Three Sketches, Three Cards

I hope everyone isn't getting bored by all the patriotic cards. I think I have about exhausted all of my patriotic stamps but they either have never been used or it has been a long time since they were last used so it feels good to bring them out and use them on cards for a good cause.
In case this is your first visit to  my blog I  am making 4th of July cards for a nonprofit organization called From Our Hearts. They send cards to our troops overseas that they get from card makers all over the US.
So onto my first card. I used a sketch from I Spy Sketch Challenge #12 which was taken from a cute card by Melyssa Connoly. Here is where you can find her card: http://ispysketches.blogspot.com/2012/04/issc12-with-melyssa-connolly.html and here is the sketch:

Here is how I used the sketch:

 I made a few changes to the sketch. First I turned it. I  also trimmed the end of the three strips of paper into banners instead of leaving them straight. I also ran a piece of Craft tape down the middle of each strip.
I embossed the background with the star embossing folder which I seem to have used on almost all of  my patriotic cards. I love how gorgeous it turns out every time. I also inked the edges of the card with Fired Brick Distress ink.
Another change was instead of a circle I used a white star embossed shape and layered another star made out of pp on top.

I also flipped the rectangle shape which I embossed and inked the edges with Fired Brick Distress ink. For the sentiment I used Creative Memories stickers and added a row of gold pearls. I also added smaller gold pearls to the center of three of the embossed stars in the background.

Moving onto the next card:

I used the sketch from CPS#262 and here is the sketch:

Go to their blog for inspiration from their design team:

http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/2012/04/cps-262-part-1.html Oh and by the way this week is being sponsored by My Favorite Things.

Here is what I came up using their sketch:

I stayed true to the sketch except I added the sentiment on a banner. I used an eagle stamp as my image which I stamped on kraft cs inked with black ink. I inked the edge of the embossed circle as well as the banner with Fired Brick distress ink. I thought the an eagle was the perfect image to represent America and freedom.

I again added gold pearls to the center of three of the embossed stars.

And now for my third and final card of the day I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #157:

You should visit Karen's blog and see the cute card she made with this sketch and while your there you should browse her blog as she makes many wonderful cards.

Now here is my last card for this blog post:

 I had fun with this sketch. I used the same start embossing folder for the background and some red gingham pp and navy cs for the banners.  I stamped the fireworks image onto more of the navy cs with watermark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder then used a CM circle punch. The white paper is Neenah White Solar and I stamped it with three different stamps for my sentiment in black ink and adhered it to my card base.

 I used an adhesive star gemstone for the big star, colored in the open star with a red Glaze pen and used a clear Glaze pen on the black star.

I have been having so much fun using sketches for my cards. I hope you join in too!

Have a great week.