Crafting My Way to Christmas: A Year-Long Journey of Glitter and Glue

 ooooh, Christmas cards. The bane of my holiday season for the last six years. Every December, I’d find myself knee-deep in a pile of store-bought cards that felt as personal as a generic “Happy Holidays!” text from your dentist. But this year, 2025, I’m flipping the script! My mission? To craft at least three Christmas cards each month. By the end of the year, I’ll have a stash of handmade cards ready to dazzle and delight!

My card is for a dear friend who’s as obsessed with purple and gold as I am with avoiding last-minute holiday shopping. Coincidentally, these are the same colors as her Christmas decor, so I’m basically a psychic now.

For this card, I used a bauble diecut from the Spellbinders Festive Ornaments Etched Dies (Essential Holiday Collection). It's been lounging in the press for months, gathering dust like it's trying out for an episode of "Hoarders."   These dies are like magic — one crank through the diecutting machine, and boom, you’ve got festive shapes that’ll make Santa himself jealous.... Foam pads lift the bauble for a 3D effect.

The sentiment comes from the retired Honey Bee Season's Tweetings stamp set. It’s sweet, it’s seasonal, and it’s stamped with more love than a Hallmark movie marathon.

To give the card a little extra oomph, I added Ranger Glossy Accents and flatback gold drops. It's like the card decided to dress up for the holidays — a bit of sparkle here and there, just enough to catch the eye without needing sunglasses.

Now, to keep things interesting, I’m entering the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes featuring Spellbinders
  
• Christmas Kickstart Challenge: #94 Bring the Baubles
  
• ABC Christmas Challenge - January: A is for anything goes
• Park Hopping is My Happy Place : Inspired by 'FRIENDS'
• NBUS Challenge #70
• Ally's Angels #90: Anything Goes

And finally, a little nugget of wisdom to end this crafting saga: If you ever find yourself buried under a mountain of glitter, just remember — at least you’re not the one sweeping it up off the floor. 

Happy crafting, and may your glue guns never run dry!

Wendy R.

Seas the Day!

 Hey folks!

So, I decided to dive into the world of masculine cards, and let me tell you, it was an ocean of fun! Introducing "Seas the Day!" 

The centerpiece of this card is a lighthouse design from the Silhouette Design Store, which I layered until it stood tall and proud. Then, I gave it a glossy look with Ranger Glossy Accents, making it shinier than a brand-new pair of sunglasses on a sunny day.

And then came the real fun—I unleashed my inner artist, mixing acrylic paint with a splash of water for that perfect splatter effect. Picture this: precise flicks of the brush creating a delightful splash pattern. It was a creative adventure that left everything exactly where it should be!

To add a dash of excitement, I'm entering this card into a few challenges just for the craic. It's all about the thrill of the craft, innit!

• MTTC #552: Masculine
• Cardz4Guyz: #364 Lighthouse
• Krafty Chicks: Challenge #752 {Masculine}
• Creative Knockouts: #539-Something To Say-Polkadoodles
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Funny/Punny
• A Cut Above: "It's a new year" and anything goes

So, as we wrap things up, remember to keep crafting with joy and laughter. "Seas the Day" and let your creativity sail smoothly into the sunset!

Catch you later, crafty captains!

Wendy xx

Crafting Capers: A Glittery Tale

 Hello folks! Let's dive into the whimsical world of card crafting, where even mishaps can lead to masterpieces.

I set out on a serene afternoon with die-cuts of lavender stems, a charming little frame made with nesting square dies, and a "Thanks" word metal die. The brand? Oh, who remembers! Everything was going splendidly until I had a minor catastrophe with the Ranger Gloss.

In a move worthy of a slapstick comedy, I accidentally tipped the gloss over, leaving smudges everywhere. But fear not! Enter ultra-fine iridescent glitter, my crafty savior. A sprinkle here, a dash there, and suddenly those smudges transformed into glittery trails of accidental glamour.

Oh, and apologies for the quality of the photo—I've just snagged a lightbox for under €20 on Amazon, so better photos are on the horizon!

With my card now sparkling in all the right places, I'm gearing up to enter it into a few crafting challenges. Who knew a little glitter could turn disaster into dazzle?

CAS on Friday: Challenge #301 - Flowers

Cardz4galz: #242 Anything BUT Square

Daisy Chain Challenges: Challenge #92 - No Design Paper

Beautiful Blossoms - anything floral + option mood board

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky - all things bright and beautiful

So, remember, fellow crafters: when life gives you smudges, just add glitter and call it art. Keep crafting, keep laughing, and may your creations always shine bright!

Until next time, happy crafting!

Wendy R.

Surviving Storm Éowyn: A Crafty Adventure

Well, folks, we did it! We survived Storm Éowyn (pronounced Ay-oh-win, for those of us not fluent in Irish-speak). This tempest came in like a drama queen, but all it managed to do was give our side gate a one-way flight lesson and lay a tree to rest in the front yard. No major drama, just a bit of garden redecorating.

Now, you know what's a lifesaver during a storm? Flasks of hot water. Big shoutout to Stanley brand for keeping our coffee piping hot while the wind howled outside. Nothing like a warm cuppa to make you feel like a warrior in your own living room.

But enough about weather woes, let's talk about something way more exciting—crafting! With the storm raging outside, I turned my attention to my trusty die-cutting machine and card-making supplies. Picture this: die cuts, foil washi tape, and a background stamp paired with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink. This ink is like the superhero of the crafting world—six years in and it's still giving me the deepest, darkest black. Honestly, it's like the Batman of inks.

The card was coming together nicely, embellished with baker's twine and Ranger Glossy Accents for that extra sparkle. I even managed to sneak in a computer-generated pun because, let's face it, a card without a pun is like a storm without wind.

Sorry for the potato-quality photo—blame it on Storm Herminia!

I decided to enter my creation into a few crafting challenges, because if there's anything better than surviving a storm, it's winning a prize for your crafty genius. Fingers crossed!

• MTTC #552: Masculine
• Creative Fingers Challenge: Challenge #293 – Anything Goes
• A Place to start: Challenge# 12025: Include A Balloon!
• Daisy Chain Challenges: Challenge #92 - No Design Paper
• Krafty Chicks: Challenge #752 {Masculine}
• Creative Knockouts: #539-Something To Say-Polkadoodles
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Fun with Foil
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Funny/Punny

And there you have it, folks. Just another day in the life of a storm survivor and card-making enthusiast. If Éowyn taught us anything, it’s that sometimes life throws a bit of chaos your way, but with a flask of hot water and a stash of craft supplies, you can weather any storm.

Stay crafty and safe, my friends, and may your ink always be as deep and dark as your morning coffee. 

Wendy R.

A Comeback, Crafty Style: Cards, Crochet, and a Whole Lot of Chaos

Well, hello there, world! It's been a mere six years since my last blog post — a blink of an eye, really. Nothing much has happened except, oh, qualifying as an Registered Nurse specialising in Intellectual Disabilities, surviving a global pandemic as a student nurse, and experiencing the joys of being underpaid and overworked. You know, the usual.

Let's just say, when your allocated petrol is less than 40c per mile, you start to question your life choices. But hey, I cleared out the craft stash, picked up crocheting and knitting, and now I'm back to card making to keep my sanity in check. So, let's dive into my latest crafty adventure!

Today, I’m kicking things off with a Clean and Simple (CAS) card that’s as straightforward as my life's been these past years (ha!). Here's the lowdown:

• Cardstock and Paper: Straight from my stash — the craft stash that is, not the emergency toilet paper stash.
• Stamp Used: Paper Smooches Swanky Snow Dudes. Because who doesn’t love a dapper snowman?
• Inked With: Hero Arts Intense Black Ink. Bold, like my attempts to negotiate a raise.
• Coloured With: Promarkers. Still going strong after six years, unlike my nerves during peak pandemic shifts.
• Embellished With: Baker's twine, Ranger Glossy Accents, and a sprinkle of glitter. Because life’s too short for dull cards.
• Die Used: Hero Arts Infinity Dies Nested Frames. For that perfect edge — something I lost long ago.

Yes, folks, I'm entering this little masterpiece into a few card challenges. Wish me luck! If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to procrastinate on adulting for a bit longer.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge
ABC Christmas Challenge - January: A is for anything goes

CAS on Friday: Winter
Park Hopping is My Happy Place : Inspired by : "Just like Joey and Chandler, these snowmen are Friends forever!" 

Despite the chaos of the past few years, it's good to be back in the crafty saddle. Card making has been a delightful reminder that even in the whirlwind of life, there's always room for a little creativity. So, here's to cards, crafts, and finding joy in the small things.

Catch you on the flip side, hopefully before another six years pass!

Stay crafty and keep smiling!

Wend R.