Christmas Shadow Boxes
Mini scenes with maximum glow!
The Set Up
This one is an all-time Smudge favourite, and it’s inspired by Paige and her incredible studio Hooray Art in Virginia. It has that rare mix of calm focus and total magic.
Create a small “sparkle bar” filled with Christmas-ready loose parts. Gems, beads, sequins, snowflakes, letter beads, dried petals, glitter, anything that catches the light and feels special. You’ll also need a raw wooden shadow box and watercolours for each artist.
Smudge Tip
Shallower boxes work best! Deep boxes encourage heavy layers of glue, which take much longer to dry and can stay cloudy. Raw ply boxes are just ideal as they’re affordable, light enough to hang, and soak up watercolour beautifully.
The Making
Invite the kids to paint the inside of their box (plus around the outside of the 'frame'). Liquid watercolours or palette watercolours both work so, so well. The wood grain still shows through, which adds warmth and depth once everything is layered on top.
While you leave the watercolours to dry, let each artist gather their chosen treasures into a small cup or bowl. This is such a lovely opportunity to discuss their ideas, with colour schemes or the feelings they want to portray about Christmas. Art curation is the best!
Then they'll need to pour a thin layer of clear glue into the base of the box, just enough to cover the surface and reach about one to two centimetres deep. Any more than that and drying time becomes a test of patience.
Now comes the extra fun part! Kids place their treasures one by one, adjusting, nudging, rearranging. They could build tiny festive scenes or scatter sparkles like snowfall. Letter beads are also perfect for meaningful messages or names or a line from a favourite carol.
Once finished, move the boxes somewhere warm to dry. Outdoors works beautifully if you’re in the southern hemisphere (like me!) and it's sunny at this time of year. Indoors is perfect too, as long as they’re left undisturbed (and flat!).
When fully dry, you can add a wire loop for hanging or attach magnetic strips to the back to add to the fridge.
Variations
Use a limited palette for a more tonal look, all whites and golds or icy blues and silvers.
Turn the boxes into gorgeous gifts by adding a small handwritten tag on the back.
Materials
Raw wooden shadow boxes
Liquid or palette watercolours
Clear glue or gum
Assorted Christmas loose parts
Small cups or bowls for collecting
Wire loops or magnetic strips for finishing
Back to Top
Christmas Shadow Boxes
Mini scenes with maximum glow!
Bookmark
Sculpture
The Set Up
This one is an all-time Smudge favourite, and it’s inspired by Paige and her incredible studio Hooray Art in Virginia. It has that rare mix of calm focus and total magic.
Create a small “sparkle bar” filled with Christmas-ready loose parts. Gems, beads, sequins, snowflakes, letter beads, dried petals, glitter, anything that catches the light and feels special. You’ll also need a raw wooden shadow box and watercolours for each artist.
Smudge Tip
Shallower boxes work best! Deep boxes encourage heavy layers of glue, which take much longer to dry and can stay cloudy. Raw ply boxes are just ideal as they’re affordable, light enough to hang, and soak up watercolour beautifully.
The Making
Invite the kids to paint the inside of their box (plus around the outside of the 'frame'). Liquid watercolours or palette watercolours both work so, so well. The wood grain still shows through, which adds warmth and depth once everything is layered on top.
While you leave the watercolours to dry, let each artist gather their chosen treasures into a small cup or bowl. This is such a lovely opportunity to discuss their ideas, with colour schemes or the feelings they want to portray about Christmas. Art curation is the best!
Then they'll need to pour a thin layer of clear glue into the base of the box, just enough to cover the surface and reach about one to two centimetres deep. Any more than that and drying time becomes a test of patience.
Now comes the extra fun part! Kids place their treasures one by one, adjusting, nudging, rearranging. They could build tiny festive scenes or scatter sparkles like snowfall. Letter beads are also perfect for meaningful messages or names or a line from a favourite carol.
Once finished, move the boxes somewhere warm to dry. Outdoors works beautifully if you’re in the southern hemisphere (like me!) and it's sunny at this time of year. Indoors is perfect too, as long as they’re left undisturbed (and flat!).
When fully dry, you can add a wire loop for hanging or attach magnetic strips to the back to add to the fridge.
Variations
Use a limited palette for a more tonal look, all whites and golds or icy blues and silvers.
Turn the boxes into gorgeous gifts by adding a small handwritten tag on the back.
Materials
Raw wooden shadow boxes
Liquid or palette watercolours
Clear glue or gum
Assorted Christmas loose parts
Small cups or bowls for collecting
Wire loops or magnetic strips for finishing
Back to Top
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Thoughts?
Would love to hear if youv'e tried this or have any ideas on how to make it even better!
