ABC Christmas Challenge: C & D

The first Wednesday of the month brings a new instalment of the ABC Christmas Challenge! It's still early in the year, so we are only a few letters into the alphabet, and this month we bring you two fun themes - C for CATS and D for DOGS. 

Of course, it would be easy to take any cat or dog stamp and place it in a Christmas setting for these cards. But I figure I have an overflowing collection of Christmas supplies for a reason! It also seemed like a great opportunity to dust off some older stamps. So first up, my cat card: 

And yes, this Penny Black stamp is old enough to be wood-mounted. :D I stamped and embossed my kitty on watercolour paper and gave him some simple colouring with Zig markers. I still haven't decided if I like the zigzag borders I added, or if they're just weird. ;) 

Please don't tell the dog lovers out there, but I am pretty sure I only have one stand-alone Christmas-themed dog stamp - and it had never seen ink. Thanks to this month's theme, now it has! 

This guy came in a grab bag of Christmas stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps. Originally he and the sentiment were stamped onto the same panel, but I didn't like the sentiment placement, so after he was coloured, I cut him out. I stencilled a subtle background on the kraft panel using distress oxides (Versamark for the two pine cones) and my smallest Studio Katia blending brushes. The jingle bell shines with a little gold Smooch.

Now my dog doesn't have wings, but he is channelling one of Santa's magical reindeer, so I've almost got the optional wings theme at this month's Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge! 

Of course, by then I was on a roll, so the dog AND cat cards started:

This was the first stamp that came to mind when I saw our themes, but that would only get one Christmas card made, wouldn't it? :D Judging by hostess Jo's card, I think this has enough red to qualify for her current Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

And this may be the only other set I have that features a dog: 

I masked the cuff onto each stocking before colouring and cutting them out. Of course the cuffs and the heel and toe of the middle stocking called out for some bling. This card fits the current Jingle Belles' We THREE Kings in two ways: there are three stockings; and cats do usually consider themselves king (or queen) of their domain. ;) 

And look at that - two themes, and four more Christmas cards in the pile! Lots more canine and feline inspiration on the ABC blog, so check out everyone's cards then join us! 

Supplies: (be merry) (?) red cardstock, Craft Town textured green card base, Canson watercolour paper, Penny Black White Slopes & Hero Arts Family & Friends stamps, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Zig markers, Hello Bluebird Basic Border & Spellbinders circle dies; (doggone) Neenah white & desert storm cardstock, Craft Town textured green card base, Viva Las Vegas Dachshund with Antlers & Have a Doggone Happy Holiday stamps, Versamark, Memento Luxe espresso truffle, Stampin' Up real red & bundled sage & festive berries distress oxide ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Festive stencil, Smooch gold ink, foam tape; (joy & love) Neenah white & Recollections red cardstock, Simon Says Stamp Furry Christmas stamps, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, MFT stitched scallop rectangle dies, Icicle & Frosted Lace Stickles; (stockings) Neenah white & (?) red cardstock, Sunny Studio Stamps Subtle Grey Tones patterned paper, Newton's Nook Holiday Stockings stamps, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, black Sharpie pen, Nuvo white blizzard glitter drops