Scrap Cardboard Shadow Box

An easily accessible and cheap project that anyone can do!

-Cardboard

-Hot glue and glue gun

-Exacto knife or a plasma cutter, whichever is available to you (note: if hand cut, it will take more time)

-Paint and paint brushes, if desired

-A pencil (if you are not using a software like inkscape)

-A reference

Find a reference photo that you would like to take inspiration or copy from, then either import the image into your software or print and trace the design or visually copy the design onto your cardboard. I used this one for mine.

Once you have made your design on your software (if that is what you choose to do) you can then import it to your plasma cutter and begin to cut it out. If you are not using a plasma cutter, take your exacto knife and cut out your designs by following the image you have traced or copied. You then want to cut out your box and box frame and any support pieces you may need.

Glue any pieces that need to be glued together, and then glue your box together but leave the front frame separate. Do not glue your pieces to your box yet.

If you’d like to paint your box and pieces, do that now before you glue your pieces to your box. This can be done with simple acrylic and a paintbrush but if you’d like to, you can also use spray paint or another form of paint.

If you have painted everything and it has all dried, you may now assemble everything. If you have support beams, glue those into your box first and then whatever pieces are to be attached to them. Then when all off that is dry/attached, you may finally glue on your front fame piece. If you’d like to, you can also use a sealant when finished.

This project is meant to be something anyone can do, have fun with, and enjoy, so do not stress about making a perfect shadow box. It can be whatever you want like and however simple you’d like it to be, like how I used a simple album cover from Trolls 3 to be my theme. Just have fun with it!