Less is More challenge - Use a Flourish

This is my first attempt at joining in with the "Less is More" challenge. The task this week is to create a one layer card and use a flourish.

It sounds easy, but I'm not used to working directly on to my card and I hadn't realised how often I cover things up, cut them differently or just change my plan as I go along to cover up mistakes. Working directly onto the card, it absolutely has to be right first time, and my wastepaper basket is now testament to how tricky that can be. But I was delighted with the elegant simplicity of my finished card, so I will definitely be joining the challenge again. Here is my card

I used masking tape to make a rectangle on the card and sponged yellow, ochre and brown ink into it to create a gradient. The flourish is  from an old Hot Off The Press set of stamps, and the birthday greeting from a grab bag I bought from the USA years ago. I finished the card off by inking the edges in brown and sponging yellow inside to show through the cut-out corners.