Collection Shadow Box

Over the last few months, I've slowly been decorating Ainsley's and Natalie's bedrooms. One of the things I wanted to make was a way to display the souvenir collections they started over the summer. Ainsley decided in Canada to start collecting keychains. I thought it'd be cute for her to display them in a shadow box but didn't really want to invest a lot of money. I came up with a solution by recycling some home decor signs I'm not longer using, but couldn't bear to throw away, just in case I could remake them some day. That day has arrived. 

My original thought was to paint over the front of them and pound nails in a grid. 

However, while handling them I realized I like the idea of using the back of them instead and turning them into a shadow box. I liked how they became frames instead of boards and that the keychains would be less likely to be bumped.  They were different colors on the backside, so I painted them with the taupe-ish spray paint I had on hand. I felt white was too bright. Not sure why, but I went with my gut. Then I touched up their frames with black acrylic paint in the kids' craft cabinet. 

I pounded in nails in two columns for each board and attached picture frame hangers to the back. 

Now Ainsley has two shadow boxes in her room to display all her keychains. 

Similarly, I wanted Natalie to have an easy way to display her souvenir pins. I purchased a large framed piece of art at the thrift store for $6.99. 

I thought through a few different options for the pins - pegboard, chicken-wire, and fabric. When I pulled the frame apart I had the brilliant idea to take the cardboard backing and paint it white. The pins would easily puncture it and I'd give a great background to display all the different types.  

When the girls arrived home from school and saw their collections proudly displayed on their walls they went nuts. They love them and I loved the look on their faces. Plus it's nice to know their souvenirs aren't thrown in a drawer somewhere getting lost. 

Do you have a collection? How do you display it?