How to Make a Shadow Box to Display Memorabilia

Make a shadow box that will highlight your collectibles while keeping them safe. There are many creative ways to display memorabilia, since shadow boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Hobbyists use shadow box displays to house their sports, music or movie memorabilia. Purchase a display that is big enough to hold whatever mementos you wish to preserve.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shadow box with hinges and wall brackets
• Wood pieces
• Fabric or felt
• Pins
• Velcro strips
• Adhesive
• Foam board

1. Line the backboard of the shadow box with batting covered with fabric, felt or decorative paper. Attach items to the batting and fabric with either Velcro strips, spray adhesive or small pins (if appropriate for the texture of the item).

2. Create a dimensional display box by mounting the items on little blocks of wood or foam pieces. You should use a strong adhesive to attach the wood pieces permanently to the board. However, it's okay to pin or hot-glue foam pieces to the backboard.

3. Place your keepsakes in the shadow box, starting in the middle and working your way outward. You can add embellishments to enhance your shadow box, such as pinbacks, ticket stubs, napkins, matchbook holders, vinyl records or small pennants.

4. Think outside the box to display your memorabilia. To shadow box theater memorabilia, attach pieces of velvet fabric to the wood frame to create a curtain. Then fill your mock stage with a playbill, program, newspaper review and other elements to symbolize your favorite musical or Broadway play.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay out your items before permanently attaching them onto the backboard of the shadow box. Try to achieve a good balance of your items according to their color and size. Leave room between the larger collectibles to frame them with smaller ones.
• If you are handy with woodworking, you can make your own shadow box out of supplies from a home supply store, including pieces of wood, foam board, plexiglas and wood glue or nails.
• Some shadow boxes are made for wall mounting while others are designed for placing on tabletops. If you wish to hang your shadow box, be certain that it has the appropriate brackets and hinges to support its weight with the memorabilia inside.

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