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. 😊

Craft Now, Tidy Never

Dia Daoibh!

Is there anything better than a bit of crafty time and a fresh cuppa? I finally got a chance to play with some new bits, and I’m properly chuffed with today’s make—it’s bright, cheerful, and covered in enough sparkle to lift even the dullest of days (without needing sunglasses indoors… just about).

I used die cuts from Doodlebug Design—honestly, their designs never fail to bring the joy. I cut everything with my vintage Silhouette Cameo machine, bless her. It’s lovely to get dinner going while she hums away doing her thing—if only she could unload the dishwasher too.

The flowers and foliage were layered into the little envelope, all held together with foam dots—because flat is grand, but let’s be honest, we all love a bit of crafty puff. I added some shine with Ranger’s Glossy Accents on the sentiment and a few flowers, and recycled some black and pink glitter card for the floral bits—leftover from a Mother’s Day card back in March (because in Ireland, we celebrate early and craft thriftily). Just enough sparkle to say “look at me” without setting off the glitter alarm.

A few challenges:

• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Paper Craft Crew Challenge - PCC623 - Color Challenge: 

• A Place To Start - June - Anything Goes (option: Recycle): 

• The Paper Players - PP740 - Theme - Recycling is in: 
  

I honestly think Doodlebug Design flower dies are pure joy in papercraft form—cheerful and so cute they could charm the glitter off a unicorn. They’re the card-making equivalent of a perfect cuppa, a biscuit you don’t have to share, and a good natter where no one judges your ever-growing stash.

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.

The Great Stamp Escape – June Challenge!

Dia Daoibh!

Guess what? I've been let loose as a Guest Designer over at the AAA BIRTHDAY Card Challenges Blog—and let me tell you, the Design Team is seriously creative! If you're looking for birthday card inspiration that's fresher than a just-opened packet of biscuits, you're in the right place.

For Game #74 (June's challenge), the AAA Birthday Team is shaking things up with a NO STAMPING theme. That's right—it's time to put down the ink pads and break out your dies, stencils, and anything else that won't leave fingerprints on your forehead (we've all been there).

My card: I've used MFT's Stitched Blooms Die-namics and some Core'dinations cardstock, with a layered die-cut sentiment finished with Ranger Glossy Accents for that perfect shine. I've also added a few clear epoxy enamel drops—just because they're pretty!

On to a few challenges:

• Addicted to CAS #284 - Code Word: Floral
• Allsorts #824 - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up: No. 330 - Anything goes
• Cardz 4 Galz #251 - Floral 
• Sisterhood of Crafters 5/14/25 - Flowers

The AAA Birthday Team's creations are so gorgeous they'll make your crafty heart skip a beat—go take a peek and try not to swoon! Plus, this is your official excuse to finally use that "too pretty to cut" paper stash.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. x

All White, All Right

 Dia Daoibh!

Another bank holiday bites the dust, and I spent mine in the most exhilarating way possible—peeling dried gloss paint off my fingers (turns out I’m now part human, part Dulux) and pretending I know what I’m doing in the garden. The snails are judging me. Hard.

Wedding card time! Decided to go full-on bridal with an all-white design. Embossed background? Check. Die-cuts courtesy of my geriatric Cameo? Check (after three attempts and some creative language). Piled on foam pads like I'm being paid by the layer, then added three tasteful gems because I'm fancy like that. Finished it off by glittering the 'Mr & Mrs' and rose leaves. 

A few challenges:

• Moving Along With the Times Challenge # 178 - White on White May 2025
• 2 Sisters On The Blog #97 - Wedding/wedding anniversary
• Creatalicious Challenges #288 - Anything Goes + option: Embossing (wet or dry)
• Girlz Rebel Challenge #39 - Apr - Anything Goes with flowers 
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #5 Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries and/or Sympathies + optional theme: Graduation
• The Flower Challenge #102 - Add Spots or Stripes

And just like that, another card. Or as I like to call it, another reason my kids sighs and asks if we really need more glitter on the tiles. (Yes. Yes, we do.)

Sláinte, 
Wendy R.

Hey Friend

Dia Daoibh ! ☘️

Hold onto your hats—It is 14°C in Ireland! That’s right, we’re basically almost in a heatwave (by our standards). Summer has officially arrived ;)

To celebrate this suspicious weather phenomenon, I made this cheerful card using the 'Hey Friend' set from Graciellie Design. Coloured with Promarkers (with all the precision of a caffeinated squirrel) and embellished with iridescent glitter,  and gems - because why be subtle when you can sparkle?

Onto a few challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft (M, P1) - Always Anything Goes
• Beautiful Blossoms #27 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional Mood Board)
• Crafter's Cafe #317 - Anything Goes (optional: CAS)
• Girlz Creative Crafts #53 Happy Birthday Girlz 
• Girlz Rebel Challenge #38 - Use Glitter 
• The Creative Crafters #86 - Always Anything Goes
• Addicted to Stamps and More #489 - Any Occasion
• Color Throwdown #830

Have a great day, folks!  😉

Sláinte,

Wendy R.