Handmade with Love : Easter Shadow Box | Dana

 Hi friends! Dana Tatar here today sharing an Easter themed shadow box that I altered using the gorgeous My Mind's Eye Gingham Gardens collection and a Foundations Décor Magnetic Shadow Box. I had a lot of fun creating this décor piece and reminiscing about a past Easter spent with my brother. Easter of 2016 was the last year that we were able to dress up our children in coordinating outfits, pre-teens and teens are much less cooperative, so this project is extra special for that reason in addition to the fun memories of a holiday spent with family.

Foundations Décor Magnetic Shadow Box Measurements
I like to plan décor projects in advance as they are a bit more involved. I thought it would be helpful to share the specific measurements of this tray and the compartments, as well as some assembly details, before going into the design specifics.

The outer measurement of the shadow box frame is 12.25 x 12.25 inches. A metal sheet is sandwiched between a top compartmentalized wood frame and a solid piece of wood. The metal layer holds the wood inserts with magnets that are applied by a simple peel and stick method to the back of the wood inserts. The wood inserts are easy to pop in and out of the frame. This feature allows one frame to be used all year long, swapping the inserts with the changing seasons. The frame is nearly 5/8 inches thick, so after adding the wood inserts and the magnets, there is about a 1/4 inch of space to the top edge of the frame. This means there is plenty of room for thicker and/or layered embellishments!

Wood Insert Measurements (1/8 inch MDF, 6 Total)

• 2.5 x 11.25 inches (1)
• 4 x 3.25 inches (2)
• 4 x 5x5 inches (2)
• 4 x 4 inches (1)

Note: This shadow box can be altered in any orientation if you are designing with blank wood inserts and not a specific shadow box kit. Aligning the long rectangular compartment on the side of the box worked best for the photos I had.
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Magnetic Shadow Box Design Details

I added a photo of my daughters to the center of the box. The My Mind's Eye Gingham Gardens Ephemera Pack contains a great selection of die-cuts that were fun to layer on top of my pictures.

I created a layered title spot directly above the center square of the box using die-cuts from the Ephemera Pack and stickers from the Collection Kit. I used 3D foam adhesive squares to add dimension and separation to the words in the title.

I combined stickers and die-cuts to make small journaling spots. Once again, I used 3D Foam adhesive to help separate the embellishemnts from the base of each insert.

There are several different sizes of tags in the Ephemera Pack. Tags are an easy way to quickly add an additional pattern to a project. I topped the tag with a simple twine bow to add some texture.

I created a layered journaling spot next to the title. I trimmed away the white border on many of the die-cut ephemera pieces so I could layer them the way I wanted to fit inside the compartments.

Lastly, I tied a piece of ribbon around the frame. This ribbon serves two purposes. First, I like the rich dark green color and the contrasting texture. Second, and more importantly, I used this ribbon as the base for a large die-cut and sticker embellishment cluster. I wanted to decorate the top of the frame to add another layer of interest to this piece. The ribbon is able to easily slide off the frame, so when I change the wood inserts for a new holiday, I can also remove the embellishments that coordinate with this frame.

I hope I have inspired you today. I you have any questions about working with this magnetic shadow box, please leave me a note in the comments section and I'll be happy to answer.

If you're looking for a fun shadow box kit, there are a couple to choose from in the Clique Store:
Limited Edition Kit - Baby Shadow Box Bundle
​Limited Edition Kit - Spring Shadow Box Bundle