Old Microscope Slide Boxes

[volleybassoon]

I have a bunch of old microscope slide boxes, some wooden, some plastic. I'm hoping to find new uses for the wooden ones because they are quite pretty. The problem is, they are very shallow, and one can only have so many jewelry boxes... Here are some links I found online with pictures of what most of the boxes look like:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71689150/vintage-microscope-slide-storage-box
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230844228803
(scroll down to see photos)

The ones I have are a darker shade of wood, like the first link, but that is generally it. The plastic ones are just black and even more shallow.

Any ideas for these boxes? I was thinking I could make a desktop "zen garden" by removing the slide holding pieces, but other than that and storage boxes, I don't have much else...

[HSG]

Never seen these but they have a lot of possiblities. Expecially since they are made of wood.

1. Use for storing ATC's
2. Make it an art supply box for papers, paints, pencils, etc.
3. Paint the box and use it as a larger version possibly of what some use Altoid tins. Altered art box.
http://www.goodsearch.com/search-image?keywords=altered%20art%20box
4. Make a shadow box for a collection you may have of concert tickets, old cards, love notes, pressed flowers, etc.

Have fun, but please post the outcome. I would love to see what you do.

[seleniebeanie]

I like the zen garden thing and the shadow box ideas. I'd use it as picture frame with the shadow box items. 

Cut a piece of fairly thin cardboard the size of the box opening. Then cut out an oval or rectangle for the picture to be viewed through. Cover one side of the cardboard with a thin layer of quilt batting - hot glue in place. remove any over the oval/rectangle opening. Then cover with a piece of fabric. Leave about 1/2" or 1 cm all around to fold over and hot glue.
Do the same thing in the centre  opening. If it's curved, then make little 1cm cuts into the fabric so it'll fold under. Glue these down. Now, make another.
Empty out the box, put in the pictures, then put in your fabric frames, glue them. Add your embellishments as if it were a shadow box. Like tickets, little wallet pics, small toy, spectacles, etc. Fold the sides inward slightly and place on your mantle, end table, etc.

The  innards: the wooden centre slat thing, you could wind embroidery thread around those.
You can take the other two side ones and glue them back to back for a second one.
I like the log sheet on the other side. It would look authentic if it were tea-stained old looking and used for scrapbooking, ATC's, embellishments.

Hope this gave some ideas
Have fun!