Pet Memorial Shadow Box — 5-Layer Portrait in Your Pet’s Shape

Shaped like them. Just like them.

Most memorial pieces are rectangles. A rectangle holds a photo, but it does not hold a shape. This shadow box is different — every layer is cut to the silhouette of your pet, traced from the photo you send us, so the piece itself carries the outline of the animal you loved.

Five layers of hand-stained basswood build into a scene: a warm nature setting in the background, a rainbow bridge arching above, and at the centre a laser-engraved portrait of your pet in the lightest layer. The front layer — the darkest — frames the portrait in your pet’s own shape, with small angel wings at the top, their name below, the years of their life at the two bottom corners, and a short message wherever the space allows. A tiny glass bottle is set into the side of the frame, ready to hold a small amount of fur.

What to send before checkout

Each piece is built around your pet’s photo. Here is what we will need:

1. A clear photo of your pet
   This is used for two things: the engraved portrait at the centre, and the silhouette shape of every layer. A photo where your pet’s full outline is visible — not cropped tightly, not blending into a dark background — gives us the most to work with. JPG or PNG, minimum 800 × 800 px. Not sure if yours will work? Send it to us first — we will let you know honestly before you order.
2. Your pet’s name
   Displayed beneath the portrait, inside the silhouette frame. Up to 9 letters.
3. Year of birth and year of passing
   Placed at the two lower corners of the silhouette frame. If you would prefer a single year, or no dates, just let us know at checkout.
4. A short message — optional
   Up to 30 characters, placed outside the silhouette frame in the space your pet’s shape creates. “Gone but never forgotten.” “Always in our hearts.” Or nothing at all.

Photo tips

What works well: A photo where your pet is clearly separated from the background — lighter background, natural light, and a full or near-full body visible. The silhouette is traced from the outer edge of your pet, so the cleaner the contrast between your pet and what is behind them, the truer the shape will be.

What to avoid: Photos where your pet blends into the background (dark fur on a dark sofa, for example), is very tightly cropped, or is partially behind an object. These make the silhouette harder to trace accurately and may affect how much detail carries through to the engraved portrait.

If the only photo you have is imperfect: Send it anyway. We can often work with more than you might expect. We will tell you what is possible — and what we can do to make it work — before anything is cut or stained.

Materials and making

Each layer begins as a 3mm basswood sheet — fine-grained and consistent, which matters when the shape being cut is an irregular silhouette rather than a straight edge. We apply non-toxic, water-based wood stain by hand, using a graduated depth of colour across the five layers so the piece reads as a scene with foreground and distance. Every layer is then sealed with a matte, UV-resistant coating to protect the colour over time. The layers are fitted with spacers between them so that when the piece is assembled, real light and shadow fall between the layers — depth you can see change as you move around it.

What’s included:

• Black MDF frame and backboard with premium clear acrylic front
• Sawtooth wall hanger + adjustable tabletop mount
• Small glass keepsake bottle, set into the side of the frame

Size and display

The outer MDF frame is approximately 20 × 25 cm (8″ × 10″) — roughly the size of a standard picture frame. The pet silhouette shape sits within this, so the visible footprint of the engraved layers depends on your pet’s photo: a sitting cat reads quite differently from a standing dog. If you are unsure how it will look in your space, place a standard sheet of A4 paper on a surface — that is close to the size of the outer frame. The depth, including the layered construction, is approximately 4.5 cm.

Sending this as a gift to someone whose pet has just passed? We include a free handwritten note with every order — just leave your message at checkout and we will handle the rest. We can ship directly to your recipient with no invoice enclosed. A piece shaped like their pet, arriving by post — sometimes that is exactly the right thing to send.

To care for your shadow box: dust the acrylic front with a soft, dry cloth — avoid glass cleaner or wet cloths, which can cloud the surface. Display away from direct sunlight where possible; the UV coating protects the wood, but prolonged exposure will gradually affect the stain.

Because every piece is made to order and shaped to your pet’s photo, we are unable to accept returns or exchanges. If something arrives damaged or does not match what was agreed, please reach out within 7 days with a photo — we will always make it right. Send us a message any time before or after ordering.

Questions about this piece

Can you cut any pet’s silhouette — not just cats and dogs?
Yes. We have made pieces for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and horses. The silhouette is traced from your photo, so as long as your pet’s outline is clearly visible, we can work with it. If you are unsure, send us the photo before ordering.

Where exactly does the fur bottle sit?
The bottle is fitted into a small rectangular opening in the side of the MDF frame. The exact position is determined by the shape of your pet’s silhouette and where space allows, so we position it during making. It is accessible without tools and can be removed and replaced.

Where will my short message be placed?
The message sits outside the silhouette frame, in the space created by your pet’s shape within the rectangular outer frame. For many pets this is the upper left corner; for others it may be the upper right or along one side. We will show you the placement in the proof we send before anything is finalised.

How long does it take to make and ship?
Each shadow box takes 1–3 business days to handcraft from the time we receive your photo and details. We will send you a preview image for your approval before we start the handcraft. Shipping within Canada typically takes 2–5 business days depending on your location. Expect remote area with longer shipping time, which takes around 10 business days.

The photo I have does not show my pet’s full body. Will it still work?
It depends on the crop. A head-and-shoulders or three-quarter photo can still produce a beautiful silhouette — we trace from whatever outline is visible. Send us the photo before ordering and we will tell you exactly what we can do with it.