Shadow boxes

footballwife77

Hi, I don't often visit this board- but i'm not sure where to put this. We finally finished our wedding shadow boxes and got them hung up about a week or so ago. As i'm sitting here, the sun is shinning in- i'm starting to panic. The wall we put it on faces the west. So in the evening the light hits that wall from the windows that are directly opposite of the shadowbox wall. Will the sun ruin the items we have in the shadow boxes? I know that that's why you put your wedding dress in a garment bag away from sunlight.

p.s. Does anyone know how to start a poll?

Sue-n-Kevin

I know that sunshine on any item will eventually change it, but how long that will take could depend on the makeup of the item. Would being in the direct sunlight make it age faster than if it were on, say, a south wall? Maybe.

It appears from the photo you posted that you are probably speaking of clothing items. Fabrics change over time regardless of whether they are kept in a bottom drawer nicely wrapped in tissue paper or on a wall with the sunshine hitting them. They might change faster out in the sunshine behind glass, but are you ever intending on wearing them again? My point is this: They are going to yellow with age whether you have them on a south wall or west wall. If the speed of this aging bothers you, then move them. But you aren't going to be able to stop the aging problem permantly, you'll just delay the process.

Good luck.

footballwife77

Sue-n-Kevin said:

I know that sunshine on any item will eventually change it, but how long that will take could depend on the makeup of the item. Would being in the direct sunlight make it age faster than if it were on, say, a south wall? Maybe.

It appears from the photo you posted that you are probably speaking of clothing items. Fabrics change over time regardless of whether they are kept in a bottom drawer nicely wrapped in tissue paper or on a wall with the sunshine hitting them. They might change faster out in the sunshine behind glass, but are you ever intending on wearing them again? My point is this: They are going to yellow with age whether you have them on a south wall or west wall. If the speed of this aging bothers you, then move them. But you aren't going to be able to stop the aging problem permantly, you'll just delay the process.

Good luck.

I didn't know this! So why do people get their dresses preserved if they yellow anyway? I never got my dress preserved, I'm actually thinking about donating it. Well.... I thought about wearing the jacket that's in the shadow box (on maybe a significant anniversary) or waiting a good 15 years to see if maybe our son's soon to be (if it ever happened) wanted to wear it (- which probly not). But I guess if it yellows no matter what, I can just leave it up there and enjoy THANKS @sue-n-kevin !

Barbiiieee

You could always get some UV glass or acrylic if you are worried about sun damage. I think you can have it cut to fit in the framing dept at Michael's or you can probably find a better deal online.