Patterned Paper Rocks!

I set out to make an anniversary card for my sweet in-laws and stamped images from the Stampin Up Fourishes set on the upper part of this card. I stink at trying to take individual stamps and make a background -- in fact, I've asked Splitcoast to do a tutorial on that issue. My backgrounds come out all weird and uneven and most unpleasing to the eye. Patterned paper to the rescue! My instinct would normally be to put the patterned paper on the bottom of this card, but I had to cover up my mistake. I already had stamped and embossed the focal image and if you are super sneaky, you'll notice that the patterned paper is not centered on the card, but this was the only scrap I had left of this gorgeous Basic Grey Blush paper. I think the stripes on either side of the center pink vertical design kind of hides the fact that this paper isn't centered properly. Either that, or just think that I'm avante garde and wanted it this way!! How I made this card: First, I seriously relaxed. I tried really really hard not to think about any other stampers or this blog and just took a deep breath and entered a zone where the only person I tried to please was ME (and possibly my in laws!!). Then, I found some business size envelopes in really nice paper from Crane's stationers in my stash of envelopes. I have NO idea where these came from!! However, they are lovely and inspired me to make a 4" x 9" card. Love this size!! Inked the large flourish from SU's Flourises in Close to Cocoa and then rocked the edges in Chocolate Chip (both by SU) ink and stamped on SU's Blush Blossom cardstock. Then I used the Flourishes Brassy Template from SU and dry embossed the image, mounted it on Chocolate Chip cardstock and inserted some SU Vintage brads. Adhered Basic Grey paper from the Blush collection to the top to cover up the mess I had made trying to make my own background, and then adhered a horizontal strip from the same sheet of paper to act as a bit of a faux ribbon. I adhered the focal image (no dimensionals -- this is going in the mail and I'm trying to avoid hassles with the post office). Stamped a couple of bigger flourishes in Versamark on the bottom of the card and then another smaller one (all from the same set) in Chocolate Chip on the edges. Stamped "Congratulations" (from Warmest Regards) in CC ink. The bottom of the card still looked too spare, so I remembered my cool new clear Paper Tray stamps from Paper Trey. I used CC Craft ink (pigment ink) and stamped two tiny little dots on each side of Congratulations. I loved not having to use a Stamp ma Jig to get these dots exactly where I wanted them. Note: I have so much more to share -- gifts dropping from the sky (ok, my mail box); other cards, etc. Sadly, my job expects me to show up on time! Gotta go.