Shadowbox Flower

This is the story of a sad little shadowbox frame that has been sitting on the window seat in my kitchen ever since I moved in. It used to have a cute porcelain sunflower in it (with this fabulous Japanese print background) that was just a little thicker than the shadowbox is deep so I had the back hot-glued on. It worked in the kitchen of my old apartment (and I LOVED it; I wish I had a picture), but the move broke the hot glue seal and the back came off, and I never got around to fixing it. Now my vision for this house has taken me away from mustard yellow accents...t o pinks. Much to my husband's dismay - ok, actually I don't think it really bothers him. What a keeper! I think he'll be ok only as long as the pinks remain the accents rather than the dominant color.
But back to the story. I found these to-die-for silk flowers (silk flowers? yuck! I know, right, but I sold out. Just goes to show you, never say never), but I couldn't quite decide how to display them. The decor in my house is coming along so so slowly. Today I had a brainstorm, and of course couldn't wait to put it into action.

So, start with a shadowbox. Size is irrelevant depending on what you're putting in it. Mine has a mat, but again, that's optional.


Disassemble it. All of it. The mat, the frame, the back, the glass, the little square that ensures the mat stays at the back of the frame. All of it.


Now switch gears to your flower. Isn't this one gorgeous? (OK, you can see the one I'm actually using in the top of this picture, but I forgot to take a pic before I did the next step, so I'm showing this step on my other flower.)


Next take your wire cutters, take a deep breath, and cut the stem off about 1 1/2" - 2" from the base of the flower. Then use pliers to turn the stem so it lays flat along the bottom of the flower (this will make more sense in a few pictures).


And back to the frame. My flower it big enough to cover the empty space behind the mat, so I just used white printer paper. If yours is smaller, use a coordinating colored paper. Tape the paper to the front side of the back of the frame. Make sense?


Then place the mat. No need for tape here.


I used red tape on the bottom of the flower to secure it to the paper. The color only really matters depending on whether it will show or not. In this pic, you should be able to more clearly see what I meant about bending the stem stub back.


Then tape the flower to the backing paper (NOT the mat; you want to be able to change it out easily when you get bored!), and you're so close to done!


This next step is a little tricky because my flower is thick enough that I've decided to forgo the glass. But that means I need to support my frame up a little higher so I have room to put the backing on the frame. So I grabbed my super-expensive, made just for this kind of project, lifts.


See? Deluxe.


Put the backing in (remember, no glass unless you have enough room), turn it over and voila! Sorry the lighting isn't the best, but I think you get the idea.


Cost estimate:
shadowbox frame - I had it on hand, but I saw one at the thrift store the other day for about $2. Or you could splurge and get one for $10 at Target.
flower - on hand, but originally $5 at hobby lobby (but I always buy my silk flowers when they're 50% off, which is about every other week, so it was $2.50 several months ago).
Tape, printer paper - on hand

Total:
FREE!

I'll be linking my the parties on the left.


OK, quick question. I found this gorgeous dress at the thrift store yesterday (it's a little less, um, vibrant in person), and at first I was planning to use it for a throw pillow or two because it's a few sizes too big. But it's just SO cute. Should I try to alter it (which I've never successfully done, so it's iffy, and would then only be able to wear once a month when I'm not preggo), or turn it into a pillow sham (to add to my eclectic throw pillow collection and be enjoyed daily? (Don't worry, there will be more colors in that collection than pinks. Pinky swear. (Ha! Seriously. No pun intended. But I love it.)

Thoughts? Obviously I'm leaning toward the throw pillow sham. But if someone had a compelling enough argument, I certainly wouldn't MIND a cute dress. Oh, and keep in mind that I would need to salvage enough material to add sleeves (without losing length. Riiiiiight.).