Wilson Designs Chocolate & Navy Duet

Hello friends and followers, happy June!  Today I have two cards for your viewing pleasure, both created for Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge 54 using the Wilson Designs' Nautic-COOL set and the colors chocolate, navy and white based on this inspirational picture:

The first card is based on Sketch Saturday's Sketch from Week 157:

I used Brilliant Blue cardstock, embossed in my Cuttlebug using the D'Vine swirls EF to give the appearance of water, and Chocolate Chip cardstock, embossed using the Distressed Stripes EF, and some strategically placed twine.  The image panel and the little life preserver (isn't it adorable?) are popped up using dimensionals.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Cards for Men Challenge 11 - no patterned paper,
• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 5 - anything goes with ribbon or twine,
• Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - to make a card for a man or a boy, and
• Catered Crop Follow the Recipe Challenge 13 - I used the following ingredients from the original recipe in my card: 

1. colors - blue & white
2. stamps - sailboats
3. coloring mediums - stamping ink
4. embellishments - twine

My second card is based on Verve's Mojo Monday Sketch 193:

I decided to go with the round version of the sketch, since it reminded me of that cute little life preserver and created this card:

I cut out the little life preserver, punched a hole in the middle using a 1/4" circle punch, and threaded some thick jute twine through it.   Just as with my first card, this card also fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Cards for Men Challenge 11 - no patterned paper,
• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 5 - anything goes with ribbon or twine, 
• Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - to make a card for a man or a boy, and
• Catered Crop Follow the Recipe Challenge 13 - I used the following ingredients from the original recipe in my card: 
1. colors - blue & white
2. stamps - sailboats
3. coloring mediums - stamping ink
4. embellishments - twine

So, which is your favorite?  I actually think I prefer the first one.  

Thank you all for the fun challenges and for taking the time to stop by my blog and see my creations.  I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
~Crafty Math Chick