Valentine and Everyday Keepsakes, and a Complimentary Card With Every Order
I tried to organize my latest round of hand-decorated keepsake boxes into a professional-looking array, but that shot would not have been able to include Mr. Sunshine, who is very happy to endorse these new gift items.
Several items have already sold, but others can still be shipped in time for Valentine’s Day. Most of them can even be given as gifts for any holiday or time of the year, or even as a gift for yourself!
I went with specific Valentine themes and lots of red, and also included cat couples who may be familiar from my daily sketches and other colors.
It’s been a while since I’ve made keepsake boxes too, just for the amount of space—or lack thereof—in my studio, and I have missed them. I choose a variety of papier-mâché boxes from the craft store, envisioning the art I’ll print and decoupage to it and the colors I’ll paint it, and spend a few days creating and embellishing, under feline supervision, of course.
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 matte-finish Modge Podge. Box insides are unfinished.
The boxes are handmade in their country of origin and may vary slightly in size and shape or have slight imperfections, but each one is an original and I often make a particular design only once.
Keepsake Boxes, both gift and giftwrap
This year I’ve used the designs from my Valentine cards, some artwork of cats who are couples and more. Give them to use for storage for small items, photos or special keepsakes, especially for mementos of your treasured animal companion, or use it as a box for a special gift which can be kept for decoration or use.
Links below lead you to both more information about the artwork as well as to my Etsy shop. For more photos and purchasing information on all of these items, click the link to visit my Etsy shop, Portraits of Animals on Etsy. Any Valentine gift order includes your choice of a complimentary Valentine greeting card for your special Valentine! Links for cards and other gift items are below.
. . . . . . .
“Peaches and Peonies”, special edition
I’ve long wanted to do something extra with the keepsake boxes that bear Peaches’s portrait, and I finally had the chance. The box is hand-painted in eggplant acrylic paint with a print of “Peaches and Peonies” on the lid. I printed out just the peonies from the painting and added them in a row around the box sides and adhered pink lace to the edge of the lid, tying it in a fluffy little bow in front.
The box measures 10″ in diameter x 5″ in height. Find this box in my Etsy shop.
. . . . . . .
“Inscrutable Patterns”, special edition
When I mentioned the other day that I was playing around with this pattern, this was the thing I was making—and I can assure you I’m not stopping here! This bright and cheerful print has so much potential for products and coordinating colors I can hardly decide what to do first—luckily I had this little project to work on.
The box is covered with prints of “Inscrutable Patterns” and hand-painted in royal purple acrylic paint around the edge of the lid. The box measures 5″ in diameter x 6″ in height. Find this box in my Etsy shop.
. . . . . . .
Two Yellow Cats Keepsake
This image was based on a quick daily sketch and became a design for greeting card in several ways. I added the little heart to the original sketch to become a Valentine or more amorous greeting card, and also offer it without as a friendship or even sympathy card. The sides are painted a bright red and the edge of the lid is painted black.
“Two Yellow Cats” is 5″ x 7″ x 3″ in height. Find this box in my Etsy shop.
. . . . . . .
“Couples”, three designs
These three images are from my Daily Sketches collection in watercolor, watercolor pencil and pastel pencil, “Mother and Daughter, Sun and Shadow”, “Blue-brown Cats” and “Love Cats”. The sides are painted a medium pacific blue, measures 8″ in diameter x 4″ in height. Find these boxes in my Etsy shop:
Find this box in my Etsy shop, “Mother and Daughter, Sun and Shadow”
Find this box in my Etsy shop, “Blue-brown Cats”
Find this box in my Etsy shop, “Love Cats”
. . . . . . .
“Cuddling on a Colored Ground”
I have a few others that are cat couples in very similar styles, but I literally ran out little boxes to decorate and space on my worktable, but those will be coming up soon. This box is 3″ x 3″ x 2″ high. Find this box in my Etsy shop.
. . . . . . .
“Two Cats After van Gogh”
And last but certainly not least, “Two Cats After van Gogh”! And why not? It’s got two cats! I can’t pass up the opportunity to make one of these. This box is 6″ x 6″ x 3″ high. Find this box in my Etsy shop.
Valentine Artwork
A Special Couple…
A set of hand printed linoleum block prints featuring my tortoiseshell girls, matted and framed and ready to hang—I have one of each print.
Read a little more about the print and the girls here on The Creative Cat or find it in my Etsy shop.
. . . . . . .
Awakening
Quote reads: ” ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’–Anatole France. Dedicated to my prince and princess and all those since who’ve awakened their part of my soul.
Because they opened my heart and awakened my soul, I offer this special piece of artwork on Valentine’s Day.
“Awakening” is a linoleum block print, 16″ in diameter, printed in water-based ink on handmade white rice paper. For Valentine’s Day I offer a print matted with a rich red mat to encircle your feline loves.
Valentine Note Cards and Greeting Cards
Choose from the selection of Valentine Cards in my Etsy shop for your free Valentine card with order!
Valentine Greeting Cards
I also offer six 5″ x 7″ greeting card designs, several of which can also be used as everyday greeting cards for friendship, thinking of you, even sympathy. Each card comes with your choice of red or white 70 lb. acid-free laser-compatible envelope.
Hand-printed Tabbies Valentines!
Again this year I’m offering a limited number of the above unique hand-printed Valentine note cards patterned on those familiar conversation hearts. Hand-printed linoleum block print cards printed in magenta on pink, violet, magenta and red card stock, embellished with magenta or purple stamp ink, are just saturated with color for Valentine’s Day!
This set of 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ note cards features two designs combining my hand-cut block prints with commercial rubber stamps on smooth uncoated 70 lb. cover stock. I offer them as singles and in sets of four, six or eight with matching or coordinating envelopes.
Marketplace
Mimi and Mewsette are ready to supervise as I organize my materials.
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.
It’s all done under the close and careful supervision of my studio cats!
Or click here to open a sign up form in a new window (which seems to work better).
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 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
—
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: Bok 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!
—
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | ETSY SHOP | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | STUMBLEUPON | GOOGLE+ | EMAIL
HOME
These are really beautiful Valentine’s Day items. I really like the tortie girls paintings 🙂 Mimi and Musette do a great job of keeping you in line!