March Card Chain Challenge

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland was a wild little month altogether. One minute you were spotting daffodils and feeling hopeful, the next minute the wind nearly carried you into the next parish. The leprechauns were out in full force, I was convinced of it. There was no other explanation for sunshine, hailstones, and sideways rain all happening before lunchtime. If you saw me squinting at a rainbow it was only because I was checking for a pot of gold to fund more craft supplies.

Now onto the Card Chain Challenge, which is basically international happy post 💗. I sent my card off to lovely Gundi in Germany and in return I received a card from Joanne in the USA. Absolutely beautiful. The kind of card you rotate slowly in your hands like you are assessing fine art in a gallery. Pure magic landing through the letterbox.

For my card I went with the colour challenge of periwinkle, fuchsia, and pale peach. Sounds like a trio of fancy macarons but works beautifully on cardstock. I used the Spellbinders Kokeshi Dolls Die Set. The background was embossed using the Spellbinders Bold Floral Embossing Folder which gives lovely texture without stealing the spotlight. I die cut a hello, layered it up for a bit of oomph, and coated it in Glossy Accents so it shines politely in the light. Not too flashy. Just enough to say hello with confidence. Embellishments include Glossy Accents, Nuvo Drops White Blizzard, and a few gems ... because apparently I believe every card deserves accessories. If it twinkles, it earned its place.

A few challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz #273 Spring Flowers 

Creative Knockouts #568 Embossing Delight

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says: Emboss it

Craft Rocket Challenges #135 Layer It Up

Allsorts #846 - It's Springtime  or Anything Goes 

And honestly, if you have never joined the Card Chain Challenge, you should. You send a card off into the world and in return one lands back in your letterbox. It is like crafty pen pals with surprise sparkle. No leprechaun required, just stamps and goodwill. Sure what more could you want.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍀

Positivi-Tea

Dia daoibh!

Spring cleaning has arrived, which is that magical time of year when you open a drawer “just for a quick tidy” and somehow end up sitting on the floor two hours later reading instructions from a toaster you no longer own. The house smells like lemon, the windows are sparkling, and I have absolutely no idea where half my stuff went. Probably living its best life without me.

Right, onto the important business… the card!

I kept this one CAS because sometimes less is more ... and also because I had already used up all my energy deciding whether to keep or throw out a mysterious cable. I used the Gerda Steiner Positivi-Tea stamp set, stamped with Memento ink, and coloured with Promarkers. The little bear with the cuppa is basically all of us, emotionally and spiritually. And the sentiment… “Sending you some Positivi-Tea” … honestly, if tea solved problems any faster, we would have it prescribed on the HSE.

The background panel is partially die cut and embossed, giving it that bit of texture without shouting about it. For embellishments, I added some clear glossy accents for a bit of shine and a few drops of white blizzard Nuvo drops.

A few challenges:

Simply Clean and Simple - March 2026: CAS (Optional Theme: Baby Animals)  

First Cup Challenges #12 - Anything Goes

The Paper Funday #85 - Anything Goes or furs/Feathers

Fab n' Funky #633 - Four Legged Friends

CAS Colours & Sketches #581 - Sketch Challenge: 

Spring cleaning can wait. Tea and crafting are clearly the superior life skills.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Kokeshi fun

Dia daoibh!

Had snow over the weekend. Driving at 6am not fun. Let me tell you, nothing wakes you up faster than sliding gently down a country road whispering sweet encouragement to your tyres like they can hear you. Black ice is out there living its best sneaky life while the rest of us are just trying to get to work with dignity intact. Sure look, we survived. Hero status achieved before breakfast.

Now. Onto my card.

Thanks to a few extra overtime shifts and a small moment of “go on, you deserve it,” I treated myself to the Spellbinders Kokeshi Dolls Die Set. Absolute joy in a packet. The minute I opened it I was grinning like I’d just found an extra custard cream in the tin. These wee dolls are the cutest things!! Cutting them out was pure therapy. Deciding where to place the wee blooms though… that was a full committee meeting in my head. Left? Right? Floating artistically like I meant it? In the end I just copied the picture on the front of the packaging. If the designers say that’s where the flowers go, who am I to argue? Confidence level restored immediately.

For the background I used the Spellbinders Cherry Blossoms BetterPress Plates. I coloured them with Distress Ink mixed with a splash of alcohol. Very technical altogether. A dab here, a hopeful blend there, and the occasional intense stare at the paper as if that helps. We are calling it artistic expression and moving confidently along. Then the embellishments arrived because self control and I are not on speaking terms. Flatback pearls. A few gems. Nuvo Drops White Blizzard for that soft frosty shimmer. If it sparkles, it made the team. I also added a layered hello die cut and coated it in Glossy Accents so it catches the light nicely without stealing the spotlight from the wee doll, who is clearly the real star of the card.

A few challenges: 

Spellbinders Monthly Cardmaking Challenge - February: Pop of Color

Classic Design Challenge - Feb/Mar - Anything Goes (option: blooms or butterflies)

Crafter's Cafe #327 - For the Girls (option: anything goes)

Moving along with the Times #186  - February - Floral

Make My Monday #271 - Use 2 dies

Beautiful Blossoms #38 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional mood board) 

Now if only I could drive to work in the snow as gracefully as she stands on that card. Until then, I will continue sliding gently into Mondays like a cautious penguin.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌸

Rain or Shine: Make a Rainbow

Dia daoibh!

Picture this. A freshly stamped piece of cardstock. Perfect. Pristine. Untouched by the world. Enter the kitty cat. A full dramatic catwalk straight across it like she was late for Paris Fashion Week, leaving behind tiny pawprints like she’d signed the artwork. So I restamped. New sheet. Fresh optimism. And then I glued the topper on upside down. Instantly. With confidence. As if I’d learned absolutely nothing. With the white cardstock Amazon order refusing to arrive until after three today, there was nothing for it but to trim it down and adhere it to blue cardstock like a seasoned professional who definitely meant to do that. Moral of the story: confidence fixes everything. Almost.

Now onto the actual card before anything else could interfere. To brighten up the classic Irish weather I went full rainbow. If the sky won’t cooperate I’ll sort it myself. 

I kept it CAS (the card had already been through enough). The sentiment is from the Best Ever set from Simon Says Stamp from 2017 which is still earning its keep. I had a little play with die cuts and used a rainbow design from the Silhouette Design Store. I popped the cloud and rainbow up on foam pads for a bit of dimension.  finished it off with a few sprinkled gems. Sparkle is essential. I also added Nuvo Drops White Blizzard around the edges of the cloud for extra detail... I was feeling brave again.

A few challenges:

A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog  - January 2026 - Anything Goes

Make My Monday #270 - Clean and Simple

A Place To Start #202601 - Anything Goes (option: Rainbow)

Seize the Birthday #319 - Rainbow of colours

And just like that, the card was finished. A cheerful rainbow card created in between a catwalk moment, an upside down surprise, and a very late Amazon delivery. Crafting magic at its finest.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😺

Candy Cane Kisses

Dia daoibh!

Christmas in Ireland is a great mix of sparkle, chaos, and pure charm... half the country is wrestling with tangled fairy lights while the other half is insisting they definitely didn’t open the “good biscuits.” And sure look, by Stephen’s Day we’re all fuelled by leftovers and sheer determination.

Challenge 101 over at Ally’s Angels is well underway, and the design team have pulled out all the stops. The creativity on display is so good you’d think they were powered by fairy lights and caffeine. Go have a peek—you’ll either come back full of ideas or convinced you need more craft supplies. (Spoiler: you absolutely do.)

For my card, I kept things lovely and CAS. 

The adorable Candy Cane Bear is from Mo’s Digital Pencil, coloured with Promarkers - my trusty go-tos. I added shimmery highlights with Nuvo Drops (White Blizzard) for a glittery touch. The scalloped border was made with a punch that hasn’t seen daylight in a long while. The whole panel is mounted on foam pads for a raised effect—like giving the card a little lift of confidence.

And to finish with a festive grin: may your tree behave, your wrapping paper cooperate, and your visitors arrive only after you’ve hidden the laundry.

Nollaig shona daoibh!

Sláinte,
Wendy R.🎄🎅