Rain or Shine: Make a Rainbow

Dia daoibh!

Picture this. A freshly stamped piece of cardstock. Perfect. Pristine. Untouched by the world. Enter the kitty cat. A full dramatic catwalk straight across it like she was late for Paris Fashion Week, leaving behind tiny pawprints like she’d signed the artwork. So I restamped. New sheet. Fresh optimism. And then I glued the topper on upside down. Instantly. With confidence. As if I’d learned absolutely nothing. With the white cardstock Amazon order refusing to arrive until after three today, there was nothing for it but to trim it down and adhere it to blue cardstock like a seasoned professional who definitely meant to do that. Moral of the story: confidence fixes everything. Almost.

Now onto the actual card before anything else could interfere. To brighten up the classic Irish weather I went full rainbow. If the sky won’t cooperate I’ll sort it myself. 

I kept it CAS (the card had already been through enough). The sentiment is from the Best Ever set from Simon Says Stamp from 2017 which is still earning its keep. I had a little play with die cuts and used a rainbow design from the Silhouette Design Store. I popped the cloud and rainbow up on foam pads for a bit of dimension.  finished it off with a few sprinkled gems. Sparkle is essential. I also added Nuvo Drops White Blizzard around the edges of the cloud for extra detail... I was feeling brave again.

A few challenges:

A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog  - January 2026 - Anything Goes

Make My Monday #270 - Clean and Simple

A Place To Start #202601 - Anything Goes (option: Rainbow)

Seize the Birthday #319 - Rainbow of colours

And just like that, the card was finished. A cheerful rainbow card created in between a catwalk moment, an upside down surprise, and a very late Amazon delivery. Crafting magic at its finest.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😺

Fa La La Part Two: The Snowman Strikes Back

Dia daoibh!

Right so. If you are already at the desk with ink on your fingers and glitter in places glitter has no business being, you may as well keep going. Card two for today is officially finished, which means I now only have 22 left for Christmas 2026. Practically done altogether. At this rate I will be relaxed, organised and possibly smug by July. Stranger things have happened. Probably.

For this card I inked the background in a soft wintery blue, then bravely tried the Sizzix Dimensional Paste for the very first time after it spent a looooooong, totally forgotten life in the drawer, mixed it with iridescent glitter, and let it finally earn its place on the desk. I used the Snowfall stencil from Dutch Doobadoo to give it that gentle snowfall look, like the kind of snow you enjoy from indoors with a cup of tea, not the kind that ruins your shoes. The sentiment is the falala from Hello Bluebird Christmas Words number one die, sadly retired ... The wee snowman is from Kristen Magee’s Snow Globe Shaker Card from the Silhouette Design Store, and honestly, he is pure festive joy. He is mounted on a Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside die cut, looking very pleased with himself altogether. His scarf got a generous dose of glitter, because he struck me as the type who would insist on a bit of sparkle. I popped him up with foam tape for some dimension, so he is practically stepping out to say hello and possibly ask if you have snacks.

A few challenges:

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #130 - Anything Goes Christmas (Optional: Snow people)

Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge #161 - Snowflakes

Neglected Stuff Challenge  January 2026 challenge - Anything goes using neglected stuff

Allsorts  #841 - For Boys / Men or Anything goes

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #270 - N is for New or Never

ABC Christmas Challenge: A is for Anything goes; B is for Bright

Crafty Gals Corner  #273 - Anything goes with the optional twist: snowman

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #104 - Anything Christmas goes (optional: inspiration board)

And that is card number two done. One happy snowman, one very glittery desk, and me pretending I will definitely stop now and not immediately start card number three. Sure look.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. ⛄

Falala!

Dia daoibh!

I never have enough Christmas cards. Ever. Every year I tell myself I’ll be organised… and every December that plan quietly wanders off into the mist like a lost sheep in the Wicklow Mountains. So this year I’m being very sensible and starting early. The goal: two Christmas cards a month. By the time Christmas 2026 rolls around, I’ll either have a glorious stash… or a small craft-room avalanche. Either way, progress!

So here’s my first Christmas card for 2026 ... yes, I’m that person now.

I used the sweet little angel from Lori Whitlock’s Snow Globe Shaker Card set. She was cut on my Cameo using Tonic Studios card, because if you’re going to start early, you may as well be fancy about it. The sentiment is the falala from Hello Bluebird Christmas Words number one die, sadly retired but still living its best life in my die drawer. For the background I used the partial die cut inlaid embossing technique. I die cut the word from the cardstock, embossed the panel with a star pattern, then placed the word back into its opening for that clean inlaid look. I finished it off with glossy accents, gold details, and iridescent glitter, because subtlety left the building a long time ago. The wee angel is popped up for a bit of dimension, so she is floating there in full festive sparkle mode.

Onto a few challenges: 

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a pink Christmas

Rudolph Days January Challenge - Anything Goes

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #130 - Anything Goes Christmas (Optional: Snow people)

The Outlawz Christmas Challenge January Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog MLCCB #66 - Anything Christmas Goes

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #104 - Anything Christmas Goes (optional: inspiration board)

And that’s card one done for 2026. Only… checks notes… twenty-three more to go.

Sláinte, 
Wendy R.

Pop, Fizz, Clink!

Dia daoibh!

Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! Wishing everyone a very happy New Year filled with good health, happy moments, and plenty of creative time!

While the festive season meant cosy days and slowing down for many, Christmas in healthcare came with a much fuller diary and a pace that never eased off. January then swans in full of expectations while staff are still operating on caffeine, muscle memory, and sheer determination. Relaxation remains a rumour, often spoken about in hushed tones by other professions, so escaping somewhere far nicer and significantly sparklier feels like the only sensible option.

On to the crafty bit and Challenge 102 at Ally’s Angels . The theme, as always, is Anything Goes, which is basically permission to craft without overthinking, and honestly that is the best kind of theme.

For my card, I used a champagne and bow SVG (my current obsession — I’ve accepted it, no intervention needed) and tiled it across the page to create the background. I coloured everything with Promarkers and had far too much fun bringing it all to life. The sentiment is from Newton’s Nook’s Cocktail Mixer Stamp Set, which I clearly own for a reason and should probably use more often 😉. I layered it onto glitter card for a touch of sparkle and popped it up on foam pads for some happy little dimension — because flat cards are fine, but a bit of lift just makes them feel fancy. 

A few challenges:

• Craft Rocket Challenges #132 Something New
• Word Power - January -  Anything Goes with Words as Focus
• Passion For Markers Challenge #820 - Favorite Digi or Stamp
• Shopping Our Stash #565 - Out with the Old & In with the New 
• Creative Crafting Uncles #73 - Birthday
• I Love Promarkers #598  Anything Goes or Fairytale

Be sure to check out the Ally’s Angels DT. They are incredibly creative and always full of inspiration. Fair warning though, it may lead to sudden urges to craft immediately.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and here is to a New Year of creativity, sparkle, and enjoying every crafty minute.

Sláinte,
Wendy R. 🎉

Hip Hip Hooray… HQFCB Challenge 1 for 2026!

Dia daoibh!

We’re rocking the month of January… all 365 days of it. Honestly, is it just me or does January last longer than a queue at a Primark on a Saturday?

Now onto the next challenge over at Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog - Challenge 1 for 2026! The design team have kicked off the year with some absolutely fabulous makes. Truly amazing creations to swoon over. The theme is nice and simple: Anything Fantasy Goes ... so unleash the dragons, fairies, unicorns, or whatever else your crafty heart fancies.

Here’s my CAS card for the challenge.

I used the adorable Dragon and Cupcake from Kinda Cute by Patricia. He’s coloured with Promarkers, and I added tiny details with a trusty white Sharpie. The cupcake and fiery whoosh are finished with Glossy Accents for that shiny, “please don’t lick the card” look. The bunting is cut from a die that finally got a turn, and I popped it up with foam pads for a bit of extra dimension.

Challenges: 

• Krafty Chicks #801 Birthday
• Simply Clean and Simple - Jan: Use Something New ( Dragon & Cupcake)
• I Love Promarkers #596  Anything Goes or Purple and Yellow
• AAA Colorful Challenge #23 - Colourboard: 
  
  
  

And for some January wishes… may your resolutions last longer than your tin of Celebrations, may your heating bills behave themselves, and may your year start with more sparkle than your Christmas tree had on December 24th.

Nollaig..... wait, wrong month.

Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh, my friends!

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 💗

The Card Chain Chronicles: December Edition

Dia daoibh!

I can’t believe it’s January already. 2025 went by so fast I’m convinced someone hit fast-forward on life sometime around March. One minute we’re complaining about the rain in May… and the next we’re complaining about the rain in January. What a whirlwind.

It’s time for another round of the Card Chain Challenge. My little creation packed its bags, grabbed its passport, and flew off to Ellie in the USA. And in return, a gorgeous card (and goodies) arrived from Mia in Greece. Honestly, the postal system must think I’m running some kind of international art smuggling ring at this stage but it’s all very wholesome.

Now onto my card.

This month’s theme was NBUS, which is perfect, because I have more unused supplies than a craft shop during a stocktake. We also had to use our favourite three colours, and choose an animal or a flower or a fruit. Naturally I went straight for penguins, because they’re cute, dramatic, and permanently dressed for a formal occasion.

For my card I used new but untouched acetate sheets, and the MFT cloud stencil. My festive winter favourites are teal, red, and white, so that choice was sorted. I made Ellie a shaker card, coloured everything with Promarkers, and created the background clouds using the cloud stencil. The cardstock is from Tonic Studios, and I embossed the background with a Spellbinders folder. The sentiment is stamped with Versafine for that crisp finish, and I added a big satin ribbon bow, because sometimes extra is exactly the right amount.

And why do I sign up for the Card Chain Challenge every month? Because where else can you post a card across the world and know it won’t land back on your doorstep with a note saying stop sending glitter everywhere.

After all that excitement, reality kicks back in pretty fast. It’s only the 2nd and I’ve already forgotten some of the resolutions and inhaled the emergency chocolates. The tone for the year is well and truly set.

Sláinte,
Wendy R. 😊

Candy Cane Kisses

Dia daoibh!

Christmas in Ireland is a great mix of sparkle, chaos, and pure charm... half the country is wrestling with tangled fairy lights while the other half is insisting they definitely didn’t open the “good biscuits.” And sure look, by Stephen’s Day we’re all fuelled by leftovers and sheer determination.

Challenge 101 over at Ally’s Angels is well underway, and the design team have pulled out all the stops. The creativity on display is so good you’d think they were powered by fairy lights and caffeine. Go have a peek—you’ll either come back full of ideas or convinced you need more craft supplies. (Spoiler: you absolutely do.)

For my card, I kept things lovely and CAS. 

The adorable Candy Cane Bear is from Mo’s Digital Pencil, coloured with Promarkers - my trusty go-tos. I added shimmery highlights with Nuvo Drops (White Blizzard) for a glittery touch. The scalloped border was made with a punch that hasn’t seen daylight in a long while. The whole panel is mounted on foam pads for a raised effect—like giving the card a little lift of confidence.

And to finish with a festive grin: may your tree behave, your wrapping paper cooperate, and your visitors arrive only after you’ve hidden the laundry.

Nollaig shona daoibh!

Sláinte,
Wendy R.🎄🎅

Herald Harry

Dia Daoibh!

The next HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy.

For today's card, I kept things CAS using Mo Manning's Herald Harry - an angel with that perfect blend of heavenly patience and "I sang 'Hark the Herald' three times today already" energy. Coloured him with Promarkers, then added just a whisper of glitter to his wings. Popped him up on foam pads because Christmas is all about dimension - in cards, in desserts, and in our patience levels.

Onto a few challenges:

• Crafty Calendar - December - Winter / Christmas
• Jingle Belles - Wrapping Up 
• Simply Clean and Simple - December 2025: Reds & Greens
• Cardz 4 Galz #265 Christmas Sparkle
• Color My Heart Color Dare - No. 680 Colour Board: 
  
  
  

Wishing you a season filled with more joy than stress, more mince pies than to-do lists, and at least one silent night.

Nollaig Shona Duit!

Wendy R. 😇

Breezy Swings and Postman Things

Dia daoibh!

Ah, winter in healthcare. That magical time when everyone’s coughing in harmony, the hand sanitiser flows like holy water, and the staffroom kettle is working harder than management at inspection time. Between chasing thermometers, losing pens, and pretending the vending machine coffee is grand, we’re practically superheroes. Still, we keep the spirits up with biscuits, sarcasm, and industrial-strength hand gel.

Now onto something with less sneezing and more sparkle: the Card Chain Challenge Reveal! 

This month my card took flight to Tina in Slovenia, and in return, I received a faaaaabulous card from Gail in Norway 💙.  There’s nothing like proper happy mail arriving, an envelope that isn’t a bill, a staff meeting notice, or another reminder to book flu jabs.

For my own creation, I worked with the colour theme of Pewter, Ruby and Lapis Blue. Apologies - the pewter looks moodier in the photo than it does in real life. It’s not actually auditioning for a goth phase. The design features the Spellbinders “Breezy Swing” die set, cut from Tonic Studios cardstock, layered over a softly stencilled cloud background created with Memento Platinum ink for a delicate shimmer effect. I finished it off with some sparkly gems, and a sentiment (Sizzix: Sunnyside Sentiments) stamped with StazOn ink for that crisp finish (and the faint whiff of “no going back now”).

If you haven’t joined the Card Chain Challenge, you really should. You make one card, send it off to a crafter somewhere in the world, and get one back. It’s like pen pals for glitter lovers and slightly unhinged scissors hoarders. The excitement when that envelope arrives is unreal ... you’d think the postman was handing out scratch cards and free biscuits.

Right, I’m off to make a strong coffee and pretend that tidying my craft desk counts as cardio.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😊

It’s Ally’s Angels Challenge #100!

 Dia daoibh!

Well lads, the Christmas countdown has well and truly begun — and you can tell because every shop in Ireland has turned into a shrine of novelty socks. There’s no escaping them!!! Santa socks, penguin socks, socks that light up, sing, or threaten to “jingle your bells.” Oh begorah, if I see one more “Festive Feet” display, I might start a support group for people traumatised by glittery toe warmers.

But before I get lost in a woolly rant ... it’s time to celebrate a proper festive treat: a brand-new challenge over at Ally’s Angels! 🎉 It’s Challenge #100 - a huge milestone running from November 15th to December 12th, 2025, and the theme is: Anything Goes!

For my card, I dusted off the trusty Spellbinders “Hiking Through the Meadows” die kit, cut from Tonic Studio cardstock, and layered it all up with foam pads for that lovely bit of lift (and to cover the bits that didn’t quite line up — we’ve all been there). I added a spritz of Distress Ink, a scattering of gems, and a few perfectly placed Nuvo Drops, because nothing says “finished” like those tiny golden blobs of joy.

A few challenges:

• Creative Fingers No. 312: Anything Goes
• Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges - Nov-  No. 46: Colours Of Fall / Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Garden Party #9:  Anything in (or from) a Garden
• Shopping Our Stash #560: A Few Of My Favorite Things  
• Neglected Stuff Challenge - November 2025 challenge: Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - November: Anything Goes 
• The Four Seasons Challenge - Fall Season 2025: 
  
  
  

Be sure to pop over to the Ally’s Angels blog and have a look at what the fabulous Design Team members have created ... honestly, their talent puts Santa’s workshop to shame! And while you’re there, join us in the gallery - we’d love to see what you come up with.

As for me, I’m off to wrestle last year’s fairy lights - it’s less “festive decorating” and more “competitive knot untangling.” Within five minutes I’ll be questioning all my life choices and threatening to bin the whole lot. And if you hear someone in the village muttering, “Why are there only seven working bulbs and six hundred knots?” - that’ll be me, spreading festive cheer, mild profanity-free despair, and enough static to power the Christmas tree.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💗