Last Impressions was founded in 2006 after the owner, Joel, was officially (and honorably) discharged from the Marine Corps. Trying to find a creative outlet that would combine his love for the military and focus on artistic freedom, expression, and attention to detail, he began building shadow boxes and display cases for other members in his family who served.
After crafting a few, he realized that this was truly a new passion and an excellent hobby. Between volunteering as an officer for the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, running a fundraising group called Task Force Archangel, and being a full time working father and husband, he makes shadow boxes and dabbles in other art projects like acrylic pouring painting. |
Standard Boxes A standard box is created from a sturdy, pre-made case. Each case has a backing that's made from 1/2" foam board and a felt cover. Typical sizes are 16"x20", 18"x24", and 20"x30", but can be slightly smaller or larger depending on the content.
Once the information is sent on what the customer wants included in the box, several design layout options are created and emailed as a concept proof. When the design is accepted and finalized, box construction can take up to 4 weeks, depending on materials needed and size. In the instance of a military shadow box, the DD 214 page with the awards is required. The individual's personal medals (issued) can be used, or new medals can be purchased based on the information provided in the DD 214. Our recommendation, if you are purchasing medals, is to go with the anodized medals for a shinier look. |
Custom Boxes Have a special design in mind? No problem! For boxes that may need to be a larger size or non-traditional shape, we outsource these custom box builds to small business owners, many of which are both local (to Arizona) and Veteran owned.
The crafting of the internal contents are done by Last Impressions, but we can put them in any container. Typically, custom boxes can run up to an additional $400, but can really add an extra special layer of individuality to the piece. Just looking for cool, custom wood art? Check out our "Partners Page" for links to some of our suppliers. |