Make a Shadow Box

Homemade presents are a big hit during the holidays. Below is a cool holiday craft that would make the perfect present! It first appeared in the December 1942 issue of Jack and Jill.

A present that any child can make is this kind of shadow box picture. It may be hung on a wall or used as a shelf decoration.

 What You’ll Need:

• Shallow box
• Photo (with several objects in it) that is a similar in size to the box
• Paints, markers, or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Construction paper
• Tape

Directions: 

1. Paint, draw, or color a background all over the inside of your box—sky for an outdoor picture or a wallpaper design for an indoor scene.

2.Cut out the different objects in your photo leaving a tab at the bottom of each piece. When these tabs are folded back, you can paste the separate objects to the “floor” of your box so they stand at different distances from the background. These photo pieces throw shadows against the background of your scene giving the shadow box its name.

3. To make a frame for the shadow picture, place your box on a piece of heavy paper and trace around the edge. Cut out the center space. Then cut out a border around the outside edge. When the frame is made, fasten it to the box at the back with tape.

After your shadowbox is dry, wrap it up and give it to a special person!