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. 🦋