DIY Shadowbox From an Old Soda Crate

I had some African masks that my mom bought in New Orleans and had shipped to me that I've been wanting to do more than just hang in our house. I've seen masks "framed" on TV by simply hanging them and putting moulding around them, but I wanted to do something more. This idea came to me randomly, because I have been smitten over old soda crates and had an extra one left over from a previous project where I used them for an end table. Since this project was slightly more involved than the end table I have listed materials and steps below.

Materials:

1. 1 Pencil
2. 1 soda crate (I purchased the Pepsi one (on the right) from Picking History and the RC cola one (on the left) from Pieces of Past Times )
3. 1 picture frame (make sure to measure the soda crate and use that as the outside measurement for the picture frame. In this case the crate was 12" X 18" so the picture frame was 8" X 14" and 2" wide. (I bought these frames from Art to Frames on Amazon)
4. 4 L brackets (these are used to attach the frame to the soda box). I used the second smallest ones available from Lowes in the hardware section, I believe they're 3/4 inch ones.
5. At least 8 screws, size: 8-3/8". These will be used for the L brackets
6. 1 6ft string light (also bought from Lowes.) Make sure it comes with the u shaped attachment hardware. If it doesn't, Lowes usually has some in packages near the lights.
7. Picture hanging wire
8. Picture hanging hooks (for the wire)

Steps:

1. Affix the string lights around the inside of the box using the u shaped plastic hardware that comes with the lights, putting two about 1.5" from each corner on each side of the corner and about an 1" - 1.5" deep from the opening. If you have any troubles screwing into the wood, try using a drill first, it will help a lot.
2. Take the frame and place it on the opening, you can probably just eye it to get it straight.
3. Carefully grab the L bracket and a pencil and place the bracket centered underneath one side of the frame cornered against the back of the frame and the inside wall of the soda crate. While holding it carefully with one hand take the pencil with the other hand and mark the holes.
4. Take the frame off and screw the L bracket into the back of the frame
5. repeat steps 2-4 again for each side of the frame. I like to do one at a time so that if my hole markings got off at all I could adjust them slightly as I go. Also I put a little star next to the first holes I marked in case the frame got turned around so I'd know which side on the frame went to which side on the soda crate.
6. Once all the brackets are on the frame, place the frame back onto the soda crate and adjust it so that the holes line up with your markings. Then do the final screwing to attach the L brackets to the soda crate.
7. Now flip it over and put the picture hanging wire on the back with the hooks. This part is pretty straight forward since usually they're sold together in picture hanging kits.
8. Then all you have to do your treasured item into the shadowbox, and boom you're done!