For my latest miniature book, I wanted to have a shadowbox at the end. To match the size of the “secrets” at the end of my other miniature season-themed books, it needed to be 3/16″ deep, 2-3/4″ square and I would have to be able to successfully make 20 or so of them.
I tried cutting the frame out of foam core first, but getting a good cut wasn’t really possible, the cut edges were ragged even with a new xacto blade. I tried a mat cutter, but the dimensions were too small. On top of that the edges are white and ugly, so I would have to cover them with paper. So I tried covering the foam core with a paper that matched my cover paper. But when I looked inside the window, I could see the paper, however obliquely, and I didn’t like that either.
I showed my husband what I was doing, and he suggested I try balsa wood, since it comes in 3/16″ square lengths. I bought a length at the hobby store and gave it a try. My idea was to cut pieces, glue them together with super glue to make the frame, and then cover with paper, but leave the inside edges uncovered. The wood is soft and I couldn’t get a clean cut with my xacto knife, so the super glue didn’t adhere. My husband to the rescue again — he suggested I use his band saw, which let me set up a jig to make perfect cuts of the correct length. I’ve made about 10 already (super-glued, covered in paper, with the photo and window frame attached as shown in the photo above), and they’ve all come out quite nicely. Mission accomplished!
Great solution!