Sometimes the Perfect Embellishment...is a CHALLENGE

Have you ever been working on a project and just not known what you needed to do to finish it?

I had such a clear idea when I started on these cards. I wanted to create a monochromatic card with a stamped background. Specifically, I had found this set of stamps by Technique Tuesday when I was cleaning my studio...and stamping sounded MUCH more fun than cleaning!

As you can see, the stamp set has flowers, leaves and swirls of different sizes - perfect for creating the background. And that was the end to my inspiration.  I should have taken a picture of the stamped panels...I certainly had plenty of time to do that - since I finished stamping them three weeks ago and they have been sitting on my desk just staring at me. Nothing. I had nothing.  Not one single idea. I had two 4.25 x 5.5 panels with pretty purple flowers all over them....and nothing I tried worked.  

But then, last Monday I popped over to the Papertrey Ink blog to check out the Make It Monday Challenge. And viola! I had my inspiration! Dawn McVey is one of the stamp designers for Papertrey Ink (I highly suggest that you check out her blog...a great source of inspiration) and this week's challenge was to create your own embellishment. She was showing how to use the new Lovely Layers stamp and die set to make a whole range of embellishments - some simple and one layered and others much more complicated and layered. I had been meaning to work with the set that she was showing, but didn't really have a project in mind - until I glanced over to those two panels and realized that I had been stuck trying to find the right way to add a sentiment....when what I really needed was just to create a handmade embellishment and leave the sentiment for later.

I really like this stamp set and dies...they are really versatile with completed medallions and all the separate layers as well so you can create just exactly what you need.  My problem NOW is that I have a LOT of purple layers stamped and die cut waiting to be made into layered embellishments! LOL  Guess I will just have to pull out my stamps again and make some more backgrounds! I think it would be fun to create a whole set to give away as a gift.

The final touch was to use the Martha Stewart Deep Edge Lattice punch to create a bit of paper lace for the spine.  I actually wrapped it around to the back like a spine on a book...leaving the lattice loose and a bit dimensional.

So - here was my take away from this particular project...when I find myself a bit stuck on a project, maybe a good challenge is the best way to find the solution.  Honestly, even if I hadn't ended up using the layered medallions on these cards - doing the challenge actually made me look at my project differently.  I really thought I just needed to find the right sentiment...and by going at it from a different direction - I found a solution to my problem.

So what do you do when you are "stuck" on a project? I'd love to hear from you.

Have a great week!  I will be back to share a couple more cards I made. I used the same supplies but ended up with two totally different cards...here is a little sneak peak....