Finding frames for artwork and photos is easy, with standard sizes available everywhere. Shadow box frames are a different story. Many require odd shapes, and depth necessary may be anything from a fraction of an inch to several inches. Some of larger Art supply outlets and Craft stores carry a limited supply of shadow box frames. Custom frame shops can design one to your requirements, but cost can easily run to several hundred dollars for larger frames.

Shadow box frames can be divided into 3 categories (B)1. Shallow frames, ranging up to 1/2 inch or so.

These can often use "off shelf" frames. Objects such as coins, metals, ribbons etc. usually do not require more than 3/8 to 1/2 inch of depth, and many normal frames will accommodate this. Some frames also come with a "double" rabbet and are usually for oil paintings. These can allow up to 1 1/2 inches of depth. Standards size "off shelf" frames are relatively inexpensive.

2. True shadow box (solid wood) frames.

These will allow depths of 4 inches or more, depending on design. A rabbet is usually put on bottom of frame for installation of back. Shadow box frames take a lot of high quality wood, are difficult to obtain, and generally quite expensive. The inner sides and back usually need to be decorated with a covering material, often matboard or similar materials.

3. Display boxes which fit into "off shelf" frames.

Display boxes are made to fit into rabbet of a normal frame. They normally come pre-lined with mat or paper materials and you can add your own lining if required. If used with a true Shadow box frame, steps of decorating sides and back are eliminate, and disassembly is easy. The advantage is that a very nice frame can be turned into a shadow box of any depth quite inexpensively. The back of display box will jut out from back of frame used, so a wide frame is desireable. Display boxes are normally manufactured for specific purposes, and thus are difficult to obtain.

Lining Shadow box frame 1. If mats are to be used, sides of frame may not be seen. Also, glass and mats can be held in by using framing points. Thus no work is required on sides.

2. If mats are not used, sides should be lined first with foamcore, and then with matboard or some other decorative material. (Wall paper, colored paper etc.) The top edge of foamcore will press against glass and hold it in place. Double sided tape or glue will hold foamcore and lining in place. Be sure foamcore and lining is not thicker than width of rabbet, or it will be seen from front of frame.

3. The rear of box requires a material less than 1/4 inch deep, or width of rabbet at bottom of frame. Thin plywood or a similar material is fine, but 3/16" foamcore is one of better materials. It is very smooth, and easy to attach to a lining. Use matboard or a similar material to line back and attach it with double sided tape or glue.

Oftentimes, you are one glaring missing light in your scrapbook albums. Simply because you're so caught up with hiding behind camera and being a fixated shutterbug. Either that or you're tied up scrapbooking about others that you missed out on scrapbooking about yourself.

Somehow, it's happening too frequently.

Ever thought about why you should take a step back and start scrapbooking about yourself? Ever wonder how scrapbooking about "you" could bring out shine in you?

Come on, you are special, there's no way to deny it. Rare like a diamond. Just probably covered up in layers and needed some polishing to bring out natural shine. And scrapbooking is a powerful method to reveal rareness in you.

There's so many glowing benefits to creating scrapbooks all about you:

1) Leaving Behind an Everlasting Legacy

For people who will never get chance of meeting and knowing you, your scrapbooks about yourself will leave behind memories of you as a person. It's a mean of letting them discover and know about you.

I once read of a mother who was seized with terminal stage of cancer. In her final days, instead of resting, she struggled to put together scrapbook albums of herself. Why? Just so that her two very young toddlers will get to know about mommy whom they'll never see in person again. The scrapbooks will be constant reminders to kids of their mommy's love for them and her thoughts about them.

It's a heart-wrenching story, but it's a wake up call that you don't have an eternity. You have to take steps now to make time to leave behind a part of who you are. Like they said, "You'll never know"...

2) Showing World of You as an Individual

Yes, besides being known as scrapbooker who so lovingly and tenderly put together family scrapbooks, your children and present or future grandchildren would want to know how you look like. They'll wonder "How did Granny Kate look like when she's a baby? And what did she look like when she's a young woman?"

You're likely to have same curiosity of your ancestors too. So do showcase your changing faces or appearances throughout years or decades. Come out from behind your camera, and ask or plead with someone else to take over role of photographer.

You are important and you need to be in those pages.

3) Revealing Real You