Ideas for Shadow Box Frames With Race Cars

Use layering and multiple elements to make the shadow box interesting and creative.car race image by Oxlock from Fotolia.com

The advantage of a shadow box is that you can include many objects and elements to embellish the race cars. Create interest value by staggering objects to add dimension and depth. Use small pieces of foam core board or cardboard to make the race cars stand out from other objects you include inside of the frame. Play around with placing objects at different heights and different positions to create a masterpiece.

Pictures of Racing Legends

Find pictures on the Internet of racing and NASCAR legends like Mario Andretti, Richard Petty and Willie T. Ribbs, the first African American NASCAR driver. Mount pictures in the back of the shadow box frame. Include small cards with their names and accomplishments. Mount miniature replicas of the cars they drove.

Go on the Internet and pull news clippings about Formula series cars, the manufacturers and drivers. Shrink the articles to a miniature size and mount them on a piece of heavy card stock. Take small pieces of cork and give the articles a raised effect to the background of the frame. Mount the race cars next to the articles.

Take pictures of yourself, family and friends enjoying the races to add to the shadow box. Get creative and make miniature paper doll-like cutouts so you can put yourself inside or standing next to the cars. If you’re skilled in photo editing, put your head on the body of a famous racer, cut out the picture and place yourself next to the race car.

Search for trivia facts about the cars you're displaying. Include small cards that identify all of the racetracks the car ran on. List the type of motor and tires on the car. Identify sponsors of the car and how much the car cost to produce. Include flags used for signaling in races.

Take advantage of the depth of shadow boxes to create multiple mats. Race cars can be individually matted. Use maps as a creative mat instead of a traditional white or colored mat.

Create a shadow box that displays famous race cars through the decades. Get cars from the 1960’s to the present. Include small photos of other historical markers, such as miniature news clippings, photographs and cards that highlight things that were taking place in history, like the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in 1969, the introduction of the Apple computer in 1984, compact discs and cell phones in the 1990s, and the election of President Barack Obama in 2008.