故步自封

故 = 古 + 攵 : Mnemonic symbol: This character only appears in 做, so we don't need a strong mnemonic symbol. We should be able to refer to 故 when we think of 故事 or 故意. Because it fits nicely to its components, I'll think of it as in the meaning of 故墓, an old grave.

故 = 古 + 攵 : There is an ancient cloister in the space station's bathroom, and Gitta Giraffe once heard a story from her fellow astronauts that there's an old tomb inside with lots of treasure. One day she can't hold herself back anymore and deliberately breaks the cloister open using a sledgehammer.

步 = 止 + 丨 + 丶 + 丿 : Mnemonic symbol: a five-paced viper, 五步蛇.

Bruno Bear (bu) was strolling (步) around the space station's bathroom (Ø4) with a dinosaur bone (丨) as walking (步) stick in his hands. He disregarded the barrier (止) marking the wild, forbidden area lightheartedly and just jumped over it whistling a joyful tune. But shortly afterwards he made a terrible realization: only five paces (步)away there was a five-paced viper (步) hiding under a petal leaf (丶)! Bruno knew the viper was after him, so he tried to keep it at distance using his dinosaur bone and feeding it bananas (丿) while at the same time slowly backing up to the barrier.

自 = 丶 + 目 : Mnemonic symbol: a hand mirror, which someone uses to look at themselves.

The Eye of Providence (目) is looking at itself (自) in a handheld mirror (自) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). It think it's indeed looking very good, since Zorro (z) attached a petal (丶) to its eye (目).

封 = 圭 + 寸 : Frankenstein's Monster (f) received a grant (封) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). The grant gives him the funds to continue his research about excavating jade tablets (圭) in the area. The grant itself has also been inscribed into a jade tablet (圭). At the same time he is also conferred the title of "master excavator". This saves Frankenstein's scientific career, so he happily thumbs up (寸).

封 = 圭 + 寸 : Frankenstein's Monster (f) received a grant (封) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). The grant gives him the funds to continue his research about excavating jade tablets (圭) in the area. The grant itself has also been inscribed into a jade tablet (圭). At the same time he is also conferred the title of "master excavator". This saves Frankenstein's scientific career, so he happily thumbs up (寸).