"On the Twelfth Day of Christmas..."

"...my TRUE LOVE gave to me..." is the rather long title of this fortnight's theme at ♥JINGLE BELLES♥ but hang on for a second while i explain it, because there are some cool twists this time. first, let me tell you that the title and idea come from our lovely guest star, Lela Meinke,  whom we are thrilled to welcome back! but now let's consider the brief. this fortnight we'd like you to choose any of the following options:

Create a holiday card for your *TRUE LOVE* or for any extra-special person in your life 

OR... 

Create a holiday card with HEARTS on it 

OR... 

Create a holiday card that references any aspect of "The 12 Days of Xmas" that appeals to you

Here's a reminder of that dozen rather distinctive gifts!

 On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: 

Twelve Drummers Drumming 

Eleven Pipers Piping 

Ten Lords a Leaping 

Nine Ladies Dancing 

Eight Maids a Milking 

Seven Swans a Swimming 

Six Geese a Laying 

Five Golden Rings 

Four Calling Birds 

Three French Hens 

Two Turtle Doves 

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

so plenty of ideas there, eh?! i confess that i'd planned to stick firmly to option #2, when, during the recycling challenge, while flipping through my box of saved holiday cards, I came upon one that actually had all twelve of the items in question. well you just cannot fight serendipity like that, can you?? so here's my admittedly slightly cheater-feeling card:

"12 days" panel trimmed from an older store-bought card sent to us --or possibly to my mom-- in a previous year; patterned paper: october afternoon, echo park; heart brads: eyelet outlet; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape, sewing machine

since the panel was fairly large and already a bit busy, i only needed a sentiment, a couple of mats and yes... i couldn't resist a few eyelet outlet heart brads, lol... to complete the design. i used the current atlantic hearts sketch, though in the end, i elected not to tilt the central panel. i will completely understand if that disqualifies me, but i truly was inspired by the sketch AND i also wanted to thank them for the shout-out to my flourishy reindeer card from last week!

why not head on over to ♥JINGLE BELLES♥ and see lela's and stephanie's cards; then start planning your own bid for holiday card-making awesomeness!!!