Scrapbook Shadow Boxes

Many times, you may inherit something that cannot fit onto a page of a photo album. Maybe it is too big and bulky, or it is simply something more precious that you would like to display in your home. Scrapbooking a shadow box is a great answer!

Shadow boxes vary in size. Some have cubbies and shelves to separate items. Some are simply a box with glass on top to show off your items. Whichever type of shadow box you use, it is a good way to save those special mementos and display them.

But, how can you make a shadow box even more special? One way to do this is by decorating it with your scrapbooking supplies. If you are not an avid scrapbooker, you can still purchase a few simple things for your shadow box to make it more interesting.

First, purchase either fabric or scrapbooking papers to use as a sort of wallpaper for the box. You will not need a lot, but enough to cover just the back of the box. Choosing paper is the simplest solution. Make sure all products you buy are acid-free. Choose papers that will coordinate with the items in your box. For example, if you are doing a shadowbox of baby items, you might want to choose softer colors for the background papers. You can also decide what colors to used based on where you will be displaying the box. You may want to coordinate with the decor of a room in your house.

One idea is to use quilt batting and fabric. If you choose this option, you can use push pins to attach the items to the box. It all depends on what kind of look you want. This option could be great for a shadow box that you might want to change the display in frequently. Use coordinating ribbon in a criss cross pattern to create a beautiful bulletin board inside the box.

Another idea is to decorate the outside of the box. This can also be done using scrapbooking paper and adhesive like, Mod Podge. You can cut the paper to cover the frame of the shadow box. Place the paper in the desired location, and using a foam paint brush, apply mod podge on top of the paper. Don’t worry, it will dry clear, and you will still be able to see the pattern you have chosen on the paper. Do not cut the paper too big. You want it to barely come to the edge of the box. You can also apply embellishments, like a large flower, to the outside of the shadow box to give it extra flair.

If you want your shadow box to have more dimension, then think about placing items inside it in layers. You can do this by adhering a focal photo to the glass. Then, place additional items on the back of the shadow box. Also, you could use foam squares found at any local craft store to create a multi-layered effect.

My Mom had a shadow box with various items from her ancestors in our home. I liked looking at these items. But, a shadow box is great because it preserves your precious trinkets and memorabilia from little fingers, and even big ones!