How Does Your Inkspiration Flow?

Last month, my terrific upline loaned me a few stamp sets for the New Sets & Colours class I was holding. She loaned me Pick a Petal, which is going on my shopping list now - I love that set! And she sent a few samples she had stamped to show my class and to inspire all of us. This card, which she got the idea for from Split Coast, I think, was one I chose to use for my class. Originally I was just going to copy Joanne's card for my class. It's a great card, why reinvent the wheel? As I stamped, though, the inspiration started flowing, and my card ended up looking like this. The first change was to change the card from portrait to landscape, with the card opening on the right side. I loved the scalloped edge accented with the white gel pen, so that stayed, but I omitted the Real Red brads (I don't have them, and I didn't think my card needed them). Of course the ladybug constructed from one of the petal stamps and some punches of course stayed. I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the polka dots for some extra punch. Joanne used the Basic Black marker to hand draw a flight trail behind the lady bug and the antennae, which I started to copy too. But I noticed that one of the petal stamps has the word "smile" formed into one of the edges. I used the marker to ink up the word "smile" and then hand-doodled the rest of the flight trail. I love Joanne's card, and you know what, I love mine too! Here's a photo of the two of them together: There are so many beautiful stamping artists out there (online, in the SU! mini's and full collections) generously sharing their ideas. It is OK to copy them (including the ideas I share with you here) provided you give credit where credit is do, and never submit a non-original idea for a contest or magazine call. Sometimes, what starts out as a copy, takes a different path to becoming something original. Happy stamping! - Ann