Framing a Vintage Atomic Cat

Sometimes my projects come together in one fell swoop, and sometimes they come together piece by piece. And this atomic cat wall hanging definitely falls into the latter category; each secondhand component was sourced separately over time.

It started over a year ago when I found a great vintage gold frame in the bargain bin at my local Habitat ReStore.

It was a little beat up and in need of some TLC, but it was made of solid wood and priced at just a dollar.

After that, I collected the other pieces from vintage Etsy shops. First, some new old-stock mid-century fabric (which I’ll show you in a moment), then a retro wooden cat wall hanger.

A retro wooden cat wall hanger that wasn’t properly packed by the shipper (i.e., no bubble wrap- just paper) and arrived with a broken tail.

Disappointing, yes, but fixable. Either way, I decided that all three finds could be cobbled together into a piece of retro wall art for our home. Even though that wasn’t my plan when I purchased each item.

So, let me show you how it all worked out…

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Mending a Retro Cat and Vintage Frame

Now, the vintage wooden cat is already meant to hang on a wall, as there is a metal hook on the back. Based on similar Etsy listings, it was originally sold as a pair. Missing its mate meant it was priced seductively for a bargain-hunting vintage cat lover like myself.

Either way, though, it first needed a little love and attention- starting with some wood conditioner.

The monkeypod wood had dulled and scuffed over time, so reviving it seemed like a smart move.

Then, I needed to mend the broken tail. That was easy enough- with just some super glue and careful placement to ensure everything lined up.

Why super glue and not wood glue? The area I was fixing was pretty small, and I wanted the clean control of the gel super glue and the precision applicator tip. Wood glue would have also worked, but would have been messier and wouldn’t have set as quickly.

Once the glue set within a few minutes, I wrapped it with a rubber band and let it cure overnight.

Next, I turned my attention to the vintage gold frame. Now, I *loved* how it looked as-is, but it did have some significant scuffing.

So, I did my best to color-match some gold craft paint from my stash, and dry-brushed some paint over the frame.

When I said dry-brush, I really mean very little paint was used. Just enough to cover the scuffs and give the entire frame a light sheen of fresh paint.

A Base for the Atomic Cat

Now, to showcase the wooden cat inside the frame, I needed a base for it to hang on. So, we measured the frame’s interior and cut out a panel from quarter-inch plywood. After cutting, we sanded down the edges and removed any and all splinters from both the front and the back sides.

Then, I cut out a swatch of my mid-century fabric that was larger than the panel. I also grabbed some Mod Podge and a craft paint brush.

Working in stages, I brushed Mod Podge on the panel and laid the fabric over it. I worked my way up the board until it was covered. But unlike true decoupage, I did not apply anything on top of the fabric.

Next, I trimmed off the excess fabric right at the edge of the wooden panel and set it inside the picture frame. It was a *snug* fit (I should have sanded a smidge more), but I was able to get it there securely.

After that, I secured the wooden panel with brass turn buttons on the back of the frame. Thankfully, I had some scrap cork bits that I used to make up the depth difference between the frame and the panel.

To finish off my mid-century modern cat art, I carefully added a small screw to the front of the panel for hanging the wooden kitty. Lastly, I attached a sawtooth hanger to the back of the frame and that was it- now it was ready to hang in our home.

Framing an Atomic Cat

Three random vintage purchases turned into a new piece of unique artwork for our eclectic home. I love how it turned out- each component (frame, fabric, cat) adds a different texture to the finished piece.

I just have to remember that the cat isn’t firmly attached to the frame. Sure, I could have removed the old hanger from the back and attached it permanently to the fabric panel. But I like maintaining the integrity of vintage pieces if I can.

Who knows, maybe I’ll stumble across another orphaned atomic cat so that I’ll have a proper pair in the future. But until then, this solo piece gets its own swanky display. AND I have plenty of that fantastic retro fabric left…what should I make with it? Perhaps a pair of throw pillows…

Thanks for coming along with me on my latest project. I’ve been on a wall art/décor kick for a while now, so I’ll try and change that up soon.

Interested in more DIY and upcycled mid-century modern décor projects? This collection is full of retro-style thrift store flips and DIYs.

Craft on!

S

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