Shadow box ideas for keepsakes

Every house has a drawer of things too special to toss and too odd to display. Ticket stubs. A hospital bracelet. Grandpa's medals. Dried flowers from a wedding. A shadow box is how that drawer becomes wall art.

The deep frame gives objects room to sit behind the acrylic, so you can frame things, not just pictures. Here are the ideas we see most, plus the practical details that make a box look right.

How deep should a shadow box be?

Depth is the first thing to get right, and it is simple math. Measure your thickest item, then leave at least a quarter inch of air between it and the acrylic.

• Flat paper items like tickets, invitations, and photos: 3/4 inch of depth is plenty.
• Medals, dried flowers, jewelry, small toys: 1 to 2 inches.
• Baby shoes, caps, baseballs, thick fabric: 2 to 3 inches.

Our shadow boxes are solid pine and made to order, so you can match the box to the item instead of guessing.

Wedding keepsakes

The classic is the bouquet. Dry the flowers first (hang them upside down for two to three weeks) and arrange them loose or as a bundle. Add the invitation beside them. Some couples add the cork from the toast or a copy of the vows. One box, one day, on the wall forever.

A 12x12 or 11x14 box fits a bouquet and an invitation with room to spare.

Baby's first year

The hospital band, the tiny knit hat, the first shoes, and a photo from day one. These items are small, so a modest box holds them all. Leave some open space in the layout. Crowded boxes lose the feeling.

Military and service honors

Medals, patches, rank pins, and a folded flag deserve better than a closet shelf. Pin medals to the backing so the ribbons hang straight. This is one where materials really matter: acid free backing keeps ribbon fabric and old paper from breaking down, and UV acrylic keeps colors from fading.

Challenge coins deserve their own spot. Our challenge coin shadow box holds a row of coins next to a photo, so the coins and the story sit side by side.

Trips, games, and shows

Ticket stubs and wristbands from concerts. A scorecard from the game. Foreign coins and a map from the big trip. Sand in a small corked bottle from the beach where you got engaged. Flat items can be glued lightly to the backing. Heavier ones do better with pins or thin wire.

Sports keepsakes

A game ball, a medal from the race, the bib number, a photo from the finish line. Baseballs and golf balls need 2 to 3 inches of depth. Set the ball in a small clear cradle, or pin a fabric loop to the backing so it can't roll.

Race bibs are the easiest item in this whole post. Pin them flat through the corner holes they already have. Add the medal below with its ribbon pinned so it hangs straight.

Graduation

The tassel, a photo in the gown, and the program from the ceremony. A tassel pins flat in a box with just 1 inch of depth. The whole display makes a better gift than one more photo frame, and it takes about an hour to build.

The first dollar

Small business owners have framed the first dollar earned for as long as stores have had walls. Add the first receipt or a photo of opening day next to it. We make currency frames just for this.

How to lay out a shadow box, step by step

1. Take the backing out of the box and lay it flat on a table.
2. Arrange your items on it without attaching anything. Try three or four layouts.
3. Put the biggest item a little off center and build around it.
4. Leave open space. About a third of the backing should stay empty.
5. Take a phone photo of the layout you like best.
6. Attach items one at a time, checking against the photo.
7. Put the box back together and hang it before you second guess yourself.

How to attach keepsakes

Use stainless steel pins, cotton thread, or small glue dots, and touch the item as little as you can. Stitch fabric items to the backing through their seams. A loop of clear fishing line through the backing holds round or heavy items without showing.

Never tape anything old or valuable. Tape stains paper and cloth, and the stain doesn't come out. If an item is truly one of a kind, mount it so it can be removed later without a mark. Pins do this. Glue doesn't.

Pick a backing color on purpose

The backing is the sky your items float on. A dark backing makes light items pop. A light backing suits dark medals and wood. If you want a clean framed border inside the box, a cut mat pinned to the foam backing adds a shop finished edge. Our mat boards come in dozens of colors for exactly this.

Hanging a loaded box

A filled shadow box weighs more than a flat frame of the same size. Use a picture hook rated for 25 pounds, or two hooks if the box is wide. Two D-ring hangers spread the weight and keep the box from tilting when a door slams. When you can, put at least one screw into a stud.

Questions we hear a lot

How do I keep keepsakes from fading?

Hang the box out of direct sun. UV blocking acrylic and acid free backing do the rest, and our boxes ship with both.

Can I open the box later and change things?

Yes. The back comes off the same way it went on. Mount with pins instead of glue and you can rearrange any time without leaving a mark.

What size shadow box should I buy?

Measure your largest item, add 2 to 3 inches of breathing room on each side, and order that size. When in doubt, go one size up.

Pull that drawer open this weekend and pick its best treasures. If you're not sure where to start, our framing guide walks through the whole process.