Shadow Boxes

I finally decided to finish those shadow boxes I've been meaning to make for months; one for graduating High School, and one for graduating college.

Here's what I started with, got them for 40 or 50% off at one of Hobby Lobby's fabulous sales.



Tossed out some newspaper to protect my table and cutting mat for sewing, put 'er down and taped around the edges with painter's tape to keep paint from sticking to the glass..



I didn't want them to be just plain, flat black, so I mixed some gold shiny sparkly acrylic paint with the black acrylic paint, and painted like crazy..



Once these were dry, I touched up in spots and then turned the box over, taped the inside of the glass, and painted around the inside of the shadow box.

I had some scrap pieces of fake leather that were in a box of fabric I had.. so I cut a couple squares of them and duct taped them to the back of the frame.. I couldn't think of a more elegant way to do it, though I'm sure it has to exist somehow. Don't put batting underneath if you go this route though, because your material will be so think it will be impossible to get the back attached. Yes, it looks horrible. Do you have suggestions for it to not look horrible?



And here are the finished shadow boxes, though I'm afraid I'll have to go back and paint in those little brown spots I missed.





I attached most of the items with either sticky tape or straight pins.. the holders for my diplomas are not attached, they just rest in the bottom.