Feline Photo Frames and More
Something entirely new! As I browse shops and online stores and see products with feline-themed art I can always picture my art on those things. I take the idea home and work it out in my studio. This month I’ve tried out a few wooden photo frames and wood panels using either my art papers or images I’ve printed out to fit. You see only two the photo frames above, and below you’ll see cork-backed trivets to protect your countertops from heat and moisture. And hardly a month goes by that I don’t create a few new keepsake boxes, though this time I’ve created two hinged wooden boxes. Smokie, below, looks over the whole lot of stuff in my studio. Start thinking of Mothers’ Day with these special gift items.
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Feline Photo Frames
This product is a purchased wood frame with quality digital prints of my artwork adhered to the face, the sides and back painted with a coordinating color. They come in two sizes and stand upright with a simple peg at the bottom of the back of the frame; I have also included a sawtooth hanger if you’d like to use it on the wall. While I’ve been using Modge Podge or similar products to finish and protect my handmade gift items I’ve never been happy with it and decided to use a few coats of my favorite satin finish acrylic varnish for protection and easy cleaning.
The square frame is 7-3/4″ x 7-3/4″ outside dimension and the photo opening is 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″, the rectangular frame is oriented vertically, 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ outside dimension and the photo opening is 4″ x 6″. It is 7/16″ deep and the inset for the photo is 1/4″ deep. There is no glass or other cover in the opening for the frame, and your photo is held in place with a piece of backing cardboard and metal clips on the back that bend in place.
I have three different pattern sets and two individual frames with art. Search my Etsy shop for “feline picture frames” to see all that are available.
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Hot Pads With Feline Art
This product is an 8″ x 10″ cork-backed wood panel with feline art on the front that you can use as a hot pad or a decorative item to protect your countertop–or any surface, not just the kitchen counters!
I used an 8″ x 10″ hardboard panel 1/8″ thick originally intended for oil or acrylic painting and adhered a high-quality digital print of one of my paintings to the front. I’ve been trying to determine the most effective heat and water resistant finish for this product as well as some upcoming coasters and decided to use the same satin-finish acrylic varnish I used on the cabinet in my kitchen which has withstood about 15 years of use. It is backed with a thin sheet of cork to keep it in place.
The surface will withstand the occasional heat of items from a moderately hot oven such as glass casseroles or pie pans, and also will resist water and other liquids so you can use it under glasses or mugs. I don’t recommend completely immersing it in water to wash, but wiping it with mild detergent and then rinsing.
I have six hot pads this month, using either my feline patterns “Inscrutable Patterns” and “22 Cats” or individual images “Dishtowels” seen above and “Darling Clementine”, “Cat With Fruit” and “Stanley With Geraniums”. You’ll find them in two posts in my Etsy shop, one with the patterns and one with the images.
Keepsake Boxes
This wooden keepsake box is hand-painted in black matte acrylic paint with a quality digital print of “Black and Light” on the lid. The box measures 6.75″ wide x 7.25″ deep x 2.75″ tall with a tiny brass working latch on the front. While the top, front and back are flat, the sides are just slightly rounded outward which gives it an interesting profile; this is not reflected on the interior, which is squared off. Use for storage for small items, photos or special keepsakes. Click here to see more about the “Black and Light” wooden keepsake box.
Typically I use the papier-mâché boxes from the craft store but chose a few wooden boxes this time. They are so much easier to work with, but not as many shapes are available as reliably so each will definitely be a unique item. I use soy-based acrylic paints and print my artwork on acid-free matte-finish paper with archival waterproof inks and adhere the print to the box, then finish the bottom and lid of the box with satin-finish acrylic varnish. Box insides are unfinished.
This wooden keepsake box is hand-painted in a rich eggplant shade of acrylic paint with a print of “Peaches and Peonies” on the lid. The box measures 8.25″ wide x 5.25″ deep x 2.5″ tall with a tiny brass working latch on the front. The outside edges of the top are gently rounded; this is not reflected on the interior, which is squared off. I have two similar photos above to show the detail of color and shape. Use for storage for small items, photos or special keepsakes. Click here to see more about the “Peaches and Peonies” wooden keepsake box.
Click the images or the links I’ve included to go to each of the keepsakes in my Etsy shop or search “Keepsakes” to see all styles of keepsakes I currently have available.
Marketplace
Mr. Sunshine holds the cork backing in place on the hot pads while the glue dries. It’s all done under the close and careful scrutiny of my studio cats!
Take a look at other new merchandise and featured artwork.
Once a week on Thursday I feature something new in my “shop”, whether that’s here on The Creative Cat, in my Etsy shop, on my main website or even at one of the bricks and mortar shops that carry my work.
Read about creating custom items
Find out more about creating custom items for your own home using the images you see here. Visit the “Ordering Custom Art” page to see samples and read bout how to order.
Find out about events and festivals where you can find me and my work.
Sign up for my e-newsletter (below), check the widget on the sidebar on my home page, or sign up to receive posts on Portraits of Animals Marketplace. I plan on plenty of events this coming summer in the Pittsburgh area.
It’s all done under the close and careful supervision of my studio cats!
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Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
© 2015 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
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Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
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