What a fun layout for today's post! I love all the layers but I tried to get fancy with the layers on my first attempt so it went in the round file. I have to remember to "Keep it simple, Shannon!" lol

I tried out a few new-to-me goodies on today's card. The Arrows Embossing Folder just came a few weeks ago and I LOVE how the geometric lines of it compliment the pattern in this paper from the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper! Now, you might think that I would continue with that theme for the stamp set but for some reasn I chose it's polar opposite, a foo-foo floral image from the Backyard Basics stamp set. You wouldn't think they would go together but I think they work very well together! Who knew?! And even better, all the stamps in this set have matching framelits!

I have been eyeballing this stamp set since the Annual Catalog came out last June but was hesitant to purchase it because I might have to COLOR the image in! (gasp). I admit, I did stamp the image in Black StazOn ink and attempt to color it. Yep, it went in the round file too! Then I decided to just stamp it in Island Indigo and let it be...Perfect! I popped the image up with Stampin' Dimensionals and paired it with a simple sentiment from the stamp set A Dozen Thoughts. I punched the sentiment out with my 3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch and layered it over a few strands of Island Indigo Baker's Twine. As a last thought, I added two Whisper White Candy Dots to the upper right hand corner. And there you have it! Simple and Clean.

Here is the sketch that inspired this card:

Today's sketch is a milestone for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge Blog . It's their 200th challenge! Wow! They have done a fabulous job of inspiring me so I wondered just when I started playing along with them? Turns out it was April 8, 2012 with PPA132. Here's my first card for that challenge: