begins with the selection of items. We first determine which items are a must and if there is a particular sequence. Then, from an aesthetic point of view, the framer, with the client's input, determines the layout and size. In order to not have any 'negative space,' we often re-size photos and suggest the use of a brass plate to include the person's name, rank and years of service.

Finally, a frame and appropriate color mats, often relating to a particular branch of the service, are chosen. Depending on the item, various methods of attachment are used, but we always maintain conservation standards. We suggest UV protective glass at a minimum, but often the clients will choose museum glass, which has anti-reflective properties as well.

"One question that frequently comes up is the proper placement of ribbons and medals in order of importance. Fortunately, we have a large color poster that gives all that information. The last thing we want to do is take apart a completed shadow box!"

About the WW II Collage
"This shadow box was particularly interesting, with handpainted leather patches, dog tags, a bracelet and a handwritten journal. Although color copies of documents are often used, we chose to frame the originals with their fold marks and dog-eared corners, which gave the completed project a wonderful feeling of authenticity."

About the Boer War Collage
"Bayonets and spurs were the focal point of this shadow box of memorabilia from the Boer War. Both items presented an interesting 'attachment' challenge, which was met by using a 25 lb. test fishing line to 'sew' the items to the backing board."

Boer War collage.

World War I collage.

World War II collage.