How Are Things?

 Good morning! Just here to share a couple of cards before I start the day. This first fun card was inspired by the Skipping Stones Design Sketch by Dina Kowal:

And here is my take on the sketch:

 While browsing through my stamps I came across this cute turtle image and sentiment and thought it would make a fun card paired with the sketch.

 I used white embossing powder for the image and sentiment . I like the way it really makes the turtle stand out against the blue.

The small blue squares are stickers and I backed them with white cardstock. The pattern paper, cardstock and stickers are all Creative Memories. I wish the photos had turned out better but I think it was just too much blue and not enough light to show the contrast. The colors are prettier than what the photos show.

 My second card was inspired by a sketch I found here: http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/2012/04/freshly-made-sketches-30-sketch-by-tui.html

 

I am starting to make 4th of July cards for From Our Hearts. They send the cards overseas to our troops for them to send home to their family and friends to keep in touch. I thought this sketch would be great to start with.

So please tell me do you think the star looks funny with part of it chopped off? I can't decide if I like it or not.
Sooo many things happened while making this card and I had to go in a different direction. I wasn't planning on going with an aged and distressed look but when I ran the card through to emboss the background it cracked the paper and it has a white core. So I just went with it and sanded the whole thing.
Next I was inking the sentiment when I accidentally put a crease right in the middle. I didn't want to start over so I crunched the whole thing, flattened it back out and inked it some more.

 Then I realized the blue star borders where too bright so I inked them too with Vintage Photo distress ink and roughed up the edges. Problem solved. I also had to age the white star with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo.

I spritzed the star with Perfect Pearls to give it just a touch of glimmer. I ended up liking the distressed look just not sure about the star.
Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.