RAK Challenge

One of my groups on facebook regularly sends out RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) as one of the requirements in the group. I signed up to do the RAK challenge for this month. I was sent a package in the mail that included a base for a journal, pages for the journal, some jute, a bunch of flat back pearls and a couple pieces of patterned paper. The challenge was to make a journal with the pieces provided and only 3 more things from our stash.
Here's the journal that I created.
The front:

 The background paper was given to me, as well as the circles of patterned paper, the jute, and the flat back pearls. I added the lace at the bottom, the medallion and used ink on the patterned paper.
I added the medallion to the front, used the larger patterned paper circle as it's middle. I inked the edges of the smaller circle and glued the jute around the outside of it. I wish I could have added more to the center of the circle as it just looks unfinished to me.
The back:

 The background paper was given to me as well as the green piece. I added the lace at the bottom and the medallion.
The inside:

The pages and the bird were given to me.
I started creating and then stopped to ask if I could add more than three of my own items, the answer was no and I was glad I stopped to ask because I had already added the lace and the medallion. I thought the medallions went great with the paper I was given. I really wanted to use the bird, but couldn't find a way to add it to the front, so I stuck it in the inside.
We were supposed to have the item done by the 19th, we send a picture (I sent three: the front, back, and inside) to the group owner, she puts them in a post and people vote on them. Later we send them out as RAKs to other people in the group.
I think this will be a fun group.

Brightest card I've ever made

I think this wins as the brightest card I've ever made. But, I'm trying to brighten someone's day, and if you got this in the mail, how could you not be happy? Plus, it's an unexpected thing, so that always makes a person happier, right? Well, as long as it's not a bill.

I'm unsure if you can read the stamp in the bottom, it says "A Friend is a Keepsake of the Heart". I'm still trying to figure out focus, but, this time I used my camera phone, which I believe came out better than the actual camera. I also used the Auto Contrast button in Picasa and the Sharpen Button. Those helped a lot, but I'm still learning.

Since I don't make a lot of cards, I thought I'd try using a sketch, and since I was making it with a sketch, I thought maybe I'd try a challenge sketch. So, here's the sketch from Crafty Sentiments, and I just found out that you're supposed to use blue, which I did. I actually tweaked the sketch a little bit, so I hope that works out OK. I used one strip on the side, instead of two, and I flipped it 90 degrees, and then added my text on the bottom, or kitty-cornered from the diagonal piece.

So, here are the challenges I'm entering this in:

Crafty Sentiments - Sketch
Stampin' When I Can - Stickers, the heart is a sticker
Stacey's Stamping Stage - Colors: Only Orange, Green Galore, Yo Yo Yellow, and Pixie Pink, or something close to them, I hope mine are close enough.
PaperPlay Challenges - Stickers, once again, the heart