Print Project: donations (curious); Objects of Affection

I started sketching some "Curious Donations" from the thrift store--ideas for the 6-week relief-printmaking class that starts in a couple weeks.
Maybe a little book/portfolio of six objects?

This is partly inspired by the illustrations of flea-market finds in Belonging. Plus, on l'astronave I have a tab for "donations (curious)".

Rather than trying to tell a complicated story, I'm thinking of what will help me to learn color printing. How to visualize in reverse?
How to design, cut, and line up the puzzle-pieces that add color?--and have visual and story-telling interest.

For that: objects with simple (abstractable), recognizable, visually interesting (decorative) forms, with easy-to-separate colors.
And some suggestion of a story, signs of human use.
Plus, all REAL donations I've seen, not made up.

A favorite: holy medals (choose one--a blue plastic Mary?) strung on a diaper pin w/ yellow plastic ducky closure.
(Holy medals on safety pins are an old-fashioned thing, but I only ever saw this one that was clearly a diaper pin--with a cute animal.
It's hanging by my front door.)

Little, worn-out objects from a sewing basket. (A card of sew-on snaps with some missing.)
A half-eaten donut with pink frosting & sprinkles. Etc.

More ideas to come.

Too complicated? Dead mouse in the bottom of a grocery bag with an early US edition of Sylvia Plath's Bell Jar.

Or, simpler-- just a dead mouse?
But that's not colorful...
Oh, wait-- it could be gray/brown + black.
Too gross?
No, I just looked it up--a dead mouse could look sweet, with delicate pink feet (tricky registration) and a white tummy.
Dead mice are definitely a feature of thrift work...

Something from the category for Contents of Dead Person's Desk/Bedside table.
I don't want to be too disgusting (no emesis basins or false teeth).  A folder of receipts and old bills?
Expired driver's license?
Oh, a FAMILY PHOTO...
Yes...!
(Which one?)

I want to carve words too--because I like words.
Maybe one per image?
Like, "Microwaved" for the Cool Whip container with its bottom nuked into ripples.

Or, a not so literal but related comment? "Forever" (Ugh, no, I don't want to preach.)
Or, a joke (but true): "Vegan"

Or, it could be more than one word.
Common phrases from thrift:
"Someone could use this." [sarcastic mimic of what donors of junk must be thinking--but I don't want this to be social commentary]
"What is this?"
"WHY?!?!"

As I write about this, I realize I want the objects to be objects of my affection, not despair.
This could include a dead mouse (tenderness), and I love broken toys, so that's good.
But not the melted Cool Whip container (also, too Andy Warhol--ditto the half-eaten donut with pink frosting?).

I want to have these prepared so I can jump into working.
Printmaking needs prep (not my usual style). Then the carving and printing is an execution of ideas already completed--with surprises provided by the materials and the process.