Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Cute Tuxedo Cat Christmas Cards and More

If you like tuxedo cats then you'll enjoy these Christmas cards, stickers, mugs, puzzles, and more.

My cat Muffin just seemed to know that this present was for her and that it was a bed. With just some partial unwrapping, she was ready to settle down and enjoy her new gift. You can click on the image link below to see the current selection.

The text on the items can be easily personalized with your own words by using the template form. You'll see the template form once you click on the item of your choice.


If you would like this cute design added to any other products, you can let me know through my CherylsArtPhotos store at Zazzle, or send me an email to creative-brushstrokes@comcast.net.

Cheryl Paton


Thursday, September 17, 2015

Cute Cat Halloween Costumes for Kids

Cats are a lovely choice to be for Halloween; they're so purr-fect.

As a kid, my daughter used to dress up as a cat for Halloween, and even way before and after the holiday. Once she saw the costume, she wanted to wear it, and pretend that she was a cat.

Here you'll find some of the costumes I've made, along with basic tips on how to make them. You'll also find a variety of choices of ones that you can purchase online, and/or some cat accessories.


For the first cat costume, I used a pair of her footed fleece pajamas. They're a warm and comfortable choice, which makes a good place to start from.

If you don't already have a pair, this cute pink leopard pair will make a fun choice.




I made a basic hat from some soft material, added tie strings, and sewed on two ears. The hat can be as simple as two squares of soft, somewhat stretchy material, sewed together. You can also round the top corner to better fit the head.

I had her use white gloves for the paws; you can also use mittens.

I used brown eyebrow powder to draw whiskers on her face. If you would rather use a face mask, this leopard print one looks cute. It has been ordered for young kids, around the age of 5, and it has worked fine.



In place of making a hat, you can also use animal print headbands. These are said to run small, so they will probably work for kids.



I made a tail out of the same fabric that I had made the hat. Simply cut a tail length piece of fabric that is approximately 2-1/2 inches wide. Fold the right sides together, and make a 1/4 inch seem down the length of it, and then across one end. Then turn it right side out, fold the open edge a bit to the inside and stitch to the suit.

The accessory items also come as a set.



If you like the costume already made, this adorable kitten costume is ready for some meows. The front paws are attached to the jumpsuit by a stretch of elastic. The bottom of the costume is open to set on top of the shoes. The ball of yarn is not included.




As my daughter got older, she no longer needed, nor wanted a jumpsuit style. But she had fallen in love with Nala (From the Lion King.), and wanted to be a cat again. We decided to go with a vest. The vest works out great for beginner sewers. Using a furry type material, means you don't have to hem the armholes. The material wasn't as soft on the inside, so I lined this hat with some lightweight material. You can make two basic hats, then put right sides together, and stitch around three of the edges, turn it right side out, then turn under the remaining edge. When you add two strings for tying, you can add them before or after turning the final edge under.

Here is a bigger sized cat costume, in black. It is sized for boys.




Our daughter still loved dressing up as a cat for Halloween, as she got older, but she wanted less in the way of a costume. She just wanted a cat headband. Wow, that was easy!

I think I'd add a bit of pink to these ears, or go with making some from headbands again.



What do you think?

If you haven't found the purr-fect one yet, there are more cat Halloween costumes that you can view at Amazon.

Cheryl Paton


Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Cat Face Pumpkin Halloween Coloring Pages

Cats and Halloween can go together in fun ways, such as this cute cat face on this pumpkin. The pumpkin is fat and sets low to the ground. The cat face is smiling, and both are surrounded by pumpkin leaves and twirly pumpkin vines.

Both kids and adults can have multiple times of coloring fun. There are forty sheets per notepad for repeat colorings and or for sharing pages with family and friends. This design is printed on two sizes on notepads. You can choose from 5-1/2 inches by 6 inches, or 11 by 8-1/2 inches. There are 40 sheets per notepad.


May you have a fun and happy Halloween.

Check out more Outline Coloring Notepads by CherylsArt at Zazzle.

Cheryl Paton
CherylsArt

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Cute Cat Jigsaw Puzzles

I love when I'm inspired by my cats to create art. There they were sitting by the screen of the sliding glass door, enjoying the outside air and the view of birds flitting about.

I usually would take a photo and then use that for reference, and paint a picture later. This time I got out my canvas and watercolor pencils, and commenced to drawing. I decided to continue to work on it in the mornings so that the light would be similar. I knew that the cats would come running once they heard the sliding door opening.

Yep, they came a running, but those cute girls didn't always take the same position or place. But they were a joy to draw and paint anyway. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.


See more products with the cats bird watching, by CherylsArt at Zazzle.

Look at more Cat Puzzles by various artists at Zazzle.

Cheryl Paton



Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Favorite Pet Strollers for Cats

Do you wish to take your indoor cat(s) outside? I did. I know how they love looking out the windows, especially when the window is open and they can breathe the outside air through the screen.


I've had cats before that we used to let outdoors, but ended up determining that it was better for them to be indoors in a safer environment. So I made the venture to purchase a pet stroller. It looks similar to this one, but it didn't have a cup holder, which is actually a nice addition.

I also chose this style, because it has the upper and rear screen which allows the pet to look up and/or back at me. I think that helps to reassure them that you are nearby, and I can more easily see them.



It worked well for the both of our cats when they were smaller. For now I take them on individual rides. If I were to get another pet stroller at some time, I think I'd go for for a bigger option.

An Amazon reviewer has said that she has used this style for her two cats, who weighed 13.5 and 11 pounds at the time. This stroller's measurements are: height to handle 42"; Interior dimensions 30"L x 13"W x 22"H. So it is more long than wide. It also has a paw rest inside, and multiple screened viewing options.



If your cat hasn't been on a stroller ride yet, then I recommend that you allow them time to get accustomed to the smells of it, and getting in and out of it while stile indoors. If you have room inside, take them for little rides inside your home so that they are more familiar with it before their first outdoor day in it.

If you'd like to check out different styles, you can view more pet strollers for cats at Amazon.

Cheryl Paton



Friday, January 30, 2015

Best cat scratchers for cats

The best cat scratchers are the ones that your cat will use. But beyond that, some are better than others, i.e. more sturdy, longer lasting, etc. Here, I'll show you which ones are best according to what I have observed with our cats.


The most common cat scratchers that I have throughout our house are the corrugated cardboard styles. The preference for our kitties are the larger ones, that they can do multiple things with, like laying on them too.

The flat ones and wavy ones also work well. Our cats do seem to prefer the wider ones.


We do have a narrow one that hangs from a door knob. One cat likes this one, the other doesn't. The hanging style does make some noise when it is being used, so I added pieces of weather stripping to the back. It helps to reduce the banging sound against the door.

Both of our cats like scratching both horizontal and vertical surfaces. I have multiple types of scratchers around to give them a choice, and also the opportunity for them to use different muscles.


Our tortoiseshell cat prefers the cardboard vertical hanger above. Our tuxedo cat prefers the vertical sisal scratching post. After a couple of times of hearing the cardboard bang the door, that was enough of that one for her.

So overall, my recommendation is to observe your cat(s) to note any preferences, and to offer some variety.

The larger ones will probably cost more up front, but they last longer, so they can cost less in the long run. I will probably have to replace the larger cardboard styles from time to time (even after turning them over.) However, the sisal covered post has proven to be very long lasting and was well worth the cost.




Cheryl Paton


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Cat beds - location matters

Hello cat lovers.

We have several different types of cat beds in various rooms, throughout our house. In 2014, I purchased two new cat beds for Christmas presents. The two new ones were the same exact style and print. Both of the cats have laid in one bed multiple times, but not in the other bed.

I had gotten the new beds to replace some that weren't being used. One in particular was a larger bed. I thought it was all about the size and style. So I had purchased two smaller type beds, figuring they could snuggle in them better.


I placed this larger bed on the bench under the dining room table. My plan was to clean it up and donate it to the cat shelter. But lo and behold, once it was placed in this new location, Sunny has claimed it.

She has gotten in this bed on a daily basis since it's been moved. Who knew? Location must matter to cats.

So if your cat is not liking a particular cat bed, maybe try placing it in a new location.

If you need a new cat bed, check these out on Amazon.



Cheryl Paton

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Cat is dogs' best friend dog pet tags

I've heard it many times before, and perhaps so have you; they saying - "Dog is man's best friend."

I do beg to differ and also to ask the question, "Who is dog's best friend?"

My answer to who is man's best friend and who is dog's best friend, is the same, - a cat.

I've had both dogs and cats as a kid as I was growing up. Perhaps I developed a closer relationship with my cat, as she was a house cat and she would curl up in my lap, snuggle close by, and listen to all my ramblings with no judgment.

Most of our dogs were kept outside. So it might have been different were they inside dogs. But nevertheless, I and many others, claim cats as our best friends.

And I've seen many dogs also appreciate and love cats. I've seen them bathe kittens and snuggle up with the furry felines. Yes, some have had their differences and have argued over whose bed it is. But brought up together, they can also be the best of pals.



This custom pet tag is made of burnished silver and features an outline drawing of a cat, with the statement, "My best friend is a cat." It is UV resistant and has a waterproof coating.

It can also be customized with a phone number for ID purposes.

Do you have a dog whose best friend is a cat?

Cheryl Paton