Glittering Forest Shadow Box

I am in the middle of revamping my Christmas decorations.  I've had the same things pretty much since I got married and I'm ready for a bit of a change.  Unfortunately my wallet can't sustain everything I'd love to buy but it did send me on a mission to see what I could DIY.

I ran across this link for a tree shadow box that I fell in love with.  I was determined to do it so I started checking out the links they gave and by the time I added it all up, it was just under $150!!!  Uh...no.  So I went to a few craft stores to see how much shadowboxes were and the ones I found didn't seem deep enough to accommodate the trees.  So I went to my plan B.  A day later, an antique store posted some small drawers they had on their Facebook page so I thought we'd go check it out.  As luck would have it, the dude seriously under priced them because he thought the small drawers were pieces of crap and sold me one for $5.  Score!!  With the main piece out of the way, I began scouring for the other items I needed to make my own...

I already had on hand some Looking Glass spray paint that I never used for another project.

I hopped on Amazon and ordered Dept 56 Village Collections Bag-O-Frosted Topiaries/Trees and 20 Copper Wire LED Lights.  I had some batting on hand as well as clear glitter so those were free to me. (affiliate links) 

I grabbed my loverly drawer...okay, not so loverly yet.

I went out to the garage workshop and covered the trash can work table with plastic and got ready to spray.

After one gagging coat, I came inside to try to exhale the noxious fumes.  That spray paint is NO JOKE, if you use that particular kind, use a paint mask with filters.

When I was done spray painting and it was dry, I removed the hardware off of the drawer.

I drilled a hole through the back corner to slip the string lights through.

I fired up the lights to make sure they worked before threading it through and taping it in place only to find out there was an issue.

The end of the string lights look like this.  Why does it make me want to lick the end on a dare??

I strung it through the hole I drilled.

Luckily the drawer depth was enough that I'd be able to secure the battery pack without it sticking out.

I taped the wires randomly with invisible tape so they'd stay in place.

Then I started to get an idea of how I wanted to arrange the trees before getting to work.

But before I got down to business, I wanted mine to have a little extra sparkle in the light so I grabbed my mod podge and clear glitter and added some to the trees.

When I got the arrangement in my head, I grabbed some batting and folded it in half for a little fluff and when I knew I wanted a tree, I cut an X with scissors so I could slip the base inside.

Like so.

I repeated it with all of the trees and then I super glued them down giving each one time to dry before moving on with the next one.

All secure and ready to roll!

Then it was time to clean up the ragged edge on the front...

I folded the edge under and super glued it down in sections giving it time to dry in between.

It was time to break out the paint to pretty up the outside of the drawer.

You could use paint or if you want to put scrapbooking paper down on it or gift wrap, I would do that before get started on all of the stuff on the inside.

Because I'm a sucker for the gleam of newly fallen snow that sparkles like diamonds in the light, I put various patches of mod podge down on the batting and sprinkled them with clear glitter.

I secured the battery pack to the back of the drawer in the corner so it would be easy to grab.

It just happened to fill a blank space in our bedroom on the dresser and has been a perfect tranquil scene to look as when we're relaxing after a workout.

The lights are BRIGHT so it would be brighter than a night light but still relaxing and can be used all through the winter, not just Christmas.  I'm going to see if I can find a little retro reindeer to put in there for Christmas.

I know it's not quite as chic as the one I saw but for $24 over $144, I'd call it a success!

Linked up with Blesser House, French Country Cottage, The Shabby Nest,  Tater Tots and Jello, 

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