My Pink Stamper Design team Challange

Challenge:  Make a card, scrapbook page, or other Cricut project with your favorite Cricut cartridge using the following colors......
OrangeTurquoise GreenBrown(other optional color of your choice)go check it out

I am in another Challenge.  I love doing these things, as well as swaps, because it gets my mind thinking.  Anyway,  I was going to submit my scrapbook page, and then I decided that it was too plain looking.    So I changed it up a bit.    I am going to show the before and the after. 
Here is the before:

 Recipe for this Layout:

Flower tag :
I used 2 Cartridges for the flower:  Cricut Pagoda and Cricut Essentials:The Yellow Flower part was actually part of the Flower card on page 55.   i left off the stamen part of the flower.  I cut two flowers, using the cards for another project.   I have layered the flowers by placing a pop dot in between the two.   I edged the flower with a Copic marker, Burnt Umber #E29.  Next I cut out a square from Cricut Essentials Cartridge, which you can only find installed in the  Cricut Expression 2, 5th Anniversary Edition at the moment (not sure if this is one of the ones that will be released in a separate cartridge).   If you have this machine, you can find the square on page 33 of the handbook.   If not, and you have another Cricut machine (such as the 1st edition expression machine), then there is one on the George and Basic Shapes Cartridge page 111.   The square was cut at 2" while the inside was cut at 3".
Background Page:
i used paper from Close to My Heart to make the background.   I cut 3 sheets of 12x12 paper down to 4 x4 pieces, then I staggered them  at 1 1/2.   I formed a pocket with the other two by adhering all but the left side of paper.   I cut off the extra, by using the brown paper as a guide.  with an opaque white  gel pen by Signo, I decorated the pockets.  I love this pen, and I got it three weeks ago.  It is better than the souffle pen I was using for doodling.   

First element:  Strip of colorI made a card last month, and I had some extra pieces of the stripe at the bottom of the page.   it is easy to do.  All it takes is a white piece of paper (12x12), and assorted color of different paper (I used Bazzill.)  Cut all but the white paper into 1" strips.  You only need one of each color. Next adhere the strips onto the white paper.  Next, you will cut the whole sheet in strips, going horizontal.   This will include all the colors, and make it as though it is one sheet. I matted the photo of my lovely family (I am at the end) with Coordination's paper. 
Now the After....

As I said in the beginning, I was making the page, and something struck me as I was not feeling the above page at all., so I decided to make some changes.  They say that change is good.  well this one is so sweet.   After all, I want to show my best work.   So what did I change?
The Flower Tag:
I did not mention the button, but the button for the center was there from the beginning.   I decorated the corners, and slid the tag down to the bottom.   This made room for me to angle the picture.   
Background paper:
I did not adhere the picture nor the mat down in the first photo, because I was not sure of the background, and I was right the second time around.   Changing the background makes to picture pop.  The orange mat just sat there.   I also decorated the mat with the white gel pen.   I also cut out an Eiffel Tower for the back ground.  The Eiffel Tower comes from the Summer in Paris Seasonal Cartridge, an it was cut at 4".   I simulated lights at the bottom part of the tower, and colored the little flag pole with the white gel pen.    I scribe the words "Family" under the picture in white gel pen as well.     
It has been a couple months since I completed a scrapbook layout, and even longer since I did one less then 12x12.   I did this, because I wanted to see if I could do it, and I am very proud of it.   I will catch you later.