Patterned Thoughts

Thanks to folks for sharing some of their Valentine traditions! It's so interesting to hear, and be inspired by, the traditions of folks everywhere. Day One of Curious Cupid is over and I need to hurry up and get the gift for Day Two ready! In the meantime I thought I would post a fun card that I taught a little bit ago and finally got around to snapping shots.
I just came across a lovely blog called Lucy's Cards and she is hosting a polka dots challenge, gosh then I saw Pollycraft was doing a challenge with a things with wings theme and finally Kaboodle Doodle is doing a spots and stripes challenge. Well, I was so excited to see these challenges because this card was a stretch for me. I tend to stamp only on white paper, color the image and then mount it on pattern paper. I've seen other fabulous creations that are stamped on patterned paper and so I stepped outside of my box and created this (I think) fun card.I used StazOn timber brown to stamp this birds and tree image. I'm pretty sure it is Memory Box, but I just finished cleaning my little studio and this stamp is buried in my "Fauna" bin of stamps. (If I'm wrong, please let me know!) The paper is from the orange scrap bag.
The sentiment is from Hero Arts and is also stamped with StazOn timber brown on paper from the green scrap bag (cause it happens to have mostly green on it :) ). I added red Stickles to the flowers and a couple of dots that were stamped along with the sentiment.

I'm kinda proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone. My friend Isabelle and I used to joke that I used so much brown, white, and other earth tones that to me exciting cards were ones that I would "punch up with a little beige". I think I've come a long way since those days. :) What "personal craft challenge" have you "overcome"? I'd love to hear from all of you!