April Card Chain Challenge

Dia daoibh!

May is that month where you suddenly remember all the things you said you would start in January… and confidently decide June sounds like a better time. Productivity at its finest.

Now onto the April Card Chain Challenge!

This month I received an absolutely gorgeous card from Gail in Canada, full of lovely detail and just a joy to open. She also sent a lovely wee present, which I am definitely turning into wee bookmarks for work… practical and fancy, I 💗it!!!! Meanwhile, my card packed its bags and flew off to Linda in Michigan. I like to imagine it went through security like a tiny VIP… “any liquids, glitter or embellishments?” Absolutely.

For my card, I went with the friendship theme along with the colour palette of peony, white and leaf green. Soft, pretty, and behaving themselves nicely together. I used the Spellbinders Lively Blooms die set along with the Field Notes Twine Etched Dies, all cut from Tonic Studios cardstock. I kept it CAS, but added a bit of personality with glossy accents and a touch of iridescent glitter (I simply cannot be left unsupervised around sparkle 😄). The sentiment was stamped with Memento ink to finish it off nice and crisp.

Now, why should you join the Card Chain Challenge? Because it is basically happy post roulette. You send a card out into the world and in return, one lands back with you from somewhere completely different. It is like having pen pals… but with better handwriting and far more glitter.

Also, your postman will start to think you have a very exciting social life. And honestly, let him. We have earned that reputation.

Right, I am off to admire my stash like it might magically organise itself… any minute now.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌹

Mermaid Kisses

Dia daoibh!

There was a lovely walk along the east coast of Ireland recently. The sea was sparkling and the air was fresh. No swim though. Absolutely not. Five year old me watched Jaws and that fear is still filed under Very Important Life Lessons. Only joking. Mostly. The real reason is the water is still so cold it could reset your personality. Even the sea itself looks at you like 'don’t be daft'.

Once I finished my walk and stopped pretending I was a coastal explorer, it was straight back to the craft room. Because if you cannot be in the sea, you can at least craft something that belongs in it. Which brings me to the challenge over at HQFCB where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes. I went with Mermaid Kisses by Mo’s Digital Pencil because mermaids are far more glamorous than anything I had going on.

This card includes a bit of real life crafting drama as the silhouette cameo decided to act like a temperamental vintage relic. So instead of wasting good cardstock I used the off page stamp technique and called it a creative choice. The image was coloured with Promarkers, finished with Tonic Studios White Blizzard Nuvo Drops for sparkle, and the sentiment was stamped with Versafine ink which behaved itself for once (which deserves a mention all on its own).

Be sure to pop over and check out the DT’s creativity over on the HQFCB blog. Their makes are full of inspiration and may result in you buying supplies you absolutely do not need but will deeply love.

And finally remember. You can admire the Irish sea. You can photograph the Irish sea. You can romanticise the Irish sea. But you do not get into the Irish sea. That is how legends are born!

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍀

Hop, colour, repeat

Dia daoibh!

Easter had come and gone in a blur of chocolate wrappers and suspiciously empty egg boxes. I had every intention of being restrained this year. That lasted roughly seven minutes. Between the chocolate eggs, the fluffy bunnies, and the “just one more bite” negotiations, it was a miracle there was any cocoa left in the county. I am fairly sure the Easter Bunny and I were in direct competition.

Now onto something far less calorific but equally sweet, Ally’s Angels Challenge #105. The theme is, as always, Anything Goes. Which is basically crafter language for go wild and have the craic. The DT have some absolutely gorgeous creations this month. Honestly, the talent in that gallery could power a small village.

Here is my card.

I used Easter Carly from Mo’s Digital Pencil and she is just adorable with her little bunny and basket of eggs. I coloured her with Promarkers, had a quiet chat with myself about blending, and carried on bravely. A touch of Glossy Accents here and there added a bit of shine, and of course I brought in Nuvo Drops for that subtle sparkle. I kept the overall look clean and simple because sometimes less really is more. Even if my embellishment drawer disagrees.

Please do join in with the challenge. Anything Goes means exactly that, so bring your cards, your colours, your creativity and pop them into the gallery. We would absolutely love to see you there.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to check whether there is any chocolate left that I may have heroically missed. Card making burns calories, I am nearly certain of it.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🐰

Reel Bear-y Good

Dia daoibh!

Easter is over but the chocolate situation says otherwise. Shop shelves were stripped bare by Saturday morning like a scene from a survival documentary, and yet… chocolate is everywhere. Every cupboard you open, there it is. Eggs, bunnies, things wrapped so nicely you feel guilty even looking at them. It is like chocolate has developed legs and is quietly multiplying when no one is watching. Honestly, working nights felt less like a rota and more like a tactical escape from a full scale chocolate avalanche. Strategic planning at its finest.

Now, onto the card before I get ambushed by a caramel filled situation.

This gorgeous image is from KleineBieneKv on Etsy and I mean… a bear in striped shorts holding a fish? Say no more. I coloured him with Promarkers, keeping everything soft and blended so he looks all calm and content, like he has absolutely no idea the fish might have other plans. I kept the design CAS because sometimes the best thing you can do is step away before you start adding bits just for the craic. A soft blue mat frames him nicely, and instead of real twine I used a faux twine die cut from Spellbinders which gives the same look without the faff.  I added a touch of Glossy Accents to the anchor and the fish... It just lifts it without turning the whole card into a glitter explosion.

A few challenges:

Cardz4Guyz #384 Colour Challenge: Light Blue & Brown

I Love ProMarkers & Other Mediums #604 Cute & Whimsical / Anything Goes

Daisy Chain Challenges #106 No design paper

Girlz Make Guyz Cards #38 Food and/or drinks

Daisy Chain Challenge #106 No Design Paper

All in all, a calm, simple make… which is exactly what was needed in a world currently overrun by chocolate eggs that seem to appear out of thin air. If you need me, I will be opening cupboards very cautiously for the next few days. You never know what might jump out.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🐰

Sprite Sparkle

Dia daoibh!

Easter has a funny way of sneaking up on you. One minute everything is calm and sensible and the next the world is full of pastel colours, bunny references, and chocolate being treated like a perfectly reasonable life choice. Spring does that to people.

Which brings me nicely to challenge #4 over at HQFCB where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes (cards, atc's, mixed media, home decorations, journals, tags, gift bags, etc.). The DT have some absolutely amazing creative makes over on HQFCB. Seriously inspiring stuff and a guaranteed way to make you eye up your craft stash with big plans.

For my card I used a little sprite that I designed myself using Corel Draw. She was coloured with Promarkers and I added a touch of Tonic Studio's White Blizzard Nuvo drops for some extra sparkle. The background was stencilled using Memento ink and a few Nuvo drops were added as embellishement. 

Do pop over and check out the DT’s creativity over on the HQFCB blog for plenty of inspiration and fantasy fun.

And finally a little spring truth. Flowers bloom, days get brighter, and glitter will continue to appear in your house long after Easter has hopped away.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌸

Leaf It in Your Pocket

Dia daoibh!

I am absolutely delighted, over the moon, and one small step away from dancing around the kitchen waving a glue stick, to be a Guest Designer for the CAS on Friday Challenge blog. The DT have some incredible creativity going on, the kind that makes you side eye your craft stash like “you and me need a serious chat, lads.” A massive thank you to Janneke and the DT over at CAS on Friday for having me.

The theme for challenge #331 is Botanical, so naturally I went leafy and proud:

I used diecuts for the greenery and then went a bit wild with glossy accents, glitter, and some Nuvo drops. Not too much now, just enough to make it sparkle without causing a public safety announcement. A few pieces are popped up with foam pads so the leaves have a bit of lift. The "Hello" is from Tonic Studios and stamped in white using Hero Arts Unicorn White ink on black card, and let me tell you, it stamped so crisp I nearly framed the ink pad as well. I added a light sprinkle of black distress ink across the background, just enough to keep things interesting without turning it into a full blown art experiment gone rogue.

A few challenges:
Simply Clean and Simple - SCAS April 2026: CAS (Optional theme: Baskets)

Craft Rocket Challenges #135 Layer It Up

Ellibelle's Garden Party #13  Anything in (or from) a Garden

Crafty Gals Corner #275 Anything Goes (optional twist: Make it Green)

Right, I am off now to check if my paper plants need watering. If they start growing, I am opening a garden centre and retiring early.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💚

March Card Chain Challenge

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland was a wild little month altogether. One minute you were spotting daffodils and feeling hopeful, the next minute the wind nearly carried you into the next parish. The leprechauns were out in full force, I was convinced of it. There was no other explanation for sunshine, hailstones, and sideways rain all happening before lunchtime. If you saw me squinting at a rainbow it was only because I was checking for a pot of gold to fund more craft supplies.

Now onto the Card Chain Challenge, which is basically international happy post 💗. I sent my card off to lovely Gundi in Germany and in return I received a card from Joanne in the USA. Absolutely beautiful. The kind of card you rotate slowly in your hands like you are assessing fine art in a gallery. Pure magic landing through the letterbox.

For my card I went with the colour challenge of periwinkle, fuchsia, and pale peach. Sounds like a trio of fancy macarons but works beautifully on cardstock. I used the Spellbinders Kokeshi Dolls Die Set. The background was embossed using the Spellbinders Bold Floral Embossing Folder which gives lovely texture without stealing the spotlight. I die cut a hello, layered it up for a bit of oomph, and coated it in Glossy Accents so it shines politely in the light. Not too flashy. Just enough to say hello with confidence. Embellishments include Glossy Accents, Nuvo Drops White Blizzard, and a few gems ... because apparently I believe every card deserves accessories. If it twinkles, it earned its place.

A few challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz #273 Spring Flowers 

Creative Knockouts #568 Embossing Delight

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says: Emboss it

Craft Rocket Challenges #135 Layer It Up

Allsorts #846 - It's Springtime  or Anything Goes 

And honestly, if you have never joined the Card Chain Challenge, you should. You send a card off into the world and in return one lands back in your letterbox. It is like crafty pen pals with surprise sparkle. No leprechaun required, just stamps and goodwill. Sure what more could you want.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍀

Positivi-Tea

Dia daoibh!

Spring cleaning has arrived, which is that magical time of year when you open a drawer “just for a quick tidy” and somehow end up sitting on the floor two hours later reading instructions from a toaster you no longer own. The house smells like lemon, the windows are sparkling, and I have absolutely no idea where half my stuff went. Probably living its best life without me.

Right, onto the important business… the card!

I kept this one CAS because sometimes less is more ... and also because I had already used up all my energy deciding whether to keep or throw out a mysterious cable. I used the Gerda Steiner Positivi-Tea stamp set, stamped with Memento ink, and coloured with Promarkers. The little bear with the cuppa is basically all of us, emotionally and spiritually. And the sentiment… “Sending you some Positivi-Tea” … honestly, if tea solved problems any faster, we would have it prescribed on the HSE.

The background panel is partially die cut and embossed, giving it that bit of texture without shouting about it. For embellishments, I added some clear glossy accents for a bit of shine and a few drops of white blizzard Nuvo drops.

A few challenges:

Simply Clean and Simple - March 2026: CAS (Optional Theme: Baby Animals)  

First Cup Challenges #12 - Anything Goes

The Paper Funday #85 - Anything Goes or furs/Feathers

Fab n' Funky #633 - Four Legged Friends

CAS Colours & Sketches #581 - Sketch Challenge: 

Spring cleaning can wait. Tea and crafting are clearly the superior life skills.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Happy Spring!

Dia daoibh!

Shopping for chocolate Easter eggs has become less of a casual stroll and more of a tactical operation. You head in for “just one” and suddenly you are comparing chocolate like a seasoned judge on a baking show. This year though, I have my eye firmly on a Toblerone egg. Pure class. Triangles  egg of joy. 

Now, onto my card!

I went full spring cheer with this one and kept it lovely and CAS. The SVG design is my own. I cut everything with my trusty Silhouette Cameo, who continues to behave like a dream as long as I whisper kind words to it and threaten it only slightly. Some of the elements are popped up with foam pads to give a bit of dimension. For embellishments, I added some iridescent glitter for that subtle sparkle that catches the light just right, along with a few white Nuvo enamel dots scattered about like they just wandered in and decided to stay. 

And that is it. A quick, cheerful make that did not involve glitter explosions or losing my sanity, which frankly deserves its own celebration.

A few challenges:

Girlz Creative Crafts #66 - Flowers

Die Cut Divas  - Warm Spring Wishes

Addicted to CAS  #304 - Code Word: Stripes 

The Crafting Challenge - March - Waiting for Spring

CAS on Friday #330 - Spring

Right-e-o, I need to go “accidentally” buy three Easter eggs… for research purposes.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 🌷

Éirinn Go Brách!

 Dia daoibh!

It is that glorious time of year again when suddenly everyone owns a shamrock somewhere on their clothing. Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all! The kettle is on, the craic is mighty, and the village is buzzing ahead of tomorrow’s celebrations.

Before the marching bands, green hats and general shenanigans kick off, I managed to sneak a few quiet minutes at the craft desk and make a card.

I kept this one CAS because sometimes simple is just perfect. The sweet Shamrock Fairy from Mo’s Digital Pencil peeks in from the side of the card like she has wandered in to see what all the fuss is about. She was coloured with Promarkers and I used the off the page technique so she looks like she is stepping right into the card. For a little sparkle I added some iridescent and green glitter ... because if there is ever a time when glitter is completely acceptable it is St Patrick’s Day.

The sentiment Éirinn Go Brách felt just right for this card. Ireland forever and a lovely little nod to the day that is in it.

A few challenges:

Aud Sentiments Blog Challenge #335 - Glitter/Bling and/or St. Patrick's Green + a Sentiment

Allsorts #845 - Things with wings or Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner #275 - Anything Goes  with optional twist of Make it Green

Color Dare Challenge #694: 

Inspiration Station #83 - Inspiration Photo: 

Tomorrow the celebrations begin. There will be parades, music, dancing, and someone somewhere attempting Irish dancing in shoes that absolutely were not designed for it. I am also fairly certain there will be at least one person proudly wearing green from head to toe like a walking shamrock field.

However you celebrate, have a wonderful St Patrick’s Day filled with laughter, a bit of sparkle and plenty of craic. 

☘️ Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! ☘️

(Pronounced roughly: law ay-la paw-drig sunna ditch)

Sláinte,

Wendy R.