Memory/shadow box

[Mcmomof3]

I’m making a shadow box as a surprise for my siblings with items I gathered while cleaning out our parents house. I’ve had the four boxes made (17x 20) but not sure how to mount it all. Especially the wood paneling samples which are not super light. The picture is a first attempt at organizing the display. But not sure how to proceed. I’ll be glad for any advice!

 

[Ylva]

Welcome to the G
If you want to preserve them for a very long time, you need to know techniques that you might not know if you're not a framer (can't tell from your profile)
Formed rod mounts, mylar strips, crepeline/tule, sewing are all materials used in conservation object framing.

 

[Mcmomof3]

Not a framer at all!! Just a little crafty and want to surprise my siblings. They have no idea I grabbed this stuff.
Honestly don’t know about conservation framing for this. It’s more of a remembrance of our old house (which was bulldozed to make way for an huge new house) and some items I know my siblings will recognize. I like the idea of a black velvety back but wonder how I’ll hang/secure the wood paneling pieces if the box has a fabric backing.

 

[Ylva]

Depending on how heavy the paneling is. You can glue them to coroplast. Drill a hole in the panel and screw them into a backing board.
Conservation framing means that items can always be removed safely, in case that is ever needed. Once you glue something, it will either stick forever, get brittle and drop, or yellow with possible contamination to other pieces

 

[tedh]

Some ideas: ask your local framer for some assistance:

Prep a design to give you a rough size.
Ask them to sell you some foam core and mat board cut to your dimensions.
Glue these together with a thin layer of white glue and lots of weights. White side out, leave it weighted overnight.
Your design should use parts of the fabrics as backgrounds, along with the panelling. Your best approach is to ask the framer to mount these materials to your glued board. When you get it back, your background is complete. Your framer should have mounted the fabrics using either Trimount or Fusion 4000 in a drymount press.
Stitch the pieces to the board, using the right colours of thread, then figure out if you’d be happy with the “hard” pieces glued to the backing. If not, use a thin wire. Not sure how to mount the shells, so others here may help.

You’re done. Take it to the framer for framing, or, if you went with a stock size, you may find a deep frame/glass package at a craft store.

Looks like you want to do it yourself, but if you want to do it right, work with your framer. If I had a customer come to me with this request, I’d gladly help.