Sweet Shadowbox Project by Guest Artist Cat Kerr

cover



Cat Kerr has a very special way of breathing artistic life into materials, whether it be fabric, metal, or wood. I fell in love with her little “Ladies-in-Waiting,” which were featured on the cover of our last issue of  Somerset Studio Gallery. Her eye for detail and the end product of her creative endeavors is what led me to ask her to join us on the blog as a guest artist. After reaching out, she kindly accepted our invitation to write a blog post and create a unique project with detailed step-by-step directions.

Now, without further ado, please join me in welcoming Cat Kerr to Somerset Place.

~*~

These charming little shadowbox assemblages were inspired by my current feature in Somerset Studio Gallery called “I See You”. The problem however, was that once I started making them…I couldn’t seem to stop. As in the article, these cardboard boxes can be filled with Paper Whimsy Token Alterables, but since then I’ve filled them with all sorts of goodies like family photos, and memorabilia. Today I’m filling them with beautiful vintage images and sweet sparkly wings.

Sweet Shadowbox Material List:

 

Cat Kerr’s Sweet Shadowbox Tutorial

Step 1 – Cut strips of telephone book paper.

Step 2 – Add some glue in desired locations of the cardboard box (or Chipboard Shrine), place your strip and add an additional layer of glue on top of the telephone strip paper and let dry.

1

Step 3 – Add gesso to the outside and inside of the box. You want to be able to see the telephone text so when going over the strips of paper, apply a thin coat of gesso and let dry. Add a layer of Nickel Azo Gold. This is a very strong color so I like to water it down, therefore creating a wash. Next add a final color in assorted areas to the inside of the box ( I used a Tiffany blue). Lastly, use the Punchinella Stencil and a stencil brush to add the design in random areas.

2

Step 4 – Add some contrast with black rub-on stickers. Also, splatter a watered-down black paint in random locations using an old toothbrush and let dry.

3

Step 5 – Cut a piece of colored burlap, crochet trim, and a piece of ivory tulle fabric slightly larger than the box. Add some  glue to the base and stick them to the inside of the box.

4

Step 6 –  Punch two small holes on top of the box. Cut an 8” piece of black steel wire. Using round pliers, create a loop on one end and feed it through the inside part of the box. The loop will keep the wire from coming out. Feed the other end of the wire through the other hole. Once through, create another loop on the end

5

Step 7 – Cut out desired image and sticker words. I added a bit of Nickel Azo Gold to the stickers and then mounted them on to black cardstock.

6

Step 8 – Add Modge Podge to the wings, and cover in glitter, and let dry. I used two layers of glitter.

7

Step 9 – Decide on the placement of your image. Next, glue small wood blocks to the inside of the box. This helps to give your image dimension. I used old wood domino pieces.

8

Step 10 – Glue the wings, image, and sticker words. Then add scraps of fabric to the bottom as well as assorted findings like book text, flowers, buttons and seed beads.

9

Step 11 – Finish off with flat back crystal on her dress.

10

More about Cat Kerr:

Cat Kerr's BlogCat Kerr is a Mixed Media Artist/Instructor that lives in Central Florida with her husband and two kids. Her work has been featured in numerous Stampington publications such as Belle Armoire Jewelry, Somerset Studio and Sew Somerset. She currently teaches online and at retreats around the country. To see more of her work, online shops, and teaching schedule, you can visit her at http://www.catkerr.com

Can’t Get Your Fill of Mixed-Media Inspiration?

1SOM-GAL1402-Somerset-Studio-Gallery-Summer-2014-600x600Celebrate a 15-year milestone with this fabulous issue of Somerset Studio Gallery. Brimming with inspiration in 200 lush pages, you’ll see Deborah Company’s mosaic house collages, Michelle E. Black’s beach-themed image transfers, and Cat Kerr’s unique “Ladies-in-Waiting” as featured on the cover.


Posted: Thursday, July 17th, 2014 @ 11:43 am
Categories: How-To Project Tutorials, Mixed-Media Art.
Tags: , , , , , .
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15 Responses to “Sweet Shadowbox Project by Guest Artist Cat Kerr”

  1. Karen K says:

    I love Cat Kerr’s work and have followed her for a while now. I love when you feature her pieces in your magazine…… just can’t get enough of her style!!! Keep it coming and thanks so much for the tutorial whereas I live too far away to take a class from her…. but it is on my bucketlist!!!! :)

    • Gabriela says:

      I love Cat’s work too! So long as she accepts our invitations, I think she’ll be a regular guest here on Somerset Place. Her work is simply too good to pass up on. <3

  2. Mary Mac says:

    I have several pieces of her beautiful jewelry. Her works is always gorgeous. She uses materials that are easy enough for us non artistic people to use and make one of these fantastic shadowboxes.

  3. Vickie Kammerer says:

    Cat as usual absolutely out standing. A perfect project and it belongs show cased on just such a blog :)

  4. Ella says:

    Thank you for sharing Cat with us~ I love shadowboxes and vintage photos-thank you Cat! I am excited to go try this craft~

  5. Ella says:

    I meant to add your art makes me smile! Congrats, on getting the cover-your dolls are fabulous~

  6. Wonderful, I love Cat’s work, it is delightful!

  7. Carolyn Miller says:

    I really love the pink one. Lace is a girls best friend. lol They are so sweet.

  8. Cat is such a gifted and talented artist. I am crazy in love with her style…and everything she creates. So excited to take a workshop with her in August…lucky me! I LOVE these shadow boxes…thanks for sharing the tutorial…can’t wait to make these!

  9. Mari says:

    Love these & all of Cat’s work!!

  10. Sherry W. Matthews says:

    Cat-you are so talented and inspiring! Always a delight to see your work-in-progress and your finished pieces!

  11. sharon says:

    I love these shadowboxes and I think I just found some new Christmas gifts to make!! These are adorable and Cat is uber talented at everything she does, from mixed media to fabric to jewelry! This project rocks!

  12. I love these shadowboxes! What a perfect project for gift giving. I love Cat’s style- sweetly nostalgic and inspirational. Thank you for the tutorial!!

Jordan How-To Project TutorialsMixed-Media Art ,,,,,

cover



Cat Kerr has a very special way of breathing artistic life into materials, whether it be fabric, metal, or wood. I fell in love with her little “Ladies-in-Waiting,” which were featured on the cover of our last issue of  Somerset Studio Gallery. Her eye for detail and the end product of her creative endeavors is what led me to ask her to join us on the blog as a guest artist. After reaching out, she kindly accepted our invitation to write a blog post and create a unique project with detailed step-by-step directions.

Now, without further ado, please join me in welcoming Cat Kerr to Somerset Place.

~*~

These charming little shadowbox assemblages were inspired by my current feature in Somerset Studio Gallery called “I See You”. The problem however, was that once I started making them…I couldn’t seem to stop. As in the article, these cardboard boxes can be filled with Paper Whimsy Token Alterables, but since then I’ve filled them with all sorts of goodies like family photos, and memorabilia. Today I’m filling them with beautiful vintage images and sweet sparkly wings.

Sweet Shadowbox Material List:

 

Cat Kerr’s Sweet Shadowbox Tutorial

Step 1 – Cut strips of telephone book paper.

Step 2 – Add some glue in desired locations of the cardboard box (or Chipboard Shrine), place your strip and add an additional layer of glue on top of the telephone strip paper and let dry.

1

Step 3 – Add gesso to the outside and inside of the box. You want to be able to see the telephone text so when going over the strips of paper, apply a thin coat of gesso and let dry. Add a layer of Nickel Azo Gold. This is a very strong color so I like to water it down, therefore creating a wash. Next add a final color in assorted areas to the inside of the box ( I used a Tiffany blue). Lastly, use the Punchinella Stencil and a stencil brush to add the design in random areas.

2

Step 4 – Add some contrast with black rub-on stickers. Also, splatter a watered-down black paint in random locations using an old toothbrush and let dry.

3

Step 5 – Cut a piece of colored burlap, crochet trim, and a piece of ivory tulle fabric slightly larger than the box. Add some  glue to the base and stick them to the inside of the box.

4

Step 6 –  Punch two small holes on top of the box. Cut an 8” piece of black steel wire. Using round pliers, create a loop on one end and feed it through the inside part of the box. The loop will keep the wire from coming out. Feed the other end of the wire through the other hole. Once through, create another loop on the end

5

Step 7 – Cut out desired image and sticker words. I added a bit of Nickel Azo Gold to the stickers and then mounted them on to black cardstock.

6

Step 8 – Add Modge Podge to the wings, and cover in glitter, and let dry. I used two layers of glitter.

7

Step 9 – Decide on the placement of your image. Next, glue small wood blocks to the inside of the box. This helps to give your image dimension. I used old wood domino pieces.

8

Step 10 – Glue the wings, image, and sticker words. Then add scraps of fabric to the bottom as well as assorted findings like book text, flowers, buttons and seed beads.

9

Step 11 – Finish off with flat back crystal on her dress.

10

More about Cat Kerr:

Cat Kerr's BlogCat Kerr is a Mixed Media Artist/Instructor that lives in Central Florida with her husband and two kids. Her work has been featured in numerous Stampington publications such as Belle Armoire Jewelry, Somerset Studio and Sew Somerset. She currently teaches online and at retreats around the country. To see more of her work, online shops, and teaching schedule, you can visit her at http://www.catkerr.com

Can’t Get Your Fill of Mixed-Media Inspiration?

1SOM-GAL1402-Somerset-Studio-Gallery-Summer-2014-600x600Celebrate a 15-year milestone with this fabulous issue of Somerset Studio Gallery. Brimming with inspiration in 200 lush pages, you’ll see Deborah Company’s mosaic house collages, Michelle E. Black’s beach-themed image transfers, and Cat Kerr’s unique “Ladies-in-Waiting” as featured on the cover.