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. 😂

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

Glitter Elves & Craft Stash Interventions

Dia Daoibh!

The HQFCB challenge this time is Anything Goes Fantasy with an Elf focus - which is ironic because our "Elf on the Shelf" is basically in witness protection. When I'm on night shifts, this festive spy couldn't move if you paid him in candy canes. Santa's definitely getting a strongly worded performance review this year.

For my card, I resurrected my ancient Silhouette Cameo (Version 1 - we're talking "vintage" like my last good night's sleep) to cut a cheeky elf shape and sentiment from glitter cardstock. Layered it up for dimension because flat die cuts are about as exciting as January gym memberships. Kept it clean and simple, then "repurposed" some silver thread and leftover diamond painting gems (read: finally found a use for that impulse buy from 2022).

On to a few challenges:

Creative Knockouts - #550 - Christmas in July

Crafty Catz -No. 697 - Anything goes

Creative Inspirations Challenge  - #28  Anything Goes

Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges - July No. 42 - Christmas in July

Craft Rocket Challenges - #127 - Christmas in July

Fab n' Funky - #620 - Christmas in July

Paper Shelter -#645 - Christmas in July

Now for the scary bit -  there's less than 25 weeks until Christmas 2025! That's right, we're closer to next Christmas than last Christmas. Let that sink in while you try to remember where you stored the decorations.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🎄🎅

P.S. If our Elf doesn’t step up his game this year, I’m replacing him with a caffeine-fueled garden gnome. Fair warning.

Fairies Don't Do Dry July

Dia Daoibh!

Well, the next challenge over at HQFCB is Anything Goes Fantasy with the optional twist of using a fairy. Now, being Irish, I feel I should warn you—our fae folk aren’t the dainty, glitter-and-rainbows type you see in storybooks. Oh no. Irish fairies are more the "move your fence or we’ll curse your cows" variety. Mess with a fairy fort at your peril, folks—those wee folk hold grudges longer than my ex-MIL after you "forgot" her birthday.

But enough folklore—onto the card! I’ve used Stamping Bella’s Edna Needs A Martini, because if anyone knows how to handle magical mischief, it’s a fairy with a cocktail. Coloured her up in Promarkers (... I got carried away, and now she’s basically celebrating the 4th of July). Glittered her wings because, let’s be real, if you’ve got wings and aren’t bedazzled, are you even trying? Mounted her on foam pads for dimension, because Edna deserves to pop right off the page—just like she’d pop into your local for a midweek martini.

Kept the background clean and simple (read: I ran out of patience) with a snazzy piece of polka dot embossed card. Classy and low-effort—my favourite combo.

A few challenges I'm joining in:

• CAS on Friday #310 - Embossing 
• Crafty Catz #694 - Anything goes (make us smile)
• Cut It Up #331 - Anything Goes
• Craft Rocket Challenges #126 No Design Paper
• The Card Concept #217 - Patriotic (Edna matches the colours): 

Right, I’d best wrap this up before the rain starts again. Summer in Ireland, my foot—more like "guess I’ll wear my wellies with my sundress" season. Here’s hoping the sun remembers we exist before Halloween.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

(P.S. If you see Irish fae, offer them a drink. It’s the only way to stay on their good side.)

Mer-Mazing!

 Dia Daoibh!

Your brand new HQFCB Design Team member here, ready to dive into some fantasy fun! I'm absolutely buzzin' to be part of the Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog team! Woohooo!

May's challenge #5 of 2025 over at HQFCB is "Anything Goes" with a wee nod to mermaids if you're feelin' fancy. Now, I'm a sucker for a good mermaid tale. Anyone else remember Splash from the 80s with Daryl Hannah? Begorrah, I was always mesmerised by that tail!... 

Soooooo, I whipped up a card featuring a mermaid tail! I cut it from glitter card with my Silhouette Cameo, because who doesn't love a bit of sparkle? The wee fishes are die-cuts, and I've used gems as embellishments. Sure, you can never have too much bling, can ya?

Onto a few challenges:

• Dragonfly Dreams - May Challenge: Sea Life
• Creative Fingers - No. 300: Always Anything Goes
  
• Simply Clean and Simple - May 2025:  Clean & Simple (Optional: Flowers)
  
• Creative Inspirations Challenge #26:  Anything Goes
  
• Krafty Chicks #766: Birthday
  
• Little Red Wagon #805: Use Your Stash (using all the stashed gems)
• Crafty Calendar Challenge - May Challenge: For a Child
• Allsorts Challenge Blog #822: Inspired by a song  (Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish)
• Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges - May No. 41: Mermaids or Halfoween in May or Anthing Goes 

Right so, that's my mermaid-tastic creation! Don't be a cod ;)... head on over to HQFCB  and enter the challenge! Show 'em what you're made of!

And now, for a mermaid joke to leave you with a smile:

What do fashionable mermaids wear?

Sea-quins!

 yes.. I'll see myself out ...

Sláinte! 

Wendy R.