Little Frieda at the Seashore Preview!

Hello there! That's what it says inside my card... one of the three greetings that comes with this sweet stamp set being released on Sunday at my store The Craft's Meow! Meet Little Frieda at the Seashore! All the deets concerning how you can win one of these adorable stamp sets and see more samples by my amazing design team are on The Craft's Meow Store blog, so please nip on over there and join us for the fun!

The Craft's Meow is also PROUD to sponsor Lily Pad Cards challenge, which is to use embossing (wet and/or dry) on your cards/projects, so be sure to come play with us for a chance to win the Happiness Is... stamp set by Nina B Designs for The Craft's Meow. And wait until you see the uber fabulous cards made by the LPC Design Team. MEOW!!!

See you over there!

Hugs,

you are my sunshine

A blessed Third Sunday in Lent to you! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

It's my turn to host the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. I chose as my inspiration scripture Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." My challenge is a different kind of peace... piece... as in paper piecing...use paper piecing in the main image of your card/project.

My card features Little Frieda's Flowers, exclusive to my very own little store The Craft's Meow. From now through Tuesday March 29th, if you buy all three Little Frieda stamps you can save 20%! Just enter the code 3LittleFriedas at checkout. I'm also co-sponsoring this week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, offering a set of the three Little Friedas as a prize. Technique Junkie Newsletter is also sponsoring our challenge with a free one-year subscription! What better time to play in our challenge?!

I paper-pieced Little Frieda's dress with patterned paper from the Emma's Shoppe collection by Crate Paper. I'm just in love with this paper set. The flowers and patterns and colors sing to my heart! I've sort of cobbled together a scene with the paper, making it appear that Little Frieda is basking in the sunshine in a field of flowers. :)

As I sit down to write my devotional for this week's challenge, it's just after midnight. I have to admit that I sorta forgot it was my turn to host the challenge this week. I've been preoccupied for the past few weeks, mainly focused on getting my store opened, but I've had quite a few things on my mind lately. So I'm sitting here wondering how I can possibly... at this late hour and with a distracted mind... write a meaningful devotional? I'm not sure I can. So I'm going to cheat a little... I've pulled out my notes from the sermon preached by our pastor on February 27th...

It was during that service that I chose my inspiration scripture. I think there's a theme lately where my devotionals are concerned. Have you noticed? They all seem to be about worry... or should I say trust and faith? I suppose there's a reason for that. I find myself being tested these days.

The title of the sermon was "Is Today the Tomorrow You Worried About Yesterday." That gives you some food for thought right there, doesn't it?  Our pastor offered Philippians 4:6-8 as "A Practical Guide for Worriers." This scripture exhorts us to PRAY... to BE THANKFUL for what we have both here on earth and eternally...to RECEIVE THE GIFT OF PEACE... and to OCCUPY OUR MINDS WITH GODLY THINGS. In other words, the way to deal with worry is to seek first the kingdom of God. Shift your focus away from worldly affairs to your eternal life, because when you seek God, everything else takes its rightful place.

I keep reminding myself of this... not to worry... to "let go, let God." I always feel the peace on some level, for my faith in God hasn't waned. It's just my weaker human self that allows the gloom to set in, the self-doubts, the questions, the regrets, the indecision. But I keep coming back to center...to God...and that, my friends, is the peace that passes all understanding.

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to see the wonderful cards created by our design team. I encourage you to also visit each of their blogs... you will be blessed!

Thanks for stopping by today. God's blessings to you!

Little Sweetie

A blessed Second Sunday in Lent to you! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Our challenge hostess this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is the wonderful Grace Nywening. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... when Grace speaks, I listen! She chose as her inspiration scripture Matthew 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Her challenge is to create a card or project that has something hidden from first view. It could be many things... an envelope, a pull out, doors that open to reveal something, a Joy Fold, Flip Flop, Magic Slider...anything that you don't see at first glance.

Today's scripture is part of The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 - 7:29). In Matthew 6:5, Jesus is giving instruction on prayer. In fact, this is the chapter where you find the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). The message I'm getting from this passage is that God wants us to understand the simplicity of how to communicate with him. Nothing showy, no wild declarations, no fancy words are necessary. Just come as you are before your Father in Heaven and pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

God already knows your needs and knows your genuine heart. I encourage you to make time every day to shut away the world and communicate with your Father in Heaven... deeply and genuinely. He will hear you and He will answer your prayers.

For my challenge card, I went with an envelope to conceal my card. And guess who's inside? None other than Little Frieda herself!

If you've been following my blog and/or my store blog, then you know that the first three stamps in the "Little Frieda and Friends" line will be released tomorrow (Monday March 21st) during the Grand Opening of my store The Craft's Meow. You can read all about it on my store blog!

I paired Little Frieda's Daisy with paper and embellishments that are included in one of the kits being released on Monday as well. They are from the Emma's Shoppe collection by Crate Paper (although the envelope is by Maya Road). Love love love this collection!!!

Please join us in our challenge this week! Our sponsor is Our Daily Bread Designs, offering a $15 Gift Certificate to spend on stamps in their store. Be sure to stop by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to see the rest of the wonderful cards created by our design sisters and to read Grace's devotional on her scripture. You will be blessed!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Playtime!

Happy Saturday!!! Time for another wonderful sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday!!!

I absolutely love this week's sketch. It's a perfect fit to showcase Little Frieda and Lulu - Mischief, one of the three Little Frieda stamps being released in my new store on Monday, March 21st... the grand opening of The Craft's Meow! You can read all about it on my store blog.

I've paired this sweet scene of Little Frieda letting her bird out of his cage with patterned paper from the Togetherness collection by Cosmo Cricket. I just love the look of the burlap paired with this paper.

I hope you'll come along and play with us this week! Our sponsor is Bunny Zoe Crafts, offering a £10 gift voucher to spend in in the store. Bunny Zoe Crafts has a fantastic sale going on right now...25% off all High Hopes, C.C. Designs and The Greeting Farm Stamps!!! But hurry, because the sale ends at midnight (UK time) on Sunday, March 20th.

Thanks for stopping by today!