Display Your Souvenirs With DIY Shadow Boxes

A shadow box can be a great decorative piece to add to your home. Making one is easy and a fun way to relive your travel memories.

First, pick and choose the items you want to include. You’ll want to consider the size of your frame as you do so. Good items to add include a mixture of two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects, such as tickets, brochures and currency alongside trinkets, seashells and other small items you’ve collected during your travels.

Choose a deep picture frame. Any size works, as long as the sides are tall enough to contain your souvenirs without touching or rubbing up against them. You can typically find a suitable picture frame at a craft store. You may also be able to find a cheap decorative photo or art piece at a thrift or dollar store that will suit the same purpose, if you remove the “art” that comes with it. If you cannot find a frame thick enough, you can always make your frame thicker, by attaching (with industrial glue) balsa wood cut to fit your frame on the back, then painting the wood to match. You can use the original backing of the frame like normal, and just attach it to the opposite side of the balsa wood as the last step.

Choose the layout of your objects next. If you’re going to use decorative paper, such as scrapbooking paper or even a map from the city you visited, make some light pencil outlines as to where you want everything to go. Then, using industrial or heavy-duty craft glue, carefully place your objects in the design you’d like. Wait for the glue to dry, and then adhere the paper to the inside of your frame’s backing. If you made your frame thicker rather than buying a thick frame, you can then attach the backing to the balsa wood, once you’re sure all of the objects will remain glued in their proper place.