Kraft Journal Bling Challenge and Cooking with Cricut

Before I get into my card, I have tons of Kraft Outlet/Journal news.

First, if you look on the right side of my blog there is something new.  I WON!!! Can you believe it?  I was one of the top three at the Kraft Journal last week.  You can see the card here.  I was so excited and honored to have won.  They had a number of wonderful submissions for the challenge, I especially liked Jan from Chai Tea 'n Me.  And any time I see Laurel from Seabrook Design I know I'll be in for a treat.  You should definitely check out the other entries.

In addition, my order from Kraft Outlet arrived.  I can't wait to start playing with my dictionary pages and library cards and library envelopes.  It is going to be fun.  If you haven't had a chance, check out their cool stuff. 

Now for my card.  The challenge at Kraft Journal is bling and the challenge at Cooking with Cricut (remember this is not a Cricut Cake site, it is paper cutting and they have a ton of cool cuts) is swirly and twirly.  Now, I'm not a huge bling person.  I think it is one of the reasons I like kraft paper so much.  Kraft paper feels more organic and not so formal.  However, I rose to the challenge and channeled my inner princess.

The card base is kraft.  I tried to decide if this would have worked with white or cream cardstock as the base and I came to the conclusion, no.  It really looks best with the kraft.  The pattern paper and the three layers above it are all DCWV's Amber Autumn stack and coordinating cardstock.  I must say, I looked at these papers a number of times and thought I would never use them but I'm very glad I had them. 

Here is a close-up of the cut.  It is from the Martha Stewart Elegant Cakes cart.  Isn't it absolutely wonderful?  I cut it at 4 3/4 inches.  The bottom layer (darkest brown) is a glitter cardstock which cut amazingly well in my Cricut.  The middle layer is the shimmery brown and the top layer is the blue.  All three colors are also in the bottom layered pattern paper.  I can see a number of additional cards in these wonderful Martha Stewart carts.

Then came the bling.  I used my favorite, Creative Charms, gradient gems.  I chose the largest brown gems and the next size down in clear and blue.  What do you think of my bling?

Then, to finish off the card...

I added an 1 1/2 strip to the inside to dress it up just a big. 

Does it look swirly and twirly?  How about bling?  Do you think I got it right?  What would you recommend changing or adding?