Card Kit Contest

Hi! A few months ago, my Stampin' Up demonstrator Nicole sent me one of her 'Card kits'. It's a competition where she sends out left over cards from her workshops to some of her customers. The rules were that I had to use everything in the kit - I could add to the kit, but not take anything away. I was sent two kits and this is what I came up with:

This kit had early expresso base, daffodil delight, whisper white and early expresso ribbon. I added rose red, old olive and an antique brad. I made the flowers with the wing from the two step bird punch and the leaves are the body of the bird just cut down to size.

This next card gave me grief. I had baja breeze base, riding hood red, old olive, so saffron and very vanilla. I added soft suede for the owls and some riding hood red dsp and some 'chino' pearls from Kaiser Craft. It took me quite a while to come up with this card. I tried to sketch many different things, but nothing worked till I threw my hands in the air and walked away. I came back a little later and came up with this in about an hour - love how that works sometimes :)

Not sure if you can see, but I've inked my square lattice embossing folder in so saffron and then ran it through my big shot -  I love this subtle effect. The so saffron frame was created with the decorative label punch. I was really happy with how it turned out and so did Nicole, as I won second prize!

Thanks for looking.