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.

TAKE ME TO YOUR CAKE

Dia daoibh!

Ah, a glorious Monday morning – the start of autumn if you go by the old Irish calendar, where Lughnasadh on the 1st of August kicks off the harvest season. The air has that crisp bite to it, the kind that makes you feel alive – but it’s still just warm enough to dry the laundry without it coming back stiffer than cardboard. Honestly, nothing beats the smug joy of bedsheets flapping on the line, pretending you’re in an Ariel ad while really just standing in the back garden with a peg bag.

Now, onto my card. 

Today’s star is an alien, die-cut from an SVG I designed in CorelDRAW. I cut him out of core card and glitter card, then layered him up for a bit of 3D fun. Kept it CAS – though with three eyes, this fella clearly spots chocolate cake from light years away. Forget UFOs, he’s definitely landing for dessert.

Challenges:

• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #265 - A is for Alien
• Just Us Girls #788 - Word Week: Birthday
• Seize The Birthday #297  -No Flowers
• The Male Room #201 - Universe
• CAS Colours & Sketches #566 - Sketch Challenge 
  

And let’s be honest – with his glittery finish and those three peepers, he’s either here to invade Earth or audition for a boyband. Either way, I’m ready.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 👽

Bouquets Are Better in Waffle Cones

Dia Daoibh!

Well now, it’s been a hot minute, hasn’t it? I’ve been up to my oxters learning the ropes in a new role — yes, I’ve been transferred! No witness protection programme needed (yet), but let’s just say my brain has been doing cartwheels trying to remember who’s who, what’s what, and why the kettle is always empty. Luckily, I’ve landed with a great bunch — supportive, sound, and just the kind of people who can laugh through the chaos and still know where the stapler is.

Now, onto much prettier things… it’s time for Challenge #97 over at Ally’s Angels, where the theme is, as always: Anything Goes! 

For this card, I used the fabulously fun Ice Cream Bouquet from Graciellie Design — because why settle for one flower when you can have a cone full of colourful blooms? I coloured it up with ProMarkers, and thanks to all the modern food colouring bans (only rightfully so!), this one ended up looking like an ice cream bouquet straight out of the 1980s. If you grew up in the southern hemisphere, you’ll remember the bright blue Smarties, and ice creams, especially that one scoop that looked more radioactive than dessert. Those were the days — slightly questionable, highly memorable.

To give it some oomph, I raised the bouquet with foam pads for a bit of dimension, added glitter, Ranger’s Glossy Accents, a few clear gems, and finished it off with a rebellious spritz of Black Soot Distress Spray Stain. A bit of sparkle, a bit of splatter — just the way I like it.

A few challenges:

• Digi Choosday #8 Anything goes 
  
• I Love Promarkers #588 -  Anything goes or black & white
  
• Paper Shelter #647 Anything goes
  
• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - August - Anything Goes
  
• Wednesday's Creative Inspiration Blog - August - Anything goes
• 2 Sisters On The Blog #98 - Flowers in a vase

I do hope you’ll pop over and join us in the gallery at Ally’s Angels! The rest of the DT team have outdone themselves — their creations are absolutely gorgeous, and you’ll come away feeling inspired (and maybe a little tempted to buy new stash — go on, treat yourself).

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

When Life Gives You Interns, Make Cards

Dia daoibh!

It’s creeping up to that time of year again – when the intern nurses wrap up their internships. Four years of study, practice, and lugging around Stanley water bottles the size of small fire extinguishers… done! I’ve had the privilege (and occasional giggle) of being preceptor for some amazing interns. One of them has about ten shifts left before the big send-off. This card isn’t the official graduation card – that’s scheduled for September, complete with dress shopping updates during breaks. I sit there nodding along to all the fashion talk while secretly knowing my own style philosophy boils down to: sturdy footwear, funky socks, and earrings that say, “I’m fun, but I still know where your care plan is filed… and I’m not afraid to use it.”

Now, onto the card...

The design came from the Silhouette Design Store, cut on my Cameo from bright, cheerful cardstock. The flower centre is mirror card, sprinkled with clear glitter for sparkle, and everything’s mounted on foam pads for a bit of pop.

Onto a few challenges: 

• Try It On Tuesday - Summer 
  
• Creative Fingers - Always anything goes
  
• Cut It Up #336 Add a sentiment
  
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge -August - Anything goes
  
• Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week: Usefloral dies

Just like the interns – standing out, ready to take on the world… and hopefully never spilling a litre of water down themselves from those giant Stanleys. I swear, some of those flasks are so big you could baptise a small cow in them. And the way they carry them around – like a fashion accessory and emotional support object all in one – makes me wonder if hydration is the new personality trait. Still, if it keeps them happy (and upright during a 12-hour shift), I’m all for it.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Marker My Words – I’m in Love!

Dia daoibh!

Well, it’s happened… I’ve fallen in love 💗. Not with a person (unless someone can make me coffee and clean the house), but with Nuvo alcohol markers. These beauties come in ready-made combo sets for blending — so I can finally stop playing “Will These Colours Clash?” every time I sit down to colour. Honestly, they’re like the IKEA of markers: all the parts already match, and you don’t need an Allen key. They’re affordable too — proper “I can still sneak a bar of Galaxy Caramel into the shopping” affordable. And the postage? Let’s just say Tonic Studios aren’t trying to fund a space programme with their shipping fees. My poor ProMarkers are shaking in their pen pot, already sensing they’re destined for that dusty drawer of “old faithfuls” we all swear we’ll use again someday… but never do ...

Now, about my Christmas cards… remember when I said I was organised this year? Lies. All lies. The festive wagon left weeks ago, and I didn’t just fall off — I landed in the ditch, rolled into a hedge, and woke up in August wondering what year it was.

So here’s today’s attempt at catching up: a CAS Christmas card. I die-cut a Christmas tree from kraft card, gave it a bit of lift for dimension (because flat trees are just sad), and decorated it with light blue gems. All is mounted on a die-cut rectangle from the Simple and Basic Circle Edges Rectangle set, because sometimes even CAS needs a bit of sass.

 

Onto a few challenges:

• Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: August Challenge - Oh Holy Night Song - Lyrics- "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining"
• FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge #23 - Anything Goes Country Christmas 
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #63 - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree
• Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge #137: Blue card
• Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge: #93 - Anything Christmas themed:

  

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: August Colour challenge 

Right, that’s one card done… only 46 more before my December meltdown.

Slán go fóill,

Wendy R. 🎄

Black Glitter, Bald Tyres & Birthday Cards

Dia daoibh!

Let me tell you a tale of terror, tread, and terrible judgment. I popped down to get the car “checked” – you know, the kind of check where you're hoping for a bit of air and a nod of approval. Instead, yer man looks at my tyres, raises an eyebrow, and says, “You got here on these? Fair play to ya – I'd have called a priest.” Apparently, they were less "roadworthy" and more "may spontaneously combust if you look at them sideways." So, four new tyres later and a quiet sob into my debit card, I now glide through the village like a woman who definitely didn’t wait too long.

Anyway! On to the card – the real star of the show (unlike my tyres).

This cool birthday number was made with my Silhouette Cameo, which at this stage should probably be paying rent. I die-cut both the sunset background and our dashing skater, who I layered up like a good lasagne – bit of height, bit of drama. And yes, that’s black glitter on the skater – because just because it’s a “masculine card” doesn’t mean it can’t sparkle like a fella who uses fancy shampoo and owns at least one cardigan. Perfect for that lad in your life who’s too cool for Hallmark but not above appreciating a bit of handmade magic.

A few challenges:

• Krafty Chicks #780 - Birthday
• Creative Crafting Uncles #67 - Layer It Up
• Cardz 4 Guyz #376 - Summer Holidays
• TIME OUT Challenges #294  - Pick 2 (or more):Transport & Stripes
• Make My Monday #257 - Masculine Card
•  AAA Cards #296 - Sketch: 
  
• AAA Birthday Challenge #76 - Sport 
  

Thanks a mil for stopping by – and if your car’s been sounding like a cement mixer full of cutlery, go get your tyres checked. You mightn’t get a card, but you’ll live to make one.

Sláinte!

Wendy R. 🚗

July Card Chain Challenge

Dia Daoibh!

It's that time again — the big reveal over at the Card Chain Challenge Blog. 

Here’s the card I sent valiantly paddling its way to Pia in Norway — hopefully it remembered its arm bands — Hiya! 👋 And in return? I was utterly spoiled with a faaaabulous card that flew all the way from Linda in the USA — jet lag and all — Hiya! 👋 

On to my card, so... For the July 2025 challenge I picked the theme: windows, and the technique / product option: Mirror Card (oooh shiny!).

I dusted off the Silhouette Cameo (now old enough to vote) and cut the Box Card Flower-Filled Mason Jar from Lori Whitlock. The 3-d jar is layered with flowers and leaves that were embossed, glittered, and generally zhuzhed to within an inch of their lives. The lid? Cut from mirror card for that fancy “ooh, shiney!” moment. I added acetate for the window so you can see all the floral fabulousness inside. Best bit? This wee mason jar folds flat for posting – I scaled it down a bit so it fits into a 5" x 7" envelope. Handy, right? I left the back (sentiment space) blank so it’s versatile – birthday, thank you, “sorry I ate your snacks” – it covers all emotional emergencies.

A few challenges:

• Creative Creases - July  #105 Anything goes with a fun fold
• Cardz 4 Galz #255 Fun Folds
• Ellibelle's Garden Party  #5  Anything in or from a Garden
• Paper Shelter #647 Anything Goes
• 2 Sisters On The Blog #98 - Flowers in a vase

I'm off now to join in the next Card Chain Challenge – it’s genuinely addictive (like Pringles… or craft stash… or washi tape you absolutely don’t need but definitely buy anyway).

Sending crafty love and envelope confetti worldwide 💌

Sláinte, 

Wendy R.

Scale Up the Fun!

 Dia Daoibh!

August's challenge over at HQFCB is "anything goes" with the option of featuring a dragon. Well, who am I to resist a bit of fire-breathing fun? I mean, who needs a therapist when you have dragons to craft with?

I'm absolutely smitten with this wee dragon from iStock.  I've coloured him in with my trusty Promarkers and then, of course, I had to add some glitter and glossy accents... because dragons deserve to sparkle, right? The HB2U are die-cuts that I've layered up for some dimension, and then gave them a dusting of iridescent glitter. More sparkle, you say? Absolutely! The card is also embellished with enamel drops for an extra pop. Speaking of layering... let's talk double-sided foam tape. That stuff is the bane of my existence! I swear, wrestling with that tape is harder than taming a real dragon! Anyone else feel my pain? 😂

Galloping, flapping or maybe flying… this fantasy critter is heading straight for some challenge fun:

• CAS on Friday #314 Animal
• Seize The Birthday #310  - Anything Birthdays with option of Favorite Color
• Crafty Catz #699 Anything Goes
• I Love Promarkers #587 -  Anything goes or Super Heros
• Creative Knockouts #551 Sparkle and Shine
• Little Red Wagon #818 Masculine 
• Make My Monday #257 Masculine Card 

Right so, that's my dragon birthday card! It's got more sparkle than a dragon's hoard! But don't just take my word for it! Head on over to HQFCB to see what the rest of the DT has conjured up! And then, of course, join in the fun and enter the challenge! Show us your fire-breathing creations!

Sláinte!
Wendy R. xx