Step 1: Cut a piece of acrylic to match the overall size of your photo, and peel off the release paper from one face. Use an orbital sander and 180- or 220-grit sandpaper to etch the surface of the plastic (see Photo 1). This will give the adhesive better "bite" when you apply the photo.

Step 2: Mount the photo to the plastic with spray adhesive. Carefully set the picture in place, cover it with a piece of paper towel or newspaper and roll the surface with a J-roller to remove any air bubbles (see Photo 2). Allow the adhesive plenty of time to dry before proceeding.

Step 3: While the glue sets, study your photo to plan how you'll cut out the background. If there are places in the image where the background shows through, such as between body and arms, the space between legs or areas separating more than one subject in the photo, cut these out, too. These little cutouts will make your statuette more eye-catching. Drill tiny starter holes for your scroll saw blade in the cutout areas (see Photo 3).

Step 4: Install a sharp blade in your scrollsaw, and carefully cut out the photo (see Photo 4). Start with the cutouts, then remove the larger background. Work slowly to keep the edges of the photo crisp and neat. Leave enough of the photo's flat bottom intact so the subject seems "grounded" and not floating in space. You also need this flat area for mounting the photo to a base.

Step 5: Make a base for your statuette from 3/4-in.-thick scrap lumber. Choose a piece of attractive stock with interesting color or figure and tight end grain. Cut the base 1 1/2 in. wide and about an inch longer than the bottom edge of your photo. Dress up the top edges of the base with a routed profile, if you like. Coves, ogees or chamfers are all good choices. Attach the base temporarily to a larger piece of scrap with hot-melt glue to hold it securely during routing (see Photo 5).

Step 6: Mill a 1/4-in.-wide, 1/4-in.-deep groove across the top of the base to create a slot for the photo (see Photo 6). Center the groove on the base. You can cut it on your table saw with a dado blade or at the router table with a 1/4-in.-diameter straight bit. Finish-sand the base, and apply a protective topcoat.

Step 7: Before gluing the photo to the base, peel off the release paper and label the back with the subject and the date it was taken. An engraving tool is a great way to make this information permanent (see Photo 7).

Step 8: If you use an engraver, color over the engraving with a marker to highlight the writing, then wipe off the excess with nail polish remover (see Photo 8).

Step 9: Attach the photo to the base with a bead of hot-melt glue. Check to be sure the photo stands squarely in the base before the glue cools and sets. That's it! Your new statuette is ready for display. But be prepared - once family and friends see it, you're bound to make more of them.