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.🌴

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. 🦩

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. 🐻

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.