Hello Card Chain Challenge friends. Happy Birthday to us!!
Can you believe it's been 15 years since Deborah had this awesome idea.
In 15 years we have sent nearly 4,500 cards!! from 33 different countries!!! and some of the original players are still playing!!!!
Awesomeness.
Welcome to our party. We hope you will help us make it a success. My name is Gail, I use ionabunny online, and along with Jo, also known as Dotty Pudding, we keep this whole huge endeavour moving along in a semi-orderly manner. I'm talking, so I get to say, that without Jo it may have crashed and burned, cos it's quite a lot to deal with each month. Luckily for us all Jo agreed to help out. She beavers away in the background, often unseen and unsung, but I just wanted you to know that she is my rock. Thanks Jo.
OK, this is all a bit 'oh look, it's our birthday, maybe we should do something', so things may or may not pop up in the coming days or weeks, but we felt it shouldn't passed unnoticed, since we had noticed...
We are kicking off, and maybe finishing LOL, with a little reminisce of how we found the Card Chain Challenge and what it means to us.
Hi, I'm Gail in Norway and I joined my first Card Chain Challenge exchange in January 2014. I was fairly new to blogging at that time and I had been following Deborah for a while. I liked her crazy happy chatty blog and I remember I didn't jump in immediately cos I wasn't sure how it worked. I like to understand how things work! Then January rolled around and I thought the new year was the time to jump in. I sent my first card to Greta and Jo sent me my first card and it didn't arrive!! Probably went for a walk the wrong way around the planet. Anyway, disappointed, but resigned to the possibility of such things happening, I learnt my first very important lesson about the Card Chain Challenge! Jo sent me a message saying 'looks like it's lost, I've sent another one'. Well, wow. A stranger had sent me a card, it disappeared, but she's sending another. How awesome is that. The second card turned up very quickly, everyone was happy and I was hooked!! Never missed a month since. I think the second card limped in a few weeks later with an Australian postmark!! No clue about that really. Weird things happen.
So yes, I'm pootling along, sending a card a month, getting a card a month, and like I said, I like to see how things work, and Deborah was occasionally a bit slow getting the contact sheet up to date, which I now totally understand, so I started adding a few names in. She seemed grateful for the help, so I maybe sent a reminder to send photos, or fended queries, without having any idea of the whole picture cos it was Deborah's baby across the pond. And then life started getting really big and busy for Deborah. And I still am not sure how I knew that, or how we became such good friends all this long way apart, but we did, and I helped where I could. I did a bit more and a bit more and suddenly the baby was in my lap, and I gotta tell you ladies, she's a big baby. But like you do with a baby, you just gotta get stuck in, so I did. I moved it to my blog for a while thinking maybe Deborah would want it back, but she hasn't yet. So I did it all for a few months, cos I know how much it means to me, and I know how much it means to you, but it was a lot. It got easier, but it took time and it got a bit lost on my blog so I decided it needed a blog of it's own. This is where I reached out to Jo, or maybe she reached out to me. I needed help and she said offered. I remember my knees went weak and I sank into a chair thinking thank you, thank you, because this is a thing that deserves to exist. Thanks Jo. The pretty blog is all Jo's doing. The pretty badges are all Jo. The continuation of this is down to Jo's support and help and love and to you lovely ladies who have continued to play along, send love and support and awesome cards every single month for 15 years. You are all awesome and amazing. HUGZ.
and received this card from Yvette in Belgium!
I was caught hook, line and sinker, and the thrill of receiving a card from a fellow cardmaker each month has never diminished!
I got to know Gail when I was her sender. The bunny card I made didn't reach her. I was so disappointed as I knew Gail was a brand new player. Thankfully, card #2 flew across the miles to Norway and reached her safely. Card #1 turned up a while later having done some globe trotting first! When Deborah hit a few health problems Gail stepped in to keep things going at CCC, and after some emailing we ended up chatting on the telephone about how best to take things forward and support Deborah's fabulous challenge until she could take up the reins once again. I will never forget my surprise at Gail's accent as I was expecting to chat with a Norwegian lady and instead heard her lovely North East Somerset tones. The rest is history, as they say, and thanks to Gail, The Card Chain Challenge is celebrating 15th years since it's inception on Deborah's blog.
I feel so blessed to be a part of CCC and have made so many wonderful friends through the simple act of sending and receiving a card each month. Thank you to Deborah for dreaming-up this brilliant challenge, and to Gail for keeping things going with such energy and passion. It's a huge undertaking each month and I don't know how she holds it all together. Thanks also to all our wonderful, wonderful players who bring the magic - you are all amazing and much appreciated.
In November 2023 we found ourselves in the same pub...
OK, so that's us. We would love you to share something about your Card Chain Challenge experience, how you feel about it, or any other thoughts you have. Maybe you only did one exchange, maybe you have been here from the start, maybe you have thought about it but never joined in. Joining in is the way to really understand how it works, how wonderful a concept and community it is.
Jo and I have managed to wrangle a few crafty goodies and we will be sending out a few random packages to some people who take the time to leave a comment.
Congratulations on achieving 15yrs and loved how you first started and both met. I haven't been joined that long and had to miss the last two months due to unforseen circumstances, but have rejoined for October and have enjoyed sending and receiving the cards each month-and here's to many more-congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCarol x x
Thanks for your kind words, Carol, I'm so glad to see you back with your CCC friends again. Sending love and big hugs to you. Jo x
DeleteCongrats to the CCC on 15 years! I met Deborah through the Hero Arts Flickr group and often played in the early CCCs via her blog. Life intervened and I lost track of it but I returned in Feb 2020 & haven't missed a month since. Many thanks to Gail and Jo for maintaining this fun exchange - I gained two new friends, plus some more among my senders & recipients. Here's to many more years of fun!!
ReplyDeleteLove reading about the 2 of you who have held this wonderful idea together for us! I also knew Deborah through the HA Flickr Group and actually met her in person when I was visiting family in Indianapolis quite a few years ago. I haven't participated every month and I can't remember what year I started, but I think you'd still have to call me one of the old timers! I appreciate that it's easy to participate and you don't even have to make a new card. Lately I've made quite a few new cards, but I also love being able to go through my friendship cards and send one of them. Happy 15th BD to Gail and Jo and to all of us!
ReplyDeleteI'm a relatively newbie after discovering CCC via Gail who I've crossed paths with a few times during my fifteen years blogging - now theres a sobering thought, where did those years go?
ReplyDeleteI'm not one for entering challenges, just a couple I frequent, but the idea of CCC appealed and I sent my first card to Dee in Kenya - it didn't arrive and I was mortified and wondered if I'd get banned! But thanks to you kind ladies I'm still putting in an appearance.
You are stars for keeping things running, no easy feat as I well know. It takes times and commitment and needs your time even when you may have others things requiring your attention.
Well done Gail and Jo and thank you.
B x
Happy Anniversary! I haven't played for as long as you, but I love it!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Marianne in Greece got me started!
I missed a few months as my grandson was here, however, I should make up friendship cards ahead to send!
It's a wonderful thing you do, and is great fun!
Congratulations. 15 years is very impressive. I joined for the first time in August 2018, having started my blog in June 2017. I have only missed 2 months since then (Dec 2018 and 19). I think I just got too wrapped up in Christmas those years. I love the CCC it is the one challenge that I regularly take part in. It is a great way to make friends around the world. Thanks Gail and Jo for all the work you put into keeping it going. Happy Birthday xx
ReplyDelete15 years is a huge achievement - congratulations, and here's to the next 15 years!
ReplyDeleteKath x
Congratulations - 15 years is a long time. My first participation was in April 2022 and I think I have participated monthly since then. I became aware of this swap through Pia from Norway and I think it's great that we're both still involved. Keep it up and I would be happy to have even more participants! A big thank to Gail and Jo the keep this was running!
ReplyDeleteImke ~ My Crafty Place
So glad I checked this blog tonight to find the Happy News! Happy 15th Birthday!! Awesome. I love swapping in this group and think I have been here since 2019. Love that there are swappers from around the world and there are choices in how to make our card. Gail has been helping me sign in the past few months because, for some reason. I have not been able to. She has graciously put me in and I so appreciate it. Looking forward to many more fun swapping.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 15 years of card chain challenges!! I enjoyed reading about its start and how wonderful that both of you kept it going over these many years! I've only discovered it in Summer of 2021 and in October of 2021 was my first time playing along. It's so fun receiving happy mail and not knowing what the card looks like. Wish I had time to join in each month, but I always feel like I get busy in spring and summers so I try to join in the fall and winter when I can :)
ReplyDeleteI love participating with you all - I never knew the founding story so this is very interesting - I have been participating since Dec 2020 (missing just 3 in Dec 2021 Jan Feb 2022 maybe worn out by Covid?!) and I just love getting cards from all over the world every month - I even love seeing the postage stamps from the other countries! (I used to collect stamps.) Happy Birthday Card Chain Challenge and thank you two for ALL the work you do!!
ReplyDeleteShould also say, that Hilary in England introduced me to the challenge through her blog!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on achieving 15 years, wow!!
ReplyDeleteI love our little community and such a great idea to send cards to each other. I participated in last years.
A big thanks to Gail and Jo for organizing all this!
crafty hugs to all xx
I really do not understand where is my comment, but never mind. Here we go again:
ReplyDeleteCCC is a 15 years old teenager!!! I wish you many many more years!!!
I send you a big hug, my dear ladies.
Hi Mia, your previous comments had gone into the Spam folder. All good now, and thanks for your kind words, Jo x
DeleteOh wow, 15 years!! That's a remarkable time and I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for the great work!!! For a few years now I've been looking forward to sending and receiving a card every month. Hilary told me about CCC. At first I didn't quite understand it, but Hilary explained everything to me and so I plucked up the courage and signed up. And now I'm rewarded for this courage every month. I think I've only missed out twice since then. I'll be back in October and I'm really looking forward to it!! Big Hugs Gundi
ReplyDeleteSo I'm a couple of weeks late to see that CCC is celebrating 15 years... wow isn't that incredible and look at all the 1000s of cards that have crossed the globe... AMAZING. Well my story goes back to Deborah and Lily Pad card exchange at Society of Stampaholics... I made cards but I didn't participate in the exchange until March 2013 when I sent my first card to Jan in Alaska.... oh boy has my style changed!!! Then became a regular in 2014.... I've been looking in the archives and having a chuckle. I think I had a year off in 2021 and probably missed a few months along the way... but it's about 10 years for me. HUGE THANK YOU to Jo and Gail for all your amazing work to keep the exchange going, it's been fun...thank you thank you Robyn
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late chiming in too. I remember swapping cards on Deborah's blog too as well as being on the Hero Arts team way back then. I'm so glad you guys took over and continued the exchange. I love the 3 different types of challenges each week (always friendship makes even the most difficult for me easy to rely on). I so look forward to receiving and sending a card each month. Thank you so much again, Jo and Gail
ReplyDeleteLoved reading how this blog came about and how long it has existed. Thank you, Gail and Jo, for all the work and love you put into this. I appreciate you both! I have been taken part for a couple of years now. I often struggle to get my card out in time, and felt the need to skip a few months when I was too busy. But I love sending and receiving a card from a fellow cardmaker each month, and I love how we all have different styles. Here's to many more card exchanges!
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
By accident I jumped into this swap and I am glad I found CCC. It's only a year now that I've started regularly to change cards, and I like it very much. Congratulations on achieving 15 years and a big thank you to Jo and Gail for all you are doing for a successful card chain challenge!.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to You! And another 15 years with ccc.
ReplyDeleteWow! 15 years is a huge accomplishment. I joined this little group not all that long ago after learning about it through Ellie (https://www.simplyellibelle.com/) and I was so intrigued by the idea. I love making and receiving cards each month and so appreciate the work you both put into making this such a success.
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone, I'm another stamper from the Hero Arts Flickr group who started participating in the CCC through Debra's blog. Since long ago I have participated on and off 15 plus years and just love this challenge. Gail and Jo are so wonderful for the time and ideas they have put in and I appreciate them more than I can say :)
ReplyDelete