How about making art out of stuff that you can't bear to throw away but that has no real use? I'm a hoarder and keep everything from attractive stamps to postcards to film and theatre stubs. Most of the time they end up gathering dust in a corner, but buy a cheap clip frame and they become something you want to put on your walls.
Ok, so the collection I've framed here was hardly ever rubbish - these delicate paper cut-outs (how the hell did someone cut out in such detail?!) were brought back from China to me by a friend - but they were sitting gathering dust because I didn't know how to use them. And the method is the same for any collection of things that you might have lying about.
Polish the glass and then DON'T touch the side that will go against your collection!
Here are some other framed collections:
Stamps - an oldie but a goodie
Bags, a novel idea
Swimsuits - wacky but works
And this woman who made a Valentine's Day present from the ticket stubs of plays she and her husband had been to together.