"Pets in Heaven " Shrine

This shrine isn't finished yet, but I thought I'd show you some of the steps to make something like this if you are so inclined. I seem to like to work on more than one piece at a time so I prepared all the cigar box shrines at the same time. First I painted them with gesso and white acrylic paint...a few coats to cover any printing. Then I used my scroll saw to cut out the top piece to give it more of a "shrine" look. I glued and nailed it to the cigar box and painted it again.
I found some fabric that I painted at least a year ago and thought it would make a nice bright background for the figures that would come next. I used some fabric glue to put the fabric in and let it dry overnight.
The next day I covered the backs with some interesting paper and put hangers on two of them.
I drew up some of my favorite pets that I've loved and are now gone and sewed around them with my sewing machine.
Very simple shapes work best because these then need to be turned inside out, stuffed, and painted with acrylics.
I will add some names to the final shrine and more decorations to the edge, plus I drilled holes at the bottom of the box to hang little charms for each pet.
The show isn't until October so I have a little more time to fiddle with these.