Use momentos and photos to make a shadow box commemorating a person's life.
Often after a loved one has passed away, he or she leaves behind photographs and trinkets, some of which hold special memories. Putting these things in a box or drawer keeps them hidden away and forgotten. It is important to capture those memories while they are still fresh. You can make a shadow box with these tokens as a memorial in honor of your loved one. The items inside the shadow box will tell a story about the person's life for years to come.
Instructions
1. Choose a shadow box that is the right size and dimension for your items. The frame should be deep enough to keep three-dimensional items from touching the glass.
2. Choose a background. Consider enlarging a photo to use as the background. Or you can pick out a piece of paper that has a memory, like a page from a hymn book, a sheet of music, or a page from a newspaper. You can also use a plain background of black foam core. If you use a photo or paper, glue it to a piece of foam core that is the size of your frame.
3. Begin to layer your items on top of the background, creating the overall design before gluing anything. Remember that overlapping creates interest and adds dimension.
4. Raise smaller photographs or paper items, such as ticket stubs, off the background with foam core. To do this, just cut a piece of foam core with a craft knife, making it slightly smaller than the item, and mount the item on it with glue.
5. Layer your embellishments, such as buttons, ribbons, rhinestone, or other items, on top.
6. Begin to tape and glue photos and mementos starting with the first layer and moving forward. Glue heavier items on with epoxy. Allow to dry overnight.
7. Put the background board into the shadow box, and close it up.
