Douglas

This evening I was on a mission: I needed to make a birthday card, and a blokey one at that.

Fuelled by Stamping Sensations - One for the Guys, and Sketch Saturday #351 off I went. Douglas is one of the Clarity characters.

Last but not least, he fits nicely into Simon Say's Monday's "B is for ..." challenge. In my case (and my card making) B is for Birthdays.

Breathed a sigh of relief, a nice guy card that can go in the post tomorrow.

Vintage Christmas

I've been dithering over Sweet Stampin's latest Christmas challenge, Only Words. I knew which stamp I wanted to use straight away, but couldn't think how to set it.

With the deadline looming I was laying all my hopes on Mojo Monday's new layout, and it did the trick, in the nick of time.

As a bonus, because I went vintage, I feel it fits Sunday Stamper's "Make it look old" challenge this week, which I confess I thought I wouldn't manage. Distressed isn 't really my style.

The stamp is from Clarity and the dies are Spellbinders

Floral Bicycle

With this card I gave myself the challenge of combining three very different challenges: two keywords and a sketch

Have a look and see whether you think I've made an OK job of it. For myself, I used promarkers to colour the flowers and it clearly shows I'm no expert. If I were to do it again, I think I might use pencils or paint with distress inks.

The Bicycle and Posy both come from Clarity Stamp

 Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Special Lady/Girly
CASology - Basket
Freshly made sketches - 176

Freesias

Freesias - so simple, and so fragrant.

A simple CAS card that could be as appropriate for Mother's Day, Birthday, Thank You and a multitude of other reasons that make you want to send a card.

Lots of Green blog challenges around at the moment, and others with a Mother's Day or Spring theme, so a bumper set of links for this uncomplicated card.

Simon Say Monday Challenge - Just a hint of Clover (Green)
Allsorts - Spring is in the Air
Sweet Stampin' - Green for St Patrick's Day
Less is More - Yellow and Green
That Craft Place - Mother's Day/Anything Goes

Robin - a gardener's friend

I don't have a garden of my own at the minute, but I have friends and family that do, and they often have robins.I think they're gorgeous, so friendly, huge characters and they always make me smile.

I managed to miss all the mid-week challenge deadlines this week, so no 'Less is More - This makes me happy' for this little guy

However, Hels over at Sunday Stamper/Ink on my Fingers asked us to use warm colours, and I think a robin with his jolly red chest manages that.

Last but not least, I used the sketch over at Mojo Monday for my layout inspiration.

Bird on the Wire

Last post today, I promise. I'm trying to get ahead of myself this week. I've used the Birdcage Kit from Clarity. I do confess I'm a bit of a Clarity addict, and follow Barbara's Daily Blog

I started making this for CASology's Mini Challenge, but changed my mind. Instead I'm fitting it into:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes and
Sweet Stampin' - All or Nothing. At least I hope with a bit of colour behind to make it 'pop' it still counts as a single layer, hey ho if it doesn't, I like it, and enjoyed making it.

Diddy Robin

Forgive me, another Christmas card, this little guy was just too cute to resist.

The Robin comes from Clarity's Christmas Remountables set, and the sentiment is one of their line sentiments

I'm easing up on myself as I seemed to spend all my time last week making individual cards for individual challenges. To me, this one fits both:

CASology - Mini and Freshly Made Sketches 175

I only came across the CAS philosophy this last week, and I love it.

Rudoph and friend

It feels a bit early, but I don't think it's ever too early to start making Christmas cards! Saves the rush later on, at least that's what I'm telling myself.

I've been made theme based challenge cards all week, but had been struggling with templates. At the last, inspiration struck, and I used one of the Clarity Mini Baubles to create this cute little number for Mojo Monday 386