How to make your own shadow box

You will need

• wooden box

• wooden frame that fits over the box
• decorations for the box (memento, pictures, background paper, and so on)
• thin cardboard
• undercoat
• PVA paint in the colour of your choice
• sponge roller and paint tray
• 2 small hinges with short screws
• glue gun
• thick double-sided adhesive tape (the sponge type)
• masking tape
• craft knife and cutting mat
• ruler

1 Choose a picture frame that you can use as a lid for the box – it must fit onto the edges and extend slightly, with enough space for the hinges.

TIP We bought our box from a florist, but you can also make your own according to the frame’s measurements.

2 Paint the box and frame, inside and out, with a layer of undercoat and leave it to dry properly.

3 Paint the box and frame with two coats of PVA paint in the colour of your choice. Leave each coat to dry completely before painting on the next.

4 Place the box upside down on the back of the frame, more or less as you are going to screw them together with the hinges.

5 Measure and mark with a piece of masking tape where you will screw in the hinges – ours are aligned with the edge.

6 Move the box aside and screw the one side of the hinge onto the frame.

7 Replace the box and screw the other side of the hinge onto the box. Put the box to one side while you prepare the decorations.

8 Stick the pictures onto cardboard and cut them out with your craft knife. To create the 3-D effect, stick two or three layers of the same picture together with sponge type or double-sided adhesive tape, so they stand apart from each other.

9 Cut strips of cardboard, stick the ends together and fold them into triangles that you can use as supports for the pictures so that they stand upright. Stick them to the bottom edge at the back of the pictures.

10 Cut and stick the background paper into the box. We used a glue gun, but you can also decoupage it with modge podge for a durable gloss finish. For height, you can use the sponge double-sided tape.

11 Stick the rest of your decorations into the box. We used screw-in hooks to mount the pendant. You can also screw hooks into the back of the box if you want to hang it on the wall.

GOOD IDEA Make a shadow box for each of your children with something special from their childhood. Leave the frame’s glass in place to keep the memento safe.

Text and image: Ideas