A shadow box is a simple but dramatic display case for a treasured object or a collection of souvenirs. After making your box, decorate the inside to suit its contents.

1 piece of 8-by-7-by-1/4-inch pine (for the back)

2 pieces of 6 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-1/2-inch pine (for the top and bottom)

2 pieces of 8-by-4 1/2-by-1/2-inch pine (for the sides)

Wood glue

Card stock

Large piece of silk

Double-sided tape

Paintbrush

White, clear-drying craft glue

Woven linen tape (in a color to complement silk)

Bone folder

Picture frame hooks

1. Lay the box's back on a flat surface. Spread wood glue along its perimeter, and attach the two side pieces and the two top and bottom pieces to form a square (see photo, left). Hold the pieces together with clamps or cord as glue dries. Secure corners with the finishing nails. Paint the outer surfaces of the box.

2. To line the box, measure the inside of the back panel; cut a piece of card stock to that size, subtracting 1/8 inch from each side to allow for the thickness of the silk. Drop this panel into the box to check that it fits with a slight margin all around it. Cut a piece of silk to match the dimensions of the cardstock plus an additional 1/2 inch all around. Center the silk on the cardstock, and attach with a few pieces of double-sided tape. Trim silk along diagonal lines at the four corners; wrap excess silk to the back of the card stock, and secure with tape. Glue silk-lined panel into the box. Using the same process, cut and cover card-stock panels for the inside walls, and glue them to the inside of the box.

3. With a paintbrush, apply white clear-drying craft glue to the front edges of the side pieces. Folding the corners on the bias as you go, lay 1/2 inch of woven linen tape along the glued edges. Smooth with a bone folder. Mount on the wall with picture-frame hooks.