February Card Chain Challenge

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland arrives with leprechauns everywhere and pots of gold firmly on our minds. The shops are full of green, shiny things, and there is a strong feeling that spring is trying to show off. It is that time of year when everything feels a little brighter and a little more fun.

On to the February Card Chain Challenge. My card packed its bags and flew all the way to Greta in the USA, and I like to believe it enjoyed the trip and behaved itself the whole way. In return I received a gorgeous card from Julia in the USA, which was an absolute joy to open. The Card Chain Challenge really is international happy post at its best! 💚

For my card I used the 'xoxo' stamp from Penny Black and went with the bold colour theme of indigo, violet, and lime green. Apologies, the colours are acting up as my camera once again had other ideas.I created a stamped background using a polka dot stamp, then coloured everything with Promarkers. All the colour recipes I used are listed over on my Promarker Page. I added glossy accents, nuvo drops, flowers, glitter, gems, and flatback pearls ...because stopping at one embellishment is never an option! 

The Card Chain Challenge is one of those simple joys that never gets old. Sending a card out into the world and receiving one back always feels like a little pot of gold in the post.

Le Grá,

Wendy 🍀

Bloomin' Butterfly

Dia daoibh!

I do not know who needs to hear this but sausage rolls are a perfectly acceptable form of self care. I treated myself to a few today because the craving hit hard. You know the kind. The “I could demolish a Gregg’s sausage roll in three bites” kind. Sadly there was no time to leg it to Belfast, so I made do locally and told myself it was practically gourmet. If you close your eyes and believe, it is basically the same.

Anyway, fortified by flaky pastry and questionable self control, I headed to the craft desk.

Today’s card features the gorgeous Blooming Butterflies Stamp Set and Die Set Bundle by Gina K. Honestly, that butterfly deserves its own passport. I coloured it with my Promarkers, going bold with those rich blues and soft purples, and the flowers got the royal treatment too. I added glossy accents to give a bit of shine and popped on a few gems because if you are going to do sparkle you may as well commit. The background is kept nice and clean, with a few splatters of distress ink for a bit of artsy flair. Just enough to look intentional. 

The butterfly itself is raised on foam pads for that lovely bit of dimension. We love a card that refuses to lie flat. The sentiment is simple. Sending love. No essay required. Sometimes the butterfly does all the talking.

A few challenges: 

Cardz 4 Galz #270: Wings

Classic Design Challenge - Feb/Mar - Anything Goes (optional: Blooms or butterflies)

Crafter's Cafe #327 - For the girls (optional: Anything Goes)

AAA Colorful Challenge  #25: Colourboard: 

Triple B  - February: Anything with Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies (optional Inspiration Image)

Right, I am off to pretend I do not want another sausage roll. If anyone sees me in Belfast clutching a Gregg’s bag, mind your business.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

Ever Thine, Ever Mine!

Dia daoibh!

Fun February fact. It is the only month that regularly forgets how many days it is meant to have. Twenty eight. Sometimes twenty nine. Absolute chaos. Yet it still expects romance, hearts, and emotional commitment. The nerve 😉.

My card is for Challenge #103 over at Ally’s Angels where the theme is Anything Goes. The DT have amazing creations this round and they are seriously inspirational. Well worth a look.

I used the Anita Jeram Ever Thine stamp set from Colorado Craft Company . It is sweet, cosy, and full of feel good vibes. I coloured the image with Promarkers, keeping everything soft and cheerful. I kept the design very CAS and let the image do the talking. I added pearl drops for a touch of elegance, Glossy Accents for some shine, and a die cut bow to finish it off nicely. Clean, simple, and no fuss. Exactly how February cards should behave.

A few challenges:

Crafty Calendar - February: Love Is In The Air

Sweet Stampin - No Designer Paper 

Cardz 4 Galz #269: Hugs and Kisses 

C.R.A.F.T. #773: Love / Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts #564: Love, Valentines, Anniversary

Just Us Girls #810 - Word Week: Valentine

All in all, a fun little card with big February energy. Short, sweet, and finished before the month disappears again.

Sláinte,
Wendy R.

Reluctant Love

Dia daoibh!

I had two glorious days off before the next stretch of night shifts kicks in. Plenty of time, I told myself, to relax and watch a movie or two on Netflix. Simple plan. Foolproof. Except I never actually made it to the end of either film. With AuDHD, my attention wandered off halfway through, lost interest completely, and decided that staring into space was suddenly a much higher priority. And yet, both movies now live rent free in my head for the next few days. I cannot tell you how they end, but I can replay random scenes at 3am like a broken jukebox on shuffle. Absolute magic.

Anyway. Onto the card.

I used the Reluctant Love Pissy Kitty stamp set from the Unity Stamp Company and I am completely smitten. Pissy Ktty cat says everything that does not need to be said out loud. Mildly unimpressed, slightly dramatic, and full of personality. I love these stamps so much I can already see overtime shifts in my future just to cover the postage! I coloured with Promarkers and kept the card pretty CAS with a white background. I finished it off with a bit of baker’s twine, because even a card with attitude likes to look like it made an effort.

A few challenges:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - SoSS #271 - B is for Black Black Heart

Dream Factory - #146 - Love Actually

A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - February Challenge- Anything Goes

We Love Stamping - February - Hearts (option: Anything Goes)

Critter Crazy Challenges - #107 - Anything Goes With Featured Critter

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - Febuary - Anything Halloween:

Cupcake Inspirations #634 - Theme - Love is in the air

In conclusion, two days off very well spent. No movies finished. One alternative Valentine card completed. One pissy cat stamped in permanent ink, my own cats supervising from across the room like a very judgemental focus group, and me calling it productivity. Balance has not only been restored, it has been officially approved.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💖

Cupid with a Sprinkle of Sparkle

Dia daoibh!

February is that short, chaotic month where Cupid is clearly on a trial shift. He swoops in, fires a few arrows, dumps hearts absolutely everywhere, and clocks out again before HR can find him. Short month. Big attitude.

That made it a perfect match for challenge #2 over at the HQFCB. As always, anything fantasy goes... wings, magic, whimsy, and a healthy suspension of reality are all welcome here.

For my card, I reached for a Cupid stamp from Sweet November Stamps and coloured him up with Promarkers. I kept the design very CAS, and letting Cupid do the heavy lifting. A light sprinkle of glitter on his wings adds just enough sparkle, and a touch of Glossy Accents finishes it off with shine right where it matters. The cloud die cuts and Cupid himself are popped up on foam pads, so they’re floating about like they own the place. All very dreamy. All very February.

A few challenges:

CAS on Friday #327  Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. #773  Love/Anything Goes 

I Love Promarkers #600 Anything Goes or Love and Romance

Passion For Markers Challenge #823 - Add Some Red

Festive Friday #FF0202 - Valentine's Day

A quick burst of fantasy fun, a little sparkle, and thankfully no arrows aimed in my direction this time. I’ll happily take that win.

Sláinte,
Wendy R. 💖

You’re My One and Only (No Gnomes About It!)

Alright, let’s get one thing straight: if you’re reading this, you’re either the legendary nurse I’m talking about, or you’re just here for the laughs. Either way, welcome! Today’s blog post is a love letter (sort of) to my partner-in-crime, my fellow nursing school survivor, and the person who’s stuck with me whether she likes it or not. Spoiler: she doesn’t have a choice.

So, let’s set the scene. I sat down to make a card for this absolute gem of a human being. You know the type—assertive, wickedly fun, and the kind of nurse who can run a unit with her eyes closed while simultaneously making you laugh so hard you forget why you’re even there. She’s one of the bestest of the bestest (yes, that’s a technical term), and I knew this card had to be just as epic as she is.

Originally, I was going to go with “You’re My No. 1 Gnomie” because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good gnome pun? But then I thought, nah, she’s not just a gnome—she’s the gnome. The one and only. 

click on pic for a better view;)

Here’s how the card came together:
Stamp & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted 
Colouring: Promarkers
Embellishments: A background rectangle die-cut (fancy, right?), a silver glitter card heart (because she’s a glittery kind of person), and Ranger’s Glossy Accents (for that chef’s kiss level of shine).
Layering: Foam pads, because if it’s not 3D, is it even a card?

A few challenges:  

• Addicted to CAS: #276 Code word: Friends
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Love is in the air
• Double D Challenges-Hearts
• Allsorts-Challenge 816-Romance
• Crafty Catz: Anything goes with optional twist use a die
• Polkadoodles: Challenge 3, Wk 1 - Anything goes 
• Creative Moment: February challenge #267 *Cute*
• We Love Stamping-February - CAS/Anything goes
  
• Heart's Quest Fantasy: Anything goes Fantasy

Now, let’s end this on a funny note, shall we? Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from our time together, it’s that laughter is the best medicine (unless you’re in A&E, in which case, maybe just stick to the actual medicine). So, here’s to my one and only: thank you for putting up with me, for being the kind of nurse who makes people feel like they’re in the best hands, and for being the kind of friend who makes me laugh until I cry (or until I pee a little—nursing school flashbacks, am I right?).

You’re stuck with me, doll. No gnomes about it.

Love,

Your No. 1 Gnomie (Okay, fine, your one and only).

P.S. If you ever leave nursing, I’m coming with you. Just saying.

Odd Dog, Squidgy Heart

Hi Peeps
My card for today:

Odd dog is from Lili Of The Valley, coloured with Promarkers.
I ran a stitched border on the inside of the frame with a Silhouette Cameo sketch pen.
Sentiment stamped with tuxedo black memento ink.

Onto a few challenges:
Addicted to Stamps  - Have a Heart
Dragonfly Journeys #112 - Year of the Dog 
Hiding in my Craft Room #341 - Any Holiday
Passion For Promarkers Challenge  #432 - Have a Heart
I ♥ ProMarkers - #252 - Anything Goes


Thank You for stopping by!

Hugs & Kisses

Hi Peeps
So I was on a roll with the Valentine cards :)
Here's my card:

Die heart is cut x 3 and layered to build dimension - Simon Says Stamp clipping heart die.
Sentiment is cut with the Silhouette Cameo and glossed with glossy accents.

Onto a few challenges so:
Little Red Wagon #430 - Love
Simon Says Wednesday - Die Cut
Watercooler Wednesday Challenges #157 - Occasions
Words 2 Craft By #50 - Blizzard of Kisses
Die Cuttin' Divas #356 - Valentine's Day

Thank You for stopping by!

XoXo

Hi Peeps

One of the last Valentine cards:

Die heart is cut x 3 and layered to build dimension - My Favourite Things Abstract Heart Die.
Sentiment is cut with the Silhouette Cameo and glossed with glossy accents. I love using glossy accent on sentiment die-cuts 'cause it really makes people think wow, you made that??!

Onto a few challenges:
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Way To Add A Sentiment 
Daisy Chain Challenges #16 - Add a Heart
Craftaholics R Us #7 - Use Red on Your Card
Crafty Gals Corner #159 -  Add a Heart 
Crafting By Designs - Valentine


Thank You for stopping by!