Shadow boxes are a great way to display small and fragile items without fear of them becoming damaged or lost, and a custom-built shadow box is perfect for unusually shaped objects. Shadow boxes are versatile and can be hung vertically or horizontally on a wall or placed on a shelf to showcase their contents. Design a different theme for each shadow box and display one in each room of the home.
Shadow boxes are simple enough to obtain from the local hobby store and easy enough to build from scratch. When buying boxes that are already made, look for solid corner construction and a glass or plexiglass lid. The best lids are ones that slide into grooves along the front of the box. It's not necessary that a shadow box have a lid, but it can help protect the contents.
Avoid shadow boxes that don't have a back on them. If for some reason the shadow box were to fall, the items inside might also fall out and be damaged. Always look for a shadow box that has a back and a clear lid.
Building a Shadow Box From Scratch
Shadow box construction is fairly straightforward. It is basically a deep picture frame anywhere from 1 1/2” to 3” deep with shelves, a back cover, and may or may not have a transparent lid depending on the crafter. There are different methods for assembling the wood joints; mortise and tenon, dovetails, half-lap, or wood glue.
Adding shelves allows the shadow box to showcase more items. Shelving can be traditional or decorative, and the creative placement of shelves can really accent a prime item, especially with the implementation of a vertical spacer.
The clear lid can be set into place by either cutting a groove for it to slide in to, or it can be glued into a cut-out lid that's designed to fit securely over the shadow box. A cut-out lid should have sides almost as deep as the box to help it stay in place.
Customizing a Shadow Box
Once assembly is complete it's time to paint or decorate the box. The interior of the box should be painted a brighter color than the outside so that the displayed items stand out. Another method of decorating the interior is the application of nostalgic press-on labels, stickers, or scrapbook paper, all of which are available at most hobby shops.
Next, begin adding items to the shadow box. Create a theme such as matchbook covers, fishing lures, medals, gems and minerals, or bottle caps. Shadow boxes are great for showcasing for almost anything imaginable. Create one today and begin showcasing interesting items that have been tucked out of sight for too long.
