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. 🌴📬🦜