6.4.25

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:



Have a great day, folks!  😉

Sláinte,
Wendy R.

Blinky, Inky & Clyde

Dia Daoibh!

Well, that was a lovely two days of sunshine, wasn’t it? Just enough time to dust off the barbecue, dig out the sunglasses, and remember what that big yellow thing in the sky is called… before the rain came back with a vengeance. Ah, Ireland, you fickle tease. One minute we’re basking in the glow of "summer," the next we’re back to the usual—windswept hair and wellies as permanent footwear. But hey, at least it keeps our complexions dewy, right?

Now, onto today’s card—because what better way to cheer up a soggy day than with some good old-fashioned Pac-Man nostalgia? I designed the pixelated SVG files with a little help from Corel Draw. Meet the gang: Pac-Man himself, Clyde, Blinky, and Inky, all cut out with my trusty Silhouette Cameo. I mounted them with foam tape for a bit of dimension because, let’s face it, flat is so last season.


The "HB2U" letters are in the Joystick font (free download—thank you, internet!) and were also cut with the Silhouette. I layered them up and then, because everything is better with glitter, I went full magpie and bedazzled them in black sparkle. Because why wouldn’t you want your birthday message to look like it’s been dipped in disco dust?

Onto a few challenges:

So there you have it—a card that’s fun, nostalgic, and just the right amount of extra. Perfect for any retro gaming fan, or really anyone who appreciates a good glitter explosion.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dig out my raincoat… again. 
Sláinte,
Wendy R. 

30.3.25

Birdbrains

Dia Daoibh!

Well, here we are—another crafting session miraculously squeezed in between surviving back-to-back 12+ hour shifts (because apparently, sleep is optional when you’re a nurse and a card-making maniac). Today’s little burst of creative therapy features the absolutely adorable Easter Egg Birdbrains by the late, great Faith Skrdla (From The Heart Stamps).


  Tap the pic for an enhanced view ;)

I’ve brought these feathery goofballs to life with my beloved Promarkers (because even birdbrains deserve to look fabulous), then slapped on some iridescent glitter—partly for sparkle, partly to distract from the fact that I may or may not have coloured outside the lines just a smidge. The sentiment (Hello Bluebird’s retired Spring Banner Script) was stamped in Stazon ink—AKA the only ink that doesn’t smudge when I inevitably sneeze glitter halfway through.

Now, I could have gone full-on Easter extravaganza with layers, die-cuts, and enough embellishments to make the Easter Bunny himself apply for overtime... but between you and me, Nurse Wendy's current life admin consists of remembering which day is bin day and occasionally feeding herself. So CAS was the only logical approach!

A few challenges: 


And for a joke so bad it should be hidden in the deepest, darkest corner of the garden:

Why did the Easter egg hide?

Because it was a little chicken!

(I’ll see myself out… right after I mainline another coffee.)
Sláinte, 
Wendy R. 

A Festive Toast

Dia Daoibh!

Well, butter my crumpets and call me festive – I've gone and created a Christmas card so simple, it practically made itself! Today I'm sharing my one-layer wonder featuring the hilarious ' A Festive Toast' stamp from Crafter's Companion. 

  Tap the pic for an enhanced view ;)

I've brought this cheeky carb to life with my trusty Promarkers (because even toast deserves to look its best), added just a wee skoosh of glitter (legal requirement for December crafting), and finished with some sparkly red gems – for that extra cheeky wink of festivity. Now, I could have gone full Christmas-crazy with layers, die-cuts and enough embellishments to make a reindeer dizzy... but where's the fun in that? Instead, I kept it CAS (... or as I like to call it: "Look, Ma! No glue gun burns!").

A few challenges:
And because no blog post is complete without a terrible Christmas pun to make you groan louder than Uncle Terry after his third helping of turkey:

Why did the snowman bring a ladder to the Christmas party?

…Because he heard the drinks were on the house!
(I’ll see myself out.)

Sláinte, 
Wendy R. 

Wheely Cute

Dia Daoibh!

Feast your eyes on this absolutely adorable little bunny from the brilliant Rachelle Anne Miller – and would you look at that? This happy wee chap (or lass!) is off on a delightful bicycle ride!  Honestly, could it be any more charming?  Pssst… fancy making your wallet as happy as this bunny? Simply RAM-ember to use code WENDYR at checkout and bag yourself 10% off every purchase! No hopping around the bush – that’s a blooming good deal!



I kept the design sweet and simple, colouring with my go-to Promarkers, then added some sparkle with iridescent glitter (because who doesn’t love a bit of shimmer?) and glossy accents on the eggs and bike wheels  for extra dimension. And yes, of course, a few enamel dots joined the party – they’re like the confetti of cardmaking! The background paper is from Pink Petticoat / The Lovely Studio’s gingham collection – such a perfect picnic-perfect pattern, though sadly Liz is no longer trading. 

Onto a few challenges:
CAS on Friday – #305 Spring
I Love Promarkers #579 Anything goes or girly card 
Paper Shelter #631 Feathers or Fur
Simon Says Stamps - Anything goes (optional: use Waffle Flower Products)
Allsorts #819 Feminine  or Anything Goes 
Cardz 4 Galz #246 Springtime 
Moving along with the Times #176  March - Pets
2 Sisters On The Blog #95 - Spring and/or Easter

Hope this bunny brightens your day! And since Easter’s hopping closer, here’s a joke to egg you on:

Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke?
…Because it might crack up! 🥚😂

Okay, okay—I’ll hop off now. Happy crafting! 🐇💖

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x

Eggs-tra Manly Easter Card (No Bunnies Were Harmed)

Dia Daoibh!

 I've realised my Easter card collection is eggs-clusively (sorry) aimed at the fluffy-bunny-and-chicks fan club. Which is great… unless you’re trying to make a card for the men in your life who might raise an eyebrow at a pastel parade of tiny animals in waistcoats. 


                               Tap the pic for an enhanced view ;)

So, I decided to keep it simple and slightly more man-friendly with the ‘Osterhängerchen’ stamp set from - ready to bring the festive cheer without the frills. Stamped with Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. I love looove looooove how versatile this stamp set is. Next step? Investing in the matching dies, because cutting out fiddly little egg shapes is not how I want to spend my Sundays ;) For the sentiment, I went full die-cut diva—layered, glossy-accented (Ranger’s, obvs), and looking sharpThe enamel dots? Totally planned. Definitely not because I got distracted by something shiny. Again.

Onto a few challenges:


So there you have it— an Easter card that even the most sceptical uncle can appreciate. Or at least pretend to, while plotting how to steal all the Crème Eggs.

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x

24.3.25

Spring Has ‘Sprung’

Dia Daoibh!

Ah, sure look—it’s officially spring! Or at least, that’s what the calendar claims. Here in Ireland, "spring" mostly means the rain has upgraded from vertical to sideways, and the shops are suddenly heaving with enough chocolate eggs to send us all into a sugar coma by Monday. Priorities, people! ;) 

Meanwhile, I’ve been working with my trusty vintage Silhouette Cameo (which, let’s be honest, is basically the crafting equivalent of a Nokia 3310—indestructible and weirdly nostalgic). I’ve been slicing, dicing, and bedazzling like a woman possessed because, let’s face it, when the weather’s this grim, what else is there to do but craft and eat Mini Eggs?

Tap the pic for an enhanced view ;)

The backing papers are from the Lovely Studio (sadly no longer trading), and I’ve jazzed them up with die cuts, glitter (because subtlety is overrated), Glossy Accents (for that "ooh, shiny!" factor), and even some rogue silver thread (which may or may not have tangled itself into next week).

Onto a few challenges:
Creative Crafting Uncles #63 Spring and/or Easter
A Cut Above - Die Cut Challenge Blog  (Must Use at least one die cut using a machine, not a pre-fabricated) Mar - Anything Goes
Everybody-Art-Challenge #575 - Lots of Layers
Try It On Tuesday Spring Fling
2 Sisters On The Blog #95 - Spring and/or Easter

With a hectic workweek looming, I’m squeezing in all the crafty chaos I can tonight—because nothing says "I’m an adult" like staying up late to glue tiny bits of paper together while mainlining tea.

So here’s to Easter, to spring (or at least the idea of it), and to chocolate eggs that definitely don’t count as calories if you eat them while crafting. May your bunnies be glittery, your die cuts be precise, and your raincoat be waterproof!

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x

Glitter Bunnies

Dia Daoibh!

Well, crafty friends, I’ve been at it again— trying to transform humble cardstock into something that shimmers with festive cheer! 

Tap the pic for an enhanced view ;)

First, let’s take a moment to appreciate the Lovely Studio/ Pink Petticoat backing papers—absolutely divine, though sadly no longer with us. (Cue dramatic sigh.) I’ve been guarding these like a dragon with a particularly pretty hoard, and Easter felt like the perfect time to let them shine.

Next up, my wee rabbits—a self-designed SVG cut with my trusty (and slightly vintage) Silhouette Cameo. It’s seen better days, but like a determined little trooper, it still delivers! These bouncy fellows were crafted from iridescent white glitter cardstock because, let’s face it, Easter should always have a bit of sparkle.

The "Easter Blessings" sentiment got the Ranger’s Glossy Accents treatment—transforming it from "nice" to "Ooh, shiny!" in seconds. (No regrets. Zero.)

Onto  a few challenges:


So here we are: a card that’s equal parts whimsy and wonder, with bunnies that practically glow. Wishing you an Easter filled with joy, chocolate, and just the right amount of crafty chaos!

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x

With a Side of Scotch!

Dia Daoibh!

Well, my nerves are doing the cha-cha today—I’ve just sent off my CV and cover letter for a Leadership in Clinical Governance position (say that five times fast!). Between you and me, my stomach’s hosting a full-on ceilidh of butterflies. So, what’s the best way to shoo them away? A wee bit of cardmaking, of course!

Today’s creation features the fabulous Whiskey Business Cling Stamp Set from Stampin’ Up. Because nothing says “calm under pressure” like a stamp set dedicated to Scotland’s finest liquid courage, am I right? (Don’t worry, I stuck to colouring with Promarkers—no actual Scotch was harmed in the making of this card… though a dram may have been consumed afterwards for research purposes.)


I kept the design simple—coloured the Scotch, added some clear flatback gems for a bit of bling (because even a stiff drink deserves to sparkle), and stamped a sentiment (free from a craft magazine many moons ago) in Staz-On ink—because nothing says "permanent life choice" like a sentiment that won’t budge, much like my love for puns.

I’ll be entering this into a few challenges :
--

Anyway, if you're also drowning in adulting—whether it's job applications, life-altering decisions, or the crushing realisation that your cat judges you harder than your own inner critic—just know you're not alone  remember: deep breaths, a wee bit of crafting, and maybe a cheeky whisky reference. Or just the whisky. No judgement here.

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x

P.S. If I don’t get the job, at least my cardmaking skills are still on the rocks. (I’ll see myself out.)

18.3.25

Crafting, Craic, and Christmas in March

Dia Daoibh!

Well, St. Patrick’s Day went grand – I was on night shift over the bank holiday, but I managed to sneak in for the last half hour of the céilí at the local pub. Let’s just say, I’m fairly certain Disprin is now the official sponsor of March 18th. 😉 But hey, it was worth it! The craic was mighty!

Now, onto my card for today. I decided to channel my inner Grinch because, well, why not? Christmas in March? Sure, it’s practically summer in Ireland anyway! (Kidding, it’s still raining sideways.)


I created a Grinch Christmas tree card using my Silhouette machine. I layered it up to add some dimension, and kept the embellishments simple – just a touch of gloss and glitter. Because if there’s one thing the Grinch needs, it’s a bit of sparkle to soften that grumpy heart of his.

I’m entering this into a few challenges 

Until next time, keep crafting, keep laughing, and keep the Disprin close.

Sláinte!
Wendy R. x