Here’s a shadowbox I created for our wedding. It includes some photographs of us on our wedding day, the pen from our guest book, a bracelet I wore, plus flowers from my bouquet and his boutonniere.
It also includes the pocket watch my husband carried on our wedding day, just as his father and grandfather before him did. I also displayed the sixpence from my shoe (something old, something new, a sixpence for your shoe), the silver fortune cookie my husband used to propose and some pretty ribbon from our wedding decor.
This shadowbox is full of special memories, and it also makes for an attractive piece of artwork in our bedroom.
It’s great fun to create a memory box display, but I think shadowboxes can be used for so much more. In fact, I have several in our bedroom that I use as accessory storage.
This one showcases some of my vintage jewelry, items I’ve collected over the years and that have been passed down to me by my grandmothers, mother and other family members.
I like shadowboxes that are hinged, so you can easily open them to access the contents.
The jewelry is held in place by pearl hat pins. So when I want to wear a piece, I just unpin it. At the end of the night, I return it to its place.
I bought my shadowboxes years ago at a Pottery Barn clearance sale, so this particular style is no longer available. But you’ll find lots of shadowboxes at Pottery Barn, Target, Exposures, Michaels or you could build your own.
The Ikea Ribba frames are another good option for smaller displays, even though they’re not hinged. I have also used them for artistic and holiday displays.
I think vintage costume jewelry and handbags, like this flapper purse that belonged to my grandmother’s sister, are too pretty to be hidden in a closet.
When you showcase them in a shadowbox, they become works of art. The professional organizers I watch on TV always say that you need to give keepsakes a place of honor rather than shoving them into a drawer or a box to be forgotten.
Is there a collection that you could be honoring? Why not display it in a shadowbox so you can enjoy it and share it with the world.
I hope I’ve inspired you to think outside the box — or rather inside the shadowbox — when it comes to decorating and creating artwork for your home.
I share a new home decor project or idea every month here at seven thirty three.
Last month, I showed you how to create gilded seashells using gold leaf and liquid gilding.
I hope you’ll come visit me at my blog, Atta Girl Says, too. I host a weekly link party with three other bloggers, beginning every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. EDT, and we’d love to have you share your home-related projects and recipes. This week, I’m giving away a $150 gift card to HomeGoods, Target or World Market.
I also share lots of decorating ideas, crafts, recipes and furniture makeovers on my blog, so come by to see what I’m up to during the rest of the month. You can also follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Until next month, happy decorating.
These are just gorgeous, I love them all and that blue table they are displayed on is fantastic!
Cynthia