Glitter, Splatters & Irish Weather Matters

Dia daoibh!

Ah sure, it’s that grand confusing time of year again in Ireland ... the season of “four weathers before lunch.” You leave the house dressed for frostbite, and by midday you’re peeling off layers like an onion with commitment issues. The washing line looks like a science experiment - socks flapping one minute, hailstones bouncing off them the next. Typical November - mother nature’s throwing tantrums and we’re just holding the umbrella.

Anyway! Onto something far more reliable than the Irish forecast: the Card Chain Challenge for October! I received a gorgeous card from Brenda in the UK, and in return my own creation packed its crafty suitcase and flew off to Alice in Finland, hopefully dodging reindeer traffic on the way.

For my card, I went with the Colour Palette: Pumpkin, Cherry & Chocolate (sounds like a dessert, doesn’t it?) - and also the Product/Technique option: Glitter & Splatters. My desk looked like I lost a bar fight with a bottle of Stickles, but sure that’s half the fun!

I used the Spellbinders “Hiking Through the Meadows” dies, cut from Tonic Studio cardstock, and layered it all up with foam pads for that posh 3D look (or, as I call it, “strategic height to hide the dodgy glue marks”). Then I added splatterings of copper Distress Ink, a few gems, glossy accents, and Nuvo Drops in Vintage Gold, because subtlety left the craft room a long time ago. The sentiment was stamped with StazOn, because if I’m committing to something, it might as well be permanent!

So here it is - a fine pair of hiking boots overflowing with autumn blooms. My real boots, on the other hand, look like they’ve survived a turf-cutting festival and lost the will to live.

A few challenges:
Beautiful Blossoms - #34 - Anything Flowers Goes (optional Mood Board)
A Perfect Time To Craft - November - Anything Goes
Classic Design Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything Goes (optional Autumn Splendor)
Creatalicious Challenges - #294 - Anything Goes (optional Fall Colours or Halloween)
Love to Craft - LTCCB#89 Anything Goes 
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #210 - Fall Leaves /Turkey

If you haven’t joined the Card Chain Challenge yet, honestly, what are you waiting for? It’s like pen pals for crafters ... only with more sparkle, less guilt, and absolutely no chance of getting ghosted unless your postman’s on a tea break. You send one card, get one back, and end up grinning like you’ve just found a tenner in last winter’s coat pocket.

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 🍁🍂

Hello, My Name Is… Craft Hoarder

Dia daoibh!

You know that moment when you sit down to make one card and end up with enough extra die cuts to open a small craft shop? Aye, that’s me every time. I swear the leaves multiply in the night ... I close the drawer and the next morning it looks like an autumn explosion. If paper had a breeding season, it’d be now 😂.

So, today’s card is proudly sponsored by my ever-growing pile of “I’ll use that later” bits! I pulled out the Spellbinders Autumn Sealed Sprigs dies and Spellbinders Sealed Squiggles, all cut from Tonic Studios cardstock and a sprinkle of glitter card for sparkle. I also added some Nuvo Stone Drops for a bit of posh texture. The big shiny “hello” was cut from cardstock, layered up, and finished with Glossy Accents.

Onto a few challenges:

• Beautiful Blossoms #34 - Anything Flowers Goes
• Classic Design Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything Goes + option: Autumn Splendor
• The Crafting Challenge - October - Autumn / Halloween
• Creatalicious Challenges #294 - Anything Goes (option: Fall Colors or Halloween)
• The Four Seasons Challenge - October -Anything Fall Goes: 
  

And there we have it ... a cheerful autumn hello made from my “craft chaos” stash. Now, if only I could find the table under the rest of the die cuts…

Sláinte,

🍁Wendy R.🍂

Autumn Leaves & Overtime Dreams

Dia daoibh!

I know, I know… it’s been suspiciously quiet around here lately! You might have thought I’d gone off on a luxury retreat or joined a circus—but alas, no. I’ve simply moved into work. Between staff shortages and endless shifts, I was starting to wonder if I should start paying rent for the staff room. The good news? All that overtime finally paid off—literally! I treated myself to a shiny new tumble dryer. Nothing says “living the dream” quite like dry socks and lint-free joy.

Now, onto my card before I start reviewing appliance warranties for fun. 

Since autumn is in full bloom (and the trees are showing off like contestants on Strictly Come Dancing), I decided to play with the Spellbinders Autumn Sealed Sprigs Etched Dies and Spellbinders Sealed Squiggles. Everything’s cut from Tonic Studios cardstock with a touch of glitter card. I added a strip of washi tape, a sprinkle of glitter, a few Nuvo drops, and some gold gems for embellishment. I kept it sentiment-free this time ... sometimes the card just speaks for itself (and this one says, “I’m approachable”)

Onto a few challenges:

• Craft Rocket Challenges #130  - Autumn/Halloween
• Krafty Chicks #790 - CAS
• The Paper Players PP760 - CAS - Foliage 

• Tic Tac Toe Challenge #281 - (any shape die, free, fall colors) 
  

Right, I’d better sign off before my tumble dryer starts thinking I’ve run off with the washing machine—it’s a bit clingy since it realised it’s the newer model.

Sláinte,

🍂Wendy R. 🍁

Let’s Flamingle

Dia daoibh!

It’s time for Challenge #99 (Anything goes) at Ally’s Angels - and while we’re knee-deep in soggy weather in Ireland, the folks in the southern hemisphere are swanning about in their shorts and sunnies. Honestly, I think the flamingo on my card is plotting a one-way flight to Melbourne.

So, onto the card! 

I used Spellbinders Grand Flamingos die set, cut from gorgeous Tonic Studios cardstock. A splash of glossy accents and glitter, a sprinkle of caribbean blue nuvo glitter drops, and a dash of sparkly gems — because no flamingo worth its feathers leaves the house without bling.

I left off a sentiment so this card can sashay into any occasion: birthdays, celebrations, or even “sorry I nicked your paddling pool while pretending it was a lagoon.”

Onto a few challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes 
• The Paper Funday #80 - Anything Goes/Optional of Cute or Creepy
• A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes
• A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges #346 - Add pearls or gems or both

And let’s be honest — flamingos are meant to stand on one leg, but mine’s clearly knackered and leaning on the flowers for support. Diva behaviour at its finest!

Sláinte,

Wendy R.🌴