How To Start An Adventure Fund Savings With A Shadow Box

We love to travel as a family, but traveling is expensive. A couple of years ago, we started a family tradition to dream about a summer vacation together, make a budget together, and then save up together to make it happen.

It's so important to help kids know that money decisions need to be decisions, not just reactions to impulses. If you want money for adventures, it will take hard work, sacrifice, and time. This year we made a fun box to help us watch the progress of our savings as well as act as a reminder of our goals and progress.

I've seen a variety of these to buy, but we wanted to customize ours with our destination. It was super simple, and I love how it turned out!

Materials Needed:

• A shadow box - we found one at Hobby Lobby that already had a slit in the top
• Two photos of your destination....I just printed one off with my color printer. You need one for the front and one for the back.
• Mod Podge - this stuff is a crafter's best friend
• Scissors
• White paint pen

Our summer plans include visiting family in California, but we plan on stopping by at the Grand Canyon on our way. With that in mind, I printed off a beautiful view of the canyon, and the LA skyline. Here's how we put it together:

Step 1: Set Your Background

Use the back of the frame to trace the picture to fit. Then cut out your background.

Use Mod Podge to secure your background. Give it a few minutes to dry, and you're good to go.

Step 2: Create Your Foreground

We cut out the skyline of LA to place in the front of the shadow box.

Cut the width to the size of your frame, and then paint with Mod Podge to stick to the front.

It's foggy when it's wet, but it will dry clear. Don't worry!

Step 3: Put It All Together

My daughter added an inspirational message to the front of the glass with a white paint pen. It takes a couple of coats to be thick and lovely.

I love how the money falls down between the skyline and the canyon!

You just have to make sure to fold the bills small so that you won't block the entire image in the back!

Drop a few coins on the bills that stack up, and you'll be well on your way to realizing your adventure dreams!