Sunday, 2 August 2026

The Card Chain Challenge Reveal - July 2026

We are all about spreading love around the world, 
one handmade card at a time!!


Hi there, Card Fans, over at The Card Chain Challenge we had 26 participants who exchanged cards across the globe throughout July. This brings our total number of cards exchanged by Card Chain Challenge participants to a rather staggering 5,028. All hail Gail for all she does to keep this challenge moving along so smoothly.

All the cards exchanged this month used at least one of the following options:
 

Colour Palette Option

(Exact matching is not required.)


Sketch Option
(Orient as desired.)


Theme Options: Cocktails / Pets / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Embossing Powder / Ink Blending

My card went winging it's way across the Pond to Jeanne. 


I enjoyed playing with the colours and the cocktails theme. After creating a stencil I got busy stamping, colouring and cutting cocktails from a sweet Newton's Nook set I've had for ages.  

Brenda in the UK sent me this beauty.

Thanks, Brenda, I love it!


If you'd like to join us over at The Card Chain Challenge we'd love to have you! 

Saturday, 1 August 2026

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #277 - A is for Animals


Welcome, welcome, welcome! The Sisterhood and Good Queen Jenn, are playing - A is for Animals and we'd LOVE you to come and join us. 

My offering isn't on the snarky side, but does have cute in abundance.


Just look at these Unity sheep from the set Shear Surprise. They are currently on sale... just sayin'. 

As always, we would love for you to join the sisterhood and play along.

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #112 - Reminder


 

Over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge I'm so happy to welcome back our July elfin: Lynn AKA Linby from Crafty Linby.


Challenge #112 - Grace Us with Your Presents!

Lynn picked a fab theme and so we'd like to see gifts and presents galore this month on your cards. 

In the previous post I mentioned that Lynn had kindly made a second card to inspire us, and I'd love it if you headed over to take a look.

Here's a reminder of Lynn's first card...


For my 'Inspired by...' card I really wanted to 'steal' Lynn's use of DP to frame the image, but just couldn't find the right mix of papers to even come close to achieving a similar look.

The gifts on the sledge immediately reminded me of LOTV stamp Sledging Party. This stamp doesn't seem to be available any longer, but there are some gorgeous digi stamps to be found here on the LOTV Etsy shop.


I've not added a sentiment, but may do later when I decide who I'm sending this to. This is such a sweet image, but believe me it takes ages to figure out which leg belongs to which child! 😆😆😆

Rudolph has chosen a gorgeous prize for his July Randon Raffle. 



You can see Lynn's cards and enter the challenge by heading here

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #112 - Grace Us with Your Presents


 

It's time for a new challenge and a brand new guest over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge. Our July calendar girl is Lynn AKA Linby from Crafty Linby. I've been following Lynn's creative journey for quite a while (huge understatement) and I know you'll enjoy her cardmaking style as much as I do...



Lynn has picked such a fun theme for our challenge together...

Challenge #112 - Grace Us with Your Presents!

We'd like to see gifts and presents galore this month on your cards and I know you will love the card Lynn's made to kickstart our creative month together.

Here's what I made:


I had so much fun stamping and colouring North Pole Mischief from Stampin' Up! I was planning to emboss the red card, but had assembled everything before I remembered. 😐

Rudolph has chosen a gorgeous prize for his Randon Raffle.



Just look at that wreath - so pretty. Please head on over and take a look at our guidelines before signing-up to play so you can be included in his Random Raffle Draw

Lynn and I are both so excited to see what you create for this challenge and hope that you'll come and join the fun!

Saturday, 4 July 2026

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #276 - X is for Xmas in July



It's July... And that can only mean one thing: Christmas cards! The year has tipped balance and we are in the downhill sleigh ride towards the Festive Season. Edna has wrapped the gifts and decorated the tree, whilst also taking time to inflate a flamingo and head to the beach! She's got it all covered.

Yes, the Sistahs, and our fabulous Queen, are all about putting the X in Xmas, and we'd love you to come and join the fun. 


I was in the mood for a pink creation so I grabbed a Newton's Nook stencil set,  a Reverse Confeffi stamp AND a little MFT snark. This is so pretty IRL, but the camera has done something odd with the colours so they appear less harmonious. 

We look forward to seeing what YOU create for our challenge, so please come and play along!

And it's not just The Sisterhood who are celebrating Christmas in July as our friends over at The Lost Coast Portal to Creativity are getting their Christmas on too! 




Thursday, 2 July 2026

The Card Chain Challenge Reveal - June 2026

It's Reveal time over at The Card Chain Challenge 
and do we have BIG news for you!
 


We had 25 participants who exchanged cards across the globe this month, meaning that the total number of cards exchanged thus far by Card Chain Challenge participants is 5,002.
 

Yes, folks we've reached and passed a new milestone over at CCC because a rather amazing 5,000 cards have flown around the planet since the challenge began. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this possible! Huge thanks to Gail for everything she does to keep this challenge fun, fun, fun! If you drop by at The Card Chain Challenge you'll see we have a little surprise for one of our lovely participants!

All the cards exchanged June used at least one of the following options:
 

Colour Palette Option
(Exact matching is not required.)


Sketch Option

(Orient as desired.)


Theme Options: Tea or Coffee / Safari / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Embossing / Shaped Card
 
Here's what I sent to Alice in Austria:


The sketch put me in the mood for butterflies and while I tried really hard to go with the colour palette, my plain yellow butterflies needed a 'glow-up' so I added some orange too! 

Kathy in the UK sent me this beautiful make - isn't it gorgeous. Thanks so much, Kathy.



Want to join the fun????
Hey, if you want to join in the fun you can sign up for the Card Chain Challenge.  All sign ups run in advance, from the 7th of the preceding month to the 6th of the exchange month.  All reveals happen on the 2nd of the month after the exchange is complete.

Saturday, 6 June 2026

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - R is for Rainbow

 


It's June and that means Pride Month! The Sisterhood and our mascot, Edna, are flying their Pride flags with, well, PRIDE, and very much hope that you will come and join the fun!

Regular visitors won't be surprised that my card is silly one. We have a scurry of squirrels who live in and around our garden. We have one particular squirrel who is especially happy to be around us, eats from the bird table and brings her babies for a meet and greet when they are old enough. I thought I'd make this card for my hubby to celebrate this special friendship, which unfortunately skates on thin ice each Spring when the squirrels eat the tulip bulbs.

Why not get your PRIDE on with us this month!

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

The Card Chain Challenge Reveal - May 2026

 
We are all about spreading love around the world, 
one handmade card at a time!!


The month's really do fly by, don't they. Can you beleive it's time for the May Reveal over at The Card Chain Challenge? No, me neither but it really is.

All the cards exchanged this month used at least one of the following options:
 

Colour Palette Option

or

Sketch Option


or 

Theme Options:
Floral / Postal / Friendship

or 

Product / Technique Options:
Twine or Thread / Spinner Card


Here's what I sent to Majda in Slovenia. I was feeling floral for a change, and decided to create a Spring bouquet for Majda!


Wendy In Ireland was my lovely sender and just look what winged it's way across the Irish Sea! Thanks so much, Wendy, it's beautiful. 


 And if you want to join in the fun you can sign up for the Card Chain Challenge.  All sign ups run in advance, from the 7th of the preceding month to the 6th of the exchange month.  All reveals happen on the 2nd of the month after the exchange is complete.

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #110 - SNOW DAY!

 

Its the first Tuesday in the month and so we have a brand new challenge over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge, where I'm delighted to welcome Caroline from KISS as our elfin guest this month! If you head on over you can read all about our guest.


Caroline has chosen the perfect theme for us:

Challenge #111 - SNOW DAY!

We'd love to see your take on this. Play it however you want, but there HAS to be snow! 

You can visit see Caroline's stunning card over on the main blog. 
Here's what I made...


I had so much fun creating this little scene. It's a SNOW DAY and the school is closed. Mom has just asked the kids to stand still, hold hands and pose with snowballs in their hands, but this is the moment when they start to pull apart and take aim! 

My second card was also fun to put together. I only wish I'd thought to put wobblers under the robins for added fun. 


The birdies are from Honey Bee Stamps. The set is now out of stock. 

Here's Rudolph with another lovely Random Raffle Prize:



Rudolph thought it would be fun to offer the same Concord and 9th set I used for my card! There are so many different ways to use this sweet stamp set.

Caroline and I are both very excited to see what you guys come up with for our June Challenge. 

Friday, 15 May 2026

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #110 - Season's Tweetings - Reminder

 
We're in great company over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge as we welcome back Joanne from Ambrosia and Iron as our guest elf for May. 


Challenge #110 - Season's Tweetings

We're all about our feathered friends this month and Joanne has very kindly created a second card for our challenge. Don't you just LOVE her penguin card, I know I do!

Here's Joanne's first card for our challenge. I had both of her cards saved on my PC by the time I came to make my 'Inspired by' creation, so they merged in my head a bit!


I made this card using Joanne's idea of a snowy, coloured background, but went with the darker colouring of her second card. I was going to use her big sentiment style, but after I'd made the card I decided I liked it as it is. I might add something top left as now I'm looking at the card again it looks a little empty. I always enjoy colouring the AALL and Create Owls.


For my second card I did go with a Joanne-esque big sentiment:


I think the Penny Black Twelve Days of Christmas set is so comical. It's quite an oldie now, but I was thrilled to snag it on eBay a couple of months ago - and at a good price too. I asked my hubby if he got the 'joke' of this card and he asked if they were burglar hens. I'm taking that as a no.


As always, Rudolph has a lovely Random Raffle Prize on offer




Isn't this a gorgeous set! Please remember to read the Challenge Guidelines before signing-up to play if you're new to Christmas Kickstart.

Joanne and I can't wait to see what you create for this fun theme!