A long and skinny challenge in Blues

So the challenge for Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenges is for a long and skinny card.  The sketch is appealing but I'm not used to doing long and skinny.  This really will be a challenge!

There are any number of measurements that one can use for a long and skinny card but since we now have the Envelope Punch Board, I didn't have to worry about a regular envelope.  Whatever sized of card I decided on, I could easily make an envelope to fit it.  My choice was to make my card 3 1/2" x 7".

Then I saw the challenge over at the Pals Paper Arts and thought "Hey, I can combine the two!" because their challenge was a colour challenge.  After all, I might have the dimensions and the layout from the first challenge, but I still had to choose colours.

The colours for this challenge helped me to decide which stamp sets would work, too.  See how it all works together so well?  One challenge gives me the sketch and layout, another gives me colours and the two together help decide the stamps.  I chose "The Open Sea" which is one of my favourites anyway, and which really goes well with the seascape colours.  Along with that set I also used the Something to Say set for the sentiment.

I really love the way this card turned out.  The colours work beautifully together.  The stamp sets are perfect.  And don't those stars just add the "cherry to the top"?