A Comeback, Crafty Style: Cards, Crochet, and a Whole Lot of Chaos

Well, hello there, world! It's been a mere six years since my last blog post — a blink of an eye, really. Nothing much has happened except, oh, qualifying as an Registered Nurse specialising in Intellectual Disabilities, surviving a global pandemic as a student nurse, and experiencing the joys of being underpaid and overworked. You know, the usual.

Let's just say, when your allocated petrol is less than 40c per mile, you start to question your life choices. But hey, I cleared out the craft stash, picked up crocheting and knitting, and now I'm back to card making to keep my sanity in check. So, let's dive into my latest crafty adventure!

Today, I’m kicking things off with a Clean and Simple (CAS) card that’s as straightforward as my life's been these past years (ha!). Here's the lowdown:

• Cardstock and Paper: Straight from my stash — the craft stash that is, not the emergency toilet paper stash.
• Stamp Used: Paper Smooches Swanky Snow Dudes. Because who doesn’t love a dapper snowman?
• Inked With: Hero Arts Intense Black Ink. Bold, like my attempts to negotiate a raise.
• Coloured With: Promarkers. Still going strong after six years, unlike my nerves during peak pandemic shifts.
• Embellished With: Baker's twine, Ranger Glossy Accents, and a sprinkle of glitter. Because life’s too short for dull cards.
• Die Used: Hero Arts Infinity Dies Nested Frames. For that perfect edge — something I lost long ago.

Yes, folks, I'm entering this little masterpiece into a few card challenges. Wish me luck! If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to procrastinate on adulting for a bit longer.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge
ABC Christmas Challenge - January: A is for anything goes

CAS on Friday: Winter
Park Hopping is My Happy Place : Inspired by : "Just like Joey and Chandler, these snowmen are Friends forever!" 

Despite the chaos of the past few years, it's good to be back in the crafty saddle. Card making has been a delightful reminder that even in the whirlwind of life, there's always room for a little creativity. So, here's to cards, crafts, and finding joy in the small things.

Catch you on the flip side, hopefully before another six years pass!

Stay crafty and keep smiling!

Wend R.

Cardz 4 Galz - Non Traditional Christmas Colors

Hi Peeps

Time for another Cardz 4 Galz challenge day!
Thank you to everyone who plays along each fortnight :)
Onto this fortnight's challenge. Challenge # 86 is Non Traditional Christmas Colors.

Here is my DT card:

The design is from the Silhouette store.
Cut from glitter card and embellished with flatback pearls and gems.
Background is dry embossed with an Alexandra Renke embossing folder.



Hope to see your creations in the card gallery and Thank You for stopping by!

Vintage - Crafting By Designs

Time for another challenge at Crafting By Designs.

The theme this week is

 "Vintage".

The Sponsors for this challenge is:

Lunagirl 
Prize - $15 gift certificate to the store.

DT using Pink Angels Digital Collage sheet.
Embellished with glitter card and gold star brads.

I Can't wait to see your creations in the card gallery!!

Thank You for stopping by!

You're The Man - Crafting By Designs

Hi Peeps

Time for another challenge at Crafting By Designs.
The theme this week is
 "You're The Man".

The Sponsors for this challenge is:

Dr Digi:

Image is from Dr Digi - Surfin' Santa.

Coloured with Promarkers.

Layered on a printed beach background.

Can’t wait to see you in the card gallery and be sure to check out my teamies awesome creations :)

Thank You for stopping by xx

52 Christmas Card Throwdown GDT

Hi Peeps
Great excitement today... I'm a GDT over at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown blog.
Wooohooo!! :) 
The September challenge is:



and here is my card:

Christmas trees are a SVG cut file .
Embellished with pearls and gems.
Sentiment stamped with memento tuxedo black ink.
I love decorating the Christmas tree at Christmas time, gives me so much joy when the kids help :)

Onto a few challenges:
Crimbo Crackers #166 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #402 - Anything Christmas Goes
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Joy 
Happy Little Stampers Christmas - September - Anything Goes + option : Tree
Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #2 - Anything Goes

Deadline for entry to this challenge is midnight GMT on Friday 14th September .Can't wait to see your creations in the card gallery!

Thank You for stopping by!

Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses

Hi Peeps
Adding more cards to Christmas stash :)

Background paper and sentiment is from The Lovely Studio - Mistletoe Kisses.
Embellished with green glitter, pearls & black twine.

Onto a few challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge - P for Plain
Crimbo Crackers #164 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. #479 - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #398 - Anything Christmas Goes (optional: For A Girl or Lady)
52 Christmas Card Throwdown : Color Challenge



 and Thank You for stopping by!

Rudolph

Hi Peeps

Paper & Digi from Pink Petticoat (The Lovely Studio) -'Jolly Reindeers', a fun set of 8 little reindeer images,all dressed up for Christmas!
Coloured with Promarkers.
Embellished with red and clear glitter, baker's twine, gems and enamel stars.

Challenges:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - August - Use hot/warm colours

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #1 - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #33 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thank You for stopping by!

Tweet Christmas

Hi Peeps
A super quick Christmas card today:

Image: Pink Petticoat - Bobbing Along.
Paper: Pink Petticoat Candy cane & Candy cane stripes.
Coloured with Promarkers.
Embellished with clear glitter, pearls and card candy.

Onto a few challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - R for Rabbits or Robins
Fab 'n' Funky #404 - Christmas 
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #33 - Anything Goes


Thank You for stopping by!

Christmas in July - Shaker Snowman

Hi Peeps
Onto a few Christmas cards in July :)
Here is one of my cards:

Snowman coloured with Promarkers. Designed by Heather Ellis.
Embellished with clear sequins and a glitter die cut.

Onto a few challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner #170 - Christmas in July 
A Snowflakes Promise #53- Anything Goes
Sweet Stampers #22 - Christmas in July
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Jul 15 - Aug 14 - Anything Christmas Goes
AAA #119 Christmas in July
 I ♥ ProMarkers #363 - Anything goes (Christmas in July)

Thank You for stopping by!

Crafting By Designs - Get Ready For Christmas

Hi Peeps

Time for another challenge at Crafting By Designs.
The theme this week is "Get Ready For Christmas".

 Sparkle N Sprinkle  

Prize - $15 gift certificate

Here is my card:

Image: used is Christmas Tags .
Coloured with Promarkers.

Embellished with teal glitter card , gems and flat back pearls.

Challenges:
Fab 'n' Funky #400 - Christmas Creations
I love Promarkers #361 - Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday Challenges #176 - Christmas
A Snowflakes Promise #52- Anything Goes
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #32 - Anything Christmas Goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge  #25 - Anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Square Cards

Can’t wait to see you in the card gallery and be sure to check out my teamies awesome creations :)

Thank You for stopping by xx

Crafting By Designs - Get ready for Christmas

Hi Peeps
Time for another challenge at Crafting By Designs.
The theme this week is "Get ready for Christmas ".
The sponsor this week is:

 All Dressed Up Stamps  

Prize - winner's choice of 2 digi stamps

Here's my card:

The digi used is “Little Star”. Coloured with Promarkers.

Layered on a polka dot embossed background and silver glitter card.

Embellished with glitter card, liquid pearls & a satin ribbon bow.

Challenges I'm entering:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #387 - Use some silver
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #29 - Anything Christmas goes
Jingle Belles - must be Christmas - Ribbon rendezvous
A Snowflakes Promise #51 - Anything goes
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - April - Anything goes
I ♥ ProMarkers  #359 - Anything goes

Cant wait to see you in the card gallery and be sure to check out my teamies awesome creations :)

Thank You for stopping by xx

Star Bright

Hi Peeps
Well, it's the morning after the morning after St. Paddy's and I'm sure there are still a few sore heads here in Ireland :) What a brilliant weekend it was... awesome parades washed in 40 shades of green, good Guinness and a little bit of snow :)

Here's my Christmas card for the week:

Sizzix scribbled star die cuts are layered to add dimension.
Embellished with gold sequins.
Scored the card three times with the Scor-Pal scoring board to make the it look as if the stars are hanging.
Sentiment stamped in black, the leprechauns must have run off with my gold embossing powder because it's nowhere to be found ;)

Onto a few challenges:
More than One Score at Scor-Pal (more than one score) #46 - All things bright and beautiful
The Merry Christmas Challenge #10 - Anything Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #377 - Anything Christmas Goes - optional theme: No Patterned Paper
Crimbo Crackers #154 Anything Goes

Thank You for stopping by!

CAS Christmas Card

Hi Peeps
My CAS card for today:

Sentiment is stamped with memento ink.
Snowflake is emboseed with gold embossing powder and I've added a few enamel drops in white spaces to add dimension to the card.

Onto a few challenges:
CAS on Friday #127 - One Layer Wonder
Just Add Ink #397 - Just Add H (Heat embossing)
Winter Wonderland – Anything Christmas Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #374 - Anything Christmas Goes - optional theme: Use Some Gold
CAS(E) This Sketch!  #260 Sketch:



Thank You for stopping by!

Christmas Cat

Hi Peeps

My CAS card for today:

Diecut is from the Silhouette cameo store.
Raised with foam pads for dimension.
Sentiment is a freebie from a magazine.

A few challenges:
Winter Wonderland – Anything Christmas Goes
Crimbo Crackers #152 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #374 Anything Christmas Goes
AAA #109 Die Cuts Only
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #23 - Anything Christmas Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - C is for Clean
Addicted to CAS:


Thank You for stopping by!

Star Wreath

Hi Peeps
A quick and easy card for today:

Wreath & stars cut from glitter card.
Flourishes cut from vellum and white card stock.
Embellished with little metal stars.
Sentiment stamped with Staz-on.


Onto a few challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #371 - Anything Christmas Goes - optional theme: Quick & Easy
Happy Little Stampers - February - Anything Goes 
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #38 - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky #378 - Christmas
The Merry Christmas Challenge #5 - Anything Christmas/Optional Wreaths

Thank You for stopping by!

Snowflakes & Pearls

Hi Peeps
A quick CAS card for today:

Diecuts are layered to add dimension.
Embellished with pearl buttons.

Onto a few challenges:
The Merry Christmas Challenge#4 - Anything Christmas/Optional Ornaments
Crimbo Crackers #150 - Anything goes
AAA #107 Chilled
Watercooler Wednesday Challenges #154 - Christmas 
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Christmas (optional touch of frost)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #369 Anything Christmas Goes - optional theme: Use a Sentiment


Thank You for stopping by!

A is for Antlers

Hi Peeps
Card for today:

Die cuts were layered to add dimension, Embellished with a stamped greeting, gems and a ribbon bow.

Onto a few Challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for Antlers
Crimbo Crackers #150 - Anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Jan 2018 - Anything goes
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #22 - Anything Christmas Goes
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Christmas (optional touch of frost)


Thank You for stopping by!

Christmas Joy

Hi Peeps
January and I've made a start on the Christmas cards :)
Here's my card:

Die-cuts are cut from glitter card and layered for a raised effect.
Embellished with clear gems.

Onto a few challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #369 Anything Christmas Goes - optional theme: Use a Sentiment
Jingle Belles - 2W - must be Christmas - Three of a Kind
AAA #107 Chilled
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #22 - Anything Christmas Goes
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Christmas (optional touch of frost)

Thank You for stopping by!

Snowman Shaker card

Hi Peeps
I made a ton of these cards for most of my x-workmates. So easy to do and so darn cute!

Snowman image is from Heather Ellis.
Coloured with Promarkers.
Embellished with a glitter card sentiment and sequins.

Onto a few challenges:
I love Promarkers #349 - Anything Goes
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #21 - Anything Christmas Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge # 365 - Anything Christmas
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Christmas (optional cupcakes)
Cutie Pie Challenge #118 Stars and / or snowflakes

Thank You for stopping by!

Purse Gift Card Holder

Hi Peeps
I'm showcasing my gift card holder today.
Designed by Lori Whitlock and cut with a Silhouette Cameo.
This was a Christmas gift for my mammy in law.

Onto a few challenges:

Crafty Creations #357 - Always Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner #155 - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread #57 - Always Anything Goes
 Pause Dream Enjoy #205 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts #42 - Nontraditional Christmas

Thank You for stopping by!