Day 30 - Do What You Love

Today is the end of the month-long challenge at Beccy's Place. Since we finished the alphabet, the challenge for today was to do what we love. Pretty easy for me since I love making cards! But I thought about for a while and after reading some of the comments left on my Z card, one comment stuck in my head. It was something about starting over at A. So I went back to my A card and decided to end the way I started (with Beccy's Aussie Wreath) but with a twist.

My mother sent cards to everyone. I was always at the store buying cards for her when she could no longer go out to pick them up herself. Shortly after she passed away in 2006, a friend introduced me to stamping and making cards. The rest is history. But one of the things that my Mom drummed into us was to say "thank you" when someone did something nice or gave us something. So to finish of this challenge I wanted to say thanks! This first card was my first iteration. I printed the wreath, die cut the thanks and then die cut a second from fun foam. That way I could pop up the sentiment and not lose any of the wreath. I added Wink of Stella to the bow and then some sequins to the card. And as I studied my finished card I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if I kept the basic design but changed some things up. So here's iteration #2.

I kept the thanks die the same but decided to add "Christmas" from the Altenew Halftone Holidays stamp set and matching die. since I had intended these to be my Christmas thank you cards. I also added a retired corner punch from Stampin' Up! I downsized the wreath size from the original card too. But I still had another idea, so card #3 was made.

So on this one you can see that I just left the Thanks die cut blank. On all the cards I added Wink of Stella to the bow but on this card I also added it in the outline of the word Thanks! I am pretty happy with all of them but one of the last two would be my favorite. I'd love to know which one you like the best. I thought it appropriate that this last challenge card was a Thank You card. Thank you Beccy for the fun, inspiration, and generous prizes throughout the month. It's been an honor to play along. I love Beccy's stamps and will continue to play in her challenges. Here's looking forward to next November when we can do it again! Congrats to Beccy on the more than 700 card entries this year. We surpassed any other year! I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards: do what you love (I love to say thank you!)
• Simon Say Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes

The twins were a little under the weather today. Lots of runny noses (tis the season!) and Arthur was very tired. Tricia said he's been getting up a lot the last few nights. I think he's cutting more teeth. Hopefully when I see him on Friday again he'll be a little better. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful last day of November! Now to get these Christmas cards in the mail!

Donna