Monday, June 11, 2018

That Darn Cat

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and I'm making Christmas cards.  Just what you wanted to see, right?  If I keep this up I'll be making flower cards at Christmastime.  I won't complain about that.  We're already at the halfway mark.

With Monday being my fun day, I colored some crazy Christmas cats which were stamped out and sent by a good friend who was certain I'd enjoy coloring them.  She knows me so well.  From giggles to "awwws" and "ahhhs", I love coloring it all, but these darn cats in their, pardon me, ugly sweaters are a real hoot.







My friend also knows how fond I am of Stamps Happen images, another out of business company, tsk.  Are you familiar with them?  I did a search and find very few stamps available anywhere, and those that are available are not my favorites.  Not that I need more stamps, but it's fun to look.

In the first card I framed the large cat with the negative piece that was left after cutting an oval mat.  Stamped the frame with SU's Distressed Dots background.  All this old stuff... if I'm going to keep it I might as well use it.

My glitter fest includes Stickles on the sweater, glitter paper for the die cut stars, and SU's Dazzling Diamonds on the Merry Christmas banner.  First time use of the banner.

I put the whole cat on the second card.  Cut out and popped up on a snowflake-embossed card base which was laying around all embossed and waiting to be used.  Whenever possible I reach for the spare parts so they don't add up to mountainous proportions.  Cut the "merry" die from purple glitter paper and added sparkle to the sweater, but not as much on this one.




Wink of Stella on the stars.



I'll be back with something pretty and a bit more summery on Wednesday.  However, the CAS Christmas Card Challenge is up -- Masculine is the theme -- and I'll play along with that later, too.  But for now... back to the current season.  Take care!


23 comments:

Leslie Miller said...

It sure would be nice to have our email notification back, wouldn't it? Thank you!

Glenda said...

What a silly cat! I do think my favorite is the second card using the whole cat in all it's Christmas sweater uglyness (is that a word?) What a giggle!

Pauline said...

These certainly do bring a smile to my face - a good thing on Monday mornings! Leslie, good for you for continuing to work on your Christmas cards for this year. I haven't even started. Although I have a friend you missed ordering from me last year, so she ordered in February for this coming year. I have 15 cards to make that I did last year, so just a remake of them, which you would think, now that I have already make one, remaking should be pretty simple, but just can't get into it yet. Maybe because I'm enjoying the outdoors too much! Anyway, back to your card - both are awesome cards, but I would have to agree with Glenda, love seeing the whole cat in dressed in the ugly sweater outfit! And as you can tell, he/she is not too happy about wearing this! Love all the bright colours, and glittery fun. Yes, I remember Stamps Happen, I do believe I might have a few of them laying around!
Enjoy your day Leslie, looking forward to seeing what you have in store for Wed.

Sherri said...

I knew you would do something just amazing with this silly cat! I'm so glad I hung onto him. Somehow, he has always had a place in my Christmas stamps & probably always will! LOVE both of them, but the full size is my favorite too. Only because it shows him standing in his silly, ugly, over-sized sweater! The stickle was the perfect touch! Now I want to grab him back out & make another! ha ha

Yogi said...

cute. Still haven't started making any Xmas cards yet... Flowers at Xmas time YES!!! Have a great day

Donna Ellis said...

Look at the eyes on your dear kitty! He's embarrassed to be seen in his "ugly sweater"! giggling. It's a darling card, and I love all the bright colors and added textures (like the plaid in your second card. All the glitter aspects, and fussy cut whiskers make both cards so cute! I love them, Leslie! xx

Verna Angerhofer said...

Those sweater kitties are so fun and hilarious! These will be such great Christmas cards and sure to bring smiles. I love them.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Hahahahaha!! Love this silly and gorgeously colored cats!!! What expressive faces and those sweaters.....oh goodness Leslie, they are beautifully ugly, LOL!!
Love the fabulous texture of the glittery stars and banner and the Wink of Stella shows really perfectly on each card.
I've been making Christmas cards since January, I enter several challenges so I have a great stash.
Keep at it, my friend, soon you'll have more than enough to send to your lucky family and friends, (wink, wink)
Big Hugs,
Maria.
PS. I get my email notifications from you with no troubles.

Margaret said...

Both, so cute! I love all the sparkles and you know I just love the cats.

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

Boy, you are defiitely on a roll with your Xmas cards - good for you!! These cards are so cute especially for the cat lover's you know especially with their sweaters!! Love the whiskers!!

Christine Alexander said...

that's certainly the purrfect Christmas sweater and such an adorable card. It's so sad when all these great stamp stores close down :(

Lynette said...

Cool cards, Leslie! Your coloring is exceptional:)

nancy littrell said...

That is one bright, colorful, ugly, but fun sweater! I think if you put it on a cat that cat would hide out. TFS your bit of Whimsical cat design. Hugs...

Ros Crawford said...

Even if I wasn't a cat person I would love these! Love the colours and the sparkle and he is just a hoot! Oh how I wish I could colour like you! Have a great day Leslie!

Pam Sparks said...

Fabulous Leslie! LOVE them both! I don't have this one but I have some other SH stamps that I love for C-mas... SO fun! SO FUN!

Hannelie said...

That expression on the cat's face ♥
Love the shimmer of the wink of stella !

Diane said...

OMGosh I had this stamp once and got rid of it, what was I thinking? I think I still might have one image stamped to color though. And then I had to look to see if I still had another one and I do, a cat holding a bouquet of balloons!! I should send you a few stamped images of that! Anyhow, what a fabulous Christmas card. Love the bright and very cheerful colors and the sentiment is perfect, it just says it all!!

Conniecrafter said...

Such a cute and fun image and you have done a fantastic job with the coloring, sure to bring a smile!! Both are neat designs. Like the touch of sparkle you brought to it also!

laurie said...

These are CUTE!!! They look like fun to color too!

Stacy Morgan said...

Super sparkly and cute. These are darling Christmas cards. Such fat kitties. hee hee

Cindy Beach said...

I'm not a lover of cats but these colorful cuties have totally changed my mind! (for today.) I do LOVE cu-ute and these little critters are adorable. Love the sparkles too!

Teri S. said...

Leslie, I really like both of these cards, but I have to say the 2nd one made me giggle out loud. It GREAT! Your colouring is amazing!

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, how funny and adorable, and I LOVE the ugly sweater! Hehe! What a fun image, and I do miss Stamps Happen and cherish the ones I have (and have even been given recently as a gift). But I would love more (not that I need them). Ha! But you've colored these so sweetly and vibrantly, and I love the second one too! You can see his uncomfortableness in the sweater more, and I love the "merry" word die! Loving both of them...and Merry Christmas! I've been working on more cards myself earlier this year! Yay! Hugs!