Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 156 . . .no neutrals

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is our northern sister Jerusha, who has selected this verse from Romans 3:23-24 " For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins." 

Her challenge is to use only bright colours, no neutrals, blacks, browns, etc.

I am excited to read her words and thoughts on this verse like the rest of you. When the devotionals appear, it is a treat for the rest of the design team as well since we don't see them before hand. We do see the lovely cards and projects as they appear in the photo files, so make sure you go to our home page for both devo and cards! 

Our sponsor this week is The Craft's Meow! which is offering a stamp set of the winner's choice to one randomly selected participant in this week's challenge. 

And for anyone reading this I have to apologize for my lack of commenting this summer. My husband has had health issues as has his mother, we have an exchange student here and school has just recently started. We've been to more doctors and medical professionals than I can count and then you top it off with the forms and the bills...it doesn't leave much time to spare!

I love this verse because there is so much you can glean from it. First and foremost every time I think of my own salvation I am filled with such happiness and joy. I have to say though that I didn't fully grasp, and don't think I grasp even today, the enormity of that gift. And I didn't grasp for a long time that I was included in that word "all." We all fall short, we are all sinners. 

One day a sermon on the radio really brought it home for me. I was driving along thinking ill of someone who had really hurt me through their own sinful behavior, listening to the sermon and imagining just how much that person needed to hear these words! How much they needed to change and be sorry for what they had done! 

Then the speaker, Erwin Lutzer, asked the congregation, which building in Chicago is taller, Moody church or the Sears Tower? At that time the Sears tower was the tallest building in the world, the answer was obvious. Then he asked, if two people left from the tops of those buildings, traveling at the same speed, which would be first to reach the constellation Orion? Stars are light years away from our planet, the difference in arrival would be infinitesimal compared to the total journey. THAT, he said, is the difference of our sin in God's eyes. Any sin, all sin, no matter what size, how it is packaged, is the same in scope when compared to God's perfection.

That is when I realized my sins are equal to anyone else's. I have no right to have those dark thoughts of who did what to hurt my feelings. Now, I still fall into that sometimes and yes, I can get my feelings hurt and suffer the consequences of sinful actions. But what are the consequences of my own sin? How great is my own sin? That is where my thoughts need to be and that is the wellspring of my gratitude to Jesus Christ, because without his sacrifice, there is no bridge for me to get over the gap of my sin and into heaven. 

Thanks for looking. We hope you can play along this week. 

Stamps: The Craft's Meow (butterfly), MFP retired sentiment
Ink: Carribbean Sea (?) kaleidacolor pad, black
Paper: white, assortment of greens, blue, Cosmo Cricket DeLovely pad
Other: silver cord, rhinestones, embossing plates and tools, MFP banner die

Stampin' Sisters in Christ . . . layers

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges relate to scripture. This week's hostess is my dear friend Traci, who has selected this verse from Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."


Her challenge is to build up your card by adding layers; paper tole, paper piecing, stacking flowers, you name it! And I was able to use a lovely gift she gave me a while back for part of my 'lifting' in the patterned paper in the background. Thank you Traci!


And we have a new sponsor this week, Tami Mayberry, who is donating one of the amazing stamp sets she has designed to one lucky, randomly selected winner who plays along with our challenge this week. You can find more details and see the rest of the beautiful creations by our design team by clicking on the home page here.  


I used this little Frieda image from the Craft's Meow and lifted up sections of her dress, hat, face, hair and shoes with paper tole, although its hard to tell in the photo. You can sort of tell from the shadows on the paper if you care to strain your eyes that much! 


I like the verse Traci has selected for this week and it is a good one to meditate upon because the tongue is so hard to control, isn't it? Words come 'flying' out before we even know it . . . or do they? The thought has to come into our heads first. And notice the verse doesn't say you can prevent unwholesome thoughts from coming into your head, although if they do we're supposed to chase them away, I believe. But it says, do not let it 'come out of your mouths' acknowledging that there is a thought process that precedes the verbalization.


My daughter right now is going through a phase of saying insulting or disrespectful things and then following it up with the phrase "no offense." She knows she is giving offense and disrespecting her parents or that phrase wouldn't be tacked onto the end, and we are working to explain to her that if you have to add the phrase "no offense" then the words are probably better left unspoken or if you have something to say, say it in a kind manner. She is only ten still testing the boundaries of our parental authority. We understand she is in a learning process. 


What is truly sad is adults who engage in similar practices. I have had 'friends' and relatives in the past who would wound with their words; teasing and needling to the point where my temper was about to go beyond a simmer and boil over and then back off instantly with the phrase "just kidding" or "just teasing" or "can't you take a joke?"


We all know when we're on the receiving end of such treatment, the trick is to take a lesson from those times and make sure we're not the ones dishing it out. And we need to make sure that we press our lips firmly together if someone is dishing it out to us, and not retaliate! Let's all try to watch the words before they fly out of our mouths this week and use words and phrases that will build up the person to whom we're speaking. 


Stamps: The Craft's Meow Frieda, assortment of Rubber Stamp Tapestry
Ink: black Stazon, PTI aqua mist and spring moss, Ranger distress ink spun sugar, SU soft sky
Paper: Papertrey Ink kraft, vanilla, white, blue, patterned paper
Other: nestabilities, fiskars corner punch/embosser, prismacolor pencils, flowers, MS border punch, pearl

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 97 . . . favorites

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. We enjoyed seeing all the CAS creations in the gallery last week. This week's hostess is our sister Rebekka, who has selected this verse from James 2:18,19 "But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble."

Her challenge is an easy one, you get to choose 'what works for you,' your favorite embellishment, embossing folder, spellbinder, image, whatever is a favorite for you.

I like patterned papers and this package (Cosmo Cricket DeLovely) has been a favorite of mine for a while. I am finally using it up and as fellow hoarders, I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about when I say it is tough to let that last bit slip through your fingers, but there will be a new favorite paper soon. Also, when I am sad I like to 'play with my paper dolls.' They are favorites when I'm down, so I pulled out one of my paper dolls, this Frieda stamp from The Craft's Meow and dressed her up in bright colors. I also don't function well unless I have a good sketch, so sketches are one of my favorite ways to try to scrape together some mojo and I found a sketch on Card Patterns (sketch 123) that helped me out.

I am certain that Rebekka is going to have some wonderful thoughts to share in her devotional, which you will find here. I was fighting a bout of food poisoning and didn't gather together any additional thoughts this week. Also on the home page you will see the design team's lovely creations and see if you can guess what some of their 'favorites' might be! Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and we do appreciate that.

Hope you find some time to play this week! Thanks for looking.

I am entering the following challenges:

CMC Copic Challenges: I used at least five different shades on Frieda's hair to get reddish tints in the brown

Alphabet Challenge Blog: J for Just one word . . .my single word is Love

Stamp Something: Bugs and Butterflies

Crazy 4 Challenges #95: Summer!!!

One Stop Craft Challenge #139: Summer

Wee Memories: Summertime

Divas by Design . . . Die Cuts and Punches

Happy Wednesday! It is time for another challenge from Divas by Design. I am betting everyone can participate in this one, the challenge is to use die cuts and/or punches. I don't know of a stampers who doesn't own a fine collection of these!

Shaped cards are big right now, it seems and I've seen quite a few that call for using the Spellbinders Nestabilities Grands. They ARE quite grand and I like them, but my pocketbook does not, so I try to find ways to use what I have. I do own quite a few of the nestie sets that are regular size and for this card I took the largest die from the Labels 4 set and traced around its outside for the largest layer on the white cardstock. For the green striped layer I cut a strip of paper so that it would just barely slide through the die and fed just one end through the half the die so I would get a cut on one end, but not both . . .I am going to have to post a picture to make it clear I think.

I have punched daisy shaped behind the prima roses, not sure you can see them. And I used a large Martha Stewart edge punch for a floral 'fence' where my little Frieda is picking flowers. (from The Craft's Meow).

I paper pieced Frieda and colored her with copics. Thanks for looking and hope you can play along! The rest of the design team blogs can be found as listed below!

And whooops! I forgot to mention that the Divas are looking for a guest designer! You will find all the deets on the blog link I posted above, so give it a shot!

Rebekah

Jacqui

Bettina

Laney

Anita

Sarah

Frieda's Spring Garden . . . Card Patterns 111

Happy Tuesday!!! Its snowing~~~I need to go visit my friend in Oklahoma who tells me it is 97 degrees there. :)

I'm creating Spring in my craft room since it will still be a while before we experience it in real life! Frieda is picking flowers and wearing a short dress . . . something I wouldn't dare venture outside in right now. This is for the current sketch at Card Patterns, number 111 I think and for such a simple sketch I found it a challenge! I scrapped I don't know how many ideas for the three elements on the side of the card before I remembered my hat pins from Mark's Finest Papers. I think they kind of match the flower in her hand, what do you think?

Little Frieda there is available for you to win on Card Patterns this week, as The Craft's Meow, a new company started by my dear friend Lisa, is the sponsor! Three Frieda images will go to a lucky winner. And Lisa is also . . . drumroll here . . . giving away ALL of the four new sets being designed by Nina Brackett for her May 1st release as the new designer for The Craft's Meow, actually a complete set of four for every hundred fans of her new facebook page! I love Nina's designs, I'm actually eligible for that giveaway! Click on the link I provided to check it out. Thanks for looking. Hope your Spring weather is treating you more kindly in your part of the world!

Stamps: The Craft's Meow Little Frieda's Daisy
Ink: black
Paper: Prima Fairy Flora, cream, bright pink
Other: copics, MFP hat pins, MS edge punch, paper piercing tool

Challenges:
Card Patterns: Sketch 111
Ladybug Crafts Ink TT Challenge: Anything Goes
Make It Monday: Anything Goes
Kaboodles Doodles: Spring/Easter . . . I was definitely shooting for Spring with this!
By the Cute & Girly: cute and girly

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 82 . . .piecing

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ! Our hostess this week is our new online store owner Lisa, and she has selected this verse from Phillipians 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."

Her challenge is as follows: A different kind of peace... piece... as in paper piecing. Use paper piecing in the main image of your card/project. And our sponsor this week is the Technique Junkies newsletter! One randomly selected participant in this week's challenge will win one year's subscription to this newsletter. I love learning new techniques! We have a double sponsor this week and one other person has the chance to win the three new Frieda stamps introduced at The Craft's Meow.

Lisa selected one of my favorite verses. You can read her devotional for this week right here and see the creations by the rest of the design them, to inspire you to play along. As you do, think about what this verse from Phillipians means to you.

I don't know what is going on in your corner of the world, but I do know we all have worries or anxieties to varying degrees. Frankly when I look at the chaos and tragedies in other parts of the world I feel like a woman with no problems at all. But we do all have concerns, over our health or that of a loved one, our children or family, our jobs, finances . . . the list can go on. But in any of these situations we can find the peace of God when we present our requests to the Lord.

One of my favorite artists has an entire album of classic hymns, called Peace Like a River. This is a short clip of Chris Rice singing It is Well with my Soul, the song that has been running through my mind since I saw Lisa's verse. http://www.last.fm/music/Chris+Rice/_/It+Is+Well+With+My+Soul. The story of the man who wrote that verse, when and why, is an inspiration itself. Look up Horatio Spafford if you have time to read about the man who wrote that hymn.

On to t he card. I have been unpacking some books this week and some of my favorite children's books have gorgeous line drawings or watercolor illustrations. I decided to stamp Frieda in brown and use papers and color that remind me of a watercolor illustration in a children's book from long ago. I used two sets from The Craft's Meow, a Frieda image and then a butterfly and sentiment designed for Lisa's shop by Claire of Waltzingmouse Stamps. In addition to the paper piecing, which I enjoy using for any of my little girl stamps, I lifted up her hat ribbon and skirt with a bit of decoupage, adds a bit of depth to the card when you see it IRL. Thanks for looking, and have a blessed week!

Stamps: The Craft's Meow Frieda and butterfly sets
Ink: brown stazon, PTI aqua mist, Vintage Photo, versamark, Antique Linen
Paper: Melon, Aqua, Fine Linen, scraps from something a friend sent me long ago
Other: WWC, copics, kohinoor pencils, buttons, rhinestones, prima flowers, nestabilities

Challenges that fit this post:

Flutterby Wednesdays . . .open but use a butterfly, fairy or angel (butterfly stamped in aqua)
Freshly Brewed . . .two or more embellishments
Little Red Wagon . . . use butterflies
A Spoonful of Sugar. . . ribbons, pearls, rhinestones and flowers (I have buttons too, kind of went overboard!)
My Partner in Crafting Crime . . . three or more buttons

Just for You . . . The Craft's Meow

My friend Lisa has started her own online company, The Craft's Meow and she sent some friends her new images to try out. I already had fun with little Frieda and today pulled out Just for You. I was CASEing a card created by Cook22 on SCS where she used flowers in those cute squares lined up on a business-envelope sized card.

We got ten inches of snow yesterday . . . yes you read that right, ten inches of snow on March 24th, so I am in the mood for brighter colors, sunshine and green grass, which won't happen in my real world for a while! I made it on my card, using the image from this mini set, designed by Claire at Waltzingmouse stamps for the Craft's Meow, stamping a bottom square in green for my stem, the middle square for my flower and the top for my sunny sky. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: The Craft's Meow "Just for You", SU bitty backgrounds
Paper: white, black and green gingham
Ink: black, gable green, glorious green, pink pirouette, pink passion, turquoise, teal, yoyo yellow

Grand Opening! The Craft's Meow!

What gives a stamper more pleasure than new toys to play with?

A good friend of mine is not only opening up a brand new online stamping store, TODAY, but she is introducing some special new stamps that I think you're going to love. You don't want to miss the grand opening of her new store right here at The Craft's Meow! The proud owner is none other that Lisa Hjulberg, who I met through Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

First I want to give a warm welcome to a new little girl on the block called Frieda. When I saw the stamp and heard her name I immediately had a soft spot in my heart for this little image because I had a Great Aunt Frieda while I was growing up, my dear grandmother's sister, so I just squealed when I heard that Lisa was going to call this little girl Frieda.



I have to say that coloring her was such a delight, she just came to life on my stamp table one little bit at a time. Not to mention that I gave a shot at coloring skin tones and hair with my copics for the very first time instead of running back to my prismacolor pencils. There are three sets with Frieda being introduced at this grand opening, Little Frieda's Flowers and Little Frieda's Daisy (the image I used) acome with sentiments. A third is Little Frieda and Lulu. You can find them all in Lisa's new store or read more about them on her blog.

There are three other stamp sets being introduced that were designed for Lisa's new store by Claire Brennan of Waltzingmouse Stamps and each of these will come with its own paper kit! Again, for details, visit Lisa's new storefront or her blog.

There are quite a few of Lisa's friends who have created cards or projects to celebrate her grand opening. You don't want to miss the new images and the inspiration!

Stamps: The Craft's Meow Little Frieda's Daisy
Ink: Brilliance black
Paper: Basic Grey Olivian, and matching colors in CS pulled from my stash
Other: lace ribbon from Mark's Finest Papers, PTI buttons and ribbon, Spellbinders nestabilities

I also am entering it into the following challenges, what a way to get your mojo going!

Use aquamarine--If the Shoe Fits
Something sweet--Stamp something
Paper Piecing--C.R.A.F.T. challenge
Nestabilities--Stamping Vacation
Die cuts or punches--Ginger Loft