monochrome and chalk technique

The idea for this card came to me when i was reading Sue Wilson's blog and she described what she calls the chalk board technique.
I started by stamping the background stamp called journey from Justrite in snow cap adirondak on black card. The white isn't sharp and bright and hence the term chalk board as it looks like chalk on blackboard. I cut it to size and matted it on white and then black again which i edged all around with a white pen mimicking stitching. I matted again on white which I had pierced all around edges. I mounted it on a white A5 base card using foam tape.

Next I stamped the HMS Victory in versamark on black card and embossed in white. I diecut it with a circle die from spellbinders and drew around same die on white card and fussy cut creating a mat for topper. I stuck it down with thicker foam tape in corner of background as shown.

 Next it was time for the sentiment and i thought the banners from Clarity stamp were ideal. It is stamped in black archival and clear embossed. I wrote the sentiment in black micron pen and clear embossed the greeting. Then i added some shading, to enhance the folds, in pencil. I tried to shape it following the folds. 

Finally i diecut the anchor (again a spellbinders die) in black card and went over it with autumn blaze and patina gilding waxes to age it. I strung it through some thick cord to mimic rope and attached it as shown.

Once i'd finished the card I realized it was monochrome so it was perfect for the Fussy and Fancy challenge which currently is monochromatic. I hope you like what I came up with and comments are appreciated, Theresa xx

I would also like to enter it into the Totally Gorgeous challenge which is manly.