Two birds, one stone....

This is a double challenge entry.  I wanted to do something with the sketch from Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 206 and the So Shelli Creative Challenge for June -- anything to do with a birthday card.

I had a hard time balancing the embellishment of the sketch with what I wanted the finished product to work out to, but I came close.  The flower was made with Melanie Schulenberg's fab video tutorial on paper roses and the leaves were stamped using the single leaf image from Happiness Shared.  The duck was watercolored with Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa and Rich Razzleberry, then highlighted with a white gel pen.    The flourish behind the duck was taken from Strength & Hope.  The sentiment was stamped on White in Early Espresso, the cut so that the cs was flagged.  I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa, the pleated the sentiment a couple of times, then smoothed it into place below the central image.

Stamps:  Cherish Friendship, Happiness Shared, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Strength & Hope

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry, Early Espresso, White, Crumb Cake textured, Pocketfull of Posies dsp

Ink:  Black, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Rich Razzleberry, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot, Birds & Blooms Flower Pieces Sizzlit, Ticket-Corner punch, Scallop Edge border punch, Metallic Brads, white gel pen, Vanilla 5/8" satin ribbon, Rich Razzleberry 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearl Jewels, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, sponges