How to Build an Archival Shadow Box
A shadow box is essentially a three-dimensional picture frame. However, instead of displaying a picture sandwiched firmly between the front piece of glass and the backing, a shadow box leaves several inches of space between the glass and backing. You can use a shadow box to display a group of photos along with other keepsakes and mementos that are not flat, such as baby shoes, seashells, medals, dried flowers or heirloom ornaments.
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Things You'll Need
- Keepsakes
- Photos
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Handsaw
- 4 balsa or bass wood strips, 3.5 by 1/4 inches
- Hammer
- 20 3/8-inch nails
- Colored felt fabric
- Spray adhesive
- 1/4-inch-thick piece of plywood in the dimensions of the picture frame
- Scissors
- Two small hinges
- Picture frame
- Velcro buttons
Instructions
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Choose an event or period that you would like to archive within your shadow box and list mementos that you have from that event or period. For a wedding, these items could include an invitation, boutonniere or bridesmaid's bouquet, garter belt or champagne toast glass. If you are making a box about a particular family member, such as your grandfather, you could include his pocket watch, childhood baseball and favorite bow tie.
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2
Look through physical photo albums, digital albums or negatives for photos to include in your shadow box. Scan or copy any original, historic photos so you have a back-up if anything happens to your shadow box. Order prints from negatives or digital photos.
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3
Measure out the length of a picture frame and mark that length on two strips of balsa wood. Cut the strips to the correct size with a handsaw. Measure the shorter side of the picture frame and subtract half an inch, for the thickness of the wood strips. Mark out this length on the two remaining balsa wood strips and cut them to the correct size.
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Hold a long balsa wood strip and a shorter strip together to make a corner. Line up the edge of the shorter strip against the side of the longer strip. Use two nails to secure the two pieces together. Line up the other short strip parallel to the first at the other end of the long strip to form three sides of a rectangle. Nail the second short strip to the long strip using two nails. Line the remaining long strip up against the shorter strips, parallel to the first long strip, and attach it with two nails on each corner.
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Lay out felt fabric on the plywood backboard. Use one color or divide the board into colored sections. Spray one side of the plywood with spray adhesive and attach the felt. Press and smooth the fabric over the plywood. Trim any felt edges that extend past the plywood.
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Line up the fabric-covered plywood backing over the balsa wood rectangle with the fabric facing down. Nail the two pieces together, using two to three nails on each side.
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Remove the glass and backing from the picture frame. Attach one hinge to one long side of the frame, 2 inches from the top, and the other hinge on the same side, 2 inches from the bottom. Line up the picture frame on the front of your shadow box and attach the hinges in the corresponding spot on the side piece of balsa wood. Spray the inside edges of the photo frame with spray adhesive and reinsert the glass front piece.
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Attach Velcro buttons to the backs of your photos and keepsakes. Heavier items may need more than one button. Arrange your photos and keepsakes within the shadow box in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement, alternating flat photos with three-dimensional keepsakes.
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Tips & Warnings
Art supply stores and yard sales are good places to find interesting picture frames at a discount.
If you use scrapbook paper as backing and glue to keep your photos and keepsakes in place, know that the glue can damage photos and delicate keepsakes.
References
- Photo Credit hand to give the souvenir image by jaggat from Fotolia.com
