Assembling a Shadow Box- One of the most versatile display options, shadowboxes can hold three-dimensional objects that don’t fit in a flat frame and items that won’t stand on a shelf. Fortunately, it’s easy and affordable to create a custom shadowbox from the American Frame line of products. The example we show below could hold antique linens, collector buttons, pocket watches or that winning sports jersey.
Tips For Assembling a Shadow Box:
- Choose a frame with a rabbet depth of at least 1”. For large items, consider the frames in our Infinity line with rabbet depths of 2” or more.
- In addition to the mat you’ll use as a back for your items (it can be any color you want), order two additional mats pieces in black. They will act as invisible spacers (see step-by-step below).
- If your item is fragile, high value or an antique, substitute UV acrylic, acid free mats from the Crescent Select or Alpharag collections and archival mounting board for conservation purposes.
Our Example: We’ve framed award ribbons in Basics White - L1192 with Standard Mounting Board, Standard Acrylic and a free Berkshire mat in yellow.
Materials for our project: (Order sizes based on your items’ measurements. Our shadowbox project worked best in a 20 x 16 frame.) –
20 x 16 L1192- Basics White Wood Frame
20 x 16 CB360- Yellow Ochre Berkshire Mat Board --no window openings
20 x 16 CB6277- Smooth Black Berkshire Mat Board --no window openings
20 x 16 MTBS Standard Mounting Board
20 x 16 AAS Standard Acrylic
Wood Assembly Hardware (included free)
You will also need:
Lets Get Started
Step 1 Measure your item(s)
If you have multiple items, lay them out in a pleasing way and measure the full length and width, then add for a border. For example, as a group our three ribbons measure 16” x 14” and we added an additional 2” inches to the width and height. That makes the finished frame size 20” x 16”. Order all materials – frame, mats, mounting board and acrylic - in the finished size.
Step 2 Mount items to the mat board
In our example, the yellow mat is our display backer. Depending on the nature of your item, you can mount it with adhesive transfer, tape, glue, Velcro, pins or thumb tacks.
Step 2 -
Choose one of the short frame sections and slide it onto the plates you attached to the section in Step 1. Align the mitered ends and tighten the screws just enough to hold the frame sections together. Repeat this step with the other matching section length.
Step 3 Determine number and length you need for spacer strips. (You’ll cut these from the black mats.)
These mat strips will be stacked and laid between the acrylic and the backer mat on all four sides of your frame to create space for your display items. How many strips you stack depends on your rabbet depth. The thickness of the spacer-stack should be 1/8” less than your rabbet to allow for the acrylic. In our example, we stacked three on each side of the frame to create a thickness of 7/8”, which is 1/8” less than the frame’s 1” rabbet.
For width, cut the spacers 3/16”.
For length, cut half of your spacers to equal the short side of your frame. Cut the other half 3/16” less than the long side of your frame to account for the width of the short-side spacers. In our example, we cut six of our strips 16” long (equal to the short side of the frame) and six 19 13/16” long (equal to the long side minus 3/16”).
Step 4 Tape strips into a stack.
Using adhesive transfer tape, stack the strips until you get the thickness you need. You should now have four stacks, two short-length, two long.
Step 5 Begin assembly.
Set the frame face down on a clean work surface. Carefully peel the protective paper off one side of the acrylic and lay that face down into the frame. Then remove the remaining piece of protective paper.
Step 6 Build the shadowbox.
Using the clear adhesive transfer tape, attach the mat board strips to the inside of the acrylic, at the very outer edges. Make sure the mat board strips are tight against the acrylic and frame.
Step 7 Combining the elements
Place your item and the board it is adhered to into the frame, laying it face down on top of the mat strips.
Step 8 Secure the finished piece.
Place your mounting board into the frame, creating a secure base for your mounted object. Using your screwdriver install spring clips to the frame to hold everything in place. (For this example we used a Point Driver to secure everything in place due to its ease of use).
Step 9 Add the finishing touches.
Place adhesive transfer tape on the back of the frame and place craft paper onto it. Using the dust cover trimmer or a utility knife, carefully trim off the excess paper. Mark a position for each wire hanger on the back of the frame sides. Fasten the hangers with a screwdriver at each pilot hole. Next, loop the wire between the two hangers. Adhere wall protectors to the bottom corners of the frame where the frame contacts the wall.
Now you’re ready to put your effort and your savvy on display for all to enjoy!