Boo, Hiss & Pass the Sweets

Dia daoibh!

Here we are, halfway through October, which means Halloween is creeping closer and I am entering that very important time of year when buying enormous bags of sweets is considered preparation rather than greed. Here in Ireland the evenings are getting darker, the weather is doing four seasons before lunchtime, and the Halloween treats are being bought, hidden, found and mysteriously disappearing long before a single trick or treater has knocked on the door. 

It is also time for Ally’s Angels Challenge #111, where our theme is always Anything Goes. Basically, crafty freedom with absolutely no adult supervision. What could possibly go wrong?

For my card I decided to embrace the Halloween madness and pulled out the Spellbinders Trick or Snark stamp set. With those colourful little monsters, balloons, a pumpkin, a ghost and a bat who appears to have appointed himself Head of Operations, there was plenty going on before I even got to that brilliant sentiment. “Let’s eat candy and judge people.” Well now. Finally, a Halloween activity I am fully qualified for. 

I stamped the image and coloured everything with my trusty Promarkers, going nice and bright with the Halloween colours. I added a few flatback pearls and some die cut stars embellished with iridescent glitter. I have to admit, these little fellas make me smile. They have balloons, sweets and absolutely nowhere important to be. The bat has even managed to get himself a lift without holding a single balloon string. There is always one clever lad in the group.

Do pop over and join us for Ally’s Angels Challenge #111. Remember, the theme is Anything Goes, so raid that craft stash, rescue something you bought three years ago and definitely intended to use immediately, and come play along. There is loads of fabulous inspiration from the Design Team too.

And with Halloween just around the corner, I shall leave you with my annual survival plan. Buy sweets for the trick or treaters. Eat the sweets. Buy replacement sweets. Hide them somewhere sensible. Forget where I hid them. Buy more sweets. A flawless system. 

Oíche Shamhna Shona daoibh go léir! 👻🎃🍬

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

LIKE GNOME ONE ELSE

Dia daoibh!

October is a funny old month. Half the country is on holidays, the other half is wondering where the summer went, and the craft desk is looking at you like “Well… are we making something or just staring at cardstock again?” Naturally the cardstock won. It always does.

Today’s card is for Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog, where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes. That means the door is wide open for gnomes, fairies, magical creatures and anything your imagination can dream up. Do pop over and check out the Design Team creations because they are absolutely fabulous and packed with fantasy inspiration.

For my card I used the My Favorite Things BB You Gnome Me stamp and die set. This cheerful little gnome has clearly wandered into a mushroom patch and is having a grand time. I coloured the images with Promarkers, keeping the mushrooms nice and bright so they really pop against the clean white background.

To finish things off I added a little Glossy Accents and a sprinkling of iridescent glitter for that magical sparkle. Because if there is one thing every fantasy scene needs, it is a bit of glitter. Possibly a lot of glitter. There is no official limit.

Now it is your turn to join the fun. Anything crafty goes at HQFCB, so whether you are baking, sewing, knitting, card making or scrapbooking, we would love to see what you create. Pop your masterpiece into the gallery and share the crafty magic with us. 

And remember… if a gnome pops out of a mushroom patch waving at you, do not panic. It just means the glitter worked.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍄

Card Chain Challenge September 2026

Dia daoibh!

September has arrived, and I have reached that very productive stage of the year where I look at everything I meant to organise months ago and think, “Ah sure, there’s always next year.” Efficient. Stress free. Highly recommended. And with that impressive level of organisation, it is time for the Card Chain Challenge!

This month, my card packed its bags and headed off to Beate in Germany, while in return I received a fab card all the way from Julia in the USA. Honestly, my cards are better travelled than I am.

For this one, I chose the Make It Funny theme, along with the colour palette of peony, scarlet and plum. Then I brought out Art Impressions' Shake Your Booty Bloomer set (because nothing says friendship quite like posting someone a magnificent pair of bloomers!) 😂 The image was coloured with Promarkers, with a little sparkle added to those fabulous hearts. The German sentiment reads “Das Leben hat auch schöne Kehrseiten!”, which translates roughly as “Life has its beautiful reverse sides too!” A rather perfect sentiment when the star of the card is, quite literally, a backside! I only mounted the bloomer part on the front of the card and sent Beate the lady separately, so she can mount her inside the card if she wishes. Basically, some assembly may be required. IKEA, but with underwear.

And because one slightly bonkers lady clearly was not enough, I also made a little CAS card using Art Impressions' Loads of Fun set. Again, she was coloured with Promarkers and kept clean and simple. There she is, balancing proudly on the ironing board while the iron sits safely on the floor. Health and safety have left the building.

That is what I love about the Card Chain Challenge. You never quite know what is going to arrive through your letterbox. It might be elegant, floral, beautifully intricate... or it might be a large pair of sparkly bloomers arriving from Ireland.

Either way, the postman has questions.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

Umbrella Bloom

Dia daoibh!

September has rolled in like it owns the place. One minute you are minding your own business and the next thing the calendar is waving at you saying “Right, time to get organised.” The craft desk of course took that as a sign to do the exact opposite and produce more paper scraps than a confetti cannon at a parade.

Today’s card is for Ally’s Angels Challenge #110, where the theme is always Anything Goes. Which is the best kind of theme really. No rules, no stress, just pure crafty fun. Do pop over and check out the Design Team creations because they are absolutely amazing and full of inspiration.

For my card I used the Spellbinders Umbrella Bloom die set. I kept everything CAS, letting the die cut do all the talking. Sometimes the cardstock just wants a simple life and I am happy to support that. For embellishments I only added a little Glossy Accents and a few flatback pearls for a bit of shine. Just enough sparkle to keep things interesting but not enough to require protective goggles. The sentiment is from Tonic Studios and I stamped it with Versafine ink. Versafine behaves beautifully, which is more than can be said for the pile of craft supplies currently plotting a takeover of my desk.

Now it is your turn to join the fun. The theme is Anything Goes, so grab your stamps, dies, glitter, glue, yarn, paper or whatever crafty goodies you have nearby and come play along with us at Ally’s Angels Challenge. We would love to see your creations in the gallery.

And remember… if your craft desk looks like a paper explosion happened… congratulations. You are doing it correctly.

Sláinte,

🌼 Wendy R. 🌼 

The Male Room #214: Dots and/or stripes

Dia daoibh!

For The Male Room Challenge #214, the theme is Dots and Stripes, and this zebra has arrived wearing both with the confidence of a man who lost a bet with a box of highlighters and is now daring anyone to mention it.

The wonderfully unimpressed zebra is from the Katzelkraft Les Jungles stamp set. I stamped him with Memento ink and coloured him with Promarkers. Zebras already come with stripes, of course, but this fellow felt nature had not gone nearly far enough. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions Enjoy Today stamp set. It says “Sending Good Vibes,” although his face looks more like he is sending a strongly worded complaint about the dress code. I finished the card with Tonic Studio's Nuvo enamel drops, adding plenty of colourful dots around him. At this stage, he has stripes, spots, a rainbow jumper and the expression of someone who has just realised he is dressed like the craft aisle during a clearance sale.

We would love you to join us over at The Male Room with your dots, stripes, or both. And remember, confidence is not about looking sensible. It is about wearing every Promarker colour at once and acting as though everyone else got the memo wrong.

Thanks a million for joining the colourful fun at The Male Room  ❤️

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Kokeshi Doll

Dia daoibh!

August has arrived and I am pretending I am not noticing the evenings getting that tiny bit shorter. We are firmly in the 'still summer' mindset. Ice cream counts as a balanced meal, sandals are acceptable footwear for every occasion, and I refuse to even glance at back to school aisles. Denial is powerful.

Now it is time for Ally’s Angels Challenge #109 and as always the theme is Anything Goes. Which is perfect because August energy is very much do what you like and enjoy it. The DT's creations this month are absolutely gorgeous. So much creativity, so many styles, you could scroll with a cuppa and still want to make three cards immediately.

For my card, I went back to Spellbinders Kokeshi dolls. I built her up with layered die cuts, adding all those sweet little floral details to her kimono. The colour combo makes me ridiculously happy. Soft lavender with bold pink accents and those pops of peach. She is blooming and she knows it. The background keeps things calm with cherry blossoms, just lightly coloured so it does not steal the spotlight. I wanted the Kokeshi doll to shine front and centre. The Spellbinders sentiment 'Bloom Wildly' felt perfect. A little reminder to take up space and look fabulous doing it. Of course I could not resist embellishments. A few gems, flatback pearls, a hint of sparkle, and just enough dimension to make her feel special without tipping into over the top territory. We are classy. Mostly.

If you have not joined in yet, this is your gentle nudge. Anything Goes means your creativity gets to run free. Cards, mixed media, bright bold creations or soft and subtle designs, pop them into the gallery. We love seeing what everyone makes.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to bloom wildly myself... or at least tidy my craft desk with enthusiasm for five whole minutes.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Yeti to Party?

Dia daoibh!

July in Ireland was that glorious time of year when we all suddenly decided we were outdoorsy people. Barbecues appeared. Garden chairs were dusted off with confidence. Someone bought citronella candles like we lived in the Mediterranean. We commited fully to summer energy, even if it lasteds exactly three weeks. Optimism was strong in July.

Now onto something properly magical. It is time for HQFCB Challenge #7 for July and as always the theme is Anything Fantasy Goes. Which means dragons, fairies, yetis, mermaids, unicorns, elves and anything else your imagination can dream up. Make sure you check out the lovely DT makes because there is so much inspiration this month. Every style, every sparkle level, every kind of fantasy fun.

For my card, I used the Yeti Bundle by Conie Fong and honestly, how could you not smile at that fluffy little face. I kept it CAS with no fuss. Clean lines, bold gingham, and a birthday yeti front and centre doing his thing.

I coloured the fella with Promarkers, keeping his fur soft and giving that blue face plenty of cheerful brightness. The balloon got fully glittered up because if a yeti shows up to a birthday, he is not bringing a dull balloon. The HBD die cuts are layered for dimension and then glossed with Glossy Accents so they catch the light nicely. I added a little touch of Nuvo White Blizzard to his horns and ears for that frosty shimmer. Just enough sparkle without turning him into a disco yeti.

Do not forget to join us for HQFCB Challenge #7. Anything Fantasy Goes means exactly that. If it belongs in a magical world, it belongs in our gallery. We would absolutely love to see what you create.

Now if only real birthday parties came with this level of sparkle and zero clean up. I would happily invite a yeti to every single one.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🎈

Yes. Cake.

Dia daoibh!

July in Ireland means one thing. Me and my farmer’s tan. White as milk from the elbow up, glowing lobster from the elbow down. The watch line could guide ships safely into harbour. I spend nine months wrapped up in jumpers and then two sunny afternoons later I look like Neapolitan ice cream. It is not subtle. It is not elegant. It is seasonal art.

Now onto Ally’s Angels Challenge #108, where the theme is, as always, Anything Goes. Which suits July perfectly because clearly rules are optional this month. The Design Team creations are fabulous as usual. So much inspiration, you could lose a full cup of tea just scrolling.

For my card, I use “Patty” from Mo’s Digital Pencil and honestly she is a whole mood. That face says it all. No singing. Yes cake. I feel personally represented. I coloured her with Promarkers, leaning right into those bold reds and teals. A little blending here, a confident flick there, and we declare it artistic flair. I kept the layout CAS with a crisp white background and just a few touches of Glossy Accents for that bit of shine. Nothing fussy. Patty does not tolerate fuss. I love how she turns out. Slightly grumpy, completely fabulous, and very clear about her boundaries.

If you have not joined in yet, this is your sign. Anything Goes means exactly that. Cards, crafty experiments, sparkly creations, pop them into the gallery. We would love to see you there.

Now if you will excuse me, I will be over here rotating slowly in the garden trying to turn Neapolitan into a single shade. Patty would approve of the cake. I would approve of an even tan.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🌞

Card Chain Challenge June 2026

Dia daoibh!

June is one of those dangerous months. The craft room gets warmer, the glitter starts sticking to absolutely everything, and suddenly you are convincing yourself that buying “just one more die set” counts as self care. Completely reasonable behaviour, obviously.

Now onto the June Card Chain Challenge!

This month, I received a lovely card from Patricia, which immediately earned a spot on the “must admire repeatedly” section of the mantel piece. Meanwhile, my card packed its little crafty suitcase and flew off to Iona. Hopefully it behaved itself through customs and did not shed sequins all over the place.

For my card, I went with the “black, white, and one colour” theme and chose gold because, if we are strictly limiting ourselves to a single accent colour, we might as well make it obnoxiously fancy, right?

I made a shaker card using a Tonic Studios 5x7 shaker pocket, filled with Spellbinders sequins. The Stampin’ Up Swallowtail image was coloured with Promarkers, and I used the lovely sentiment from Taylored Expressions’ Softly Spoken set. I also splattered on some pewter Distress Ink for a bit of extra sparkle and drama.

Why join the Card Chain Challenge? Because it is basically international happy post. One minute, you are making a card at your desk in your slippers; the next, it is travelling across the world making new friends. It is creative, fun, and an excellent excuse to use supplies you absolutely forgot you owned.

Also, nothing builds character quite like trying to photograph a shaker card without catching your own reflection staring back at you like a confused banshee.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🦋

Sip Sip Hooray!

Dia daoibh!

May arrived like it owned the place. Longer evenings, a hint of sunshine, and that dangerous little feeling that you might actually sit outside with a cuppa without needing a blanket and emotional support umbrella. The flowers are blooming, the birds are showing off, and I am absolutely ready to swap winter layers for something a bit more cheerful.

Which brings me neatly to Ally’s Angels Challenge #106. As always, the theme is Anything Goes, which is basically permission to unleash your creativity and not apologise for it. The Design Team creations this month are fabulous. So much variety, so much inspiration, and not a single ounce of crafty hesitation in sight.

For my card, I used Stamping Bella’s Curvy Girl with a Cocktail, and honestly she has main character energy. That dress, that pose, that perfectly balanced sip. She knows exactly what she is about. I coloured her with Promarkers, a little glossy accents added some shine, and of course I brought in glitter because if there is a cocktail involved, there must be sparkle. I kept the overall design CAS with a white embossed background. Just enough texture to keep things interesting without distracting from my fabulous lady and her celebratory beverage. 

A few challenges:

Cut It Up #356  Flowers

C.R.A.F.T. #780 Birthday (opt. blog hop) 

Just Us Girls #823 Word Week: Flower

Little Red Wagon #857 - May Flowers

I Love Promarkers and Other Mediums #608 -  Special Occassions 

If you have not joined Ally’s Angels before, this is your sign. Anything Goes means exactly that. Cards, mixed media, crafty experiments that worked out brilliantly or surprised you along the way. Pop them into the gallery and share the joy. We genuinely love seeing what everyone creates.

Now if only real life allowed us to stand around in glittery dresses holding cocktails while someone else handled the washing up. A girl can dream. Until then, I will settle for glitter on my cardstock and possibly on my elbow.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.  🍸

Mermaid Kisses

Dia daoibh!

There was a lovely walk along the east coast of Ireland recently. The sea was sparkling and the air was fresh. No swim though. Absolutely not. Five year old me watched Jaws and that fear is still filed under Very Important Life Lessons. Only joking. Mostly. The real reason is the water is still so cold it could reset your personality. Even the sea itself looks at you like 'don’t be daft'.

Once I finished my walk and stopped pretending I was a coastal explorer, it was straight back to the craft room. If you cannot be in the sea, you can at least craft something that belongs in it. Which brings me to the challenge over at HQFCB where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes. I went with Mermaid Kisses by Mo’s Digital Pencil because mermaids are far more glamorous than anything I had going on.

This card includes a bit of real life crafting drama as the silhouette cameo decided to act like a temperamental vintage relic. So instead of wasting good cardstock I used the off page stamp technique and called it a creative choice. The image was coloured with Promarkers, finished with Tonic Studios White Blizzard Nuvo Drops for sparkle, and the sentiment was stamped with Versafine ink which behaved itself for once (which deserves a mention all on its own).

A few challenges:

Allsorts #848 - Anything But Square or Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #712 - Anything goes

Krafty Chicks #818 - Anything Goes with option of Color an Image

Crafty Gals Corner #276 - Anything Goes with optional twist of Spring

I Love Promarkers and Other Mediums #606 - Summer

Be sure to pop over and check out the DT’s creativity over on the HQFCB blog. Their makes are full of inspiration and may result in you buying supplies you absolutely do not need but will deeply love.

And finally remember. You can admire the Irish sea. You can photograph the Irish sea. You can romanticise the Irish sea. But you do not get into the Irish sea. That is how legends are born!

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍀

Hop, colour, repeat

Dia daoibh!

Easter had come and gone in a blur of chocolate wrappers and suspiciously empty egg boxes. I had every intention of being restrained this year. That lasted roughly seven minutes. Between the chocolate eggs, the fluffy bunnies, and the “just one more bite” negotiations, it was a miracle there was any cocoa left in the county. I am fairly sure the Easter Bunny and I were in direct competition.

Now onto something far less calorific but equally sweet, Ally’s Angels Challenge #105. The theme is, as always, Anything Goes. Which is basically crafter language for go wild and have the craic. The DT have some absolutely gorgeous creations this month. Honestly, the talent in that gallery could power a small village.

Here is my card.

I used Easter Carly from Mo’s Digital Pencil and she is just adorable with her little bunny and basket of eggs. I coloured her with Promarkers, had a quiet chat with myself about blending, and carried on bravely. A touch of Glossy Accents here and there added a bit of shine, and of course I brought in Nuvo Drops for that subtle sparkle. I kept the overall look clean and simple because sometimes less really is more. Even if my embellishment drawer disagrees.

Please do join in with the challenge. Anything Goes means exactly that, so bring your cards, your colours, your creativity and pop them into the gallery. We would absolutely love to see you there.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to check whether there is any chocolate left that I may have heroically missed. Card making burns calories, I am nearly certain of it.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🐰

Positivi-Tea

Dia daoibh!

Spring cleaning has arrived, which is that magical time of year when you open a drawer “just for a quick tidy” and somehow end up sitting on the floor two hours later reading instructions from a toaster you no longer own. The house smells like lemon, the windows are sparkling, and I have absolutely no idea where half my stuff went. Probably living its best life without me.

Right, onto the important business… the card!

I kept this one CAS because sometimes less is more ... and also because I had already used up all my energy deciding whether to keep or throw out a mysterious cable. I used the Gerda Steiner Positivi-Tea stamp set, stamped with Memento ink, and coloured with Promarkers. The little bear with the cuppa is basically all of us, emotionally and spiritually. And the sentiment… “Sending you some Positivi-Tea” … honestly, if tea solved problems any faster, we would have it prescribed on the HSE.

The background panel is partially die cut and embossed, giving it that bit of texture without shouting about it. For embellishments, I added some clear glossy accents for a bit of shine and a few drops of white blizzard Nuvo drops.

A few challenges:

Simply Clean and Simple - March 2026: CAS (Optional Theme: Baby Animals)  

First Cup Challenges #12 - Anything Goes

The Paper Funday #85 - Anything Goes or furs/Feathers

Fab n' Funky #633 - Four Legged Friends

CAS Colours & Sketches #581 - Sketch Challenge: 

Spring cleaning can wait. Tea and crafting are clearly the superior life skills.

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Éirinn Go Brách!

 Dia daoibh!

It is that glorious time of year again when suddenly everyone owns a shamrock somewhere on their clothing. Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all! The kettle is on, the craic is mighty, and the village is buzzing ahead of tomorrow’s celebrations.

Before the marching bands, green hats and general shenanigans kick off, I managed to sneak a few quiet minutes at the craft desk and make a card.

I kept this one CAS because sometimes simple is just perfect. The sweet Shamrock Fairy from Mo’s Digital Pencil peeks in from the side of the card like she has wandered in to see what all the fuss is about. She was coloured with Promarkers and I used the off the page technique so she looks like she is stepping right into the card. For a little sparkle I added some iridescent and green glitter ... because if there is ever a time when glitter is completely acceptable it is St Patrick’s Day.

The sentiment Éirinn Go Brách felt just right for this card. Ireland forever and a lovely little nod to the day that is in it.

A few challenges:

Aud Sentiments Blog Challenge #335 - Glitter/Bling and/or St. Patrick's Green + a Sentiment

Allsorts #845 - Things with wings or Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner #275 - Anything Goes  with optional twist of Make it Green

Color Dare Challenge #694: 

Inspiration Station #83 - Inspiration Photo: 

Tomorrow the celebrations begin. There will be parades, music, dancing, and someone somewhere attempting Irish dancing in shoes that absolutely were not designed for it. I am also fairly certain there will be at least one person proudly wearing green from head to toe like a walking shamrock field.

However you celebrate, have a wonderful St Patrick’s Day filled with laughter, a bit of sparkle and plenty of craic. 

☘️ Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! ☘️

(Pronounced roughly: law ay-la paw-drig sunna ditch)

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 

Top o’ the Morning!

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland means one thing and it is not subtle. Leprechauns appear from nowhere. Everything turns green. Shops explode with shamrocks. And before anyone asks: no, we do not turn the Liffey green. We do not need to. This island is already about forty shades of green on a Sunday. Add a bit of March drizzle and you have fifty. At least.

With all that Irish magic floating around it felt only right to lean fully into the theme for today’s card and have a bit of craic along the way. Over at Ally’s Angels Challenge Blog we are on challenge #104 and the theme is always Anything Goes. Which is basically permission to craft with wild abandon and a cup of tea in hand.

For my card I used Paddy from Mo’s Digital Pencil. He was coloured up with Promarkers, added a wee touch of Glossy Accents, and kept the whole card CAS ... because every Paddy likes to be the centre of attention ;) Honestly they would not have it any other way.

A few challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: A Bit O' Green

Crafty Catz #709 Anything goes

Fab n' Funky #632 - Shades of Green

Crafty Gals Corner #275- Anything Goes (optional: make it green)

Inspiration Station #83 - Inspiration Photo: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #214 - Clovers are Green

Now before I toddle off there must be a blessing because March demands it:

May your tea be strong

May your greens always blend smoothly

And may your leprechauns never steal your last biscuit!

Be sure to pop over and check out the DT’s creative makes over on the Ally’s Angels blog. They are full of inspiration and a serious danger to your craft supplies.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💚

A Little Bit of Luck and a Whole Lot of Glitter

Dia daoibh!

March in Ireland is that lovely in-between month where the days get longer, the light gets brighter, and we all optimistically declare winter over… while still keeping the big coat within arm’s reach. Also, a wee fun fact: St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival in the world. Tradition is tradition.

Which brings me neatly to my card for Challenge #3 over at HQFCB, where the theme is always Anything Fantasy Goes. And really, with March rolling in and St Patrick’s Day on the horizon, there was only one sensible choice… leprechauns. Obviously.

I used the leprechaun from Mo’s Digital Pencil, coloured him up with Promarkers, and then had a bit of crafter’s craic with the embellishing. I added Glossy Accents for shine and a dose of gold glitter... because leprechauns without sparkle are just tiny men in green, and that won’t do at all! At this stage I’m convinced leprechauns exist solely to justify glitter in March – and I, for one, fully support that!

A few challenges: 

Fab n' Funky #632 - Shades of Green 

Colourful Options - March 2026 - Moodboard (Option 1: Green)

Festive Friday #204 - St Patrick's Day (Incorporate 3 of the items from inspo list)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #214 - Clovers are Green 

{PIN}spirational #335 - Use Color Combo from Inspiration Image  

The DT members over at HQFCB have absolutely amazing makes for this challenge; so much inspiration, it’s well worth popping over for a look!

May the road rise to meet you,

may the rain fall softly,

and may your days be touched with a little bit of Irish magic.

Sláinte,
Wendy R. 🍀

Llama Love

Dia daoibh!

There is something very civilised about baking a few scones on a Wednesday morning. Not a weekend. Not a special occasion. Just a random Wednesday where you decide the house deserves the smell of warm scones and the kettle deserves to be working overtime. The plan was to bake a few. The reality was eating one while it was still too hot, another for “quality control,” and suddenly the plate looked suspiciously empty. Pure mystery altogether.

Now onto today’s card. 

I used the Sizzix Llama Love stamp, kept it CAS, and let the llama do the talking. The sentiment “I’d never spit on you” was stamped with Versafine so it stayed nice and crisp. Which, coming from a llama, is basically the highest compliment imaginable. That is serious commitment right there. The llama itself was stamped with Memento and then coloured with Promarkers. For embellishment I kept it simple and added a few black gems and a bit of Glossy Accents. Just enough shine without taking away from the llama’s obvious charm. Sometimes simple really is best and this one came together quicker than a kettle boils for tea.

Onto a few challenges:

Critter Crazy Challenges #108 - Always Anything Goes

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

Crafty Animals #103 - Always Anything Goes

Sunday Stamps - SSC380 - Wide Open - Sketch by Claire:

ColorDare # 693 - Colour Palette

Right so I’m off now to check on the remaining scones. Purely for safety reasons of course. Would not want them going stale. That would be a tragedy of national importance.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 💖

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. 🦋