Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Framing Keepsakes In Shadow Boxes

Maybe we should rename our site Young Shadowbox Love. They’re just my jam. I’ve stuffed them with everything from calendars with special dates circled…

Frames Calendar Hung

… to keys from all of our past homes…

Moments Keys Closeup

… to wedding paraphernalia.

Momentos Wedding Shadow Box

I think it just goes back to loving the idea of displaying things that make for happy memories instead of tucking them into a closet in a box that never gets opened. So pretty much from the second we started writing our book over three years ago I had my eye out for things that I could save and stick in a box to forever commemorate this crazy journey that we never could’ve guessed we’d ever be on. One of my favorite things to collect throughout the process were the pencils that we used to make edits on the manuscript and the giant layouts that we’d ship back and forth between the publisher and ourselves.

ShootDay1 Manuscript Ready

The pencils started out long, but over the 336 pages that make up our book they’d slowly get worn down. We’d use different colors depending on the rounds of edits that we were doing (the spellchecker would write in one color, our editor would use another color, and we’d write in a third color) and the papers would get sent back and forth looking like a fun little rainbow of chaos that only the typesetter could understand. As you might imagine, since the outline for the book was written over a year ago, and things were refined and revised over the last ten months with those crazy little pencils, we amassed quite a collection of them, many of which were worn down to half their size after lots and lots of notes in those margins.

Editing

I contemplated just putting the pencils in a shadowbox on their own, but thought it would be fun to add in some other meaningful items to remind us of this crazy book-rollercoaster, so everything from the textured wallpaper to a swatch of fabric, a random post card, and the little personalized rock that reminds us of Burger (all from secret book projects) ended up in my shadowbox pile.

Book Shadowbox1

I had a 6 x 6″ shadowbox from Ikea on hand already (they’re super cheap – $5 I think), so I just cut the textured wallpaper to the size of the frame to act as our background, and then used super glue to hold everything from the pencils and the rock to the fabric swatch in place.

Book Shadowbox2

I let everything dry in place (don’t wanna hang it up until the glue is totally cured since things have to fight gravity once they’re hanging) and then the next day I stuck it into the frame…

Book Shadowbox3

… and hung it up in a nice little place of honor in the hall bathroom. I thought about putting it in our hallway of frames, but for some strange reason it felt like I’d be “burying it” – so I love that it gets a little place of its own so we can gaze at it whenever we’re in that room (it’s where Clara takes her baths and sits on the potty, so we’re logging lots of time in there these days). Oh and we don’t worry about any steam getting in and hurting it since Clara’s baths aren’t hot and we don’t shower in there (our guests have their own guest bath). Whew.

Book Shadowbox5

Isn’t that bike towel cute? It’s supposed to be a dishtowel (I got it for John back here) but it works just as well for drying hands on the way out.

Book Shadowbox6

What have you guys been shoving into frames lately? Anyone else doing odd things like collecting used-up pencils and saving tiny fabric swatches? I can’t be the only one…

Comments

  1. n says

    Hi Guys,

    Reminds me of my “experience file” This unfortunate file is just a collection of all the paper work related to the dramas in life – my car accident and other such experiences I’d rather forget. I think your boxed frames are so much better an idea!! Congrats on your book!

    PS: thanks for reading the comments and telling us that you do – it is such a sweet gesture!

    Reply

  2. Kristin J says

    Hello Petersiks! Over the last few months I have worked my way through reading ALL of your posts! During that time I also got married…which left me going through some YHL withdrawls when I was too busy to read. But today I caught up, and I thought this post was so fitting. Here you are making a beautiful piece of art with items representing your special memories from your book- after I have read the memories of YHL. Anyways. I love you guys, and I cannot wait to get out of apartment living into my very own house someday and DIY it up with you!

    ps. I was superrr bummed after reading you were in good ol’ P-town awhile back and I missed you! Can’t wait to hopefully meet you on your book tour stop here!

    Reply

  3. Maclaine says

    Can you help me find that fabric from your swatch? Holding my breath that it’s not just a random bit from that local fabric place you love…

    Reply

  4. Tracy says

    Funny you should ask, I’ve just created my first framed work, taking a tip from you. I’m saving for my first home and have narrowed down the suburb in my town where I’ll soon be house hunting. I cut it out of a city map and framed it and it sits on my bookshelf. Great incentive for saving!

    Reply

  6. Jessie says

    Hey! I too love shadow boxes. Haven’t made any recently, but there are loads of ideas to work with on this. I was wondering… do you always use super glue to affix your works inside the shadow box? Curious to know the best way to mount things for display. Love your blog! Can’t to have my own house someday!

    Thanks, Jessie

    Reply

  7. Sarah Snell says

    I used to work on space suits during the shuttle program. I made a shadow box that had a picture of the space station in the background and the shuttle mission patches (of missions I worked) collaged in front. We have it displayed in our NASA corner which is a great conversation starter.

    Reply

  8. Karyn says

    I got my copy of your book in the mail last night and it is awesome (I may have stayed up late, *cough* 2am *cough*, to look through every page of it! And I must say: awesome job on a great book! I love the faux frosted frame glass and just happen to have a roll of contact paper sitting in my office that is about to get pulled out… ;)

    Reply

  12. Nancy says

    I bought a large (16×20) shadow box and put little hooks inside for hanging necklaces then inserted a 16×20 print under the glass. It just looks like a framed picture but it keeps all my necklaces organized and quickly accessible. The shadow box has hinges and opens from the front.

    Reply

  13. Sarah says

    I love this idea! I think it turned out beautifully. I have to agree, adding it to the frame wall would have ‘hidden it’ a bit, so I like that it got its own special spot. And you can always switch it out with another frame from the frame wall if you feel like letting a different frame get some personal attention in the bathroom!

    Reply

  14. Susan says

    I love your shadow boxes! wow, seeing that wallpaper is like a blast from the past. We have it in our dinning room and a few of our neighbours have it throughout their houses. All our houses are from the 30’s so it seems like the trend is coming back again!

    Reply

  15. Lindsey says

    I love your shadow box and also that textured wallpaper pattern! I think the wallpaper would look great in our entryway around our yellow front door =)

    Sorry if you’ve already posted the wallpaper details before. Do you remember where you got it or the brand/pattern name? (or if it’s in the book I can get the info there when mine arrives, can’t wait!)

    Reply

  16. Lauren says

    You’re definitely not the only one Sherry! I saved all the leaflets from excursions we went on when we were on honeymoon, and then punched them into small hearts, before mounting them in a box frame. They’re now up in our kitchen for everyone to see! x

    Reply

  17. Natalie V. says

    I’m sorry to bring this up, but everytime I see the title of this post (and especially since your “Classic Peg” video from earlier in the week), I keep thinking about Justin Timberlake and what he had “in a box”. There is something wrong with me!!! Happy Halloween to you all!

    Reply

  18. Elizabeth says

    I know you have a couple of stores listed as where you got your couch pillows from, but where is that cream& teal one from. It’s in the photo with the large stack of papers! Love it!!

    Reply

  19. DeeAnna says

    I have my son’s first pair of Levis and his first pair of tennis shoes in shadow boxes. I also framed a photo of my grandfather with cotton from his farm, and my husband’s grandfathers photo with his apron from his bakery. I love family history collections!

    Reply

  20. Luana Cruz says

    Hi guys!
    I started to read this blog last week and I’m loving it! Congratulations, you do a amazing work!
    I’m thinking about doing a shadowbox with stuff from trips, like tickets from museums, guides, maps, coins etc.

    Kisses from Brazil

    Reply

  22. Eva says

    I just ran my first 5K and I’m planning on following on your shadow box steps! (and maybe in John’s running steps) :)

    Reply

  23. Tambryn says

    I got my book today! I can’t wait to into it , but I already have 1 quick project planned based on just flipping through!

    Reply

  24. Emily says

    What a great way to commemorate the process! I’ve been doing race shadow boxes lately. They’ve been a long time coming (for my first (and only so far) half-marathon 5 years ago). I also just did one for my 3yr old’s first fun run! I displayed the race medal with the race bib and some photos in the background to make it personal!

    Reply

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