How to make a shadow box ?

I made one for my husband for Christmas last year to display some of his awards %26amp; medals from the Navy. I bought a large shadow box from Hobby Lobby (they seem to be on sale all the time for 50% off!) Then I got some background paper %26amp; a piece of cardboard to fit in it. I covered the cardboard with the paper %26amp; started gluing %26amp; pinning all of the things I wanted in it to the covered cardboard. Finally, I slipped it in the box %26amp; presented it on Christmas Eve.|||Select craft board size for desired height and thickness of boxes. For the boxes shown below, we used 1/2 x 4 x 24%26quot; craft board pieces and 3/4 x 6 x 18%26quot; pieces for the blue shadow boxes above. Cut four pieces for the top, bottom, and sides with a handsaw or jigsaw. Attach craft board together at corners with particle board screws. Lay box on a square of oak board, and mark outline with a pencil. Cut the outline on the oak board to make the back. Attach back to the box with wood glue, and allow to dry. Select a flat moulding to trim out the box. With a miter box, cut corners to fit the shadow box edges. Secure moulding onto the edges with wood glue, and allow to dry. After priming these boxes, we painted them white, and then brushed them with glaze. For a simpler look, try constructing boxes without moulding. The trio of blue shadow boxes was painted with one coat of white paint, followed by a second coat of blue paint (Valspar, Sleepy Seaport #249-5, flat). For a weathered finish, we rubbed the edges with sandpaper.





Depending on what you want it for, you could use a cardboard box closest to the size you need. Paint (spray), cover with fabric|||Michael%26#039;s Arts and Crafts stores sells pre-made shadow boxes in a variety of styles and sizes. It would probably cost as much or more to make your own.





I made a box for some sports memoibilia of mine, and the whole project ran about $45 using a box I bought at the store.





To get the stuff to stay in place inside the box you will probably need velcro tape.