5 Budget-Friendly DIYs for Fall

Shadow Boxes

DIY 1 & 2 are both shadow boxes. I created both a large and small version. Both shadow box frames were laying around my home collecting dust. One I had used in the past, the other was never even opened. I picked up both frames from Ikea. Here I will share how I utilized the space in both frames.

Small Shadow Box Frame

Here are some of the supplies that I used for both shadow boxes. For the small, I’m using this small frame from Ikea and 1 2-tiered foam pumpkin from The Dollar Tree.

Step 1.

Disassemble the one 2-tiered pumpkin.

Step 2.

Cut both smaller and larger pumpkins in half. Set aside the large halves and all other pieces. They will be used later.

Step 3:

Spray paint small halves white and allow to dry

Step 4:

Paint on black horizontal stripes

Step 5:

Insert a toothpick into the top of the pumpkin halves and snip the top to shorten it.

Step 6:

I used a piece of foil to form the stem of the pumpkin.

Step 7:

Remove the stems and paint them gold

Step 8:

Add gold glitter to the wet paint.

Step 9:

Place the stems back onto the pumpkins.

Step 10:

Paint the leaves from the tiered pumpkin gold.

Step 11:

Disassemble the shadow box frame.

Step 12:

Flip the picture insert that comes with the frame face down and lay the border insert on top.

Step 13:

Trace around the inside of the border on the picture insert.

Step 14:

Paint inside the square with a base color and allow to dry. The cover that base color with a top color.
I chose black and pink as my colors because it was the only paint I could find on-hand.

Step 15:

I spray painted the frame box gold

Step 16:

Now it’s time for re-assembly. I’ve gathered all of my painted items.

Step 17:

I placed the frame border of the painted pink square.

Step 18:

Starting with the leaves, I hot glue items onto the square and border.

Step 19:

Once all items are glued in place, I put the frame back together.

Step 20:

Here you have the completed small shadow box.

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