Two very different cards today

I have a 40th birthday bash to attend in a couple of weeks and the birthday girl is not at all girly, doesn't like pink and is not at all pleased about the passing of time and her age so I had to think carefully about her card. After coming across Late Blossom's blog Simplicity I was inspired by the one layer Wednesday challenge which this week is masking....now usually I love textures and layers and so this was very different for me but I was pleased with the result and intend to make more.

I masked a border round the edges and then a circle off centre (I used my stamp positioner to fiddle with the placement of the mask and images - I'd be lost without that tool!). I then used Distress inks (Antique linen, Bundled sage, Old Paper, Spun sugar, Tattered rose and Mustard Seed) to create the background.  Having removed all the masks I stamped the floral image which is from Elusive Images - Oriental Flourishes set in Stazon Olive green and painted with my inks again.  Then I added the sentiment from Stamp Oasis.  I  thought it needed balancing a little so added the dragonfly in the corner - an acrylic stamp I've had in a set for years and can't remember who the manufacturer is.  

I think it will suit my friend very nicely and she'll appreciate the lack of  a large sparkly '40' ! 

My second card today couldn't be more different - flowers and layers and ribbon and things!  This one is from a sketch at Sketch and Stash  for this weeks challenge.  The rules are to use the sketch along with new, never used or neglected stash.  Well my 'never used' is the fairy stamp which was free on the front of a papercrating magazine ages ago, and I also have a 'new' which are the flowers, (any of you who saw my WOYWW post will have seen the lovely delivery of flowers I got from Wild Orchid Crafts this week for my birthday!).  

I  painted the fairy with distress inks (Tattered rose, Spun sugar, worn lipstick, milled lavender, dusky concord and mustard seed), then put together the layers with DCWV Pocket full of Posie paper, added the ribbon, flowers and a generous helping of stickles crystal glitter glue and there we have it.

I'm also entering this one into the Tuesday Taggers 'All that Blooms' Challenge and A Spoon Full Of Sugar whose theme is Floral Delights