Making Shadowboxes: PART 1

I'm preparing for the upcoming Geek Flea Market by making a papercut of Frankenstein's Monster. Frankenstein's Monster is a real hero to geeks like me so I'm sure there will be someone thrilled to hang this shadowbox on their wall. Since Boris Karloff's Monster is the quintessential Frankenstein, I search the web for a good image of Karloff in his Frankie Make-up. Then I draw it on black paper and begin cutting it out. Here is the papercut of Frankie in various stages of progression for your perusal.

Frank, emerging from his cocoon! 

As you can see, I use an X-Acto knife to cut the paper. I always start with a brand new blade. There's nothing like screwing in a brand new blade, it's one of those sensual, satisfying rituals that make working so much fun. 

He's going through that awkward phase...

I always plan out the papercut so that the most delicate (thinnest) parts are the last that I cut out. In Frankie's case, his lip is the last thing that I cut. I don't want it ripping.

"Friennnnd!"

Now, I will glue the papercut to the transparent paper (mylar) so that the LEDs are visible. Stay tuned for the construction of the LED circuits in Part 2.