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. 🍁🍂

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. 🦩

Toucan Play

Dia daoibh!

Right, before we get stuck into card chat—let’s tackle the Irish phrases at the top and bottom of the post. No, I haven’t dropped my keyboard or made up a spell from Harry Potter 😂.

“Dia daoibh” is a grand Irish way of saying “Hello to you all”. Not just one of ye—all of ye. It’s pronounced “Dee-ah yeev”, and here’s a handy trick: it kinda sorta rhymes with “see a sleeve”—as in, “See a sleeve there now, and pass me the biscuits”. Then there’s “Sláinte” at the bottom—it’s what we say for cheers or good health. Pronounced “Slawn-cha”, and best said while raising a glass, toasting a friend, or recovering from the sheer disappointment of not winning the Euromillions again. One of these weeks, lads. One of these weeks.

Now, on to the crafty craic! For the August Card Chain Challenge, I made a tropical-themed card for Joanne in the USA, and in return, I got a gorgeous one from Pia in Norway—and let me tell you, the standard was so high—just like you'd expect from the stylish Scandinavians.

I chose the Tropical theme (as you do when it's lashing rain outside) and used the Pop Up Box Card Toucan design by Lori Whitlock. The file even included some little waves—because what's a tropical scene without a splash? Cut with my trusty Silhouette Cameo, I went to town with glitter, glossy accents, and foam pads to give it that fabulous 3D effect. It's bright, bold, and folds flat for mailing—so it can fly across the Atlantic without costing more than a Ryanair seat sale.

Challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash #555 - On or In The Water
  
• Crafty Animals #98 - Always Anything Goes
  
• Critter Crazy Challenges #102- Always Anything Goes
  
• Creatalicious Challenges #292 - Anything Goes (option: Lots of bling/glitter)
  
• Die Cut Divas - September: Anything Goes
  
• Dream Factory #142 - Wild
  
• Girlz Creative Crafts #59 - Wild Animals and/or Exotic Birds
  
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #8 - Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries and/or Sympathies
  
• Triple B - August: Anything with Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies 
• 4 Season Challenge Blog #96: I chose the Toucan bird from the moodboard: 
  

If you’ve never joined the Card Chain Challenge, you’re missing out. It’s like grown-up pen-pals, but with cardstock and sparkle. You make a card, send it off, and then boom—happy post lands in your letterbox from somewhere halfway across the globe. It’s joyful, it’s personal, and it’s not a dentist appointment. Win-win!

So while I might not be sipping cocktails in a tropical paradise, at least my craft table is sunny, colourful, and full of birds that require no feeding or cleaning.

Sláinte!

Wendy R. 🌴📬🦜

July Card Chain Challenge

Dia Daoibh!

It's that time again — the big reveal over at the Card Chain Challenge Blog. 

Here’s the card I sent valiantly paddling its way to Pia in Norway — hopefully it remembered its arm bands — Hiya! 👋 And in return? I was utterly spoiled with a faaaabulous card that flew all the way from Linda in the USA — jet lag and all — Hiya! 👋 

On to my card, so... For the July 2025 challenge I picked the theme: windows, and the technique / product option: Mirror Card (oooh shiny!).

I dusted off the Silhouette Cameo (now old enough to vote) and cut the Box Card Flower-Filled Mason Jar from Lori Whitlock. The 3-d jar is layered with flowers and leaves that were embossed, glittered, and generally zhuzhed to within an inch of their lives. The lid? Cut from mirror card for that fancy “ooh, shiney!” moment. I added acetate for the window so you can see all the floral fabulousness inside. Best bit? This wee mason jar folds flat for posting – I scaled it down a bit so it fits into a 5" x 7" envelope. Handy, right? I left the back (sentiment space) blank so it’s versatile – birthday, thank you, “sorry I ate your snacks” – it covers all emotional emergencies.

A few challenges:

• Creative Creases - July  #105 Anything goes with a fun fold
• Cardz 4 Galz #255 Fun Folds
• Ellibelle's Garden Party  #5  Anything in or from a Garden
• Paper Shelter #647 Anything Goes
• 2 Sisters On The Blog #98 - Flowers in a vase

I'm off now to join in the next Card Chain Challenge – it’s genuinely addictive (like Pringles… or craft stash… or washi tape you absolutely don’t need but definitely buy anyway).

Sending crafty love and envelope confetti worldwide 💌

Sláinte, 

Wendy R.

JUNE 2025 Card Chain Challenge

Dia Daoibh!

June’s Card Chain Challenge has come and gone — and sure wasn’t it a beauty! For the June 2025 round, I joined in the fun and picked the colour palette option: a dreamy blend of coffee, cream, and platinum. I also followed the theme of Friendship — which felt perfect, as I was crafting a cheerful 'hello' to a new friend.

I used a fab die cut design from the Silhouette Design Store (help, I might be hooked 😁). The “hello” sentiment was stacked up like a proper Victoria sponge — lovely and layered! I added some gems and pearls too, because who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle?

My card headed off to Arlene in the USA (hiya Arlene! 👋) — fingers crossed it brought a big smile when she found it in her letterbox… or mailbox… or postal cubby of joy (whatever they call it across the Atlantic — you know the one!).... Now for the cherry on top — I received an absolutely fab card from Hilary in the UK (hiya Hilary! 👋), and let me tell you, it was a treat! It’s always such a buzz getting happy mail that isn’t a bill, a flyer, or a suspicious letter from "Revenue".

Onto a few challenges: 

• I Spy with My Little Eye #27 - vintage Vibes
  
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sending Flowers
  
• Girlz Creative Crafts #57 - Butterflies
  
• Triple B - June - Anything with Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies (optional mood board)
• A Perfect Time To Craft - Always Anything Goes
  
• The Creative Crafters #89 - Always Anything Goes
  
• Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional mood board)

Honestly, it’s such a delight being part of this crafty circle. If you haven’t joined the Card Chain Challenge yet, you’re missing out on the best kind of post: happy mail with a handmade hug inside. 💌

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Floral Mail and a Bit of Craic

Dia Daoibh!

I’ve got a card today that’s full of crafty joy, a bit of sparkle, and a whole lot of positive vibes—because who doesn’t need a reminder that they’re fabulous every now and then?

This card came together with a few favourite supplies and a generous sprinkle of “ah sure, we’ll see what happens.” I used Core’dinations cardstock in shades closest to Peacock, Blueberry, and Grape—basically a fancy fruit bowl of the paper world—cut with the Taylored Expressions Easy Strips Die – 1/4". The flowers were die-cut and popped up with foam pads for a bit of dimension, with gem centres added because even minimalist cards deserve a little bling. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions You Are Additions set, stamped in Versafine for that crisp, “look at me being professional” finish. And yes, it’s on foam pads too—because flat sentiments are only for days when you’ve run out of tea.

A few challenges I'm joining:

• Sisterhood of Crafters (5/14/25) - Flowers
• Word Art Wednesday #702-703 - Anything Goes
• Unicorn Challenge #110 - Not Square
• Addicted to CAS #284 - Code Word: Floral 

• CAS Colours & Sketches #610 - Color Challenge: 

This little number will be heading off to one of my mailing buddies as part of the Card Chain Challenge. I’ll be sending it along with my actual challenge card (which is still just a twinkle in my crafty eye). If you haven’t signed up yet—go on, you’ll have great craic sending happy post around the world!

Seriously, what’s better than opening your letterbox to find something that isn’t a leaflet for solar panels?

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😊

May 2025 Card Chain Challenge

 Dia Daoibh!

May’s Card Chain Challenge has come and gone — and what a gorgeous one it was! For May 2025, I joined in the fun and chose the colour palette option: a rich and elegant mix of aubergine, crushed rose, and coffee cream. I also followed the theme option "smiles" — which, let’s be honest, we all need a bit more of these days.

My card was posted off to Robyn in Australia (hi Robyn! 👋) — I hope it brings a smile when it lands! 

I used a fabulous digital stamp from Power Poppy, coloured with Promarkers, and gave the mug a glossy coat of Glossy Accents for that satisfying shine. The "smile" sentiment was layered up a few times to add dimension (because flat sentiments are just not living their best life), and I gave it a coat of Glossy Accents too. That card was positively grinning by the time it left! 😄

Side note: the aubergine cardstock may look black in the photos — blame the lighting and my camera’s dramatic flair. It’s a rich purple in real life, I promise!

And what a treat I received in return — a fabulous card from Carol in the UK (hi Carol! 👋)!  It was full of beautiful butterflies, which made my heart flutter. Butterflies are more than just pretty paper motifs for me — I’ve got an entire right arm tattooed in them, and I consider them my spiritual insects. They always seem to show up at the right time, like nature’s little wink.

On to a few challenges:

• Dream Valley Challenges #337 - Hand colored image 
• Di's Digis Designs - Sentimentally Yours
  
• Cardz 4 Galz #251 - Floral 
• I Love Promarkers #584 -  Anything goes or In the Pink 
• Little Red Wagon #809 - Friendship
• Sisterhood of Crafters - 5/14/25 - Flowers

All in all, another lovely round of CCC, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. If you haven’t joined the Card Chain Challenge, what are you waiting for? It’s happy mail with a crafty heartbeat. 💌

Sláinte,

Wendy R.