05 Dec Minature Christmas Shadow Box

This week’s Dollar Tree DIY is pure holiday magic!

Pop into your local Dollar Tree to grab a few simple wooden craft supplies, ‘cuz we have a project that’ll turn them into a 3D shadow box scene that looks like it came straight from a Christmas storybook! Fill it with layers of festive paper, sparkly details, and a pop-up card at the center (or whatever bits and bobs fit your fancy!). The end result is an adorable handmade masterpiece filled with colorful textures and cheerful charm.

It’s the perfect way to capture a little wonder of the season and bring it to life right inside your home.

You’ll need…

• Wood craft picture frame with 4×4 inch opening
• 4×4 inch square wood box
• Festive scrapbook paper (at least 8×11 inches in size)
• Small 3D Christmas card
• Ribbons and trims in holiday colors
• Green or red waterproof marker
• Mod Podge and brush
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Scissors

1. Cut out a piece of scrapbook paper the size of your picture frame. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the front of your frame and attach the paper to the frame. Press the paper into place and gently smooth out any wrinkles.
2. Cut a big X into the middle of the frame’s opening and remove as much of the paper as possible. If you’d like, you can leave a bit of paper along the inner edges, fold them in and glue them in place to give the edges a more finished look.
3. (Optional) Pick out a permanent marker that coordinates with the paper you chose and use it to color the sides of the frame. But if you like the look of the bare wood around the edges, you can skip this step.
4. Find a coordinating paper and cut out a size that fits inside the back and one side of the wood box. Glue these in place with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
5. Use scissors to remove the 3D portion of the holiday card. You’ll need to include a bit of excess paper where the 3D image pops off the card that you can turn into little tabs. Be sure the design fits nicely into your box. If need be, add embellishments or trim to the 3D design that are easier to attach now, before placing it into the shadow box.
6. Once you’re ready, fold the tabs over and glue the 3D design to the inside of the box. Add more embellishments, buttons, stars, small figurines, bottle brush trees, etc. as needed.

This project is SO fun! And you’ll love how surprisingly easy it is to make a cute tiny Christmas scene captured in a frame. It’s a creative and festive way to bring a little sparkle into your home this season.

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