Make a CatRack

I recently found an old pattern for a cat hanging on a hat or coat rack. I thought it would be fun to make a few of them and use different kind of cats as subjects. You can put your cat on it if you have a picture to go by, or are good enough artist to draw and paint your cat onto the pattern. At any rate, I have written this instructable to enable you to make your own if you so choose.

Corrugated cardboard (or wood of your choice...can be plywood, solid pine, etc.)
Pine board, 2 3/4 x 11in.
Acrylic paints (colors of your choosing.)
Bandsaw
Paper for pattern(s)

Following the pictures, draw pattern on a piece of paper. I used a piece 11x11 inches for the body and rack board, for the head, the size is 7 1/2 x 6 1/2in. The feet are cut out of pieces that are 5 1/2in.x 2 1/2in.

Using the patterns you have made from the previous step, draw the parts on the cardboard you are going to use. If you want a much stronger rack, use 1/4 or even 1/2in plywood. I like to reuse cardboard, and it seems to hold up pretty well.

I use a bandsaw as it is so much faster. You can use a scrool saw, of course, and I think scissors and/or a box cutter could be used, it would just be more of a challenge.

I paint the parts separately before final assembly. Use the examples in the introduction step, or paint in the colors of your choice.

A short art lesson may be in order...click on each picture and read image notes.

Sample eyes are shown to give you an idea of how the eyes are painted. Practice on paper or cardboard, and after doing a few you will be ready to finish the cat eyes.

Using pink first, base coat nose and feet pad. When dry, use burnt sienna in a dilute wash to add a little brown to the pink areas. Using a sideloaded brush, ring the pink/brown areas.

Final assembly is done by gluing with white glue, weighing down with rocks or tiles, and letting set until dry. Overnight is more than sufficient for complete drying.