The Card Chain Challenge Reveal - May 2025

After a quiet start to the Sign-Up we had 21 participants who exchanged cards across the globe this month, and we even welcomed a new player!

 

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: Chickens / Smiles and Laughter / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Ribbon or Lace / Lacé

Here's how I played the options: I went with the theme option of Chickens, sprinkled in a little whimsy and then sort of picked-up the colour palette for the hens. 

The set is called Picket Fence Studios - One Hot Chick, but seems to be discontinued and out of stock wherever I look. Such a pity as these chicks are adorbs. I sent this card clucking all the way to Mia in Greece.

 

My sender this month was Imke in Germany and she sent me this little piece of wonderful...

Thanks so much, Imke, your card is a delight!

 

If you'd like to see the full Reveal grab a coffee and head on over! 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge # 218 - K is for Kraft

 

Hi there, happy Saturday to you all!

Kraft cardstock - much beloved by crafters, but not so much by those outside the crafting world, am I right? Personally, I'm a huge fan of kraft as I love the muted, knocked-back look it gives to inks and the way it makes pencil crayons 'pop'. 

The Sisters are celebrating all things kraft for the next two weeks and I know you're going to LOVE what they're created for this challenge. Here's what I made...

I created some paper stencils for the larger shapes and got inky with a variety of different colours. Then I added some stamping from a stamp set that has since gone AWOL! (When it resurfaces I'll add in the details.) Then, I added that brilliant Picket Fence phrase and called it job done.

There's so much potential with this theme it positively hurts, so why not add a little kraft to your project and come play along!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #200 - S is for Snarky!

 

It's a proud, proud moment for us girls over at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers as we reach Challenge #200! As always, we're doing it in fine style with an awesome graphic from our Graphics Goddess Sister Lee. 

I can't tell you what an amazing crew these gals are - witty, supportive and full of love, the sisterhood are just a fabulous bunch and I'm so grateful to be one of their number.

As you can imagine we've had heaps of fun with this theme AND we have a brilliant Queen of Snark on board to help us celebrate.

Here's my card for the challenge. For some reason a sarcastic rabbit just hit the spot for me!

I used sets from Picket Fence (Driving the Karma Bus and Peach and Piper) and a gorgeous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil called Scribbles to make my card. 

We're delighted to have a sponsor on board for this challenge, and it's a great company for those of you who love great images and snarky sentiments! It's Lost Coast Designs.

Lost Coast Designs is a rubber stamp company based in Spokane Valley, WA.  Along with its sister company, Carmen’s Veranda, it offers a sophisticated line of unique red rubber and clear polymer stamps in an extensive range of styles, including vintage, collage, gothic, shrine, angel, and many others, to excite your creative impulses.  

Please come on over to the Sisterhood and help us celebrate in style!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #190 - C is for Colourful

There's a brand new challenge over at The Sisterhood and we're so excited to be playing C is for Colourful for the next two weeks!

Hands up if you want a dress like Edna's? Tie dye is sooooooooooooo in again right now.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to have a little win over at Lost Coast Designs. I requested this gorgeous image as my prize.

I had so much fun stenciling, colouring these gals and adding that lovely, snarky Picket Fence sentiment.

We have a great guest, and the team have created some fabulous cards for this theme. Hope you'll come and play along!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #188 - W is for Watercolour

Doesn't Edna look lovely in her water colour garden! Yes, we're playing with W is for Watercolour over at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and we want YOU to come and play along!

I created a watery, smooshy inked background and then got busy inking and colouring with some Picket Fence stamps.

I added a tiny piece of washi tape to 'ground' the girls.

The sisters, and our new Queen, have created some fabulous water colour themed creations and would love you to come and play along.

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #185 - A is for Animals

 

Do we have the best Graphics goddess or what! Another fabulous Edna gets challenge #185 off to a glorious start over at the Sisterhood. 

I couldn't resist matching a little stencilling, a fun meerkat and a snarky saying for my card.

The Katzelkraft meerkat just begged to be given a googly eye! The sentiment if from Picket Fence Studios. I've started to use smooth watercolour card for my Distress inked background and have to say that I'm loving the effect. What do you guys use? 

Hope you have a safe, crafty day and that you come and join the Sistahs and our fabulous Queen for a fun challenge!

Let's Squash It! Challenge #8 -

It's time for a new Challenge over at Let's Squash It!  I think this is one you're gonna love!

This month we'd like you to use an embossing folder that leaves some un-embossed space and also add some bling such as sequins, pearls, rhinestones, glitter. 

For my card I broke out some tiny jewels and yes, it took ages to find them in a pack of multicolored gems!

I've paired a Picket Fence Beautiful Girl with a Crafts Too Trellis folder. Sadly, I don't think this folder is available now as it's quite an oldie. 

We have another lovely guest with us this month, so please head on over to see who it is and also see Gail's fabulous make. We hope you'll come and Squash It! with us.  

Birthday Girl, Wish Big!

 Hi there, it's another cool but sunny day here in the UK and my craftroom is bathed in sunshine!

I'm delighted to be playing along with two of my favourite challenges today.

Seize the Birthday is offering a Topping of Spring Flowers and Lost Coast would like to see a prominent sentiment on your card. I'm hoping this card fits the bill for both challenges.  

I've coloured and fussy cut Picket Fence Studios Kendyll and paired her with a gorgeous sentiment from Colarado Crafts Lovely Legs - Birthday. The stencilling in the background was created with a Newton's Nook stencil. 

I could spend all day making cards like this as I love a sweet and simple design... and a bit of kraft card.

Stay safe, and have a lovely weekend!

Let's Squash It! Challenge #7 - Three Folders and a Person

 Hi there, it's time for another fun challenge over at Let's Squash It! and this month we have a recipe for you...

We'd like to see at least three embossing folders plus a person or people on your card. 

For my card I stamped and coloured gorgeous Picket Fence Studios Girl - Jordan and paired her with a Distress Ink background using Kaisercraft EF Crochet Doily, Creative Expressions Circle Illusion and Sizzix Fancy Border. As you can tell I was in the mood for bright and cheery!

Gail and I have a lovely guest with us for this challenge, but you'll have to drop by over at Squash It Central to find out who she is!

Keep safe and keep crafting!

Colour Hues #15 - Pink and Green

Hi guys, I hope you are all keeping well and that you had a lovely Easter weekend.

I was very pleased to find time to play along with the new Color Hues Challenge today.

I sometimes struggle with picking colour palettes, so having a challenge to stop me reaching for blue, blue or blue all of the time really helps!

I inked-up and coloured this gorgeous image from Picket Fence Studios. I enjoyed stenciling a background with Distress Inks and adding a sweet, circle sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.

This challenge is open until 9:00 AM (EST) on April, 14th, and there are some lovely cards from the DT, GDT and also in the gallery. You can head on over and take a look at this lovely challenge by clicking here.

Card Chain Challenge March 2021 Reveal

Hello and welcome! It's time for the March 2021 Card Chain Challenge Reveal!

We had 34 fabulous participants who exchanged cards across the globe this month.

 

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

Colour Palette Option

(Exact matching not necessary)

or

Sketch Option

(Please orient as required)

or 

Theme Options: Spring/Women/Friendship

or 

Product / Technique Options: Glitter/Paper Piecing

This month I was delighted to send this card to Sandra in the Netherlands.

I really do like the 'Girl' images from Picket Fence Studios. This one is Eiko Girl.

My sender for this month was the lovely Linda in Minnesota. Just look at that inky wonderfulness!

Why not head over and see the full Reveal...

 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #181 - L is for Layers

 

Another utterly brilliant graphic from Sister Lee can only mean one thing... Yes, it's time for another challenge over at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers!

This challenge is all about LAYERS, and I couldn't resist getting a little punny with this one: chickens/hens/layers - geddit? 

The layers are layered, so I've got it covered from all angles! These very sweet hens are Picket Fence Studios.

The Sisterhood went off in many different directions for this challenge and I know you'll love their creations, so please come and take a look!

Let's Squash It! Challenge #5 - Reminder

We have another couple of weeks to run with this challenge until it ends on February 28th. Just because February 14th has come and gone doesn't mean we have to put away the red and pink card or the heart patterned embossing folders!

Meet Alice Girl from Picket Fence Studios and her heart embossing folder panel from Papermania called Checkmate. She was a joy to colour.

I also thought I'd share this masculine Valentine's Day card using the same folder to show how different colourways can create a totally different look!

The glasses and the sentiment are real oldies from Paper Smoochies. I was trying to achieve a slightly more masculine look for this card so kept the colour palette limited to just three colours. I had such fun adding the vellum lenses to the glasses.

Gail, GDT Joanne, and I really hope you'll come and join the fun before the end of the month.

Let's Squash It! - Challenge #4 Use an Embossing Folder and an Animal

 

It's the tenth of the month so it must be 'Happy New Squash It! Challenge' day! 

I'd just like to point out that obviously we'd like to see an animal stamp, sticker, die-cut etc and NOT a real animal for this challenge. Just so we're clear on that.

For my animal I broke out a NBUS set called Peach and Piper from Picket Fence.  I used Darice embossing folder - Flowers as a background for the bunnies. The thanks sentiment has lost it's packaging but I think it's an oldie from Paper Smooches.

I'm entering this card at the lovely Darnell's NBUS Challenge #22.

Our challenge runs until the end of the month over at Let's Squash It! and both Gail and I hope you'll drop by and get squashy with us!

Seize the Birthday - Surprise Birthday Guest!

Hi Peeps, I hope that everyone is doing ok and staying safe.

Do you like my funky new badge? I certainly do, and was totally amazed when Nancy got in touch to ask me to be the Surprise Party Guest over at Seize the Birthday. Thanks so much, I'm thrilled to be guesting with you guys!

The theme is a fun one, and I decided to go with a colour that I'm growing to love: yellow.

I really do love this image from Picket Fence and could use her over and over again. The background is my favourite stencil (I've lost the packaging) and the circular greeting is from a Simon Says Stamp set which I've had for ages but never used.

I hope you'll come and play along in this lovely challenge.

Stay safe!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #157 - U is for Upcycling

It's good to see that Edna is using her time at home productively and indulging in a little upcycling! 

Yes, we're all about reusing and recycling for this challenge and boy, did we ever have fun with this one. Our new Queen has come up with a very clever (and possibly relatable) take on this challenge, while the sisters have interpreted the theme in quite a variety of ways.

For my card I re-used a postcard sent from a clothing company, then added a die cut image from a magazine which I'd stamped with a fun, snarky sentiment from Picket Fence.

You'll love the inspiration on offer for this challenge, so why not head on over and play along? You have until Friday 1st of May to join the fun!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #156 K is for Kids

Hi to you all, I hope you are keeping well during these troubling times. As someone who works in Education I have to say that this challenge is very timely as many parents will now have weeks of trying to occupy their children while in isolation. 

Yes, it's all about the kids for this challenge and doesn't Edna look delighted to be surrounded by her extended family!

I had fun with creating a few Gelli plate backgrounds a while back and decided to use one for this card. The harassed mother with her childcare manual is from Picket Fence (love their stamps so much).

This is quite a poignant challenge for me as we're waving goodbye to my fellow Brit on the team: Jane. I shall miss her wit and humour very much. Also, I will miss her brilliantly hilarious explanations of all things British for our teamies across the Big Pond. Love you, sistah!

I very much hope you'll come and play at the sisterhood for this challenge. Have a good weekend, and stay safe.

Meddling with Mandalas...

Hi there, I hope that today finds you happy and healthy.

Today, I'm meddling with mandalas and trying to create some cards featuring these circular lovelies.

Here's the first one I'm able to share.

This is a small card which uses a Gelli print background created with Adirondack Paints and a gorgeous TCW mandala stencil (Mini Prismascope). The image is Kiki Girl from Picket Fence and the sentiment is from Ink Road. The random black stamping around the edges is from an old, old stamp that is missing the company name.

I really enjoyed creating this card and had my first real successes with my Gelli plate. More practice needed, but it's a start! This really doesn't look like a birthday card owing to the sentiment, but it's for the birthday of a friend who has been going through some tough times.

I'm linking to one of my fav challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Challenge #171 where the Topping is Flowers

And for the first time to this lovely, arty challenge:

If you've never visited Lost Coast Designs blog I'd urge you to do so as the stamps are brilliant and the DT inspiration is just awesome. I'm delighted to play along in their Anything Goes Challenge #81.

I plan to meddle with mandalas during this week and I'll share my other cards when they're made, and explain the reason behind this little project.

Happy crafting everyone!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #139 - J is for Joke

It's Challenge #139 at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and I'm not joking when I say that we have a great challenge on offer today! Yes, it's J is for Joke.

We all had waaaaaaaaaay too much fun with this one.

Please excuse the poor photograph. I might try and re-take this later as it looks a little blurry - which is much how I feel myself thia morning after a school trip yesterday.

The chickens are from a new Picket Fence set and the background was created by repeat stamping of an image from Altenew's gorgeous Simple Flowers set. I thought the flowers complimented the slightly woodblock look of the chicken images.

We've got a fabulous new queen and I know you'll love what the sistahs have created, so why not come and join in the fun...