How to Display Lego Minifigures in Creative Ways

If you are an avid Lego collector and have lots of mini figures ("minifigs") to play with, consider setting a few aside for display. If you aren't too keen on giving some up from your collection to display (and not play with), consider purchasing a few more to keep as creative decor. Minifigures are a great way to show off your enthusiasm for Legos, and they also can be used to make creative, fun, and original decor for your bedroom, toy room, or other location.

Instructions

1. 

   *Purchase Lego Minifigures or Additional Minifigures

   If you don't want to give up some of your figures for display, purchase doubles of your favorites or create some unique ones yourself. There are several ways to add to your collection without purchasing new Lego sets. Here are a few:

   -Check your local Craigslist site for people selling used Legos.

   -Call around to local children's resale shops to see if they have any Legos available for purchase.

   -Go to eBay to look for minifigure auctions--you can purchase individual figures, pieces, or accessories or an entire lot of minifigures.

   -Trade Legos with other people to get the minifigures you want.

   -Go to Lego.com, a Lego store or Legoland to purchase Lego minifigures. These locations all sell minifigures in different configurations--Lego.com allows you to purchase individual minifigure heads, bodies, legs and accessories to create the minifigures you want.

   -Many of the sets of mini figure magnets for sale in Lego locations have removable mini figures. This means that for $10 in most cases, you can get three minifigures from various Lego sets. (Check first before ordering to make sure that the figures can be removed. As of August 2009, the figures could be removed.) What's great about these is that you can get all sorts of Lego minifigures that you would normally have to purchase in a larger set--there are City magnets, Spongebob magnets, Indiana Jones magnets, Star Wars magnets, and many others.

2. 

   *Make Displays of Lego Minifigures (not permanent)

   There are several ways you can display minifigures without causing damage to them. This is helpful if you want to preserve a collection or change your mind later about playing with them.

   *Fill clear acrylic boxes or jars with minifigures and place on shelves

   *Use sticky tack putty to mount Lego minifigures on painted blocks of wood. Line them up in rows for display and place them on shelves. For a more austere look, purchase thin picture frame rails and use sticky tack to mount minifigures perfectly spaced apart. Place on a wall in rows or straight lines for an impressive display.

   *Purchase shadow boxes or mini curio cabinets and display Lego minifigures inside; use wax or sticky tack to keep figures in place.

   *Use a low-temperature glue gun to put a dab of hot glue on the back of a minifigure; glue in exact increments down a strip of ribbon, flat strips of wood or balsa strips. Hang in vertical displays. (If you like, glue horizontally instead.) Tack ribbon or wood in various locations to keep it mounted on wall. (Hot glue can also be used for this purpose.) Be careful to check and make sure that glue is not melting mini figures.

   *Create a Lego scene for permanent display; arrange minifigures inside. Cover with a clear acrylic box. (Acrylic display boxes can be purchased at various locations on the Internet. Don't spend too much; there are many deals out there. Shop around.)

   *Purchase a small clear ginger jar lamp kit from a craft store; fill with minifigures. Fill the middle with floral foam and line the outside with minifigs.

3. 

   *Take Lego Minifigures and make Recycled Lego Art for a Room

   A low-temp hot glue gun works well to glue mini figs to objects. If you aren't concerned about making the minifigure art permanent, then use a stronger adhesive such as E-6000. The figures will stay in place for good this way.

   *Glue mini figures to lamp shades to make a fun lamp

   *Glue painted wooden plaques or signs to make a personalized "[name]'s room" sign for a bedroom door

   *Glue mini figures to painted wood wreath shapes for the holidays; purchase holiday minifigure accessories to make wreaths for Halloween, Christmas, and Easter

   *Glue minifigures to the outside of galvanized buckets for unique ice buckets

   *Make fun storage buckets for toys and books by gluing minifigures to the outside of storage bins

   *Sew minifigures to the outside of decorative pillows or pillow tassels

   *Glue minifigures around acrylic picture frames

   *Glue minifigures on light switch plates

   *Glue minifigures to a wall clock for a unique timepiece

   *Glue minifigures to the outside of a large plain glass jar to create a cookie jar or treat jar

   *Glue minifigures to a license plate holder for your car

   *Make a hanging ornament for your rear view mirror by gluing a minifigure to a light wood Christmas ornament from a craft shop that you've painted--use a basic circle or square shape

   *Glue a minifigure to a dog tag-type necklace

4. *Make Special Minifigure Displays for Adults

   *Use light floral wire around the necks of minifigures and make unique wine charms

   *Use floral wire to make Lego minifigure jewelry charms for necklaces, earrings and bracelets

   **Glue minifigures to a license plate holder for your car

   *Make a hanging ornament for your rear view mirror by gluing a minifigure to a light wood Christmas ornament from a craft shop that you've painted--use a basic circle or square shape

Tips & Warnings

• Any time you could glue buttons, charms, or wood shapes to a craft item, you can glue Lego mini figures instead. Use mini figures in school, church or scout craft projects.

• Don't glue minifigures to anything unless you are absolutely certain you don't want to keep them pristine as part of a collection