If at first you don’t succeed….

…try, try again! …or hand over the Creativity Crown to your downline and let them give it a try!  I remember this quote from when I was a kid (well, except the crown part of course!).  It is one I remember my Dad saying.  I think it is by W.C. Fields, but in my search to find the author I came up with varying answers to the question.  I think sometimes it takes strength to admit defeat.  ..and sometimes amidst defeat, hope rises!

Defeat, acceptance that my card just wasn't turning out like I wanted it to or hope that teamwork would work best? Any which way, it all turned out well in the end.  …and I was definitely willing to hand over the freedom to the group to give it their own touch.  I have to say it was a lot of fun to help and to watch as each person switched out the colours and came up with their own version of the card.  Each one was different and whether they intended to or not, they stuck to my original goal of straying from the expected pink.  I will definitely stamp and create with this set and many shades of pink to raise awareness of Breast Cancer, but for this card I wanted to create a card to inspire hope around the World!  They did a great job and I was such a proud stampin' Momma! <wink>

After a week that has definitely made us feel thankful and hopeful, I'm finally back to share their cards with you.  I had come up with my own sketch and a color scheme for this card, but it just wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to. (We'll get to that ribbon trick one day everyone!)   Susie says I wear some sort of creativity crown?!  lol….well, I beg to differ and am happy to say that I think it's one we all share.  I think the evening we shared and the time we shared creating this card (as well as the others) was a perfect example of the Stampin' Up! statement of the Heart!  'To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference.'  Thanks everyone for exemplifying this!  I'm definitely looking forward to our next demo get together.  If you are interested in joining us, we'd love to have you join our team.  With almost two weeks left of Sale A Bration you can still take advantage of the starter kit at 15% off.  Until then, it also comes with an extra bundle.  Contact me for details if you'd like to join my Sleepless Stampers group!  Now onto the cards and thanks again guys for sharing your creativity!  

Here is one created by Barb.  

Here is Sheri's card

Here is David's card

And last but certainly not least, is Cindy's card

Kat got away without a photo, so next time maybe we'll catch her creation and those of you who weren't here for the challenge or had to sneak out, I'd love to see what you come up with when you get this set! 

The butterfly from Strength and Hope and the label from Four Frame were both heat embossed with craft ink and clear embossing powder.  It's hard to tell in the photos, but in real life, it gave them a nice texture when combined with the hope ribbons! 

In keeping with the theme of my title, what is it that you 'try and try again' at, or what is your favorite 'try and try again quote'?  There are so many different takes on it from the original.  I got a little side-tracked reading them while trying to find the author.  I'm a sucker for quotes! ..how about you?

Have a great week! Hope it's full of both 'Strength and Hope'…I know my week was full of both 7 yrs ago!  It had to be to get me through that 50 some hrs of labour and giving birth to a 10 lb 13 oz baby boy!  …only 5 more sleeps til his birthday!

One last photo to share with you.  It's one I'm thankful to have captured and since the theme here reminds me of my Dad (Strength, Hope, team work and never giving up), I'll share this one in his memory …. it was the last photo taken of my eldest son with his Grandpa.  We all love him and miss him deeply.