This Reindeer was Made for Sparkling

Dia Daoibh!
Well, would you look at that — I’ve landed meself a spot as a Guest Designer for the June challenge over at Rudolph Days and I’m more delighted than a reindeer in a field of carrots! 🎄🦌

To mark the occasion, I’ve rustled up a Rudolph card that’d make even the big man himself crack a smile. The Kraft and White card die cuts were cut on my ancient Silhouette Cameo — it’s been with me longer than most of me Christmas decorations, but still going strong, fair play to it! I layered up all the die cuts with foam pads for that lovely 3D pop. 

The background paper, a sweet itty-bitty polka dot from Pink Petticoat (RIP to that crafty gem 💔), adds a gentle charm. Then of course, I had to lash on a bit of sparkle — glittered Rudolph’s nose and specs like a good elf would, and gave his antlers a glossy shine for good measure. Sure, if you're not adding glitter in June, when are you?

Onto a few challenges:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - May Technique Challenge: Use Die Cuts or Punches

Jingle Belles: Animal Antics

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for Jingle Bells & K is for Kraft are for?

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #185 - Anything Christmas Goes

FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge #20 - Anything Goes Country Christmas 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #62 - Anything Christmas Goes

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: May Challenge-I'll Be Home for Christmas Song - Lyrics- "You can count on me (you can count on me)"

Peace on Earth #88 - Anything Christmas Goes ( or Inspiration Board): 

The challenge over at over at Rudolph Days kicks off on the 25th of each month and runs till the end. A Top 3 is picked at the start of the next month, and they’re invited to guest design too! Make sure to follow the blog and join in — it’s always Anything Goes, as long as it’s handmade and Christmassy!

And before I go — here’s a wee joke to keep your sleigh bells jingling:

Who is a reindeer’s favorite celebrity?
 

Beyon-sleigh! 😄

Sláinte,

Wendy R.

Not Sold To The Circus

Dia Daoibh!

This month's Ally’s Angels challenge (Anything goes) arrives at a poignant time for me. Just yesterday, I said goodbye to my wonderful dad. He was the kind of man who appreciated a good laugh, even in the face of adversity. So, in his honor, I'm sharing the Father’s Day card I had made for him—a tribute to his strength and humor.

Crafting for dads can be a tightrope walk—glitter is a no-go, florals raise eyebrows, and ribbons might end up as makeshift cable ties. Enter the Tough Guy stamp set from Avery Elle (a classic from 2016), which perfectly captures that retro, rockabilly vibe. There's a hint of vintage circus flair to it, which inspired the cheeky inside message: “Cheers for not selling me to the the circus when I was eight… Happy Father’s Day!” And let’s not pretend it wasn’t a near thing—I was that child.

The card features a muscle-bound hero stamped in Memento ink and brought to life with Promarkers. That shine you see? It's Ranger Glossy Accents on the weights—no sweat, just strategic sparkle! The bold ‘DAD’ letters were cut with my Silhouette Cameo, stacked for 3D impact, and, yes, drenched in more Glossy Accents because subtlety has never been my strong suit.

Onto a few challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash #547 - Red, Red Wine Red as your primary color or use wine (or another beverage) as your theme, or mix it up and do both
• Try It On Tuesday - Keep it simple
• Neglected Stuff Challenge  (Must use old/neglected crafting stuff: Tough Guy stamp set) - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Always Anything Goes
• Daisy Chain Challenges - #96 - Boys/Men

This card was more than just paper and ink—it was a tribute to the man who shaped me (and survived my pre-teen years without phoning the circus). He might not get to physically open it, but I know he would’ve had a good chuckle at the sentiment—and probably made a smart remark about the glossy weights ;)

Sláinte, 

Wendy

Bear Minimum Requirements

Dia Daoibh!

I’ll keep this one short – mostly because I’m about to collapse into a duvet cocoon. It’s been a week of everything, everywhere, all at once (nurses, you know the vibe), and there’s another one queued up. So this is my last crafty upload for a wee while before I enter the work whirlwind.

Now. This bear. This mood. This sentiment.
The amazing digi stamp is from Xaxelu Design – “All We Need is Love” (…plus a touch of sass and coffee, obviously). Coloured with ProMarkers, and the mug is finished with glossy accents because life’s too short for a matte latte.

I adore this sentiment. Feels like it was written by someone who’s done one too many double shifts with no break and is now surviving purely on fumes and good intentions. Which is to say – extremely relatable.

Onto a few challenges:

• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #262 - R is for Rude
• First Cup Challenges #2 May: - Anything Drink related projects
• Digi Choosday #5 Wk 1 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals #94 - Always Anything Goes
• Critter Crazy Challenges #98 - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter
• Girlz Rebel Challenge #40 - May - Anything Goes with an image
• Carlin’s Challenge #82 – Yummy, that’s tasty

Right. Off to snore aggressively. Be kind to yourself this week – and if in doubt, blame Mercury retrograde.

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.

All White, All Right

 Dia Daoibh!

Another bank holiday bites the dust, and I spent mine in the most exhilarating way possible—peeling dried gloss paint off my fingers (turns out I’m now part human, part Dulux) and pretending I know what I’m doing in the garden. The snails are judging me. Hard.

Wedding card time! Decided to go full-on bridal with an all-white design. Embossed background? Check. Die-cuts courtesy of my geriatric Cameo? Check (after three attempts and some creative language). Piled on foam pads like I'm being paid by the layer, then added three tasteful gems because I'm fancy like that. Finished it off by glittering the 'Mr & Mrs' and rose leaves. 

A few challenges:

• Moving Along With the Times Challenge # 178 - White on White May 2025
• 2 Sisters On The Blog #97 - Wedding/wedding anniversary
• Creatalicious Challenges #288 - Anything Goes + option: Embossing (wet or dry)
• Girlz Rebel Challenge #39 - Apr - Anything Goes with flowers 
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #5 Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries and/or Sympathies + optional theme: Graduation
• The Flower Challenge #102 - Add Spots or Stripes

And just like that, another card. Or as I like to call it, another reason my kids sighs and asks if we really need more glitter on the tiles. (Yes. Yes, we do.)

Sláinte, 
Wendy R.

Mer-Mazing!

 Dia Daoibh!

Your brand new HQFCB Design Team member here, ready to dive into some fantasy fun! I'm absolutely buzzin' to be part of the Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog team! Woohooo!

May's challenge #5 of 2025 over at HQFCB is "Anything Goes" with a wee nod to mermaids if you're feelin' fancy. Now, I'm a sucker for a good mermaid tale. Anyone else remember Splash from the 80s with Daryl Hannah? Begorrah, I was always mesmerised by that tail!... 

Soooooo, I whipped up a card featuring a mermaid tail! I cut it from glitter card with my Silhouette Cameo, because who doesn't love a bit of sparkle? The wee fishes are die-cuts, and I've used gems as embellishments. Sure, you can never have too much bling, can ya?

Onto a few challenges:

• Dragonfly Dreams - May Challenge: Sea Life
• Creative Fingers - No. 300: Always Anything Goes
  
• Simply Clean and Simple - May 2025:  Clean & Simple (Optional: Flowers)
  
• Creative Inspirations Challenge #26:  Anything Goes
  
• Krafty Chicks #766: Birthday
  
• Little Red Wagon #805: Use Your Stash (using all the stashed gems)
• Crafty Calendar Challenge - May Challenge: For a Child
• Allsorts Challenge Blog #822: Inspired by a song  (Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish)
• Leigh SB Designs Inspirational Challenges - May No. 41: Mermaids or Halfoween in May or Anthing Goes 

Right so, that's my mermaid-tastic creation! Don't be a cod ;)... head on over to HQFCB  and enter the challenge! Show 'em what you're made of!

And now, for a mermaid joke to leave you with a smile:

What do fashionable mermaids wear?

Sea-quins!

 yes.. I'll see myself out ...

Sláinte! 

Wendy R.

Green, I Am!

 Dia Daoibh!

I'm absolutely chuffed to be guest designing over at Colorful Options! Thanks a bunch for having me! 

May's mood board is a special one – it's a collab with Park Hopping My Happy Place. The challenge? Pick a colour from the inspiration photo and make it shine! Now, being the maaaaaassive Star Wars geek that I am, my brain immediately went to the green scale and conjured up Yoda. 

Yoda is coloured with my trusty Promarkers, of course. For the backing paper, I got a bit crafty and created my own with some ink and a splash of watered-down bleach – a bit mad, I know! Since we're talking intergalactic vibes, I went a bit bonkers with the green gems to give that stars/planets feel. The sentiment is fitting (you know, with Yoda talking backwards and all! :).

I kept it simple by layering Yoda and the sentiment with foam pads for a bit of dimension. And naturally, the card is embellished with glossy accents and those wee little gems. Can't resist a bit of sparkle, can I?

Onto a few challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash #546 - Outta This World (Aliens - or Monsters, Stars, Moon or Planets)
• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #261 - M is for Manly
• The Creative Crafters #87 - Always Anything Goes
• Addicted to Stamps and More #491 - Make Your Mark 
• Passion For Markers Challenge  #786 - Birthdays

Hope you like my Dagobah-inspired creation!

May the 4th be with you all... and may your lightsabers be fully charged!

Sláinte!
Wendy R. 

Critter Crazy & a Cat with a Plan

Dia Daoibh!

Well, butter my crumpets and call me whiskered—I'm absolutely feline the joy of being a guest with the brilliant DT at Critter Crazy Challenges! The theme is "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter." - real or fantasy.

Let me introduce you to Scrapberry's Basik and Fishes—a stamp set that's been sitting in my stash since 2015, waiting for its moment to shine. I brought this cheeky chap to life with my Promarkers, making sure his round little face got all the attention it deserves. A swipe of Ranger's Glossy Accents on the fishbowl made it look properly glassy,  added some white enamel dots and tied it all together with silver thread.

Onto a few challenges:

• Addicted to Stamps and More #491 - Make Your Mark
  
• Cardz 4 Guyz #371 - Body of Water
• Passion For Markers Challenge #786 - Birthdays
  
• I Love Promarkers #582 -  Anything goes or Masculine
• Crafty Animals #94 - Feature an animal
• Polkadoodles #5 - Anything Goes

The Critter Crazy Challenges DT have created enough adorable critter cards to make your heart explode from cuteness overload. You simply must pop over to the blog to see their creations—they're the cat's pyjamas, the bee's knees, the... well, you get the idea. And while you're there, why not enter the challenge yourself?

Sláinte,

Wendy R. 😸🎨

P.S. That fishbowl is definitely safer on paper than it would be in my actual house... just saying!

The Last Easter Card

Dia Daoibh!

Well, that’s it, folks—my final Easter card ! [Moment of silence for the empty chocolate wrappers now littering my craft desk.]

I couldn’t resist using Sweet ‘n Sassy’s Bunny Love stamp—that little guy’s gloriously round belly was basically begging to be coloured in. Promarkers did the job nicely, and I kept things CAS because, let’s face it, that tummy deserved centre stage.

Popped the die-cut onto some  lilac cardstock for a bit of depth, then layered it onto the card. And because every bunny needs a snack, I added a cute little carrot garland—no glitter disasters this time, just good old-fashioned glittercard!

Onto a few challenges: 

• I Love Promarkers #581 Anything goes or No Patterned Papers

• Dragonfly Dreams - Apr - Animals
  

• Sweet Stampin: Easter Creations 
  

• Daring Cardmakers  - Little lambs, fluffy chicks and baby bunnies
  

• Krafty Chicks #764 - Clean and Simple

So there we have it—my Easter card-making officially wraps up with one chubby, happy bunny. Now, who’s ready for Christmas in July? …Too soon?

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

Glitter, Glue & Chocolate Comas

Dia Daoibh!

Well, Easter has come and gone, and my kitchen now looks like a chocolate smuggling operation. There are chocolate Easter eggs everywhere – hidden in cupboards, stashed behind the cereal box, and let’s not even talk about the “emergency” stash in the bread bin. (What? A girl needs options.) 

Onto today’s card! I used the Unicorn stamp set from The Rabbit Hole Designs.  I strongly relate to this unicorn .. and the sentiment ;) ... Same energy, honestly....

Coloured the little guy with my trusty Promarkers, then went full mad scientist on the background (stencilled). Mixed up a DIY paste of iridescent glitter and Ranger Glossy Accents – which, by the way, is basically crafting cement. That paintbrush is done for. RIP, little buddy. You died for sparkle. Popped the whole thing up on foam pads for dimension, because if I’ve learned anything from Easter, it’s that everything’s better with a bit of extra oomph. (See also: chocolate consumption.)

Onto a few challenges:

• First Cup Challenges #1 April: - Anything Drink related projects
• Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog #4 Anything Goes Fantasy and/or Focus on Unicorn
• I Love Promarkers #581 Anything goes or No Patterned Papers
• We Love 2 Create #4 - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
• CAS on Friday No. 307: Use a Stencil
• Halloween and Other Ocassions Crafts All Year Round #25: Birthday
• AAA Cards #288 - Sketch: 
  
  
  

Right, I’m off to “supervise” the remaining Easter chocolate. (Quality control is very important.) Wishing you all a post-Easter glow – whether it’s from glitter, sugar, or sheer denial about Monday.

Sláinte, 

Wendy R. 

(P.S. If you need me, I’ll be in a chocolate coma, pretending I don’t own a vacuum.)