Boxes for Decoration and Crafts
Simple Method for Creating a Shadow Box: Shadow boxes can be a lot of fun to create, whether you are looking to show off items from the recent birth of your baby or wish to make a shadow box that showcases mementos from your favorite vacation. Everything from family keepsakes to collectibles can become the focus of a shadow box. A shadow box is usually framed in the front with glass, but not always. A shadow box can be as deep or as shallow as you like, although the deeper the shadow box, the bigger variety of items you can store inside.
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Price: $9 - $10 | Price: $7 - $8 | Price: $10 | ||
Brand: Ampersand | ||||
This solid wood art Gessobord shadow box is pre-primed with premium gesso on the inside. | This hinged box features a photo frame lid that holds a 5" × 7" picture. | Smoothly sanded boxes with brass-tone hinges and closures, unfinished, ready to paint or decorate as desired. | ||
Deciding on a Shadow Box Theme
The first step in making a shadow box is to decide on its theme. As mentioned above, vacations, birth of a new baby, or keepsakes are all great shadow box themes. You might also make a shadow box for:
- Family heirlooms
- Your wedding
- Your favorite hobby
- Your favorite movie or movie star
- Each of your children
- Your Golden or Silver anniversary
Basically any event in life can qualify as a theme for a shadow box. You don’t even need a theme, however. You can create a shadow box simply because the items that you place in it look great with the rest of your room. Most shadow boxes tell a story or share a moment, but they don’t have to.
Once your shadow box theme has been chosen, you’re ready to move on to…
Choosing Items for the Shadow Box
Choosing the right items for your shadow box is a matter of personal preference and should be based on the theme you have chosen. For example, if you are creating a shadow box for the birth of your son, you might use his hospital picture, birth announcement, and lock of his hair from his first hair cut for the shadow box. If your shadow box will be used to tell the story of your trip to Europe, you might include stubs to the concert you went to in Milan, the miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower you purchased in Paris, and a picture of you and your group touring Buckingham Palace. Let your imagination be your guide and your shadow box will be one that you love for years to come!
Constructing the Shadow Box
If you purchase a box for decoration and crafts from an art supply website, your shadow box will likely already be lined, usually with felt or felt-like material. Choose a color that will coordinate well with the things that you have decided to put inside the shadow box. If not, you will need to add your own lining. This is usually best accomplished with hot glue. Use Velcro and Velcro buttons to adhere your items to the shadow box, affix the glass front, and enjoy!
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