Patriotic Gertie for granddaughter

Our granddaughter is completing her requisite 5 (parachute) jumps.  She is beginning her second year at the USAF academy. We told her to let us know after she finishes, not before!  She enjoys my cards, and I am sure she will like this.  I have had these papers, brads and buttons for some time.  The red stars are punched, and the blue trellis and sentiment are die cuts (Cuttlebug).  Blue and red Washi tape strips at the top do not show up on the photo.  Patriotic Gertie - ready for an outdoor parade - is part of a freebie set at Imagine That Digi Stamp Store.
CHALLENGES:  
Die cut:   Dies'r Us Challenge
                Digi Stamps 4 Joy  
Star:        Dragonfly Journeys
                 Love to Scrap
For a girl:        Aud Sentiments
Celebration:     Star Stampz
Family memories:        Frilly and Funkie
Fancy fold (Easel):      Incy Wincy Designs   
Red, white and blue:   Scrap-Creations
                                      Crafty Catz
                                      Simon Says Stamp
Colors of flag:     Dream Valley  
Patriotic:              Paper Girls

Purple Flowers

I am not sure this color combo works as well as I had hoped - I have another card with this green and lilac that I like much better.  The image is from my stash - using Versamark and chalk.  The DP strip is Costco double sided cs - I bought that box of cs a long time ago. 
Sketch:  http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Vanishing pearls

There really are pearls here - 4 on the circle and one in the flower.  I also used lilac to complete the middle column of the tic tac toe challenge.  The DP has been in my stash for a LONG time.  I added embossed strips and a bow.  The image is Fluffles enjoying a summer day in the sun.
Tic Tac Toe:  http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/
Any, with a sentiment:  http://avenue613.blogspot.com/
Sunny day: http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/
Any:   http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/

Black & White with Lavender

This is my go-to style for sympathy cards.  I usually like the relatively clean look with few embellishments.  I have had the Scor-Pal for a while, but need to practice with it.  The image ((Fancy Pants) and sentiment (Verve) are from fairly new sets - these saw ink for the first time.  The chalk is sponged for a softer look.
Black and white with one color:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
                                                  http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
Chalk something new:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/2012/12/challenge-26.html
New:  http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-5-for-lets-get-inky-challenge.html
New:   http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/
New Toys:  http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.ca/search/label/challenges