Boot Camp - Any way you slice it

I've been studying Paula's Design Boot Camp lessons on the Stars & Stamps blog.  She produces a new lesson on the 3rd Monday of each month.  These lessons are very useful in improving the quality of the cards we make.

The March lesson was on 'Anyway You Slice it (Composition & The Rule of Thirds).  In my last post, I showed how I created a template to help guide me in following this rule.  I've been trying to use this template when creating cards.

The February Boot Camp was on creating a Focal Point on your card.  In both of these cards, I tried to make the sentiment the Focal Point with contrasting colors to draw the eye to that area.  By placing the focal point at the 'sweet spot' (intersection of lines on my template), this is supposed to create a pleasant composition.

 

I've used my dies and punches to make the elements of these cards.  The patterned papers are by MME.