The Card Chain Chronicles: December Edition

Dia daoibh!

I can’t believe it’s January already. 2025 went by so fast I’m convinced someone hit fast-forward on life sometime around March. One minute we’re complaining about the rain in May… and the next we’re complaining about the rain in January. What a whirlwind.

It’s time for another round of the Card Chain Challenge. My little creation packed its bags, grabbed its passport, and flew off to Ellie in the USA. And in return, a gorgeous card (and goodies) arrived from Mia in Greece. Honestly, the postal system must think I’m running some kind of international art smuggling ring at this stage but it’s all very wholesome.

Now onto my card.

This month’s theme was NBUS, which is perfect, because I have more unused supplies than a craft shop during a stocktake. We also had to use our favourite three colours, and choose an animal or a flower or a fruit. Naturally I went straight for penguins, because they’re cute, dramatic, and permanently dressed for a formal occasion.

For my card I used new but untouched acetate sheets, and the MFT cloud stencil. My festive winter favourites are teal, red, and white, so that choice was sorted. I made Ellie a shaker card, coloured everything with Promarkers, and created the background clouds using the cloud stencil. The cardstock is from Tonic Studios, and I embossed the background with a Spellbinders folder. The sentiment is stamped with Versafine for that crisp finish, and I added a big satin ribbon bow, because sometimes extra is exactly the right amount.

And why do I sign up for the Card Chain Challenge every month? Because where else can you post a card across the world and know it won’t land back on your doorstep with a note saying stop sending glitter everywhere.

After all that excitement, reality kicks back in pretty fast. It’s only the 2nd and I’ve already forgotten some of the resolutions and inhaled the emergency chocolates. The tone for the year is well and truly set.

Sláinte,
Wendy R. 😊

Herald Harry

Dia Daoibh!

The next HQFCB challenge is Anything Goes Fantasy.

For today's card, I kept things CAS using Mo Manning's Herald Harry - an angel with that perfect blend of heavenly patience and "I sang 'Hark the Herald' three times today already" energy. Coloured him with Promarkers, then added just a whisper of glitter to his wings. Popped him up on foam pads because Christmas is all about dimension - in cards, in desserts, and in our patience levels.

Onto a few challenges:

• Crafty Calendar - December - Winter / Christmas
• Jingle Belles - Wrapping Up 
• Simply Clean and Simple - December 2025: Reds & Greens
• Cardz 4 Galz #265 Christmas Sparkle
• Color My Heart Color Dare - No. 680 Colour Board: 
  
  
  

Wishing you a season filled with more joy than stress, more mince pies than to-do lists, and at least one silent night.

Nollaig Shona Duit!

Wendy R. 😇

Marker My Words – I’m in Love!

Dia daoibh!

Well, it’s happened… I’ve fallen in love 💗. Not with a person (unless someone can make me coffee and clean the house), but with Nuvo alcohol markers. These beauties come in ready-made combo sets for blending — so I can finally stop playing “Will These Colours Clash?” every time I sit down to colour. Honestly, they’re like the IKEA of markers: all the parts already match, and you don’t need an Allen key. They’re affordable too — proper “I can still sneak a bar of Galaxy Caramel into the shopping” affordable. And the postage? Let’s just say Tonic Studios aren’t trying to fund a space programme with their shipping fees. My poor ProMarkers are shaking in their pen pot, already sensing they’re destined for that dusty drawer of “old faithfuls” we all swear we’ll use again someday… but never do ...

Now, about my Christmas cards… remember when I said I was organised this year? Lies. All lies. The festive wagon left weeks ago, and I didn’t just fall off — I landed in the ditch, rolled into a hedge, and woke up in August wondering what year it was.

So here’s today’s attempt at catching up: a CAS Christmas card. I die-cut a Christmas tree from kraft card, gave it a bit of lift for dimension (because flat trees are just sad), and decorated it with light blue gems. All is mounted on a die-cut rectangle from the Simple and Basic Circle Edges Rectangle set, because sometimes even CAS needs a bit of sass.

 

Onto a few challenges:

• Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: August Challenge - Oh Holy Night Song - Lyrics- "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining"
• FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge #23 - Anything Goes Country Christmas 
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #63 - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree
• Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge #137: Blue card
• Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge: #93 - Anything Christmas themed:

  

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: August Colour challenge 

Right, that’s one card done… only 46 more before my December meltdown.

Slán go fóill,

Wendy R. 🎄

Jingle Bells

 Dia Daoibh!

Well, here we are in June, and I’m already behind on my New Year’s resolution to craft at least two Christmas cards per month. So, in the spirit of catching up (and avoiding the December panic), I’ve whipped up a festive little number using supplies from my stash—because nothing says “holiday cheer” like a bit of crafty improvisation!

I started with black cardstock as the base—trying to use up what I have before I inevitably fall into the Amazon cart trap again. I die-cut a few leaves from green cardstock and adorned them with teeny jingle bells I found lurking in the depths of my craft drawer. Tied together with red and white baker’s twine, they bring just the right amount of jingle to the mingle.To add some sparkle, I gave the leaves a glossy dab and a polite sprinkle of glitter—just enough to say “Christmas cheer” without triggering a vacuum cleaner incident. The sentiment is stamped in Versafine ink using the Season’s Tweetings stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps. This set was part of their Holiday 2017 release , and while it may be retired, it still brings a smile to my face every time I use it.

A few challenges:

• Jingle Belles: Fa-la-la-la-la
• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #186 - Anything goes
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog  - MLCCB #62 Anything Christmas Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. #756 - Christmas
• FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge #20 - Anything Goes Country Christmas
• The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #123 - Anything Goes with option of : One or Two Layers
• Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #89: 

Here’s hoping this card brings a bit of festive joy to someone’s mailbox. And if you’re like me, still pretending you’ll have 40 handmade Christmas cards ready by November—sure look, it’s never too early, too late, or too delusional to believe this is the year we’ll be organised!

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:

• Jingle Belles: Flat Feliz Navidad
• Rudolph Days Challenges: Anything goes
• The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #120 - Anything Goes with option of: Owls
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #61 - Anything Christmas Goes
• I Love Promarkers #579 Anything goes or girly card
• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #181 - Anything Christmas Goes
• Peace on Earth #84 - Anything Christmas Goes + Inspiration Board 

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. 

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 

• A Perfect Time To Craft - Always Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles: Get Your Grinch On
• Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #61 - Anything Christmas Goes
• The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #120 - Anything Goes with option of: Owls
• Peace on Earth #84 - Anything Christmas Goes + Inspiration Board 

• Christmas [or not] Bingo Challenge #12 - Anything Goes with Featured BINGO Card - I chose N :
  

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

Sláinte!

Wendy R. x