The Challenge of a Challenge

I have a fairly distinctive style.  My projects are always clean and simple, feature lots of straight lines and right angles, and use a minimal amount of product.  Occasionally, I'll try to make a layout or card that is completely different than that.  I usually fail miserably, removing product and tinkering with it until it is back to looking like 'me.'

This can be a problem during a challenge.  I refuse to make something I don't like simply to enter a challenge, so I often struggle to make something that fits the guidelines but still pleases me.

One of the Fiskateer National Scrapbook Day challenges was to create a project with two patterned papers, one ribbon, one stamp, and bling.  It didn't sound too hard until I actually started putting things together!  The two patterned papers were easy, but the ribbon, stamp and bling were tricky.  No matter what I tried, I couldn't stand one of the elements and had to remove it.  I was running out of time when I finally found a combination that I really liked.  Here's the finished card: 

 

From Flamingo Scraps: Fancy Pants paper and flower;

Other: Penny Black stamp; ColorBox ink; Doodlebug brad; unknown ribbon

It meets all the requirements (the bling is the sugar-coated brad), but I think it is still very much 'me.'  Would you agree?  I greatly admire the artists out there who are able to do so well with a wide variety of styles, but I've learned that it just not me.  While it is important to stretch creatively, I've learned to be true to myself and embrace my distinctive style.