hot glue to the back face of the frame and secure black matt-board to finish and seal. The next style is the standing cross. You can use any wood you choose; I've used oak and alder, but you can also make them out of more exotic wood if you'd prefer. The cross consists of three pieces of wood; the vertical beam, the horizontal beam, and the base. Drilled in the center where the vertical and horizontal transverse is a 1" diameter by 3/8" hole for the relic. I especially like to think that this represents, where the poles of Heaven and earth meet that is where the saints reside. The measurements for this cross are as follows; overall size: 11"H x 6½"W, wood width: 1½", wood thickness: 7/8", with a pre-drilled 1" hole. The base measures 5" wide by 3" deep and 1" thick. After the cross is assembled router all the edges on the cross and base. Attach the cross to the base with glue and a long screw. After finishing the cross with a stain I have affixed metal appliqués for ornamentation. You can purchase various designs at your local fabric store. The final design resembles a burial chest; this seems to be suited very well for a relic of a martyr. Once again you can choose a wood that you find desirable. I have made these out of oak and Honduras mahogany. For some very special pieces I have used Brazilian cherry and walnut, these are incredibly beautiful woods that only require a coat of linseed oil for a rich natural finish. In this case I believe it is best to use a lighter wood, so you can create your own finish. This style consists of two pieces, a base and a vertical front face. The front face is 7"H x 3"W, wood thickness: 3/4", with a pre-drilled 1" hole. The piece is cut to resemble a coffin; all the sides except the bottom are routed. The base is 3½ wide by 2½ deep and 3/4" thick, all sides are to be routed. In this case I attached the two pieces with a small dowel and wood glue. The choice of finish is yours. The final step is to paint all the routed edges with red paint to denote the martyr status. To permanently affix the relic locket in the pre-drilled I use a glue called liquid nail; for a temporary hold you can use what we Californians call," earthquake putty".
Copyright 2018 Thomas J. Serafin