Umbrella Bloom

Dia daoibh!

September has rolled in like it owns the place. One minute you are minding your own business and the next thing the calendar is waving at you saying “Right, time to get organised.” The craft desk of course took that as a sign to do the exact opposite and produce more paper scraps than a confetti cannon at a parade.

Today’s card is for Ally’s Angels Challenge #110, where the theme is always Anything Goes. Which is the best kind of theme really. No rules, no stress, just pure crafty fun. Do pop over and check out the Design Team creations because they are absolutely amazing and full of inspiration.

For my card I used the Spellbinders Umbrella Bloom die set. I kept everything CAS, letting the die cut do all the talking. Sometimes the cardstock just wants a simple life and I am happy to support that. For embellishments I only added a little Glossy Accents and a few flatback pearls for a bit of shine. Just enough sparkle to keep things interesting but not enough to require protective goggles. The sentiment is from Tonic Studios and I stamped it with Versafine ink. Versafine behaves beautifully, which is more than can be said for the pile of craft supplies currently plotting a takeover of my desk.

Now it is your turn to join the fun. The theme is Anything Goes, so grab your stamps, dies, glitter, glue, yarn, paper or whatever crafty goodies you have nearby and come play along with us at Ally’s Angels Challenge. We would love to see your creations in the gallery.

And remember… if your craft desk looks like a paper explosion happened… congratulations. You are doing it correctly.

Sláinte,

🌼 Wendy R. 🌼 

Card Chain Challenge August 2026

 Dia daoibh!

August has arrived, which means we all start pretending we know where the year has gone. Someone always says, "It'll be Christmas before we know it," and somehow they're right... even though we're absolutely not ready to hear it!

Anyway, enough of that. It's time for the August Card Chain Challenge!

This month, my card packed its little passport and winged its way to Greta in the USA, while I was delighted to receive a special delivery from Daja. Her card was absolutely beautiful and one of those happy pieces of post that makes you smile before you've even opened the envelope.

For this month's challenge, I chose the elephant theme along with the friendship option. Honestly, if ever there was a mascot for the Card Chain Challenge, surely it should be an elephant. Friendly, dependable, and famous for never forgetting... unlike me, who spends half my crafting time looking for the scissors I was holding thirty seconds ago!

For my card, I reached for some fabulous dies. The adorable elephant is from Spellbinders' D Lites Elephant Festival set, layered onto the beautiful Essential Floral Reflection dies. The intricate background was created using A Pocket Full of Happiness's Floral Lace Border, while the shiny "Friend" sentiment comes from Pinkfresh Studio's Phrasebuilder die set. Everything was layered with foam tape for extra dimension before I got carried away with pearls and gemstones. Let's be honest, once the embellishment box comes out, there is no such thing as "just one more."

The Card Chain Challenge is one of my favourite crafty adventures. You make a card, send it off somewhere in the world, and then wait for a handmade surprise to land in your own letterbox. It's like Christmas morning, except nobody gives you socks..

Right-e-o, the pearls have escaped onto the floor again, and I am convinced they wait until I am barefoot before making their grand appearance.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

The Male Room #214: Dots and/or stripes

Dia daoibh!

For The Male Room Challenge #214, the theme is Dots and Stripes, and this zebra has arrived wearing both with the confidence of a man who lost a bet with a box of highlighters and is now daring anyone to mention it.

The wonderfully unimpressed zebra is from the Katzelkraft Les Jungles stamp set. I stamped him with Memento ink and coloured him with Promarkers. Zebras already come with stripes, of course, but this fellow felt nature had not gone nearly far enough. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions Enjoy Today stamp set. It says “Sending Good Vibes,” although his face looks more like he is sending a strongly worded complaint about the dress code. I finished the card with Tonic Studio's Nuvo enamel drops, adding plenty of colourful dots around him. At this stage, he has stripes, spots, a rainbow jumper and the expression of someone who has just realised he is dressed like the craft aisle during a clearance sale.

We would love you to join us over at The Male Room with your dots, stripes, or both. And remember, confidence is not about looking sensible. It is about wearing every Promarker colour at once and acting as though everyone else got the memo wrong.

Thanks a million for joining the colourful fun at The Male Room  ❤️

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Kokeshi Doll

Dia daoibh!

August has arrived and I am pretending I am not noticing the evenings getting that tiny bit shorter. We are firmly in the 'still summer' mindset. Ice cream counts as a balanced meal, sandals are acceptable footwear for every occasion, and I refuse to even glance at back to school aisles. Denial is powerful.

Now it is time for Ally’s Angels Challenge #109 and as always the theme is Anything Goes. Which is perfect because August energy is very much do what you like and enjoy it. The DT's creations this month are absolutely gorgeous. So much creativity, so many styles, you could scroll with a cuppa and still want to make three cards immediately.

For my card, I went back to Spellbinders Kokeshi dolls. I built her up with layered die cuts, adding all those sweet little floral details to her kimono. The colour combo makes me ridiculously happy. Soft lavender with bold pink accents and those pops of peach. She is blooming and she knows it. The background keeps things calm with cherry blossoms, just lightly coloured so it does not steal the spotlight. I wanted the Kokeshi doll to shine front and centre. The Spellbinders sentiment 'Bloom Wildly' felt perfect. A little reminder to take up space and look fabulous doing it. Of course I could not resist embellishments. A few gems, flatback pearls, a hint of sparkle, and just enough dimension to make her feel special without tipping into over the top territory. We are classy. Mostly.

If you have not joined in yet, this is your gentle nudge. Anything Goes means your creativity gets to run free. Cards, mixed media, bright bold creations or soft and subtle designs, pop them into the gallery. We love seeing what everyone makes.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to bloom wildly myself... or at least tidy my craft desk with enthusiasm for five whole minutes.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Yeti to Party?

Dia daoibh!

July in Ireland was that glorious time of year when we all suddenly decided we were outdoorsy people. Barbecues appeared. Garden chairs were dusted off with confidence. Someone bought citronella candles like we lived in the Mediterranean. We commited fully to summer energy, even if it lasteds exactly three weeks. Optimism was strong in July.

Now onto something properly magical. It is time for HQFCB Challenge #7 for July and as always the theme is Anything Fantasy Goes. Which means dragons, fairies, yetis, mermaids, unicorns, elves and anything else your imagination can dream up. Make sure you check out the lovely DT makes because there is so much inspiration this month. Every style, every sparkle level, every kind of fantasy fun.

For my card, I used the Yeti Bundle by Conie Fong and honestly, how could you not smile at that fluffy little face. I kept it CAS with no fuss. Clean lines, bold gingham, and a birthday yeti front and centre doing his thing.

I coloured the fella with Promarkers, keeping his fur soft and giving that blue face plenty of cheerful brightness. The balloon got fully glittered up because if a yeti shows up to a birthday, he is not bringing a dull balloon. The HBD die cuts are layered for dimension and then glossed with Glossy Accents so they catch the light nicely. I added a little touch of Nuvo White Blizzard to his horns and ears for that frosty shimmer. Just enough sparkle without turning him into a disco yeti.

Do not forget to join us for HQFCB Challenge #7. Anything Fantasy Goes means exactly that. If it belongs in a magical world, it belongs in our gallery. We would absolutely love to see what you create.

Now if only real birthday parties came with this level of sparkle and zero clean up. I would happily invite a yeti to every single one.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🎈

The Male Room #213: Jobs or Professions

Dia daoibh!

For challenge #213 at The Male Room, the theme is Jobs or Professions, and I decided to honour the brave souls who can look at a toolbox and actually know what everything does. I own plenty of tools myself, although most of mine are used for opening stubborn paint lids, retrieving things that have rolled under the craft desk and making me feel wildly qualified while achieving absolutely nothing.

For my card, I used the fabulous Spellbinders All the Tools dies from the Toolbox Essentials Collection. I cut the tools from Tonic Studio's card and layered them across the background, creating the sort of organised toolbox display that has never existed in my house. Here, every spanner has a place, the screwdriver has not vanished and nobody has borrowed the pliers since 2019. The birthday sentiment was layered onto coordinating card and raised with foam pads because every good birthday deserves a little lift, particularly when you are reaching the age where getting off the sofa requires planning permission.

We would love you to join us over at The Male Room Challenge. Show us your Jobs or Professions inspired makes, whether they feature tools, uniforms, office bits, workshop scenes, or any card that gives a nod to the world of work. And remember, a good tradesman never blames his tools, but after forty he is fully entitled to blame his knees, his back, and whoever moved the tape measure. 

Thanks for joining in with the craic at The Male Room Challenge ❤️

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🛠️ 

Card Chain Challenge July 2026

Dia daoibh!

July in Ireland has been absolutely tropical. The fan has been working harder than half the country, the audits at work have arrived in formation, and every second email seems to begin with, "Please remember to drink more water." At this stage, I am fairly sure I have consumed enough water to qualify as a small reservoir.

Anyway, before I melted completely, there was the July Card Chain Challenge!

This month I received a beautiful card from Imke, which now has pride of place on my mantel piece. Meanwhile, my card packed its passport, grabbed its boarding pass, and winged its way across the Atlantic to Patricia in Texas. I like to think it enjoyed the in flight snacks.

For my card, I chose the colour palette of kraft, blossom, and gold. I printed a leopard print pattern onto kraft cardstock before building up the design with die cuts from Spellbinders' The Weekender collection, featuring the Jungle Cat and Tiki Toucan elements. The shiny gold Smile sentiment is also from Spellbinders. Everything was layered with dimensional foam tape to add depth, then finished with Glossy Accents and some mini gemstones.

Why should you join the Card Chain Challenge? Because once a month your postbox becomes far more exciting than your inbox. You send a handmade card somewhere in the world, and another crafty surprise arrives back. It's happy post, new friendships, and a brilliant excuse to use those dies you've been "saving for something special."

Right, I'm off to refill my water bottle... again. At this rate, I'll be floating to the August Card Chain Challenge instead of posting my card.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

Yes. Cake.

Dia daoibh!

July in Ireland means one thing. Me and my farmer’s tan. White as milk from the elbow up, glowing lobster from the elbow down. The watch line could guide ships safely into harbour. I spend nine months wrapped up in jumpers and then two sunny afternoons later I look like Neapolitan ice cream. It is not subtle. It is not elegant. It is seasonal art.

Now onto Ally’s Angels Challenge #108, where the theme is, as always, Anything Goes. Which suits July perfectly because clearly rules are optional this month. The Design Team creations are fabulous as usual. So much inspiration, you could lose a full cup of tea just scrolling.

For my card, I use “Patty” from Mo’s Digital Pencil and honestly she is a whole mood. That face says it all. No singing. Yes cake. I feel personally represented. I coloured her with Promarkers, leaning right into those bold reds and teals. A little blending here, a confident flick there, and we declare it artistic flair. I kept the layout CAS with a crisp white background and just a few touches of Glossy Accents for that bit of shine. Nothing fussy. Patty does not tolerate fuss. I love how she turns out. Slightly grumpy, completely fabulous, and very clear about her boundaries.

If you have not joined in yet, this is your sign. Anything Goes means exactly that. Cards, crafty experiments, sparkly creations, pop them into the gallery. We would love to see you there.

Now if you will excuse me, I will be over here rotating slowly in the garden trying to turn Neapolitan into a single shade. Patty would approve of the cake. I would approve of an even tan.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌞

Card Chain Challenge June 2026

Dia daoibh!

June is one of those dangerous months. The craft room gets warmer, the glitter starts sticking to absolutely everything, and suddenly you are convincing yourself that buying “just one more die set” counts as self care. Completely reasonable behaviour, obviously.

Now onto the June Card Chain Challenge!

This month, I received a lovely card from Patricia, which immediately earned a spot on the “must admire repeatedly” section of the mantel piece. Meanwhile, my card packed its little crafty suitcase and flew off to Iona. Hopefully it behaved itself through customs and did not shed sequins all over the place.

For my card, I went with the “black, white, and one colour” theme and chose gold because, if we are strictly limiting ourselves to a single accent colour, we might as well make it obnoxiously fancy, right?

I made a shaker card using a Tonic Studios 5x7 shaker pocket, filled with Spellbinders sequins. The Stampin’ Up Swallowtail image was coloured with Promarkers, and I used the lovely sentiment from Taylored Expressions’ Softly Spoken set. I also splattered on some pewter Distress Ink for a bit of extra sparkle and drama.

Why join the Card Chain Challenge? Because it is basically international happy post. One minute, you are making a card at your desk in your slippers; the next, it is travelling across the world making new friends. It is creative, fun, and an excellent excuse to use supplies you absolutely forgot you owned.

Also, nothing builds character quite like trying to photograph a shaker card without catching your own reflection staring back at you like a confused banshee.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

THE MALE ROOM - HOBBIES

Dia daoibh!

I am back again with another card for The Male Room, and this time we are talking hobbies for Challenge #212. The challenge runs from 1st July to 4th August, so there is plenty of time to get those crafty brains warmed up and ready for action.

For my card, I went with a gaming theme. It is also taken very seriously by the person holding the controller, especially when they are one button away from victory and suddenly remembering the exact meaning of dramatic panic.

I kept the design clean and bold with a large game controller as the main feature. The die cut is from the Silhouette Design Store, and I added Glossy Accents to the buttons and cable for a bit of shine and dimension. The black and white stripes give the card a fun retro feel, while the bright coloured buttons add just the right pop of colour. The sentiment is from the Level Up Stamp Set from Taylored Expressions. A few green Nuvo Drops finished it off nicely, because apparently I cannot leave tiny shiny dots alone. They sit there looking innocent, and next thing you know, the bottle is in my hand. Crafting is not always a planned event. Sometimes it is a tiny glossy ambush.

This was such a fun theme to play with, and hobbies give you loads of room to create. Gaming, fishing, sport, music, gardening, model making, cooking, reading, collecting craft supplies and pretending they are not slowly taking over the house. All very valid hobbies.

We would love you to join us over at The Male Room Challenge. Show us your favourite hobby inspired makes, whether they involve controllers, clubs, tools, brushes, hooks, rods, or a suspiciously large paper stash.

And remember, in crafting as in gaming, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn, and sometimes you just need more snacks.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R.