This post is designed to amuse those of you who make a hash of their speed challenge makes. It started out okay and looked quite good until I realized I’d forgotten something. It did end up being completed within the time frame but only just – at 9 minutes and 28 seconds.

I started by stamping and die cutting some holly leaves from a StampinUP set. I was able to heat set them clear so there was some shine. I added some (supposedly) low tack tape to the center of the card and using a stencil by Vicki Boutin and 2 different green inks I added the pine needles. First mishap was that the tape didn’t come off cleanly and the edge of the card was damaged. Glued it down and with the addition of the leaves it doesn’t show. Then I added the letters and managed to get glue all over the place, (don’t ask). Cleaned this up and carried on. Cut an additional sprig of holly using a very old die from a Sizzix set and heat embossed that clear before adding it to the card along with the other holly leaves.

Now the fun really starts – I took some pops of color from Scrapbook.com and added them to give some berries. Realized that I had forgotten to add the snowflakes to the center of the O, forgot that the dots were not dry and … yes you guessed it … a hot mess. At this point I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, give up or carry on? I chose to scrape off most of the mess, added extra dots and hope for the best. I’m hoping the smears look part of the design but until I’ve looked at it tomorrow, I’m truly not sure it will be given to anyone. I always wait at least a day before I decide whether a card is okay to mail.

All I can say is that I hope my post makes you laugh, if I were reading it I’m sure I’d be chuckling along. My card will be entered into the current challenge at As You See It. Thankfully, they don’t expect perfection with this challenge.