SPLATTER WASTE BACKGROUND

Doctors have been trying for about nine months now to figure out what is wrong with me. One of my blood levels is inordinately high, and the neurologists are mystified. This afternoon, I had just arrived back home after they drew another three tubes of blood to do more testing, and was feeling sort of bummed.

To help the "bumminess", I decided to head downstairs to start writing out my Christmas cards. 

Before I began, however, I wanted to do a little creating. 

With no plan whatsoever, my eyes landed on a colorful scrap on my work table in my Creation Station.

A couple weeks ago, I'd done a collection of four different cards, all using the same ornament stamp, but with a variety of backgrounds. The post I am referring to can be seen HERE. 

The last card I made of these four involved using ink on my craft sheet. After I was finished with the card, I needed to clean up the craft sheet. So, instead of just wiping it all away with a paper towel, I took half sheets of scrap cardstock (not Whisper White) and dabbed and dabbed until all the ink was used up.

Anyway, the scrap I had laid eyes on today was one of those pieces. When I saw it, I thought it would make a lovely backdrop for a Christmas card. 

I had ordered a new stamp set, Arrange a Wreath, found on page 127 in the Annual Catalog, I figured this was a great time to finally put some ink to a few of the stamps from the set.

Using Mossy Meadow ink, I stamped the large wreath onto the waste background. Adding a little Light Poppy Parade and Light Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends, I finished off the wreath.

From Poppy Parade cardstock, I die cut a bow for the wreath using the long retired Pretty Pines Thinlits.

The "Merry Christmas" is also from the Arrange a Wreath set and I stamped it in Mossy Meadow and cut it out with one of the wondrous dies from the Ornate Frames (page 182 in the Annual Catalog). Honestly, this die set is the single best set of dies I've ever had (right ahead of Stitched Shapes). I use it ALL THE TIME! The sizes and ornate-ness of the dies varies so much, you can almost always find a die that is so perfect for any sentiment.

Layering the sentiment piece atop a snippet of Mossy Meadow ribbon folded in half, I added it beneath the wreath with a few Stampin' Dimensionals..

A couple of sparkly embellishments added the perfect finishing touch to the sentiment.

Not much dimension, so would be perfect for mailing! I love that!

So, be honest now. Would you have thrown this splotchy piece away?

Waste-less

Smiles.