A Father’s Day Gift Built with Meaning
A custom shadow box made to honor a builder and the building he was most proud of.
When I was asked to create a custom gift for a builder, a father whose company brought this impressive office building to life, I knew this had to be more than just a paper replica. It had to feel personal.
From foil-backed windows to a frame that echoes the building’s own design, every detail was chosen to celebrate the care and pride this father poured into his work.
Scroll through to see how it came together.
The Real Thing
This building means something special to the client’s father. She sent me this image and asked me to reproduce it in a way that could be given as a gift. I instantly knew the windows were the signature detail that had to be perfect.
Windows in Progress
After studying the shape and proportions, I started building out the grid—one tiny square at a time. The frames were cut from textured white cardstock, and the windows themselves were layered with reflective blue foil paper.
Curving the Structure
To capture the rounded architecture of the real building, I created three 3D-printed forms. These gave the paper its structure and allowed me to wrap the design, even replicating the pond and landscaping at the base.
Setting the Stage
Here’s the full piece mounted in its custom-cut shadow box. The curves and blue sky-themed paper start to bring it all to life.
Final Touch
To finish it off, I added two key details:
The builder’s business card and the logo of the hotel that’s moving into the space.
The frame was then engraved with a pattern inspired by the actual building’s window layout—one final nod to the craftsmanship behind it all.