merry & bright

Hi, everyone!

Hope you've all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend celebrating with family, friends, and loved ones.

Before sharing today's card, I'd like to welcome Darnell and Kristie to this blog. I first "met" Darnell about a year ago and she soon became a good friend. If you want to see some inspiring card making and have a chuckle or two along the way, check our her blog at djkardkreations. Kristie blogs at Kreative Kristie -- and creative is the perfect word. When I visited Kristie's blog, it only took a couple of seconds to see just how talented she is. Welcome, Darnell and Kristie!

merry & bright

Today's card was inspired by the current Shopping Our Stash challenge to use a stash item that was gifted to you -- something that you got for FREE!

In this case, the ornament charms and the card base were given to me by two crafter friends at [my former] workplace. The sentiment stamp was kind of free -- a free  hostess gift from my Stampin' Up! party. Somehow I think the charms and card base were the kind of free that SOS had in mind.  Thanks so much, Marcie and Carolyn.  :)

Doodlebug north pole; Recollections black; ??? gifted base cardstock
??? gifted charms
Stampin' Up! Good Greetings sentiment, heat embossed in Stampendous silver
Martha Stewart branch punch; SU scallop die
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Recollections foam squares

When I decided to go with the charms as my free stash items, I started mulling over the design. I decided I wanted them to hang from a pine-like swag. After making that decision, it was a matter of playing around with paper patterns and swag ideas. And, since I'd never before used charms on a card, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with the way this card turned out. It got a big thumbs-up from hubby. So, I think this one's going to my dearest friend in the entire world.  :)

Parting Thoughts

Think that's it for now. Might have to pay a little visit to Paper Smooches before the holiday weekend is over. I've actually been a pretty good girl, only making Shop-Small-Saturday visits to a local bakery and a local pet store. Retirement's definitely bringing out the frugality in me. (Guess that's why I was so excited about the Shopping Our Stash challenge!) But PS is having a Cyber Monday sale and that adorable Holly Jolly stamp set might just have to come this way.

December Challenge:
Dec. 1 - Dec. 21

Have a great week! Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

12-03-2014 Update: The December Words 2 Scrap By challenge went live on Monday. This month's inspiration words are Eat, Drink, and Be Merry! Hope you will find a few minutes during this busy month to play along.  :)