Hop, colour, repeat

Dia daoibh!

Easter had come and gone in a blur of chocolate wrappers and suspiciously empty egg boxes. I had every intention of being restrained this year. That lasted roughly seven minutes. Between the chocolate eggs, the fluffy bunnies, and the “just one more bite” negotiations, it was a miracle there was any cocoa left in the county. I am fairly sure the Easter Bunny and I were in direct competition.

Now onto something far less calorific but equally sweet, Ally’s Angels Challenge #105. The theme is, as always, Anything Goes. Which is basically crafter language for go wild and have the craic. The DT have some absolutely gorgeous creations this month. Honestly, the talent in that gallery could power a small village.

Here is my card.

I used Easter Carly from Mo’s Digital Pencil and she is just adorable with her little bunny and basket of eggs. I coloured her with Promarkers, had a quiet chat with myself about blending, and carried on bravely. A touch of Glossy Accents here and there added a bit of shine, and of course I brought in Nuvo Drops for that subtle sparkle. I kept the overall look clean and simple because sometimes less really is more. Even if my embellishment drawer disagrees.

Please do join in with the challenge. Anything Goes means exactly that, so bring your cards, your colours, your creativity and pop them into the gallery. We would absolutely love to see you there.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to check whether there is any chocolate left that I may have heroically missed. Card making burns calories, I am nearly certain of it.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🐰

Sprite Sparkle

Dia daoibh!

Easter has a funny way of sneaking up on you. One minute everything is calm and sensible and the next the world is full of pastel colours, bunny references, and chocolate being treated like a perfectly reasonable life choice. Spring does that to people.

Which brings me nicely to challenge #4 over at HQFCB where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes (cards, atc's, mixed media, home decorations, journals, tags, gift bags, etc.). The DT have some absolutely amazing creative makes over on HQFCB. Seriously inspiring stuff and a guaranteed way to make you eye up your craft stash with big plans.

For my card I used a little sprite that I designed myself using Corel Draw. She was coloured with Promarkers and I added a touch of Tonic Studio's White Blizzard Nuvo drops for some extra sparkle. The background was stencilled using Memento ink and a few Nuvo drops were added as embellishement. 

Do pop over and check out the DT’s creativity over on the HQFCB blog for plenty of inspiration and fantasy fun.

And finally a little spring truth. Flowers bloom, days get brighter, and glitter will continue to appear in your house long after Easter has hopped away.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌸

Leaf It in Your Pocket

Dia daoibh!

I am absolutely delighted, over the moon, and one small step away from dancing around the kitchen waving a glue stick, to be a Guest Designer for the CAS on Friday Challenge blog. The DT have some incredible creativity going on, the kind that makes you side eye your craft stash like “you and me need a serious chat, lads.” A massive thank you to Janneke and the DT over at CAS on Friday for having me.

The theme for challenge #331 is Botanical, so naturally I went leafy and proud:

I used diecuts for the greenery and then went a bit wild with glossy accents, glitter, and some Nuvo drops. Not too much now, just enough to make it sparkle without causing a public safety announcement. A few pieces are popped up with foam pads so the leaves have a bit of lift. The "Hello" is from Tonic Studios and stamped in white using Hero Arts Unicorn White ink on black card, and let me tell you, it stamped so crisp I nearly framed the ink pad as well. I added a light sprinkle of black distress ink across the background, just enough to keep things interesting without turning it into a full blown art experiment gone rogue.

A few challenges:
Simply Clean and Simple - SCAS April 2026: CAS (Optional theme: Baskets)

Craft Rocket Challenges #135 Layer It Up

Ellibelle's Garden Party #13  Anything in (or from) a Garden

Crafty Gals Corner #275 Anything Goes (optional twist: Make it Green)

Right, I am off now to check if my paper plants need watering. If they start growing, I am opening a garden centre and retiring early.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💚

Seas the day!

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland is a strange little circus altogether. The kids are on their St Patrick’s Day break bouncing off the walls like caffeinated leprechauns, work is being managed one week roster at a time, the weather can’t decide if it wants sunshine or sideways rain, and the fuel prices seem to be climbing faster than a sheep on a mountain. Sure at this stage we are all just rolling with the chaos and hoping the kettle keeps working.

On the bright side, the parade is tomorrow and I am very much looking forward to it. There is something magical about marching bands and questionable dancing in the street.

So while the world outside is doing its usual Irish jig of unpredictability, I took fifteen minutes to switch off and make a quick card.

For this one I used the Küstenbande stamp from Creative Depot / Treeebird. The little sailor bear was coloured with Promarkers and I kept the design nice and CAS. A bit of baker’s twine wraps around the card with a small bow and I added a few Nuvo white drops for a simple embellishment. The whole thing came together in under fifteen minutes which was exactly what I needed to clear the head. Sometimes a quick crafty moment is the perfect cure for a noisy house, wild weather, and fuel prices that make you stare at the pump like it personally offended you.

A few challenges:

Little Red Wagon # 849 - Boy Inside the Man

Creative Knockouts #566 Birthday Wishes 

Passion For Markers - Week 828 - Anything Masculine

Girlz Make Guyz Cards #37 - Maritime

The Male Room #208 - Blue and Brown

CAS on Friday #329:

Right-e-o, I am off to prepare for the parade tomorrow and possibly adopt this bear’s life philosophy. Paper hat, striped jumper, and just SEAS the day.

🍀🍀 Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! 🍀🍀

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

February Card Chain Challenge

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland arrives with leprechauns everywhere and pots of gold firmly on our minds. The shops are full of green, shiny things, and there is a strong feeling that spring is trying to show off. It is that time of year when everything feels a little brighter and a little more fun.

On to the February Card Chain Challenge. My card packed its bags and flew all the way to Greta in the USA, and I like to believe it enjoyed the trip and behaved itself the whole way. In return I received a gorgeous card from Julia in the USA, which was an absolute joy to open. The Card Chain Challenge really is international happy post at its best! 💚

For my card I used the 'xoxo' stamp from Penny Black and went with the bold colour theme of indigo, violet, and lime green. Apologies, the colours are acting up as my camera once again had other ideas.I created a stamped background using a polka dot stamp, then coloured everything with Promarkers. All the colour recipes I used are listed over on my Promarker Page. I added glossy accents, nuvo drops, flowers, glitter, gems, and flatback pearls ...because stopping at one embellishment is never an option! 

The Card Chain Challenge is one of those simple joys that never gets old. Sending a card out into the world and receiving one back always feels like a little pot of gold in the post.

Le Grá,

Wendy 🍀

It’s Ally’s Angels Challenge #100!

 Dia daoibh!

Well lads, the Christmas countdown has well and truly begun — and you can tell because every shop in Ireland has turned into a shrine of novelty socks. There’s no escaping them!!! Santa socks, penguin socks, socks that light up, sing, or threaten to “jingle your bells.” Oh begorah, if I see one more “Festive Feet” display, I might start a support group for people traumatised by glittery toe warmers.

But before I get lost in a woolly rant ... it’s time to celebrate a proper festive treat: a brand-new challenge over at Ally’s Angels! 🎉 It’s Challenge #100 - a huge milestone running from November 15th to December 12th, 2025, and the theme is: Anything Goes!

For my card, I dusted off the trusty Spellbinders “Hiking Through the Meadows” die kit, cut from Tonic Studio cardstock, and layered it all up with foam pads for that lovely bit of lift (and to cover the bits that didn’t quite line up — we’ve all been there). I added a spritz of Distress Ink, a scattering of gems, and a few perfectly placed Nuvo Drops, because nothing says “finished” like those tiny golden blobs of joy.

A few challenges:

• Creative Fingers No. 312: Anything Goes
• Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges - Nov-  No. 46: Colours Of Fall / Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Garden Party #9:  Anything in (or from) a Garden
• Shopping Our Stash #560: A Few Of My Favorite Things  
• Neglected Stuff Challenge - November 2025 challenge: Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - November: Anything Goes 
• The Four Seasons Challenge - Fall Season 2025: 
  
  
  

Be sure to pop over to the Ally’s Angels blog and have a look at what the fabulous Design Team members have created ... honestly, their talent puts Santa’s workshop to shame! And while you’re there, join us in the gallery - we’d love to see what you come up with.

As for me, I’m off to wrestle last year’s fairy lights - it’s less “festive decorating” and more “competitive knot untangling.” Within five minutes I’ll be questioning all my life choices and threatening to bin the whole lot. And if you hear someone in the village muttering, “Why are there only seven working bulbs and six hundred knots?” - that’ll be me, spreading festive cheer, mild profanity-free despair, and enough static to power the Christmas tree.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💗

Spidey’s Got Moves

Dia daoibh!

You know those random Halloween die cuts that linger on the craft table long after the sweets are gone and the decorations are packed away? Well, I finally tackled mine. Among them was this wee spidey, one of a few Spellbinders die cuts I received as a gift, and he’d been staring at me accusingly for weeks. I paired him with a Spellbinders stamp sentiment, and it turned out both cute and slightly creepy at the same time.

The spider is layered and attached to a wobbler so it actually wobbles when you touch it. Pretty cute but strangely unsettling, like something you’d expect to see skitter past your feet at 2 a.m. The sentiment is stamped with StazOn, and I added a touch of glitter and a few Nuvo enamel drops for sparkle and texture. Bold stripes, cheeky spider, mission accomplished. This is officially the last Halloween card for the stash until next year, or so I tell myself.

A few challenges: 

• Cardz 4 Guyz  #379 Use Orange/Black/Purple 1 or more
• Creative Crafting Uncles #70 - Halloween
• Mix It Up Challenge #80 - Anything Goes (option: Clean and Simple)
• Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge -November 2025 - Anything Halloween

• CAS Colours & Sketches #572 - Sketch Challenge

And on a funny note, I left the finished card on the table, and my son nearly dropped his tea when the spider started wobbling. He jumped, shouted, and declared I was never to leave “moving insects” lying around again. I’ve never been prouder of my crafting skills.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🕷🕸

Glitter, Splatters & Irish Weather Matters

Dia daoibh!

Ah sure, it’s that grand confusing time of year again in Ireland ... the season of “four weathers before lunch.” You leave the house dressed for frostbite, and by midday you’re peeling off layers like an onion with commitment issues. The washing line looks like a science experiment - socks flapping one minute, hailstones bouncing off them the next. Typical November - mother nature’s throwing tantrums and we’re just holding the umbrella.

Anyway! Onto something far more reliable than the Irish forecast: the Card Chain Challenge for October! I received a gorgeous card from Brenda in the UK, and in return my own creation packed its crafty suitcase and flew off to Alice in Finland, hopefully dodging reindeer traffic on the way.

For my card, I went with the Colour Palette: Pumpkin, Cherry & Chocolate (sounds like a dessert, doesn’t it?) - and also the Product/Technique option: Glitter & Splatters. My desk looked like I lost a bar fight with a bottle of Stickles, but sure that’s half the fun!

I used the Spellbinders “Hiking Through the Meadows” dies, cut from Tonic Studio cardstock, and layered it all up with foam pads for that posh 3D look (or, as I call it, “strategic height to hide the dodgy glue marks”). Then I added splatterings of copper Distress Ink, a few gems, glossy accents, and Nuvo Drops in Vintage Gold, because subtlety left the craft room a long time ago. The sentiment was stamped with StazOn, because if I’m committing to something, it might as well be permanent!

So here it is - a fine pair of hiking boots overflowing with autumn blooms. My real boots, on the other hand, look like they’ve survived a turf-cutting festival and lost the will to live.

A few challenges:
Beautiful Blossoms - #34 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional Mood Board)
A Perfect Time To Craft - November - Anything Goes
Classic Design Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything Goes (optional Autumn Splendor)
Creatalicious Challenges - #294 - Anything Goes (optional Fall Colours or Halloween)
Love to Craft - LTCCB#89 Anything Goes 
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #210 - Fall Leaves /Turkey

If you haven’t joined the Card Chain Challenge yet, honestly, what are you waiting for? It’s like pen pals for crafters ... only with more sparkle, less guilt, and absolutely no chance of getting ghosted unless your postman’s on a tea break. You send one card, get one back, and end up grinning like you’ve just found a tenner in last winter’s coat pocket.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍁🍂

Autumn Leaves & Overtime Dreams

Dia daoibh!

I know, I know… it’s been suspiciously quiet around here lately! You might have thought I’d gone off on a luxury retreat or joined a circus—but alas, no. I’ve simply moved into work. Between staff shortages and endless shifts, I was starting to wonder if I should start paying rent for the staff room. The good news? All that overtime finally paid off—literally! I treated myself to a shiny new tumble dryer. Nothing says “living the dream” quite like dry socks and lint-free joy.

Now, onto my card before I start reviewing appliance warranties for fun. 

Since autumn is in full bloom (and the trees are showing off like contestants on Strictly Come Dancing), I decided to play with the Spellbinders Autumn Sealed Sprigs Etched Dies and Spellbinders Sealed Squiggles. Everything’s cut from Tonic Studios cardstock with a touch of glitter card. I added a strip of washi tape, a sprinkle of glitter, a few Nuvo drops, and some gold gems for embellishment. I kept it sentiment-free this time ... sometimes the card just speaks for itself (and this one says, “I’m approachable”)

Onto a few challenges:

• Craft Rocket Challenges #130  - Autumn/Halloween
• Krafty Chicks #790 - CAS
• The Paper Players PP760 - CAS - Foliage 

• Tic Tac Toe Challenge #281 - (any shape die, free, fall colors) 
  

Right, I’d better sign off before my tumble dryer starts thinking I’ve run off with the washing machine—it’s a bit clingy since it realised it’s the newer model.

Sláinte,

🍂Wendy R. 🍁