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. 💗

Spidey’s Got Moves

Dia daoibh!

You know those random Halloween die cuts that linger on the craft table long after the sweets are gone and the decorations are packed away? Well, I finally tackled mine. Among them was this wee spidey, one of a few Spellbinders die cuts I received as a gift, and he’d been staring at me accusingly for weeks. I paired him with a Spellbinders stamp sentiment, and it turned out both cute and slightly creepy at the same time.

The spider is layered and attached to a wobbler so it actually wobbles when you touch it. Pretty cute but strangely unsettling, like something you’d expect to see skitter past your feet at 2 a.m. The sentiment is stamped with StazOn, and I added a touch of glitter and a few Nuvo enamel drops for sparkle and texture. Bold stripes, cheeky spider, mission accomplished. This is officially the last Halloween card for the stash until next year, or so I tell myself.

A few challenges: 

• Cardz 4 Guyz  #379 Use Orange/Black/Purple 1 or more
• Creative Crafting Uncles #70 - Halloween
• Mix It Up Challenge #80 - Anything Goes (option: Clean and Simple)
• Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge -November 2025 - Anything Halloween

• CAS Colours & Sketches #572 - Sketch Challenge

And on a funny note, I left the finished card on the table, and my son nearly dropped his tea when the spider started wobbling. He jumped, shouted, and declared I was never to leave “moving insects” lying around again. I’ve never been prouder of my crafting skills.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🕷🕸

Thankful, Grateful, and Slightly Glittered

Dia Daoibh!

The Quality Street saga continues ... honestly, at this point it’s less of a treat and more of a tragedy. First, they binned the shiny wrappers (there goes my stash for Christmas crafts), and now I’ve learned the so-called Quality chocolate is made with palm oil. Palm oil! I’m convinced they should rename it Disappointing Street and be done with it. I think even the toffee feels like it’s questioning its life choices.

Anyway, onto something that actually brings joy ... my latest card, made using PowerPoppy’s Felt Leaves and Fruit Wreath Stamp Set. 

I coloured it up with Promarkers, added a sprinkle of iridescent glitter, a bit of glossy accents, and tied it all off with a delicate organza ribbon bow. PowerPoppy stamps never need much fuss, they practically design the card for you while you sip your tea and feel smug.

Challenges:

• The Flower Challenge #108 - Thanks
• 613 Avenue Create - Nov - Anything Goes (option: Thank you)
• Mix It Up Challenge #80 - Anything Goes (option: Clean and Simple)
• Classic Design Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything Goes (option: Autumn Splendor)
• Girlz Creative Crafts #61 - Lace, ribbon, twine
• If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #210 - Fall Leaves and Turkey

• Double D: Fall Wreaths /Photo Inspiration: 
  

And on a funny note, I’ve sworn off buying Christmas chocolates until December officially starts. Every “just-one-tin” I buy disappears faster than you can say Roses and regret. We had a tin out for Halloween, and it’s a good thing we did! There were so many trick-or-treaters, including one very determined dinosaur who came back twice… I gave him an extra few sweets for commitment. If he shows up at Christmas, he’s getting a lecture on palm oil.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍂🍁

Warning: May Cause Sudden Christmas Spirit

Dia daoibh!

If Christmas spirit could be spelled out in bold capitals, it’d look exactly like this! Designed by the ever-fabulous Lyn Simms, this NOEL card means business... big letters... and almost as much sparkle as your aunt’s earrings at midnight Mass.

click on pic for  a better view 

Cut from Tonic Studios textured card and Florence champagne glitter card on my ever trusty Silhouette Cameo. The lattice design gives it that fancy “I totally planned this” look (even if we all know the craft desk currently resembles the aftermath of a snowstorm). Add in some glossy green holly, a few glittery sprigs, and teeny twinkling gems for good meas, and you’ve got yourself a card that’s more Christmassy than watching The Late Late Toy Show in pyjamas with a tin of Roses.

A few challenges:

• Aud Sentiments Blog Challenge #331 - Glitter and/or Christmas & a Sentiment
• Crafter's Cafe #324 - Anything Goes (optional: Christmas)
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #65 - Anything Christmas Goes
• Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge #149 - Anything Goes Christmas
• The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #128 - Anything Christmas Goes (optional: Sleigh It Like You Mean It!)

Honestly, this card screams festive cheer louder than your neighbour’s inflatable snowman in a gale.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🎁

Sweet Baby

Dia daoibh!

It’s that time of year again and the shops are drowning in Christmas chocolates. I’m fairly sure I heard a tin of Roses call my name in Aldi. But can we talk about Quality Street? Since they ditched the shiny wrappers, they’ve lost their sparkle, literally!! How are we meant to make our annual Quality Street wrapper stained-glass window projects now? The kids’ art, the cards, the accidental wrapper stuck to the cat… gone. Tragic altogether.

Anyway, back to something that does still sparkle. I went with a baby theme, and all the elements were designed in Silhouette Studio and cut on my trusty Silhouette Cameo. I used Tonic Studios blue cardstock and Florence brown glitter cardstock for a bit of shimmer. A few teeny blue gems added the perfect finishing sparkle because let’s face it, if I can’t bedazzle a chocolate wrapper, I’ll bedazzle a card instead.

A few challenges:

• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog  - November - Anything Goes
• Girlz Make Guyz Cards  - Blue and Brown
• Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #722-723 - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges #348 - A card for a child
• A Place To Start - November 2025 - Anything Goes (optional: Something New)

And on a funny note, I spent so long fiddling with the Cameo settings that by the time it finally cut right, I’d eaten half the tin of Roses. Crafting calories don’t count, right? 

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😉