How to Make a Cookie Cutter Shadow Box

The kitchen is a gathering place to share heartwarming meals, stories and experiences. Commemorate these moments spent with the ones you love. Make a shadow box to showcase favorite family recipes, photos and heirloom kitchen utensils, such as spoons, knives or cookie cutters.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Gather the treasures to include in your shadow box. Choose recipes, heirloom trinkets, kitchen utensils or photos of family members enjoying a meal or cooking together.

2. Choose a frame to house your memorabilia. Find pre-made shadow box frames at crafts stores like Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, in the crafts department of shops like Target or Wal-Mart and at framing or scrapbooking stores. Items you have on hand, including baskets, cutlery trays, drawer organizers and compact disc holders, can also become dimensional frames.

3. Position the memorabilia for the best fit and visual effect. If you're including a recipe card, keep it readable. Remember not to position items directly in front of it.

4. Add decorative material such as fabric, cardstock or patterned paper to the back of the shadow box for additional texture and color.

5. Secure photos and ephemera to the shadow box. Attach lightweight pieces like photos and recipe cards with double-sided adhesive tape, adhesive dots or glue stick. Affix dimensional items like cookie cutters, miniature rolling pins or utensils with stronger liquid glue, ribbon or wire. Simply loop around the item and twist or tie in back.

6. Add more embellishments like fabric stickers, paper flowers, buttons or fabric swatches for a decorative touch.

7. Display the shadow box in your kitchen either hanging on the wall or sitting on a cookbook or plate stand. The project would also make a heartwarming gift for family members.

Tips & Warnings

• Photograph or scan items that are borrowed, priceless or too large to include in the shadow box. Print a photo of them to include with other items in the collage.
• Storing photographs and memorabilia in direct sunlight or alongside items that are not photo-safe speeds up the deterioration process. Use duplicate photos (especially when grouping with items such as metal cookie cutters) and preserve the originals in archival-safe, acid-free albums or boxes.