This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so super simple you will be wondering why you haven’t made them already! I’ve made them with scrap 2x4s and other scrap wood I have laying around, as well as pallet boards. You know I always have scrap pallet boards hanging around from my pallet projects!

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

We all have those items that are packed away down in the basement or kept dusty in the attic. We aren’t sure what to do with them, how to display them in our homes or how to incorporate them into our modern world. If you have these treasures get them out! They are likely a part of your family history and tell a story all their own. Respect these family pieces by making your own DIY Shadow Box! I also like to display them in my coffee table I made out of an old window.

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

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DIY Shadowbox Photo Frame Supplies:

  • Nail Gun
  • Mitre Saw
  • Photo Frames the size you want your shadow box to be
  • Scrap Pieces of Wood to build the depth portion of the shadowbox
  • Wood Glue
  • Paint I used these metallic paints for my project.
  • Wood Filler

DIY Shadowbox Photo Frame Instructions:

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 1) Measure the outside of your frame. 

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 2)  Using a mitre saw, cut the wood to create the depth for your shadow box. 

If you want to create a shadow box that isn’t the size of a photo frame, you can trim the front of it out with a decorative molding, or just leave it plain!

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 3) Nail the pieces of wood together to form a box. I used a finish nailer for this step.
This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

It should look like this.
This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 4) Put wood glue on the top of the shadow box.

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 5) Lay down the picture frame and nail it into the frame of the shadow box.

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Step 6) Cover up any nail or holes with Wood Filler if you feel necessary. For me, I like the “beat up look! It gives character and shows a sign of aging 😉 Let filler dry and re apply if needed until smooth. Let dry.

Step 7) Paint or stain your shadow box and frame to match your decor.

Now you have a place to display all your treasures!  You can place these on a book shelf, create a gallery wall in your home, or use them to display items in your office at work, the possibilities are endless! That is what is so great about DIY projects, you can make them the size, depth and color you need for your own personal needs! Watch the video below for other examples where I put backs on some of the boxes!

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.

Each and everyone of you inspire me and I LOVE to see the work that you’ve created. Feel free to share with me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. And as always, be sure to follow Diva Of DIY on Pinterest and sign up for our FREE Newsletter to receive the latest projects delivered straight to your inbox!

This DIY Shadow Box photo frame is so easy you'll want to make one for every room! Make everyone their own shadow box frame with this tutorial.


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