OK, so maybe if I ...

... Stamp the flowers with Chocolate ink ... Yup, this has been one of those evenings when I think I should s#%&can this hobby and take up something else.

Now, don't laugh, but here is the card that inspired me. Before I go further, I'll tell you that while Thinking Inking is one of my favorite blogs, and Debbie's cards are a constant source of inspiration, it is rare that I attempt to case one of her cards. The reason, if you're familiar with both blogs (hers and mine), is obvious. Anyway, I fell in love with her card and wondered if I maybe couldn't create something similar with stamps I own. I discovered the answer is "No."

It was not, however, for the lack of trying. Four times I put a card together, and three times I pulled it apart. After a couple of attempts to get a similar look, I realized that as much as I love this flower stamp, it does not have the same contemporary look as the stamps Debbie used. Still, I thought I could create something acceptable in that same color scheme, so I stamped the flowers in blue. When they were too plain, I chalked them. I finished the card, photographed it, and uploaded it before deciding to try one more time . . . the last time, stamping the flowers with Chocolate and coloring them with blue chalk.

All of that for this. Crazy, huh? Marv thinks so. Hearing the story (or part of it), his comment was, "And the card's not even that fancy." No crap, sweetie. All I could think as I was laboring away was that had I been so persevering in other areas of my life, I might have been a rich woman by now. The moral of the story? There isn't one with the exception that maybe I should give in and buy that Papertrey Inks set that I've been admiring all over the place. LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Chocolate, and Crystal Blue cardstock; Chocolate and Crystal Blue ink pads; Verve Stamps Abundant Blessings and Whipper Snapper Designs Blooming Sentiments stamp sets; CTMH Speckled Backgrounds stamp (retired); Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Blue mini brad.

Well, that's my stamping story for tonight. The rest of the day was busy but much less eventful ... thankfully. On that note, I'll sign off for tonight. Have a great Wednesday!