The whimsy shelf

The older child is all about 🌟whimsy 🌟, and requested we fill this access hole I cut in our entry way for our doorbell with a whimsical shadowbox. Everyone got in on this one. My initial idea was for something fancy (walnut with a thin maple back), but the design changed to the kid wanting to be able to insert different paintings in the back, and having some shelves for things.

Adding to the design change, my spouse made this a birthday activity, so we all went to the shop to work on it. Nice birthday outing, and one of the children got to play Sawdust Claus.

The children also marked up my bench good, it actually looks like it has been used for things now.

I haven't done much with the plunge router, and some mistakes were made. I am also a terrible painter. The test fits look pretty nice, though.

Because I can't help myself, I put on a walnut frame. I've never made a frame before.