Some Things Aren't Bought, They're Passed Down | Father's Day Layered Shadow Box Fishing Scene

Resize the design to fit an 11" x 14" shadow box frame or your preferred frame size.

Select the background scene layer (mountains, clouds, birds, lake, and landscape details) and engrave it onto 1/8" MDF or laser plywood. After engraving, apply a paint fill to highlight the engraved details. Once the paint has dried, lightly sand or clean the surface to remove excess paint and reveal the engraved artwork.

This layer serves as the foundation of the project and creates the detailed outdoor scenery that gives the finished shadow box its depth and character.

The second layer consists of the foreground tree line and shoreline details.

Cut the layer from 1/8" MDF or your preferred material. After cutting, remove any residue from the surface and edges. Once cleaned, apply a coat of leafy green spray paint to create contrast against the engraved background layer.

Allow the paint to fully dry before assembly. This layer adds depth, color, and dimension to the outdoor scene while helping frame the fishing silhouettes in the foreground.

The third layer contains the father, grandfather, and child fishing silhouettes that create the focal point of the design.

Cut this layer from 1/8" MDF. When removing the piece from the sheet, use extra care around the fishing rods, as they are thin and can be fragile. Gently remove the cutout and clean any residue from the edges if needed.

Once cleaned, apply a coat of black paint to create a strong silhouette effect. Allow the paint to fully dry before assembly.

This layer provides the depth and storytelling element that brings the entire scene together.

The final layer serves as the decorative top frame and nameplate.

Using maple veneer plywood, engrave the nameplate text area before cutting out the layer. The natural contrast created by the laser burn on maple veneer provided enough detail for this project, so no paint fill was necessary. If desired, you can paint fill the engraving for additional contrast.

Once the engraving is complete, cut the layer from the material and carefully remove it from the sheet. Clean any residue or soot from the surface and edges.

At this point, all laser cutting and engraving work is complete. The layers are now ready for final assembly inside the shadow box frame.

Begin assembly by placing the top nameplate frame into the shadow box first. Next, position the fishing silhouette layer behind the frame, followed by the tree line layer, and finally the engraved background scene layer.

For this project, I used an 11" x 14" Michaels shadow box frame. After installing all four layers, I found there was a small amount of extra space inside the frame. To eliminate movement, I glued a few small pieces of scrap 1/8" MDF to the back of the project as spacers. Once the spacers were in place, the frame backing fit snugly and could be secured using the factory clips.

After everything is assembled, clean the glass, take a few photos of your finished project, and most importantly—give it to Dad!

Happy Father's Day!

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