Let’s make your first shadowbox
A beginner’s guide to layered shadow box art
Learn how to create a layered paper shadow box from start to finish - with simple tools, step-by-step guidance, and a focus on process and structure.
What You’ll Learn?
1. Draw & Paint
Create your design from scratch and bring it to life with watercolours. You'll learn how to sketch the individual elements, paint the base colours, and add depth to make each piece feel more vibrant.
4. Glue Everything Together
Arrange and glue each layer step by step, from the backgrounds to the smallest details. I'll share my process for creating depth while keeping everything neat and aligned.
2. Cut Everything Out
Turn your painted artwork into individual paper pieces. I'll show you how to cut each element cleanly and accurately using a craft knife for crisp, professional-looking results.
5. Add details
Bring your artwork to life with the finishing touches. We'll use watercolours, liner pens, and coloured pencils to add texture, highlights, shadows, and extra character.
3. Make the Frame
Build a sturdy shadow box frame that will hold all your layers together. You'll learn how to assemble the frame pieces and prepare them for the finished artwork.
6. Assemble the Shadow Box
Complete your project by stacking and assembling all the layers into a finished shadow box, ready to frame, display, or gift.
Let’s make your first shadowbox
About your instructor
Hi, I'm Marina, a paper artist based in the Netherlands, best known for my layered shadow box artworks inspired by nature.
I love exploring paper art in many different forms, from single-sheet papercutting and collage to creative upcycling projects using cardboard and other paper materials.
My work combines hand-painted watercolour and gouache elements with careful paper cutting and layering to transform flat paintings into dimensional scenes full of depth and detail.
Over the years, I've developed a process that makes this technique approachable while still leaving plenty of room for creativity and personal style.
Through this guide, I'm excited to share everything I've learned- from planning and painting to cutting, layering, and assembling a finished shadow box - so you can create your own nature-inspired artwork with confidence.
My hope is that you'll not only learn a new technique, but also discover the quiet, relaxing joy of working with paper.
Your Questions, Answered
-
This course is for creative people who enjoy working with their hands and would like to explore a new medium.
No prior experience with shadow box art is needed.
If you’re familiar with crafts like drawing, painting, or paper work, that may help - but it is by no means required. -
We will be creating a small postcard-sized (A6) layered shadow box from scratch.
The project is a simple floral composition designed to help you understand layering, depth, and assembly - while still leaving room for your own creative choices.
The goal of this course is to give you a clear and repeatable process that you can later adapt to your own ideas and projects.
-
2.5 hours of real-time video showing the complete process from start to finish
Step-by-step explanations of each stage of the process
Practical tips on materials, layering, painting, and assembly
Printable templates for the shadow box frames
-
The course is divided into short lessons that follow the complete process of creating a layered shadow box.
Throughout the videos, I work on one artwork from start to finish while explaining each step, decision, and technique along the way - including drawing, cutting, layering, and assembly.
The videos are recorded in English.
-
Not necessarily. This course focuses more on process, layering, and construction than on drawing skills. Having drawing and painting skills will definitely help - but they are by no means required.
-
You’ll only need a few basic tools:
Paper suitable for painting and cutting
A craft knife and cutting mat
Basic paints (watercolor or gouache)
Glue or double-sided tape
A full materials overview is included in the course.
Access to a printer is also very helpful, since I provide printable templates for the shadow box frames.
-
You can reach me anytime via my contact page or email:
hi@marinapapercuts.nlI aim to respond quickly - usually within one business day.
Let’s make your first shadowbox
A beginner’s guide to layered shadow box art
Learn how to create a layered paper shadow box from start to finish - with simple tools, step-by-step guidance, and a focus on process and structure.