MDS Monday - Pedi's at Fiona's!

Happy Monday Afternoon! :)

Today's page is pretty self-explanatory; for my birthday, my two girlfriends decided we were just going to hang out and give ourselves pedicures. It was a lovely, relaxing day, filled with munchies and laughter, and Chester (the dog!) tearing up toys. :D I'm truly blessed to have these wonderful women in my life - and my descriptors of each one are from the inside-out.

OK, I'm outta here! :D Have a wonderful day, and be sure to make the time to STAMP something!

Quick blog recommendation!

Hi, y'all. I know I usually don't post on Saturdays, but my friend, Elaine, has some blog candy up - and some really pretty cards to show you. :) She does a GREAT job! Just CLICK HERE to go to the entry with the information on it!
And don't forget to get your entry to me for the THIRD ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CARD CONTEST!!!!

Quick card JUST for you!

Hi, everyone! I know I didn't post yesterday - it was an ODD day. BUT, I'm here today, and I created this little jem JUST for you!

Remember a week or so ago, when I was telling you my philosophy on teaching new stampers to SIP (stamps, ink, paper)? Well, here's another card, EXACT same color palette, a little different look!

Card stocks: Sahara Sand, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White

Inks: Sahara Sand, Jet Black Stazon, Real Red

Stamp set: Bird on a Branch (Thanks, Amy, for letting me borrow it!:D)

Accessories: dimensionals, ticket corner punch

Yeah, I kicked it up ONE notch with the corner punch, but you DEFINITELY wouldn't need it. This set is very classy, and simple to use!!!

OK, I'm off - I have a hostess club tonight! :) Check in tomorrow for the three cards and one 3D project we're going to be doing - they're ROCKIN'!!!!! :) IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET IN ON SALE-A-BRATION!!!!!!!!! Contact me at poohisstampin@aol.com or (615)497-4532 for more information!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful evening! And take the time to STAMP something - that's what I'll be doing! :D

I'm late, but it's still Friday! :D

Just a quick show-n-tell of a gift I gave a girlfriend from the theater for Valentine's Day; a decorated mailbox, three notecards plus one I wrote on for her, and one of the pillow boxes I showed you how to do in my last video. All colors are Whisper White and Riding Hood Red; this color is really growing on me! Just in time for me to have to say goodbye when the new Idea Book comes out in July! LOL! There's also a little Pirouette Pink on the flag of the mailbox. It's such a DELICATE pink!

That's all. If you have any questions, go ahead and leave me a comment!!! I'll be back Monday to show you what we did at workshops this weekend! Don't forget - if you're local, I have a MIXED BAG QUICK CARD CLASS Tuesday night/Wednesday morning!!

Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy your time with friends and family!!!

Have I mentioned new toys lately? :D

First, I'd like to say HI! to all you new subscribers - I can't tell you how glad I am that you like what you've seen enough to want to continue with me for a while! :) I'm not the best stamper out there, but I LOVE what I do, I LOVE teaching people that creativity isn't about being able to DRAW, and I love PEOPLE. :)

SO. That said, let me share a new project with you!!!

This is a birthday card for a friend Kenn made when he was working on CAPTURE MUSIC CITY; Nancy Diana is a very gifted photographer, and a very lovely, Godly woman - I've had the privilege of meeting her at the unveiling of the project book.

Sunday night, her husband invited us all to the church where she leads worship to surprise her, and have a party after the evening service. (I'm writing this before the party, so I'm looking forward to it!!!) Kenn decided that I should make her "one of my cards". What does THAT mean?? Oh, well. So, I set out to make a special card for Nancy. I KNOW she'll appreciate anything she receives - which ALWAYS makes me want to do something even more special for a person. :D

So here it is. I'll list the "ingredients", then include a detail photo of the butterfly and the rhinestones - and you'll be able to see a little more detail of the background in both shots. Plus, you can ALWAYS see a bigger photo if you click on one of them. :)

Card stock: Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Vellum PAPER (not card stock weight)

Stamp Set(s): Inspired by Nature (INSIDE: Happy Everything, Define Your Life)

Inks: White, Regal Rose, Garden Green, Almost Amethyst; Stampin' Write Markers in Garden Green, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Big Shot :D, Top Note Die, Pretties Kit, sponge, Crafter's Tool Kit (to pierce card stock for rhinestone brads), SU! exclusive Texturz embossing plate, silicone rubber, imressions pad, brayer, butterflies die, dimensionals

Let me know what you think! And tell me (or better yet, SHOW ME!!!) what YOU are stamping! Ummm, you ARE stamping, aren't you???? Don't forget to check out the Sale-A-Bration bruchure over there to the right!!!!

And the winner is...!

AMY BAYLISS! Congratulations, Amy! I'll wait for your email to poohisstampin@aol.com to confirm and send!!

I generated the winner with random.org; it was difficult to make myself do it that way. Those of you who are my close friends, know I would have picked each one of you if it was fair! LOL!!!!!!!!!

BE BLESSED, dear friends. Tomorrow's the open house, so I need to fly! I hope you're stopping by if you're local!!!!

eScape Was Wednesday!

Well, I have to admit that I didn't do too well at not getting on the computer, but I tried. :D And I had a great time with the two people who showed up at my get-together. I just do EVERYTHING via email anymore! :)





This is one project of the two we did. Let me tell you, dear reader, I've found my new favorite way to watercolor! With MARKERS! Look!



You HAVE to use watercolor paper for this. Regular card stock will get too wet, and peel away. Also, definitely use Stazon as your image ink. It doesn't BUDGE. :)

Colors of card stock are More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, and Not Quite Navy. Stamp set is WINDS OF GRACE, and the verse from it is stamped inside the card.

First, drench the area you're going to work on with your Aqua Painter. Using your darker marker, put down some color - then move it where you want with your AP. Put down the next color, and blend. Finish with the lighter color and blend. Go to the next area - you may only want one color, or two.

I did the rocks with Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Creamy Caramel. The tower is done with a Bordering Blue, and the banding is Brilliant Blue - be SURE to keep a kleenex or paper towel nearby to blot!!! The cap is More Mustard. Sky is Bashful Blue, and the water is Not Quite Navy and Bordering Blue.

I'd love to hear what you think of this one! :D And to see what YOU are stamping! You ARE stampin', aren't you???? ;)

BLOG CANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you trust me????? This blog candy is going to be AWESOME - but I'm not going to tell you what it is. :) Just know it will be better than the last time - I mean, I've got over 10,000 hits!! :)

To enter, you MUST post a comment to this blog entry, telling me SOMETHING you enjoy about visiting my blog. :)

Make me laugh, make me cry - just let me know you appreciate me. ;D

I can't wait to start reading!!!! Invite all your friends - this blog candy is going to be AWESOME, I promise.

Happy Wednesday! :)

Good morning! (Yes, it's still morning HERE!) I hope you're having a great day! It's hump day, people - the weekend's not far away!

I wanted to share this card that Becky P. sent me last week. :) Isn't it pretty? Thank you, Becky! Amy loved the watercoloring!! :D

Don't forget, everyone, the request for tutorials I put out! I only received ONE suggestion! Go back and give me some ideas, people!

OK, I'm going to run. :) I've been stamping today; have YOU?? If not, I certainly hope you'll take the time to STAMP something! :) Have a wonderful day!

I'm BACK!!!!!

Phew. Dad's office was torn apart today, so no internet!!!! It was AWFUL!!!!

I couldn't post ANYTHING!!!!!!

I wanted to show you what we did yesterday. :)
Amy is on the left, and this is Melissa. They're working on the project I designed, and the tutorial you'll get to see soon. :D

This card is Amy's project. Isn't it CUTE?? Love the color combination, and the fun feel of the card.

The gift card holder, at the top of the page, is going to take its place in a gift card holder class. It's too cute for words!!! Not hard at all; Melissa did all the cutting, so all we had to do was assemble!

I think I'm going to stop now, because the power is surging. It scares me!!!! We had a great time yesterday, and too bad you couldn't be here. :D Let's just say FOOD figured into the day, big-time, and we laughed and talked a LOT.

Friends. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO grateful for EVERY SINGLE ONE I HAVE!!!!!!!!

Now. Go take the time to STAMP something - I am! :D

I've got ONE suggestion for a new tutorial...

and it's to use metal on a card. Cathy, can you tell me what TYPE of metal you're talking about? Real metal, metallic stuff, you tell me! :D Just need a little clarification!

I've already got an idea for you, ALL my own design, copied from something I found IRL. My mom laughed when I told her what I was going to do with this "something"; she said, "You're always thinking about what you can do with stuff, aren't you?" I told her the day I stop finding fun, innovative things to do, my business dies - and I LOVE what I do too much to let that happen! :D

Monday is going to be a FUN day with Melissa and Amy, so I won't have time to do anything tomorrow - hopefully, I can shoot the tutorial on Tuesday, but I am NOT promising anything! :D

For now, be content with this example of faux silk. It was a card from the Advanced Techniques class last month; I really love this simple, easy technique - and, if I'd had the chance to go into the back yard, I would have used a twig or two under the saying to add to the feel of this. All my class guests loved the color combinations. :)

OK, I'm off. I've got to get up and be READY in the morning! :D I'll report back on how much fun we had. Just so you can be jealous! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day!!! Be sure to take the time to STAMP something - I sure am! :D

I'm sick, but I'm still stampin'! :D

Good afternoon!!! I hope you're feeling well today - I'm not. LOL! I've got the respiratory CRUD again, and I'm soooo tired of coughing!!!! But I'm STILL stampin' my little heart out when I can hold the stamps! :D

These are the bags that I finished stamping for Angela and Abby. Aren't they CUTE?!?!? They're going to hold lip gloss, and fingernail polish, and a disposable camera, and maybe one or two other things. :) Each girl will be getting a photo album like the one we made at the Open House - so the background color of those albums will match their goody bag. :)

If YOU would like me to custom-make some goody bags for you, please email me at Poohisstampin@aol.com, and for $2.50 each - including first-class mail - I'd love to do so!

If you're more interested in learning HOW to do this, stay tuned! Before the end of the month, I'll have a great offer for you! :)

OK. I'm going to go cough and wheeze some more. :) Have a WONDERFUL evening - and, for Pete's sake, if I can take the time to STAMP something, so can YOU! :D

Wow! What a fun open house we had!!!!

This was the calm before the storm. :) Let me tell you: it was AMAZING how many people showed up today! It was wonderful to see everyone; I think we all had a good time catching up, looking at the new Idea Book & Catalog, placing orders, setting up parties, and, OF COURSE, making the projects! :) I'll show you those either tomorrow night or Monday - BUSY day tomorrow! - but I think you'll be sad you couldn't be here. :)

We really did have a good time. I was truly blessed to see many of my friends here! If you didn't make it in today, I'd still like to get you on my calendar while I have time and opportunity to. Please email me as soon as you can, or call me if you've got my number. ;D I can't wait - Monday is the Easy Card Class, and tomorrow is jam-packed with activities, so I've got to run! :) Have a WONDERFUL Sunday!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

WOW. Where DID all that time go??

Actually, in retrospect, a LOT has happened in my life in the past 12 months. Personally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, "stampingly" - lots of changes, setbacks, and growth.

I look forward to 2008 with you, my dear friends. This is a thank-you card from Melissa, my dear friend and downline, but it says it ALL. I cherish each one of you! Thank you for being a part of my life in 2007; I can't wait to see what 2008 brings us!

Whatever you're doing to celebrate - or not celebrate :) - may you enjoy your time with friends and loved ones, be SAFE, be happy, and know that you are cherished.

God bless you, my friend. Auld Lang Syne!

Come on over!

What do you say?? Give me a buzz tonight, and say, "I want some of that beautiful cake!" :D Kenn requested a pineapple upside-down cake, and here it is, fresh from the oven. I didn't get it centered on the plate, and tried to push it over - that's why you can see a huge crack up the left corner. OH, WELL. :D

I'd love to sit down and chat with each one of you, to enjoy the person YOU are, and to develop our friendship. If you get a chance to meet me in person (if you don't know me already!:D), I'd SO love to do that!!! If you're one of my dear friends/customers already, I'd love to spend some one-on-one time with you. Just drop me a line, and let's get it on the calendar! I want to spend 2008 enjoying more of life, instead of wondering where it went! :D

That's a GOAL for me. I don't do resolutions; there's nothing to say it's what I want to accomplish. So, what do you want to accomplish in 2008? Let's hear some ideas; there might be a prize in it for someone.... :)

Thank -you notes are already arriving!

Can you believe it?!??! Melissa, dear friend and downline, already sent me my thank-you note for her Christmas present - and SHE was getting ready to leave for her Christmas trip! AUGH! I'm so far behind, I'm just giving up and getting an early start for NEXT year. :D

Isn't this pretty? The white card stock is shimmery white, and it's showing through the Purely Pomegranate ink - SO pretty IRL! Melissa does incredible things with lots of layers and punches. Drool all you want; it's MY card! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day! Happy Christmas Eve Eve! :D

Another card from a friend!

This beautiful card is from my friend, Angela - one of the five of us who celebrated my birthday this year - and the one I went to Alabama with. :) I've had the great honor of growing closer to her this year; she is a very special, sweet, fiery woman with a wonderful husband and - well, how do you describe her daughter, Abby?? You've seen HER picture here on my blog quite frequently! She likes coming over here because "Mr. Kenn might want to take my picture". :D She told us at the open house that she'd given HIM all her hugs, and couldn't give me ANY. Just like a woman, don't you think?? :D

ANYWAY. Christopher, her husband, HELPED HER DESIGN AND DO HER CARDS, ladies!!!!! Be jealous!!!! :D They all came over and we talked through their order, how to do certain things, the design, etc. And I received one of their beautiful creations this week. :) THANK YOU, dear family!

They left today - as did many of my friends - to go be with family for Christmas. I'm praying for SAFE TRAVELS for everyone, and that your Christmas is filled with the wonder of God's grace!

I'm here....

One of my dearest friends, Melissa, emailed that she missed my blog posts. I'm sorry, gang - I'm just feeling really overwhelmed still! I've been busier than I EVER dreamed possible, and I'm feeling rather like a hampster on a treadmill at this point.

SO. :D Instead of not posting because I can't think of anything TO post, I'm going to post things I've received from OTHER people! This card came from Melissa herself! Isn't it pretty? The double-stitched ribbon is simply gorgeous - and I've always liked this stamp set. Thank you SO much, Melissa!!! I APPRECIATE YOU!!!!!!!!

HOPEFULLY, I'll get everything hanging over my head DONE today, and can be more like myself. :) We'll see!!!!

Until then, be SURE and take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A gift for ME!

Isn't it PRETTY???? I had told my friends that I could sure use a pair of new paper snips for Christmas, and Melissa walked into our Sunday school Christmas party here last night with this pretty gift in her hand!

She took a Crystal Light continer and covered it with Dashing designer paper, did the medallion on the front, and punched holes for the jumbo eyelets with her Crop-a-Dile. She used Real Red grosgrain ribbong for the handle. And besides my new snips, it's full of CHOCOLATE - she rolled labels with it LOOKS like the So Swirly jumbo wheel, and stuck them on Nuggets. There are also Kisses in here - and I haven't emptied it to see if anything different is on the bottom. :D

THANK YOU, MELISSA!!!! It's a WONDERFUL gift, and you KNOW I'll think of you every time I use it. It's sitting on my desk right now. You're such a WONDERFUL friend and downline!!!! :)

OK, YOUR turn to stamp a present for someone - then send me a scan, jpeg, or a copy. ;D TAKE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING!

WHAT a weekend!!!!

Those of you who are friends of Ken's know that yesterday - 10/14 - was his birthday. It was a big milestone for him. so it was a big day! :)

To start with, our Sunday school class threw a breakfast pitch-in to celebrate - we had quiche, sausage casserole, venison sausage, chocolate chip cookie bars, biscuits, apple slices with pumpkin dip, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something, and I made homemade cinnamon rolls. They were yummy - I used to make them a lot, but we're trying to be more careful with carbs around here. :D They were a great treat...!

Then, Lee (Ken's best friend since kindergarten) and Corrine (Lee's wife, who are celebrating their third anniversary today) flew in to surprise him - I led them in during the welcome time, and his face was PRICELESS!!! :D

For lunch, we went to El OK Corral, not far from our house. I tried, DESPERATELY, to discourage this - we'd been for lunch the two days before, and his surprise party was going to be tacos - but that's where we ended up going. :D They sang "Feliz Cumpleanos" to him. (For you gringos y gringas out there, that's Happy Birthday in Spanish! :D) We had a great time, and he was starting to come out of the shock.

We went home, and Lee & Corrine went to take a nap - they'd been up over 24 hours except for small naps they could catch on the plane - and I headed off for a baby shower stop. I wasn't gone long, but had a chance to finalize everything with Angela. She and Cris P. had planned all the decorations, etc, because I just couldn't get away to do anything! THEY ARE AWESOME - thanks SO much, girls!!!!! Anyway. I came home, and we rested and talked for a bit.

Mom & Dad took off "to drop off food for the church" at 5, and we were "going to meet them at a place that was supposed to be a big surprise" for Ken. :D At 6, I took him out to the car and made him wear a blindfold - NOT a fun thing, but he still had no clue about a party. ROFL! I told him Dad wanted it to be a big surprise!! :D Lee and Corrine had changed into their costumes, and we took off and drove around for about 15 minutes - the church is 4 minutes from our house. :D I dropped Lee & Corrine off so she could get photos, and told Ken I was taking him to park. I drove onto the grass, and parked the car. I made him stand up out of the car and turn to face everyone before I took off the blindfold. He was AGAIN shocked!!!!!!!!!!! :D

This is Lee and Corrine in their hippy costumes; it was a HIPPY BIRTHDAY party. :D SUCH fun to surprise him!!!! We had just about 30 people there, including Greg McDougal and his family.

While Ken was cutting the cake, Greg went to get his guitar - and borrowed Lee's wig. Here's what HE looked like!!!

I honestly think it needs to be his next album cover....:D

Towards the end of the party, we had Ken open his "gifts". Unknown to him, we'd asked everyone to bring salt shakers as a gag gift - Ken LOVES salt, and basically owns the shakers around here. :D But we couldn't just let him open them. Oh, no! We had to serenade him with

MARGARITAVILLE! :D

It was a wonderful party. He received phone calls from his brother in the afternoon, his daughter during the party, and several friends throughout yesterday and today. I think he was absolutely flabbergasted by the surprises throughout the day - and we had a lovely day today with Lee & Corrine. They will be flying home tomorrow, but it was a great day - and we celebrated their anniversary all day, too!

I do have ONE last photo to share. This is his cake; I had the Hermitage Bakery do it, and I was THRILLED!!! They did a great job! :)