my first sketch challenge!

I've probably looked at hundreds and lurked on my Google Reader everyday looking at all the wonderful creations out there but I've never made and posted my own entry to a sketch challenge...until today. Yay! This is actually for two challenges: Kelly Jo's Color Chef Challenge #13 and the card sketch challenge, CPS123, over at Card Positioning Systems. I really liked the layout of the CPS challenge but it was Kelly Jo's inspiration bag in the Color Chef Challenge that hooked me! The colors are great--a classic Talbot's type color combination--but with a modern pattern. I was struggling a bit to figure out what stamps I would use as the focal point and I tried several. Then the moment happened! I looked up with a big sigh thinking "I can't do this" and saw a card I made with SU's Trendy Trees. Wow!! The leaf burst pattern of this tree looked very close the pattern on the inspiration bag. I tried it and I'm pretty happy with the results. What do you think? All supplies are Stampin' Up--except the gingham ribbon (michael's) and the cuttlebug embossing folder. I started with a base of basic black cardstock and embossed it with the CB swiss dot folder. A piece of summer sun patterned paper from good morning sunshine designer paper (retired) finished off the bottom. The ticket corner punch gave a little emphasis to the multi-layered main panel.
Next I cut a fabulous flower with the flower burst embosslit--I love those things. Isn't it cool how the flower burst pattern matches the pattern from the tree? The center of the flower is stamped with Happy Thoughts in basic black and summer sun all topped off with a little bling from the smallest clear circle rhinestone brad. A whisper white panel stamped with more trendy trees gives a writing surface for the inside. This was a fun challenge. Thanks so much for looking and, please, let me know what you think with a comment! Edit 7/16/09: I'm so excited, thanks to Karen Giron's tutorial post today I finally got the watermarks she created for me to work! Thanks Karen! If you need a watermark, check out her blog--her work is fantastic!