Three Wishes & Zero Lottery Wins

Dia Daoibh!

The next HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy with a genie twist—because who hasn’t daydreamed about finding a magic lamp and wishing for lucky lottery numbers? (Though knowing my luck, the genie would be on a coffee break, and I’d end up with "eternal patience" or some other useful nonsense.)

Onto today’s card! I raided my "vintage" paper stash (circa 2018—practically antique at this point) and paired it with a sentiment from a free stamp set from a 2015 magazine (because nothing says "fantasy" like hoarding supplies and craft magazines for a decade). The star of the show is this sassy genie from Create A Smile’s Flaschenpost set, who clearly knows I’m three wishes away from chaos. Coloured him with Promarkers, then went full magpie with iridescent glitter (obviously) and silver thread.

A few challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge -  K is for keep it simple
• Simply Clean and Simple  - SEP : Birthdays
• Craft Rocket Challenges #129 Dots and/or Stripes
• Krafty Chicks #784 - Birthday
• I Love Promarkers #590 - Anything Goes or Gnomes

Wishing you all the luck of a genie who actually listens—and may your weekend involve less glitter cleanup than mine. (Spoiler: It’s everywhere. Everywhere.)

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

P.S. Pro tip: If your genie offers unlimited wishes, ask for more storage first. Crafters know what's important. 😂

Unicorns Don’t Do Overtime, But I Do

Dia daoibh!

Three shifts back-to-back, 42 hours clocked in, and I’ve emerged looking like a contestant on Survivor: Healthcare Edition. My grand prize? A mad dash through the shops for last-minute school supplies before the youngest heads back tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong, I love the lad, but after weeks of “Mam, I’m bored” and him eating cereal like it’s an Olympic sport, I’ll be personally escorting him to the school gates with jazz hands. And the teachers—legends—deserve medals, spa vouchers, prosecco, and maybe even a national holiday in their honour. They’re the true unsung heroes of September!

Now, onto my card. 

The design and backing papers are from Lori Whitlock, and I went full unicorn sparkle with them. The base is cut from core card, layered with glitter card for that essential bit of magic, and finished with flowers, gems, and glossy accents. The blooms are popping brighter than glow sticks at a 90s disco. I decided to leave it sentiment-free—sometimes a blank card is more versatile, ready for a birthday, celebration, or just when someone needs a little reminder that unicorns do exist (unlike my bank balance after school shopping).

Challenges:

• Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge - August - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper (optional theme: Summertime)
  
• Paper Shelter #647 - Anything Goes
  
• Creations in Pink - Anything Goes in Mainly Pink
  
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter
• {PIN}spirational #328 - Inspiration Picture 

• Inspiration Station #76 - Inspiration Photo    

And sure, if I’d added a sentiment, the only thing my tired brain could’ve managed after three shifts would’ve been “Send Coffee… and maybe an Au Pair.” Not quite the hallmark of a keepsake card, is it?

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦄

Fairies Don't Do Dry July

Dia Daoibh!

Well, the next challenge over at HQFCB is Anything Goes Fantasy with the optional twist of using a fairy. Now, being Irish, I feel I should warn you—our fae folk aren’t the dainty, glitter-and-rainbows type you see in storybooks. Oh no. Irish fairies are more the "move your fence or we’ll curse your cows" variety. Mess with a fairy fort at your peril, folks—those wee folk hold grudges longer than my ex-MIL after you "forgot" her birthday.

But enough folklore—onto the card! I’ve used Stamping Bella’s Edna Needs A Martini, because if anyone knows how to handle magical mischief, it’s a fairy with a cocktail. Coloured her up in Promarkers (... I got carried away, and now she’s basically celebrating the 4th of July). Glittered her wings because, let’s be real, if you’ve got wings and aren’t bedazzled, are you even trying? Mounted her on foam pads for dimension, because Edna deserves to pop right off the page—just like she’d pop into your local for a midweek martini.

Kept the background clean and simple (read: I ran out of patience) with a snazzy piece of polka dot embossed card. Classy and low-effort—my favourite combo.

A few challenges I'm joining in:

• CAS on Friday #310 - Embossing 
• Crafty Catz #694 - Anything goes (make us smile)
• Cut It Up #331 - Anything Goes
• Craft Rocket Challenges #126 No Design Paper
• The Card Concept #217 - Patriotic (Edna matches the colours): 

Right, I’d best wrap this up before the rain starts again. Summer in Ireland, my foot—more like "guess I’ll wear my wellies with my sundress" season. Here’s hoping the sun remembers we exist before Halloween.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

(P.S. If you see Irish fae, offer them a drink. It’s the only way to stay on their good side.)