This project was inspired by those overly large ornaments that hang in department stores and various other places. I wanted to create something ornament shaped and large, so I let some half-formed ideas rattle around in my brain for a while and this is what came out.
First, cut two squares of 1/4 in plywood to measure 16x16”. They will be the front and back of the shadow box.
Next, cut a large ornament shape from paper and trace it onto the center of one of the squares.
Cut some scrap wood strips to measure 14.5” in length. They will be glued to the other square of plywood to create the back wall of the piece.
Next, glue the pieces onto the plywood backing, using heavy objects to clamp the wood strips down. Leave 3/4 in of space all the way around so the frame can be “sandwiched” between the front and back pieces of plywood.
When glue has dried, lay out your frame around the scrap wood strips.
Glue / nail the frame together at the corners.
Flip everything over, and attach the backing to the frame.
Front panel cut out: I used a table saw to ensure a perfectly straight line for the ornament “string”.
Cut out along the traced line with the scroll saw.
Sand any rough edges.
Attach front panel cutout piece to the frame.
For added effect, install some battery operated Christmas lights to the back of the front panel. (I used painter’s tape because it’s easy to remove.)
…and there you have it! A unique holiday mantel display for the love of overly-large ornaments. Thanks for reading! *This tutorial was sponsored by RYOBI Power Tools. All opinions are my own and they are real, made so by my own real life experience. Thank you. :)
This project was inspired by those overly large ornaments that hang in department stores and various other places. I wanted to create something ornament shaped and large, so I let some half-formed ideas rattle around in my brain for a while and this is what came out.
First, cut two squares of 1/4 in plywood to measure 16x16”. They will be the front and back of the shadow box.
Next, cut a large ornament shape from paper and trace it onto the center of one of the squares.
Cut some scrap wood strips to measure 14.5” in length. They will be glued to the other square of plywood to create the back wall of the piece.
Next, glue the pieces onto the plywood backing, using heavy objects to clamp the wood strips down. Leave 3/4 in of space all the way around so the frame can be “sandwiched” between the front and back pieces of plywood.
When glue has dried, lay out your frame around the scrap wood strips.
Glue / nail the frame together at the corners.
Flip everything over, and attach the backing to the frame.
Front panel cut out: I used a table saw to ensure a perfectly straight line for the ornament “string”.
Cut out along the traced line with the scroll saw.
Sand any rough edges.
Attach front panel cutout piece to the frame.
For added effect, install some battery operated Christmas lights to the back of the front panel. (I used painter’s tape because it’s easy to remove.)
…and there you have it! A unique holiday mantel display for the love of overly-large ornaments. Thanks for reading! *This tutorial was sponsored by RYOBI Power Tools. All opinions are my own and they are real, made so by my own real life experience. Thank you. :)
