Special Thank You Card

Color palettes are among my favorite challenges, because they can be interpreted so freely.  They truly ignite my creativity.  This month I enjoyed playing along with the Color Room palette #172.  I made a thank you card.
 

Supplies: cardstock from Bazzill; striped paper & word stickers from My Mind's Eye; all other paper from Graphic 45; ink from Tsukineko; puffy stickers, enamel dot, & spray ink from October Afternoon; rhinestones from Dee's Place; punch from Creative Memories; ribbon upcycled from gift wrapping.

Here's the palette...
 

image source: http://www.thecolorrooms.com/tcr-blog/palette-172-september

I especially liked the grey/white horizontal striped pattern on the chair in the inspo picture, so I decided to use striped paper in my card as well.

I used a fancy toothpick, striped paper, and some word stickers to fashion a flag embellishment.  Holy cow, this card is going to have to be for a very special person, on a very special occasion, if I'm going to be proclaiming "can't live without you."  I'll have to save it until just the right day rolls around.  :)  

Lately I cannot seem to stop making ribbon ruffles.  I made one for a layout recently; now I've made one for a card.  Could this be the start of a ruffle addiction?

I've recently been noticing that my most successful projects combine both soft and hard textures.  With that in mind, I've been making a special effort to combine textures.  On this card the wooden "flagpole," the enamel dot, and the green rhinestones are "hard," while the puffy stickers, ribbon, and distressed paper are "soft."

How about you?  What qualities to you feel a successful project must have?  I'm interested to hear your ideas!