how do you make a homemade shadow box

Steps for Creating the Shadow Box

• 1. Remove picture frame backing Start by removing the backing of your picture frame. ...
• 2. Trace and cut The plywood will serve as the back of your shadow box. ...
• 3. Cut out the sides and top Now, saw your 1-inch by 4-inch lumber into your pieces. ...
• 4. Glue ...
• 5. Add the knob ...
• 6. Add hinges ...

Full Answer

How do you mount a shadow box on a wall?

Making It Stick

• Clear glue dots work for light objects -- foam, paper, plastic, metal, some fabrics, wood and glass. ...
• Sew clear monofilament thread -- secures an item invisibly and stitches it in place -- delicate or sturdy. ...
• Glue guns can be messy and will affect the items fastened with it. ...

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How to make a DIY Halloween Shadow Box?

• Give 2 hands of white acrylic paint all over the box. ...
• Give 2 hands of orange acrylic paint on the inside walls of the box. ...
• When it's completely dry, paint a few bats on the top corners with the black acrylic paint and a small brush. ...
• Cut-out a square of the same size of the box from the black cardboard sheet. ...

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How to make shadow box with rolled flowers?

Valentine’s Shadow Box: How to Make Rolled Paper Flowers

• Getting started. Be sure to read through all the instructions at least once before you actually get started. ...
• Making the flowers. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. ...
• Sealing flowers with Spray Sealant. ...
• Finishing your Valentine’s Day shadow box. ...
• Finishing touches. ...

How to effectively Shadow Box?

Your Guide to Shadow Box Properly

• Set a Goal. That’s the most important thing to do before you start shadow boxing. ...
• Start With Jab. If you’re a newbie and you’re not familiar with all the basic punches such as the cross, jab, uppercut, and hook, try to focus only on one ...
• Close the Distance. ...
• Learn the Proper Way to Exit. ...
• Get Feedback. ...

Estimated Time

Precious objects from our past have an unfortunate habit of ending up squirreled away in the attic or basement, neglected and forgotten. With a glass-fronted shadow box, however, those collectibles can have a worthy display space, safe from dust and dirty, clumsy fingers.

Step 1: Find an Old Door

A clear finish, like this door has, makes it easier to assess wood quality. Lead isn’t an issue with clear finishes, but it can be with paint. If the paint tests positive for lead, take appropriate safety precautions and strip the door down to bare wood before proceeding.

Step 2: Cut it Up

Using a circular saw with a rip fence, or fingers with a steady grip on the saw’s shoe, cut off the door’s hinge-side stile, as shown. (This stile doesn’t have doorknob holes to fill.) Also cut along the other stile and rails to free one of the door’s flat panels.

Step 3: Clean off the Old Finish

Check for hidden screws, then square up the sides of the stile with a table saw. Tom then quickly shaved the old finish off the stile’s faces with four light cuts, as shown. That saved lots of sanding.

Step 4: Rabbet and Dado

Run the clean board through the table saw two more times to make a ½-inch-by-½-inch rabbet in one corner. The box’s bottom panel will fit into this rabbet. On the same face, 1⁄4 inch from the side opposite the rabbet, use the saw to cut a 1⁄8-inch-wide, ½-inch-deep dado to hold the glass.

Step 4: Sand

Using a random-orbit sander and 220-grit sandpaper, smooth all sides of the stile. Save the sawdust for the next step. Then sand the finish off one face of the panel, as shown. Start with 180-grit sandpaper, and finish with 220.

Step 6: Plug the Holes

Pro2Pro Tip: To disguise plugged holes in a piece that will get a clear finish, retrieve a scoop of the fine sawdust that you saved in Step 6, and mix it into the wet wood glue with your finger, as shown above. The powdery dust will tint the glue the same color as the wood. After the glue hardens, sand the repair smooth.

Gather Your Mementos

The most important thing you can do when creating a shadow box happens before you even begin arranging anything. In order to get the best results, you’ll want to come up with a theme—and stick to it. Whether you’re focusing on sports achievements, memorable trips, or a new baby, the key to success is consistency.

Step 2

Once you’ve decided on a theme, have gathered the items that fit within those parameters, and have narrowed down your choices to the best three to five items (depending on the size of your frame, of course), you’re ready for the fun part—actually creating your shadow box.

Step 3

Once your treasured tokens are secure, reassemble the frame or close the glass door on the front. Now, take a quick pause to admire your handiwork (it wasn’t so hard, was it?). Don’t give up now though. Instead of leaning your shadow box up against the wall, find a spot for it right away.

Turn Your Keepsakes into Wall Art

Thought you were done? We know you probably have tons more stuff just waiting to be put on display. Now that you know how easy it is to create a shadow box, go back to step one and create a few more. A trio of framed boxes can capture highlights from each family member’s lives—and makes for an intriguing display in a family room or home office.

Thrift Store Picture Frame Project

As I mentioned in episode #2 of my podcast, Thrift Store and Curb Shopping, picture frames are one of my top 5 items to look for while junking!

Thin plywood used to make an easy shadow box

To begin, I grabbed a large frame from my stash of thrifted frames, and cut some thin plywood to size. On large frames like this, there is a lip all the way around that offers the perfect ledge to hold the thin plywood. The easy shadow box is already on it's way!

Use wood glue instead of nails

I added Gorilla Wood Glue around all the edges (lip) of the frame to make the easy shadow box.

Clamp the sides of the shadow box until the glue sets up

I clamped and braced the boards until the wood glue had time to set up on the easy shadow box.

Add bead board as the back of the shadow box

I used a scrap piece of bead board for the back of the shadow box. Of course I used more Gorilla Wood Glue then weighted the back until the glue set up.

How to add scrap wood for hanging

Because the plywood is very thin, I didn’t have enough thickness to attach my favorite d rings for hanging. I used a couple of scrap pieces of wood and some Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive to secure the wood to the back of the thin plywood. I used two pieces, one at the top and one at the bottom.

Off White Easy Shadow Box made from a Picture Frame

I’ve been quite lazy with my staging lately—in case you didn’t know I always stage my projects outside on a portable wall. It’s been really hot, the garage is crowded and the gray side of the wall needs repainting.