Hello? Is It DHL You’re Looking For?

Dia daoibh!

You know you’re in an Irish house when your daughter gives you the full operations manager spiel — “just sit there and wait for DHL, Mam!” — and here I am being treated like a flight risk with a history of absconding mid-courier. I should be wearing a hi-vis and holding a clipboard the way she’s carrying on! And so, like any Irish mammy under strict instruction, I tidied the house from top to bottom while waiting. Not just for any package, oh no—this is the package. The wedding rings! They’re getting married in less than a fortnight, and somehow, this sacred symbol of eternal love is being flung across the country in a van. Meanwhile, I’ve a night shift ahead of me, and I’d love to catch a few winks before heading off to wrangle care plans instead of double-sided tape. But can I rest? Not a hope. Every engine noise has me leaping up like a caffeinated meerkat at the window: “Is it him? Is it DHL? Is it... the neighbour again?!”

Anyway, in between pacing the floor and side-eyeing the doorbell, I managed to finish a wee card. Kept it clean and simple—CAS, for those in the know (and for those who think that’s short for "Can’t Actually Sleep," you’re not far off). I used die cuts: a cute coffee cup, some hearts, and a sentiment. Went full magpie and highligted with liquid pearls and glitter, then glossed nearly everything with glossy accents because... well, if I can’t sparkle right now, at least something in this house should!

A few challenge blogs I'm visiting:

• First Cup Challenges #4 July: - Anything Drink related projects
• The Creative Crafters #90 - Anything Goes
• Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap #11 - Anything Goes
• Girlz Rebel Challenge #42 - Anything Goes (+ pearls)
• Krafty Chicks #777 - CAS
• Creative Crafting Uncles #67 - Layer It Up
• Freshly Made Sketches #695 - Sketch

I think it turned out sweet—like a latte with extra caramel syrup. And if DHL ever arrives, I might just glue the tracking label onto the next card as a keepsake.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.🥤🚚

Crafting in Socks: A Tropical Risk Assessment

 Dia daoibh!

You’d think waiting for floors to dry wouldn’t be a dangerous sport—but here we are. Thanks to the glorious Irish humidity (yes, even when it’s raining sideways), I was tiptoeing around like I was defusing a bomb… and honestly, I’m still at it. At this point, I’ve developed the stealth and balance of a cat burglar in Crocs. One wrong move and it’s Riverdance: The Return.

Anyway, let’s leave the slippy drama behind and get to the good stuff—my latest tropical-themed card:

This sunshiney number features die cuts from the Sizzix Framelits Detailed Tropics set. I cut the elements from glitter card and Core’dinations cardstock. The background is a cheerful yellow striped paper from the Let’s Flamingle set by Piatek Trzynastego—just bright, happy vibes that make you think of lemonade and sunhats.

To finish the background, I gave it a light sprinkle of Ranger Distress Spray Stain in Brushed Pewter. It’s not really visible in the photo—but in person, it shimmers just enough to make your craft room lighting feel fancier than it is. The sentiment says hello, but with its warm colours and tropical flair, this card could easily moonlight as a thank you, a birthday card, or just a cheerful pick-me-up for someone in need of a smile.

Challenges I'm playing:

• C.R.A.F.T. #759  Thank You or Anything Goes
  
• Sisterhood of Crafters - 7/9/25 - Stripes and/or Dots
• Try It On Tuesday - Summer Blooms 
  
• The Four Seasons Challenge - July -Anything Summer Goes:

• Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional: mood board)

So while the floors are drying at the speed of a soggy turtle, at least this card turned out dry, dazzling, and drama-free.

Sláinte!

Wendy R. 🌴✨🍍

Glitter, Glossy Accents, and Mild Heatstroke

Dia Daoibh!

Well now, would you look at the state of us—Ireland’s in a heatwave, and I’m convinced my brain has melted clean out me ears. If you see a puddle wearing glasses and muttering about cardstock, that’s probably me. Between battling hayfever (sneezing so much I’m fairly sure I’ve realigned me spine), and trying to keep me ice cream from evaporating, it’s been a grand old time altogether. 

But sure, despite the drama, I managed to put together a wee card for the new challenge over at Ally’s Angels – Challenge #96 – Anything Goes!

For this card, I grabbed me trusty Core’dinations cardstock (because if you’re going to be fancy, be proper fancy), and cut out all the bits with the Doodlebug Flower Garden Doodle Cuts Dies. Everything’s layered up with foam pads—because I like my dimension bigger than an electricity bill—and finished off with a touch of Ranger’s Glossy Accents for that perfect bit of shine. A sprinkling of gemstones adds just the right amount of sparkle—because it’s not truly finished until you find a rogue gem floating in your tea—and there you have it: a card shinier than the sequins in the front row of a Garth Brooks concert.

On to a few challenges:

• Try It On Tuesday - Summer Blooms
• Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional: mood board)
  
• Crafts Galore Encore - Always Anything Goes
  
• Creative Crafting Uncles #67 - Layer It Up
  
• Let's Craft & Create Challenge #220 - Anything Goes (use a hand punch and/or die)

The talented design team have created projects so gorgeous you’ll want to hang them on your fridge and tell the neighbours you made them yourself. So get your skates on—or your flip-flops, given the weather—and join in, because anything goes: crochet, baking, painting, sticking googly eyes on your cat (though best of luck with that), or whatever crafty shenanigans you’re up to.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🙂

Buzz Buzz

Dia Daoibh!

Well now, settle yourselves in, because I have a tale that will make your sides split faster than a cheap pair of leggings on Christmas Day. Let’s start with my attempt at baking the best flan known to humankind—in, of all things, an electric pressure cooker. Aye, you heard that right. Nothing screams “culinary genius” quite like sloshing custard into a metal contraption that hisses at you like an irate tomcat. But let me tell you, that flan came out smoother than a politician’s excuses and wobblier than my knees after a glass of Baileys.

And now, onto my card... I used the adorable CCL Clear Stamp Bee Happy Friendz set—stamped with Memento Ink, then coloured with my trusty ProMarkers until every bee was beaming with personality. The wee bees are raised up on foam pads for that extra bit of dimension—because no bee should be flat when it can float fabulously. Since this cheerful creation is flying off to Norway, the sentiment proudly says Hei!—so it can greet its new home properly. I cut the letters from black card and layered them up like a stylish sandwich, ready to impress any Norwegian postie. To finish it all off, I gave the bees a glossy shine (because even insects deserve to feel fancy) and added iridescent glitter to their wings—because sparkle is mandatory in my craft room.

On to a few challenges:

• Dragonfly Dreams - July - Use Polygons
  
• Allsorts #827 - For a Child or  Anything Goes
  
• Creative Fingers #305- Anything Goes
  
• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #264 - H is for Hot, Hot, Hot - (I used warm colours ;)
  
• Freshly Made Sketches  #694 - Sketch:

I hope this card brings a smile as bright as a summer meadow and a little buzz of happiness when it lands.

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.

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. ✂️

Bubble Banter and a Bit o’ Glitter

Dia Daoibh!

Well, another almost summer’s day in Éire – the kind where the rain politely takes a tea break and lets the sun shine for, oh, about 20 minutes. But sure look, the polytunnel got a bit of warmth, and I didn’t have to sprint to rescue the washing. A small win!

Now, onto today’s crafty creation. It’s clean, it’s simple, and it’s got just enough speech bubbles for a polite group chat – no drama, just vibes.

I whipped out the Silhouette Cameo (who still behaves despite her age), and cut these colourful speech bubbles—layered with foam pads for that subtle "pop" effect. The hearts got a wee glittery glow because who doesn’t love a sparkle in their chat?

The "Hello" is stamped with Memento ink, keeping things chill and cheerful. No drama, just a tidy CAS card to soothe the soul before a hectic week of work and herding cats (aka life).

Onto a few challenges: 

• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - May - Anything Goes
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity #475 - Clean and Simple
• AAA Colorful Challenge  (M, P15, E3) - #15 - Colourboard: 

• CAS Colours & Sketches #559 - Colours: 
  

Easy peasy, mildly squeezy, and a grand way to de-stress without reaching for the emergency Jaffa Cakes.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.