I am all about personalized decor, so when I was asked by a good friend to make a Disney inspired DIY shadow box, I was thrilled!
Supplies you will need
- Shadow box: you can alway make your own, but I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby when they were 50% off. So if your shadow box is not on sale this week, try again next week!
- Dixie Belle paint: I used Cotton for the background. We wanted to go with a very clean white. I also used Soft Pink, Caviar, and Boss primer in white. To seal the sign, I used Clear Flat Coat sealer.
- Mixed Media Compound: I used my 40% coupon on this item.
- Pink rosettes
- Glitter cardstock of your choice
- Silhouette or Cricut personal cutter or a good pair of scissors and a steady hand to cut the bow
- Disney-inspired SVG design and bow: I purchased mine from a fellow Etsy seller for my outline.
- Stencil with the name to be used for this designs. Click here to see how I use contact paper for my stencils with Silhouette.
- 220 Grit Sand block, paint brushes. small spatula or butter knife.
First Step
The first step in making your own DIY shadow box is to remove the backing, set the frame and glass aside in a safe place.
The shadow box backboard is what you will use to apply the personalized design and embellishments too.
Second step
Since this board is unfinished and the background of this sign will be white, I wanted to ensure none of the board peeked through.
To prevent this, I wiped down the backing from any dirt or dust and then applied with a brush, Dixie Belle’s Boss primer in white.
As soon as the primer is dry, I painted 2 light coats of Dixie Belle’s Cotton.
When the background paint was dry, I added my stencil. My stencil included the mouse head without the bow and Lili’s name.
Tip: Click here to see how I apply stencils along with a tip on how I ensure my stencils are centered each time.
I painted Lili’s name in Caviar and the mouse head in Soft Pink.
Even though the mouse head is going to be covered with the Pink Rosettes, I painted the background in Soft Pink to help guide me where to place the rosettes.
When the paint is completely dry, I lightly sanded the stencil with my 220 grit sand block before removing the stencil.
Lightly scuffing the stencil after the paint is dry will help to prevent the paint being pulled up when the stencil is being removed.
Now, we are ready to apply two light coats of sealer.
Third Step in making your own DIY shadow box
Time to add the rosettes!
Here we will need our mixed media compound, Matte Super Heavy Gel Medium and spatula.
In the video below, I made another smaller stencil to place over the mouse head to guide where I put a layer of Mixed media compound.
I do not believe this step is necessary so I am going to leave this step out of these written directions.
Instead follow the directions in the very next couple of sentences.
The rosettes have green stems that need to be cut off and I ended up needing only half of the rosettes that came in the pack for this project.
Using the spatula, apply the medium gel compound to the backside of the rosette and place the rosette on the backboard, starting with outlining the mouse head first.
Tip: After completing this step, I realized it would have been easier to outline the head with rosettes first and then work my way to the middle. When the mouse head is filled in, then do the same with each ear.
The bow
The SVG design I purchased for the mouse head also had a bow design. I used the glitter card stock for the mouse’s bow.
Since this glittered card stock is very thick, I used my Silhouette cutter with mat to cut this design for me.
I had to do several practice cuts to get it to cut deep enough and to cut completely through.
I ended up using the settings “Corrugated paper” in Silhouette and increased the passes to 5.
It’s important to note also, my Silhouette knife was already getting dull and needed changed and that may have been why I had issues.
Once I found the proper settings, it cut perfectly.
When the bow is cut, apply the bow with glue to the rosettes.
I applied the mixed media compound to the 1/3 bottom of the backside on this bow.
Then I carefully placed this to the top of the mouse head and in between her ears and let this set and dry.
Final Step
When everything is assembled, clean the inside of framed of the shadow box and glass before reassembling the shadow box.
Now it’s time to show off your DIY shadow box!
To see how I completed this step by step in my private facebook group, MPD tribe, just Click below!
Would you like to see her sister sign? Click here!
Any questions let me know and I would love to see your personalized shadow boxes!
Join us at MPD TRIBE
When you become a MPD tribe member don’t forget to join my private Facebook group, MPD Tribe.
Each week I go live to work on projects and craft.
I would love for you to join the MPD Tribe!
MPD Tribe members receive a 25% discount and access to Monday Dollar Deals to my two Etsy stores, Midwest Market Studio.
As a member, you have access to my growing library of free cut files for you to craft with your Silhouette or Cricut personal cutter.
I also provide free Stock Photos or Mockups and video tutorials of crafting projects and tips for your Silhouette
Fill out the form below to join. Check your email for confirmation along with the password to the protected MPD Library.
Hope you have a great week and happy crafting!
xoxo
Melissa
