Yeti or Not

Dia Daoibh!

The next HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy with an optional Yeti twist—because nothing says "magical creature" like a snow beast who definitely forgot to buy wrapping paper. 

For today’s card, I repurposed Clearly Besotted’s Yuletide Yeti (a Christmas stamp set now moonlighting as a birthday set, because rules were made to be broken). Kept the design CAS, mostly because the Yeti ate all my patience. Coloured the wee fella with Promarkers and embellihed the bow of the present with glossy accents. The "HBD!" sentiment was die-cut and layered for dimension. The card is embellished with liquid pearl drops for subtle texture ... because sometimes you want frosty accents without the glitter fallout of 2023 haunting you. 

Wishing you a season of perfectly sized envelopes, stamps that stick on the first try, and zero surprise glitter from projects past.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 🎁

Ghosted... But in a Cute Way!

Dia daoibh! 

Halloween is finally here! The night when the doorbell gets more exercise than the treadmill ever did! Between dodging tiny vampires, witches, and one very determined dinosaur, I managed to whip up a batch of chocolate-covered apples at last (about time, says everyone in the house). Sticky fingers, sugar highs, and a few ghostly giggles later, I finally sat down to make something spooky of my own.

My Ghosts in Envelope card is from Furrow and Feather, cut on my trusty Silhouette Cameo from Parklane cardstock. I added a sprinkle of glitter and finished it off with glossy accents for that eerie shimmer. I’ve made a few of these little hauntings to send off to extended family (because nothing says “thinking of you” quite like a ghost popping out of an envelope!).

🎃 A few challenges:

• Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges #45: Halloween / Anthing Goes
• Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes (October Welcomes Brass and Bliss)
• Make My Monday #263 - Halloween Colors
• Beautiful Blossoms #34 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional Mood Board) 
• Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - October: Anything Halloween

• TIME OUT Challenges #300 - Autumn Celebrations Around the World  

And on that note... may your treats outweigh your tricks, may your costume survive the rain, and may you remember which child belongs to which witch before bedtime!

💀Oíche Shamhna Shona Daoibh!💀

Sláinte,

 Wendy R. 

Witch... please!

Dia daoibh!

Ah, Oíche Shamhna, the Irish Halloween, born from the ancient festival of Samhain, when the line between the living and the dead was as thin as a tea towel and everyone blamed every draught, flickering light, and creaky floorboard on the neighbours from “the other side.” Back in the day, before pumpkins invaded from across the Atlantic, we had turnips... the original horror story. Carving one was a national endurance test. You’d start the evening full of hope and finish it with one working hand, a blunt butter knife, and a lantern that looked like it had been in a bar fight. And the smell? Nothing quite says festive cheer like the aroma of smouldering root vegetable and fear.

Thankfully, times have changed; no turnips were harmed in the making of my latest Halloween creation! 

I used the The Witch’s Hat die set from Hero Arts (Hocus Pocus Collection), cut from Tonic Studios cardstock, dressed up with Nuvo Stone Drops, a splatter of black Distress Ink, and a few mischievous gems for extra sparkle ... all raised on foam pads for that perfect touch of supernatural lift.

A few challenges:

• Everybody-Art-Challenge #576 - Orange/black and/or Halloween 
• Creative Knockouts #557 Halloween or Fall
• Try It On Tuesday - Halloween
• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #267 - S is for Spooky

And before I disappear into the fog ... here’s one to make you howl:

Why did the skeleton stay home from the party?
He had no body to go with! 

💀Oíche Shamhna Shona Daoibh!🎃

Sláinte,

 Wendy R. 👻

Hello, My Name Is… Craft Hoarder

Dia daoibh!

You know that moment when you sit down to make one card and end up with enough extra die cuts to open a small craft shop? Aye, that’s me every time. I swear the leaves multiply in the night ... I close the drawer and the next morning it looks like an autumn explosion. If paper had a breeding season, it’d be now 😂.

So, today’s card is proudly sponsored by my ever-growing pile of “I’ll use that later” bits! I pulled out the Spellbinders Autumn Sealed Sprigs dies and Spellbinders Sealed Squiggles, all cut from Tonic Studios cardstock and a sprinkle of glitter card for sparkle. I also added some Nuvo Stone Drops for a bit of posh texture. The big shiny “hello” was cut from cardstock, layered up, and finished with Glossy Accents.

Onto a few challenges:

• Beautiful Blossoms #34 - Anything Flowers Goes
• Classic Design Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything Goes + option: Autumn Splendor
• The Crafting Challenge - October - Autumn / Halloween
• Creatalicious Challenges #294 - Anything Goes (option: Fall Colors or Halloween)
• The Four Seasons Challenge - October -Anything Fall Goes: 
  

And there we have it ... a cheerful autumn hello made from my “craft chaos” stash. Now, if only I could find the table under the rest of the die cuts…

Sláinte,

🍁Wendy R.🍂

Autumn Leaves & Overtime Dreams

Dia daoibh!

I know, I know… it’s been suspiciously quiet around here lately! You might have thought I’d gone off on a luxury retreat or joined a circus—but alas, no. I’ve simply moved into work. Between staff shortages and endless shifts, I was starting to wonder if I should start paying rent for the staff room. The good news? All that overtime finally paid off—literally! I treated myself to a shiny new tumble dryer. Nothing says “living the dream” quite like dry socks and lint-free joy.

Now, onto my card before I start reviewing appliance warranties for fun. 

Since autumn is in full bloom (and the trees are showing off like contestants on Strictly Come Dancing), I decided to play with the Spellbinders Autumn Sealed Sprigs Etched Dies and Spellbinders Sealed Squiggles. Everything’s cut from Tonic Studios cardstock with a touch of glitter card. I added a strip of washi tape, a sprinkle of glitter, a few Nuvo drops, and some gold gems for embellishment. I kept it sentiment-free this time ... sometimes the card just speaks for itself (and this one says, “I’m approachable”)

Onto a few challenges:

• Craft Rocket Challenges #130  - Autumn/Halloween
• Krafty Chicks #790 - CAS
• The Paper Players PP760 - CAS - Foliage 

• Tic Tac Toe Challenge #281 - (any shape die, free, fall colors) 
  

Right, I’d better sign off before my tumble dryer starts thinking I’ve run off with the washing machine—it’s a bit clingy since it realised it’s the newer model.

Sláinte,

🍂Wendy R. 🍁

Let’s Flamingle

Dia daoibh!

It’s time for Challenge #99 (Anything goes) at Ally’s Angels - and while we’re knee-deep in soggy weather in Ireland, the folks in the southern hemisphere are swanning about in their shorts and sunnies. Honestly, I think the flamingo on my card is plotting a one-way flight to Melbourne.

So, onto the card! 

I used Spellbinders Grand Flamingos die set, cut from gorgeous Tonic Studios cardstock. A splash of glossy accents and glitter, a sprinkle of caribbean blue nuvo glitter drops, and a dash of sparkly gems — because no flamingo worth its feathers leaves the house without bling.

I left off a sentiment so this card can sashay into any occasion: birthdays, celebrations, or even “sorry I nicked your paddling pool while pretending it was a lagoon.”

Onto a few challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes 
• The Paper Funday #80 - Anything Goes/Optional of Cute or Creepy
• A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes
• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges #346 - Add pearls or gems or both

And let’s be honest — flamingos are meant to stand on one leg, but mine’s clearly knackered and leaning on the flowers for support. Diva behaviour at its finest!

Sláinte,

Wendy R.🌴

Oh Sheet - it's Halloween

Dia daoibh!

I’ve somehow managed to sneak my way into the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers as their Guest DT this month. The challenge theme for challenge #267 is S for Spooky, which is perfect, because honestly my craft room at the moment is scarier than any haunted house.

For my card, I went with a ghost (who clearly raided the florist) paired with the cheeky sentiment “Oh Sheet.”. I used die cuts from Lori Whitlock’s Halloween Envelope Box Card, courtesy of the ever-faithful Silhouette Cameo, and gave them all the lift of a dodgy Botox job with foam pads. A few Nuvo Drops, a sprinkle of glitter, and hey presto—spooky with a side of sparkle.

Head on over to the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers to check out the rest of the DT’s terrifyingly talented creations—they’re far too good to be kept in the crypt.

And remember… glitter may wash off your hands, but it’ll haunt your carpet forever and ever and ever and ever.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 👻

Ashes to Ashes...

Dia Daoibh!

This month’s HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy with an optional phoenix theme – which is basically the official mascot of healthcare workers. Think about it: we too burst into flames regularly (usually around hour 13 of a 12-hour shift), only to be reborn through the sacred power of chocolate and questionable coffee. If that’s not a modern phoenix story, I don’t know what is.

For today’s card, I used a PNGtree digi and coloured it with Promarkers while pretending I knew what I was doing. Then – in a move that surprised absolutely no one – I gave that phoenix a tasteful dusting of glossy accents and iridescent sparkle. (Okay, fine, it’s more "strategically placed shimmer" than "full glitter intervention" – but let’s be real, even a hint of glitter in this house somehow ends up on the cats, in my coffee, and possibly in my pension plan. The struggle is real.)

The “Celebrate” sentiment was cut with my Pretty Pink Posh metal die (read: the expensive shiny thing I bought “for work”) and layered up like my excuses for buying more craft supplies. Finished with white glitter because at this point, glitter isn’t an embellishment, it’s a lifestyle. And by "lifestyle," I mean "permanent décor." My vacuum will never recover...

So here’s to rising from our ashes (or at least from under this pile of glitter) – may your coffee be strong, your shifts be short, and your craft projects be slightly less flammable.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R.

Flocktail Hour

Dia daoibh!

You know it’s October when you walk into the shops and the shelves are groaning under the weight of Halloween sweets… yet just around the corner, there it is — Christmas wrapping paper and novelty socks staring you down like, “Go on, panic early!” Honestly, at this stage I’m expecting Easter eggs to sneak onto the shelf beside the pumpkins. It’s retail time travel, and I’m not ready.

Anyway, speaking of seasonal surprises, it’s time for the monthly Card Chain Challenge! The idea’s simple but brilliant: you sign up, pick a theme, send off your card — and like magic, one lands in your letterbox too. It’s like pen pals, but with glitter and far less chance of dodgy handwriting. My card flew off to Daja in Germany, and in return, I was lucky enough to receive a gooooorgeous creation back from Imke in Germany as well. Clearly, the postal service has decided I need a round trip of Deutsche crafting goodness! 

Now, onto my own card: 

I used the Spellbinders Grand Flamingos die set — and let me tell you, these flamingos are as fancy as they sound. Cut from lush textured and glitter card, jazzed up with glitter, glossy accents, a sprinkle of iredescent sequins, and a few clear gems for good measure. The sentiment is from the Ellen Hutson Inner Flamingo stamp set, stamped neatly with Stazon ink (because nothing says commitment like ink that never wants to come off your fingers).

A few challenges:

• Krafty Chicks #788 - Birthdays
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays
• Try It On Tuesday - Animals - Real or Imaginary
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity #482 - Animals 
• Dragonfly Dreams - Sep - Happy Birthday

And there you have it! A tropical flamingo card made in the middle of pumpkin season — because nothing says autumn like a bright pink bird strutting across your craft desk. Sure, if that isn’t crafting against the odds, I don’t know what is. At this point, I’m just waiting for a flamingo in a Santa hat to appear in Tesco’s freezer aisle.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦩

Ah, Punkin

Dia daoibh!

September’s here, bringing shorter evenings and that smug chill that makes you reach for the fleece. You’d think pumpkins would be filling the shops by now, but no — the only orange things on offer are carrots, traffic cones, and suncream so weak you’d get a better tan standing under a lightbulb. But sure, who needs pumpkins in Tesco when we can have them on our cards — they don’t go mushy and no one tries to turn them into soup.

A brand-new challenge has kicked off over at Ally’s Angels (Challenge #98), and as always, the theme is Anything Goes. The design team are bursting with creativity as usual.

Here’s my take: 

I used ‘Punkin’ from Mo’s Digital Pencil, coloured up with Promarkers. I added a few cheeky leaf die cuts, popped them up on foam pads, sprinkled in some gems, and finished with a ribbon for good measure.

A few challenges:

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #266 - F is for Finally Fall
CAS on Friday #317 Fall
Creative Fingers #307 Anything goes
TIME OUT Challenges #297  - Your Favorite Season (Autumn, ofcourse! 😉)
Just Us Girls #792 - Word Week: Container

Two Old Bats Anything Goes Halloween Challenge - September 2025 Anything Goes Halloween

So please do join us at Ally’s Angels by linking up your creation.

And honestly, the best part of this image? It proves beyond doubt that pumpkins make cuter outfits than potatoes — though I wouldn’t rule out a cabbage hat if times get tough.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.🍁

Hug It Like You Mean It

Dia daoibh!

Today’s great adventure? Laundry. Mountains of it. My washing machine has been on strike since last Thursday, only deciding to cooperate again this morning after getting its shiny new carbon brushes. So, I’ve spent the day doing wash after wash like I was auditioning for Ireland’s Next Top Launderette. I’ll tell you, the clothes basket has been giving me side-eye all weekend, and now it’s finally empty… for the next five minutes.

Onto my card for today:

I used Ranger Simon Hurley’s Big Hugs stamp set alongside Taylored Expressions’ Oh Yes You Did. Everything stamped with trusty Versafine ink, sprinkled with silver distress spray, and finished off with a few dabs of Nuvo glitter drops in black and crystal for that extra bit of shine.

Right-e-o, a few challenges: 

• Stamping Sensations - September: CAS or Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals # 98: Always Anything Goes
  
• Krafty Chicks #784: Birthday
  
• Craft Rocket Challenges #129: Dots and/or Stripes
  
• Critter Crazy Challenges #102: Always Anything Goes
• CAS Colour and Sketches #568: Sketch 

• Seize the birthday #312: Black & White 

And after all that? I can safely say my socks are cleaner than my sense of humour. If laundry was an Olympic sport, I’d be standing on the podium right now, clutching a gold medal and a bottle of fabric softener.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🐻

Three Wishes & Zero Lottery Wins

Dia Daoibh!

The next HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy with a genie twist—because who hasn’t daydreamed about finding a magic lamp and wishing for lucky lottery numbers? (Though knowing my luck, the genie would be on a coffee break, and I’d end up with "eternal patience" or some other useful nonsense.)

Onto today’s card! I raided my "vintage" paper stash (circa 2018—practically antique at this point) and paired it with a sentiment from a free stamp set from a 2015 magazine (because nothing says "fantasy" like hoarding supplies and craft magazines for a decade). The star of the show is this sassy genie from Create A Smile’s Flaschenpost set, who clearly knows I’m three wishes away from chaos. Coloured him with Promarkers, then went full magpie with iridescent glitter (obviously) and silver thread.

A few challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge -  K is for keep it simple
• Simply Clean and Simple  - SEP : Birthdays
• Craft Rocket Challenges #129 Dots and/or Stripes
• Krafty Chicks #784 - Birthday
• I Love Promarkers #590 - Anything Goes or Gnomes

Wishing you all the luck of a genie who actually listens—and may your weekend involve less glitter cleanup than mine. (Spoiler: It’s everywhere. Everywhere.)

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

P.S. Pro tip: If your genie offers unlimited wishes, ask for more storage first. Crafters know what's important. 😂

Toucan Play

Dia daoibh!

Right, before we get stuck into card chat—let’s tackle the Irish phrases at the top and bottom of the post. No, I haven’t dropped my keyboard or made up a spell from Harry Potter 😂.

“Dia daoibh” is a grand Irish way of saying “Hello to you all”. Not just one of ye—all of ye. It’s pronounced “Dee-ah yeev”, and here’s a handy trick: it kinda sorta rhymes with “see a sleeve”—as in, “See a sleeve there now, and pass me the biscuits”. Then there’s “Sláinte” at the bottom—it’s what we say for cheers or good health. Pronounced “Slawn-cha”, and best said while raising a glass, toasting a friend, or recovering from the sheer disappointment of not winning the Euromillions again. One of these weeks, lads. One of these weeks.

Now, on to the crafty craic! For the August Card Chain Challenge, I made a tropical-themed card for Joanne in the USA, and in return, I got a gorgeous one from Pia in Norway—and let me tell you, the standard was so high—just like you'd expect from the stylish Scandinavians.

I chose the Tropical theme (as you do when it's lashing rain outside) and used the Pop Up Box Card Toucan design by Lori Whitlock. The file even included some little waves—because what's a tropical scene without a splash? Cut with my trusty Silhouette Cameo, I went to town with glitter, glossy accents, and foam pads to give it that fabulous 3D effect. It's bright, bold, and folds flat for mailing—so it can fly across the Atlantic without costing more than a Ryanair seat sale.

Challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash #555 - On or In The Water
  
• Crafty Animals #98 - Always Anything Goes
  
• Critter Crazy Challenges #102- Always Anything Goes
  
• Creatalicious Challenges #292 - Anything Goes (option: Lots of bling/glitter)
  
• Die Cut Divas - September: Anything Goes
  
• Dream Factory #142 - Wild
  
• Girlz Creative Crafts #59 - Wild Animals and/or Exotic Birds
  
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #8 - Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries and/or Sympathies
  
• Triple B - August: Anything with Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies 
• 4 Season Challenge Blog #96: I chose the Toucan bird from the moodboard: 
  

If you’ve never joined the Card Chain Challenge, you’re missing out. It’s like grown-up pen-pals, but with cardstock and sparkle. You make a card, send it off, and then boom—happy post lands in your letterbox from somewhere halfway across the globe. It’s joyful, it’s personal, and it’s not a dentist appointment. Win-win!

So while I might not be sipping cocktails in a tropical paradise, at least my craft table is sunny, colourful, and full of birds that require no feeding or cleaning.

Sláinte!

Wendy R. 🌴📬🦜

Ahoy!

Dia daoibh!

What a week! Electric Picnic has descended upon us again—young and old packing up their tents, glitter, and rain ponchos. This year, between the forecast and the state of the fields, they’ll need canoes more than camping chairs. Honestly, I can’t wait for Monday’s gossip at work: “Yeah, Dermot, the band was class, but I lost a welly somewhere between the chip van and a puddle that had its own postcode.”

Meanwhile, while they’re off raving in the mud, I stayed high and dry and made something nautical of my own. The card design’s from the Silhouette store, cut on my trusty Cameo from Core’dinations cardstock. Mounted on a vellum circle, clean and simple, with the wee boat raised up on foam dots—like it’s floating without the risk of trench foot.

Onto a few challenges: 

• Cardz 4 Guyz #377 - Boats
• Creative Crafting Uncles #68 - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash #555 - On or In The Water 
  
• CAS on Friday #316 Vellum
• Allsorts Challenge #830 - Something beginning with B (birds, boat, birthday, blue water)
• Cut It Up #337 Anything Goes

So while they’re dancing knee-deep in muck, I’ll be at work steering the ship. At least if things get rough, I’ve got a paper sailboat at the ready—sure it won’t save me, but it’ll look fierce cute while I go down with the paperwork.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.🌊

Unicorns Don’t Do Overtime, But I Do

Dia daoibh!

Three shifts back-to-back, 42 hours clocked in, and I’ve emerged looking like a contestant on Survivor: Healthcare Edition. My grand prize? A mad dash through the shops for last-minute school supplies before the youngest heads back tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong, I love the lad, but after weeks of “Mam, I’m bored” and him eating cereal like it’s an Olympic sport, I’ll be personally escorting him to the school gates with jazz hands. And the teachers—legends—deserve medals, spa vouchers, prosecco, and maybe even a national holiday in their honour. They’re the true unsung heroes of September!

Now, onto my card. 

The design and backing papers are from Lori Whitlock, and I went full unicorn sparkle with them. The base is cut from core card, layered with glitter card for that essential bit of magic, and finished with flowers, gems, and glossy accents. The blooms are popping brighter than glow sticks at a 90s disco. I decided to leave it sentiment-free—sometimes a blank card is more versatile, ready for a birthday, celebration, or just when someone needs a little reminder that unicorns do exist (unlike my bank balance after school shopping).

Challenges:

• Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge - August - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper (optional theme: Summertime)
  
• Paper Shelter #647 - Anything Goes
  
• Creations in Pink - Anything Goes in Mainly Pink
  
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter
• {PIN}spirational #328 - Inspiration Picture 

• Inspiration Station #76 - Inspiration Photo    

And sure, if I’d added a sentiment, the only thing my tired brain could’ve managed after three shifts would’ve been “Send Coffee… and maybe an Au Pair.” Not quite the hallmark of a keepsake card, is it?

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦄

Crafting My Way to a Five-Star Spa

Dia daoibh!

I spent today sorting through my growing mountain of cards and made a big decision – this year, all my friends are getting their very own wee pack of handmade cards for Christmas. Have you seen the price of shop-bought ones lately? I’d need a small mortgage to keep up! Besides, nothing beats the charm of handmade (well, in my opinion anyway). I’m also experimenting with shower steamers for the Christmas baskets – because if you can’t relax in a cloud of eucalyptus at the end of the year, when can you?

Anyway, onto my card. I was inspired by Debi Gardner over at the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge blog. 

click on pic for better view

My hands were itching to use the Charming Day stamp set from Stampin’ Up. I stamped it with Memento ink, coloured it with Promarkers, then highlighted the leaves with Tonic Studios Nuvo Blue Lagoon glitter drops. The roses got their sparkle fix too with a touch of White Blizzard glitter drops. To finish, I raised the sentiment and roses with foam pads for a bit of dimension.

Promarkers used: Coral, Rose Pink, Berry Red; Turquoise, Marine, Petrol Blue

A few challenges:

• Creative Fingers #306 Always anything goes
  
• Allsorts #830 - I spy something beginning with B  or  Anything goes
  
• We Love Stamping - Aug - Flowers (option: Anything goes)
  
• Inkspirational #348 Clean and Simple (optional twist: Flowers)
  
• Color My Heart Color Dare #665 Color Board: 
  
  
  

And as I looked at the finished card, I realised: between glitter drops, foam pads, and shower steamers, I’m basically one craft session away from opening my own spa. Glitter facials, anyone?

Sláinte,

Wendy R.