First, I’ll explore many shadow box ideas that turn a simple box into a treasury of tales. Whether you’re a vintage lover, travel enthusiast, or family historian, there’s a shadowbox theme to match every narrative.
Then I’ll walk through a tutorial on crafting your shadow box using the beautiful vintage images from Pictureboxblue. You’ll have a stunning shadowbox and a new love for this versatile craft by this end.
The Captivating World of Shadow Boxes
So, what is a shadow box? Simply put, it’s a framed box, often enclosed with a glass front, designed to display and preserve three-dimensional objects. These objects can be anything that sparks joy or holds sentimental value. The list is endless, from old tickets, postcards, and family photos to miniature artefacts, trinkets, and even a feather or seashell you’ve collected.
The Inspiration: Joseph Cornell
My interest in shadow boxes sparked after a visit to a Joseph Cornell exhibition in London. Known for his intricate shadow boxes filled with trinkets, prints, and photographs, Cornell’s skill in turning ordinary objects into realms of mystery and nostalgia was truly inspiring.
His work, dubbed Cornell Boxes, encapsulated memories, dreams, and surreal landscapes within a box, driving me to experiment with shadow box crafting and capture similar depth and emotion in my pieces.
Diverse Shadow Box Ideas
The beauty of shadow boxes lies in their limitless themes. You can create displays that showcase your hobbies, personal milestones, or anything that resonates with you. The choices are endless, from travel mementoes to gardening memories, vintage themes, or personalised ‘Memory Boxes’.
Shadowboxes also make meaningful gifts, encapsulating moments like wedding anniversaries or a baby’s first year. Each box tells a unique story, deeply personal to the creator.
After this list, Inspired by Cornell’s magical world, let’s embark on a shadowbox crafting journey.
31 Shadow Box Ideas
Explore a world of creativity with these shadow box ideas, perfect for personalising your living space. Whether it's vintage trinkets, travel keepsakes, family mementoes, or unique wall art, there is a shadow box craft for you.
Map and Swallows Shadow Box
This shadow box creation is a fun art piece for those that have wanderlust. I love the image of migrating birds flying across an old map.
Upcycled Sewing Ephemera Shadow Box
This is an excellent shadow box idea for any seamstress; you only need to raid your grandma's or mum's sewing box for interesting finds to showcase. These vintage cherry blossom silk labels would look good in this sewing display.
Military Shadow Boxes
Preserve and display medals, badges, and keepsakes that tell your service story. A timeless tribute that cherishes dedication and commitment. Similar shadow boxes could be created for retired sportspeople.
Ticket Memory Box
I used to pin my concert ticket stubs to my denim pin board, but then it became too cluttered. I love this idea for keeping ticket stubs; soon, they will become an antique as more and more concerts go tickertless!
Shadow Box Shrines DIY
A fun Mexicana craft with this mini Day of The Dead and Frida Kahlo shrines.
Easy Display Box for Halloween
Get into the spooky spirit with a Halloween shadowbox display. From miniature pumpkins to ghostly trinkets,t his tutorial shows you how to curate a frightfully fun collection that charmingly captures the essence of Halloween.
How To Style A Christmas Vintage Printer Tray Shadow Box
Old printer trays can be turned into readymade shadow boxes and then styled for the holidays.
3D Lighted Winter Shadow Box
Cut paper to create a 3D winter scene, then backlight it to make a fun, illuminated Christmas decoration.
How to Make Picture Frame Shadow Box
A tutorial on how to make a shadow box frame from an upcycled picture frame.
Upcycled Drawers Rustic Display
This shadow box was made from an old drawer filled with natural and vintage curios to complete the rustic look.
Travel Shadow Box with Mementos from Your Recent Adventure
Craft a unique keepsake with a travel memento shadowbox. Turn your collected souvenirs, tickets, and photos into a personal travel narrative within a box, ensuring your adventurous memories are beautifully preserved and displayed.
DIY Birth/Baby Shadow Box
From first booties to hospital wristbands, create a heartfelt keepsake that encapsulates the magic of their early days in an enchanting way.
Shadow Framed Figures
My son still has a box of Moshi Monsters which I know would look fabulous in a shadow frame like this. This concept would also work really well with Lego Minifigures.
Make Your Own Travel Memories Shadow Box -
This shadow box project is a great way to display and store travel memories. No matter your destination, there’s always some little something you could save and show in your shadow box.
DIY Father's Day Superhero Shadowbox
What a lovely gift for Dad with this unique superhero shadow box. Also, a great idea for Lego fans too.
Framed Scrabble Tile Quote
Use a shadow box to create a special 3D message or quote using vintage Scrabble tiles for a personalized memento.
Framed Button and Pin Collection
If you have a collection of pin badges and buttons, this is a fun way to display them in a shadow box. I have a load of badges for 1980's pop bands that just sit in a draw, but now I know what to do with them!
Terrarium Shadow Box
Combine your love for crafts and gardening by transforming a shadow box into a verdant display—a fantastic project for those looking to bring a slice of nature indoors.
Halloween Mod Podge Crafts: Make a Cabinet of Curiosities
Embrace the eerie with a Halloween shadowbox display. Assemble miniature spooky mementoes in an atmospheric setting, creating a festive Halloween tableau that adds a fun, frightful touch to your decor.
DIY Wedding Flowers Shadowbox
Commemorate your special day with g a wedding shadow box. From invitation cards to dried flowers, transform your precious wedding mementoes into a romantic display, encapsulating the love and joy of your union in a lasting keepsake.
An Easy DIY Butterfly Wall Decoration
Make 3-D butterflies out of shrinky dinks and display them in a shadow box like Victorian specimen boxes.
DIY Shell Specimen Wall Art
Transform your collected seashells into a captivating maritime display, encapsulating the spirit of the sea within a box. Perfect for beach lovers and craft enthusiasts alike.
DIY Map Art With Repurposed Road Maps
Craft your personalised shadow box map art with 3D map circles from your favourite travel destinations. It's a delightful map decor project, perfect for those bitten by the travel bug and looking to encapsulate their wanderlust creatively.
DIY Lite: How to Build a Shadow Box Display
How to make a wooden shadow box cupboard with a glass front to display your 3d curios.
Meaningful Pet Memorial Shadow Box
Celebrate your furry friend's life with our step-by-step guide to creating a pet memorial shadow box. Preserve your most cherished memories, from collars to toys, in a heartfelt tribute that lasts a lifetime. A touching way to remember your beloved pet
DIY Travel Shadow Box Ideas To Help Preserve Your Memories
Get inspired with our travel shadow box ideas, perfect for showcasing your treasured mementoes from around the globe. Turn tickets, photos, and trinkets into a personal travel diary encased in a box, capturing your adventures uniquely and creatively.
Wine Cork Shadow Box Holiday DIY Gift
Remember your anniversary and all the celebrations with this wine cork memento box.
Romantic Steampunk Shadow Box
Combine gears, vintage tokens, and Victorian flair to craft a captivating shadowbox that speaks volumes of your love for the fantastical steampunk aesthetic.
Baby Shoe Growth Chart DIY
Cherish the journey of your child's growth by creating a baby shoe shadow box. From their first tiny shoes to their growing feet, capture these adorable milestones in a box.
How to Create a Custom Shadowbox: Holiday Style
From sparkling baubles to miniature nutcrackers, create a festive display that brings the magic of the holiday season to life in a unique and memorable way.
Simple seashell shadowbox
Transform your beach-collected seashells into a striking display, encapsulating your ocean adventures and adding a touch of coastal charm to your decor.
DIY Egg Shell Art
Embrace the spirit of spring crafting with this creative and enjoyable idea: painting broken eggshells with vibrant alcohol inks and showcasing them in an elegant shadow box. This unique project not only recycles but transforms everyday materials into a stunning piece of art, perfect for adding a splash of colour and whimsy to your home decor.
Creating Your Personal Shadow Box Joseph Cornell Style
You’ll first need a few materials, which can easily be found around the house or at your local craft store. Choose a theme that resonates with you and start arranging your objects within the box. I’ll guide you through the entire process, ensuring you have a splendid time crafting your shadowbox.
What you need
- Cardboard packaging for the shadow box frame. You can also buy ready-made boxes at craft stores.
- Old newspapers or books for decoupage
- Decoupage glue and glue dots
- Assortment of knick-knacks and old junk such as keys, shells, feathers, postage stamps and cotton reels. Just hunt around your home or local thrift store and see what you can find to fit the theme of your shadow box.
- Paper cutting knife and mat.
Using Vintage Images & Maps
To add a touch of nostalgia to your shadow box, we’ll incorporate some vintage images. You’ll find a treasure trove of vintage graphics on Pictureboxblue, perfect for adding that old-world charm. Whether you choose an old map, a vintage postcard, or an antique photograph, these images will undoubtedly enrich your shadowbox.
Making The Frame
Step 1: I wanted the shadow box split into four compartments, creating mini rooms for my cherished curios. For this, cut pieces of cardboard to fit and glued them in place.
Step 2: I decoupaged the inside with an old newspaper to add the vintage Joseph Cornell vibe to the shadow box. You can use old books as well for the decoupage.
If you don’t have any old ones, it’s possible to age them by brushing the paper with tea once it’s been decoupaged.
Decorating the Shadow Box
My shadow box’s theme was four places special to me, one for each compartment.
The first one begins in Hong Kong, my birth and childhood city. A vibrant fusion of Eastern and Western influences, the city has shaped my identity more profoundly than a good cup of Hong Kong milk tea.
Next up is the city of London. Not far from my current home and my favourite city to explore. I visit it most weeks and have yet to tire of the place; I love the history and energy of the city.
The next compartment is an ode to Tavira, Portugal, a charming location where my parents chose to settle. We gather there every summer for a sun-kissed family vacation. Amidst its historical ruins and pristine beaches, Tavira offers a pace of life that’s refreshingly unhurried.
The last space on the box focuses on the stunning landscapes of Norway. Home to my in-laws and the most breathtaking fjords you’ll ever see, Norway’s beauty is the icing on the cake of this shadowbox journey.
Step 3: To start the decoration of each compartment, I stuck a vintage map to the back of each section. The maps were cut from an old map calendar or printed from the vast collection of vintage maps on the site.
Step 4: I found old postage stamps for some destinations and used them to decorate the compartments.
Step 5: I used other images to decorate the compartments; these included a sulphur-crested cockatoo, a bird common to Hong Kong: other vintage birds and some entomology illustrations. To prepare the images for the shadow box, I first printed them onto watercolour paper. Then I stuck the printed form to cardstock before cutting out the images carefully with a craft knife.
Finishing the Shadow Box
Step 6: Play around with the placement of your objects and images before fixing them permanently to the shadow box. I stuck the cardboard-reinforced pictures to the frame with paper glue. For the 3-D objects, I used glue dots.
My completed shadow box is a cherished tribute to the places I hold dear. Nestled on the mantlepiece of my travel-inspired home office, it never fails to spark a conversation whenever guests stumble upon it.
Now, the question remains, which destinations would feature in your shadow box? Or perhaps one of the other shadow box ideas from the previous list has caught your fancy? The world (or box, in this case) is your oyster!
Other Related Ideas
The thematic possibilities are practically endless with the vast array of shadow box ideas.
Joseph Cornell, for instance, employed a vibrant parrot theme in one of his boxes, similar to the vintage images I used for my parrot decor cloche.
Consider expanding the circus diorama on Pictureboxblue with a wealth of vintage circus images for a lively and engaging shadow box. Many Index of American Design images would be great for a shadow box.
And for those familiar with the site, you know how popular vintage Japanese images are. I’m personally drawn to the idea of a Japanese-themed shadow box. As I’m headed to Japan this year, I’ll be hunting for some unique trinkets to incorporate into my creation.
Harjith
Tuesday 25th of July 2023
Your ideas are absolutely insane !!! Just too good and fantastic. Thank you for sharing
claire
Friday 28th of July 2023
Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers
Monday 24th of July 2023
My goodness, so many different kinds of shadow boxes. Lots of awesome inspiration! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty.
claire
Friday 28th of July 2023
Thank you, they are fun ways to display stuff.
Catherine Sokolowski
Sunday 23rd of July 2023
I love all these ideas. I went to check out the pin display. I've been looking for a way to display my pin collection! Thanks for this great post!
claire
Monday 24th of July 2023
Thank you, yes shadow boxes are a great way to display fun collections.
Cara ~ Vintage Style Gal
Saturday 22nd of July 2023
I am so inspired Claire! I have been wanting to work on a map project, but have not gotten around to it. Looking forward to choosing from one of these you have shared!
claire
Monday 24th of July 2023
Thank you, crafting with maps is one of my favourite things to do.
EsmeSalon
Monday 17th of July 2023
WOW, amazing and cool ideas to use. Pinning it. I visited you via Craftastic Monday Link Party My entries this week = 36+37 If you have not joined us at SSPS yet, this is a personal invite to come and share your awesome post/s with us You will find the linkup information (1) In the Top bar under Blogging: Weekly Senior Salon Pit Stop OR 2nd image In the sidebar. We hope to meet you there virtually.
claire
Wednesday 19th of July 2023
Thank you so much, and thanks for the share.