How to Make a Shadow Box for a Football Jersey

Displaying a football jersey from your favorite player or preserving your child's first jersey in a shadow box on the wall is a simple way to make an impact in your hallway or family room. You can easily make a large shadow box to showcase your collectibles with the right tools, a few materials and these instructions.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces of 38-inch trim, 1½ inch wide
• 2 pieces of 26-inch trim
• Light-grade sandpaper
• Stain-polyurethane blend and sponge
• 26-by-38-inch backboard
• Black felt, 26 by 38 inches
• Spray adhesive
• Glass, 26 by 38 inches
• Screwdriver and screws
• Strong wood/glass adhesive
• Picture hangers

Instructions

1. Assemble your materials for the shadow box from your local home improvement store. Have your wood trim cut to size at the store and also ask the staff to route a notch along the edges of each piece of trim. The notch will hold both the glass and the backboard in place. The notch for the glass should be thicker than the notch for the backboard. Tell the clerk what you are building and he will adjust the notch sizes as needed. If you prefer to make the notches yourself, you will need a router.

2. Sand the wood pieces to remove any roughness. Stain the trim pieces with a stain-polyurethane blend. This product already has the protection of polyurethane built in; you will not need a protective finish coat. Let the stain dry completely.

3. Spray the backboard with adhesive and place the felt on top, smoothing out any air bubbles or wrinkles.

4. Attach a piece of 26-inch trim to a piece of 38-inch trim where they meet at the corner using wood glue. Match the routed notches for the glass and the backboard. Insert a screw through the 26-inch trim into the 38-inch trim. Join the other 38-inch trim to the opposite side of the 26-inch trim. You now have three sides of your shadow box frame assembled.

5. Lay the frame face down. Run a thin line of adhesive along the notch for the glass. Insert the glass and let the adhesive dry.

6. Attach your football jersey to the felt with pins and insert the backboard into the frame. Attach the remaining piece of 26-inch trim with both adhesive and screws as you did the others. Let the glue dry.

7. Attach the picture hangers to the back of the shadow box and hang your display.

Tips & Warnings

• Add other memorabilia to your shadow box along with your jersey.

• Wear protective gloves when working with wood.