Marketplace: New Kitty Keepsake Boxes

February 11, 2022 Bernadette

black cat with keepsake boxes — Mimi checks my keepsake boxes.

Mimi is sure the lighting for this photo is horrible. So am I! As soon as we had some sun she and Mewsette and I ran out to set up the photo. Then the sun went in. But we are sure you can see the boxes well enough for now.

This new batch of keepsake boxes includes both vintage cigar box keepsakes and small round and square mache and cardboard boxes. I’ve made the popular designs as well as two new ones—Mariposa and Sienna! They’ve already sold to customers who subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview Newsletter, but I’ll probably make another one of each at some point because they were so pretty. But if you’d be interested in signing up for my monthly newsletter with either my newest designs or a special deal, you can sign up here.

feline-themed keepsake boxes — Keepsakes featuring Mariposa and Sienna in their new paintings.

I also changed some of the materials I use to make keepsakes for this new batch and going forward. I’ve chosen a new label and use my laser printer for the image on the top of each box. I could use labels on some surface materials, like the vintage cigar boxes, but on the cardboard boxes I ended up gluing them to make sure the edges didn’t peel. And the prints of the art were lovely, but the label wasn’t intended to be handled over a period of time and wasn’t able to be cleaned, not good for a keepsake box.

And while I love the total matte finish of the paint, it wasn’t as durable as I wanted for an item to be used for years, and it wasn’t always opaque. I often put a coat or two of matte varnish on each box, and I like to keep time and materials within reason so I can keep price within reason. I started using pouring paints I’d bought because I liked the color and found they were both opaque enough to cover the the cardboard and some of the areas on the cigar boxes with just one or two coats instead of—no kidding—four or five. They also have a nice satin finish that can be wiped, and it’s far more durable than the acrylic paints.

tortoiseshell cat in studio — Sienna wants to know if she gets a keepsake this year.

The cigar boxes are the old-style cardboard type, the ones we probably all grew up with around the house, holding photos and hardware and handkerchiefs. As you would expect these boxes are gently worn, in varying states of wear and tear, written on, watermarked, with holes from thumbtacks and dinged up corners and warped lids, but still usable to create something new. I leave the graphics and text on the inside, and use as much of the outside design as I can.

The mache or cardboard boxes are purchased new, and when decorated I leave them unfinished inside. On all boxes I print the artwork on acid-free label stock and adhere it to the top surface, then use craft paints and colored or patterned tapes to add trim.

Use them to store your kitty’s keepsakes or your own, or jewelry or office items and much more. Some people use them to keep their kitty’s cremains. Give them as a gift or use them as gift boxes.

Order a Keepsake Box, or Two!

They are $20.00 each when you purchase one, but you’ll find special pricing of $15.00 each when you purchase two or more, no coupon code needed. That price includes shipping, handling and taxes.

Don’t forget, each one is unique, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

You can find them my Keepsake Boxes page on Portraits of Animals.

Marketplace

Mewsette helps me with lighting and composition while photographing the keepsakes.

Take a look at other new merchandise and featured artwork.

Marketplace is a feature on The Creative Cat to share the latest coming out of my studio with my readers. Once a week on Thursday I feature something new in my “shop” .

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!

Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals 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.