Challenge: A Sketch + Anything Goes Theme!

After having been away from crafting for a while due to our church's summer retreat, I was really eager to get back into it!  I admit that it took a while to get used to it again though.  I kept thinking about it that I was actually kind of afraid to start!  I was sure I'd mess something up, but thankfully, it was still just as fun as I remember it!  I decided to make some cards for challenges when my mom asked if I could make a card for my cousin's birthday.  I was able to combine his card with 2 challenges.

The image I picked was from Pink Cat Studio.  I recently purchased the Dinosaur Value Pack #1 that included the image "Rex Loves Cake."  Perfect for a guy's birthday card!  That's why my mom had to ask me to make one; most of my cards are kind of girl-focused.  I colored him with Bic Mark-It Markers as always.  Since I've been away from the markers and shading for a bit, I wasn't entirely happy with how it came out.  I was going to keep adding layers to get it to blend better, but I was afraid that if I did, I'd mess it up and have to start all over again.  I do think, however, that it does look better on the card than it does in this close-up picture.

Then I followed the sketch challenge over at deconstructingjen.com.  My use of the sketch and my coloring skills is nothing like those posted there done by the design team, but gosh, I do like trying!

This is the final result!  I cut the cardstock to make a 5in square card, and I worked with what I had for all the separate pieces.  The base cardstock and the white layer were the only two "new" pieces I cut into.  Everything else was from my scrap basket.  It's actually easier for me to do it that way because otherwise I'd be going through tons of paper stacks to try to find something that coordinates.  In actuality, I did try to combine another challenge involving dots with this one, but I could not find masculine polka dot paper!  Haha.

I used the thinnest foam adhesive square that I had just to add some dimension without being too out there.  For some reason, I think that guys don't want it to be popping out that much.  I have no clue what I think that!  

I used a Bic Mark-It maker for the dashes on the green circle, and I used my Recollections "Snow" Opaque Marker for the white dots on the blue square (easily cut out with my Nestabilities).  The sentiment is from Pink by Design's set "Take the Cake."  I realized that I should probably buy the "Happy Birthday" set because I actually only have one sentiment stamp that says it!  Everything else is a pun or something cutesy.  

I like that the card opens from the top.  I think it's fun when cards do that, haha.  Is that a weird thing to say and think?  Hmm, what else can I tell you about this card?  Oh, I tried to use a stamp and VersaMark to get some dots on the green paper, but it just looked funny, so I had to throw that piece away.  Thank goodness I only needed half the circle!  And the full circle was actually cut in a card I posted last week or so when I made the circle card for the latest Karber challenge.  I may cut and "make a mistake" in that I end up not using it on that card, but I will end up using it eventually!

Here are the challenges that I'm entering:

• Deconstructed Sketch No. 9 (sketch challenge) at deconstructing jen [Click the first link to see that I'm linked in at #2!  Plus, I added a BLD to the end of my name for another chance to win a $20 gift card to By Lori Designs!]
• Theme Challenge (July–Anything Goes Challenge!) at Catch The Bug challenge Blog [Click the first link to see that I'm linked in at #188!]