How to Build a Box for Your Medals

Medals can be family heirlooms.

When you are awarded a medal for a sporting achievement or military service, you'll want to keep it from becoming lost or damaged. A shadow box is a convenient way to protect and display your medals, keeping the items dust-free and still allowing you to admire them. The box will keep the medals out of reach of children and pets. You can make your own shadow box cheaply at home, allowing you to fully customize the display.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch thick by 1-inch wide strip of plywood
• Hand saw
• Protractor
• Skill saw
• 1/4-inch thick plywood sheet
• Wood glue
• Varnish
• Craft glue
• Felt
• Jewelry box hinges
• Magnetic box latch
• 11- by 9-inch picture frame
• Thumb tacks

Instructions

1. Cut with a hand saw the strip of 1/2- by 1-inch plywood into two lengths that are 11 inches long and two lengths that are 9 inches long.

2. Measure and mark an angle of 45 degrees on the edge of each end of the four pieces, using a protractor. Cut the angles with a skill saw.

3. Arrange the pieces of wood into a wall formation so that the 45-degree angles meet to complete a 90-degree angle. The two 11-inch pieces form the length section of the box walls and the 9-inch pieces form the width section.

4. Add a layer of wood glue to each angled end and secure the walls together. Allow the glue 24 hours to dry.

5. Cut with a hand saw a sheet of 1/4-inch plywood to a dimension of 11 inches in length and 9 inches in width.

6. Apply a layer of wood glue to the bottom edge of the box walls and attach the box walls to the sheet of 11- by 9-inch plywood. Allow the glue 24 hours to dry.

7. Paint a layer of varnish onto the wooden edges of the box.

8. Apply a layer of craft glue to the interior base of the box. Press a piece of felt onto the glue to cover the base. Smooth it over the base with your fingers.

9. Line one side of two jewelry box hinges up on one long edge of the box. The free side of each hinge should be able to swing over the edge of the box unhindered. Attach the hinges to the box edge with the provided screws.

10. Line up the bottom section of a magnetic box latch in the center of the top edge opposite the hinge edge. Attach the box latch with the provided screws.

11. Remove the back section of an 11- by 9-inch picture frame. Line the picture frame base up with the other end of the hinges and attach them with the provided screws.

12. Line up the other side of the magnetic catch on the center of the picture frame edge. Attach it with the provided screws.

13. Open the shadow box and attach the medals to the felt with thumb tacks.

References

• So You Wannabe a Domestic Goddess?: Make Your Own Shadow Box

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish