It's JUNE, and you know what that means!

That's right! It's time for the ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CARD CONTEST!

Now, I don't want anyone to think I'm perfect at sending out stuff. HA! Our winner from LAST year is finally notified that I've sent her prize. ::::::::::::SIGH:::::::::: But I'll do better, I promise! THIS year, your prize(s) will come out of my stash! :D So I won't have a HUGE reason for not sending them. LOL!

Since I usually start this contest earlier, I'm giving you until the end of the month - JUNE 30!! - to get your cards to me.

There are TWO categories this year: popular vote and MY vote.

You may use whatever you wish to create your birthday card for me. HOWEVER, for My Vote, all Stampin' Up! counts more. :D

All cards must arrive at my house by June 30, 2011. If you need my address, please email me!

Anything goes! I can't wait to see what you create for me. :) On the 1st of July, I'll put up a gallery where you will vote on your favorite by leaving a message. I will announce the winner on July 11, giving you 10 days to vote!


Get creative - and INSPIRE ME!!!!!!!! Here it is, the beginning of June, and we've got less than 28 days until the new Idea Book goes LIVE! Give me something to start thinking how I can copy without being obvious. ROFL!!

Have a WONDERFUL day! And please, take the time to stamp something. I promise I will, too. :)

Time to go VOTE!!!!!

Go HERE to vote for your favorite for the 2008 ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE!


You may ask me any questions about the cards you wish - what they're made with, what colors are used, etc. Just NOT who did them! :D You may vote either by leaving a comment here, or by emailing me at poohisstampin@aol.com.

MAJOR THANKS to everyone who submitted an entry! If you don't see yours here, email me - I tried to scan them as they came in, but maybe I missed one!

Happy Thursday!

So, how's your entry for my Annual Birthday Challenge going? Are you excited about what you're designing??? I've received one, and knew that a few more are on their way. :) I can't wait to see what y'all come up with this year!

So. This is a card from the Manly Man Card Class. I featured it in my Stampin' Up!® newsletter this month; if you're not signed up for it, email me at poohisstampin@aol.com and let me know you want it! :) The stamp set is WINDS OF GRACE; the colors are Bravo Burgundy, Creamy Caramel, and Very Vanilla. But that's all I'm going to tell you! :D It's a beautiful set....

So, don't forget to enter the Annual Birthday Challenge, and go to my personal blog to enter another giveaway there!

ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE!

That's right, everyone! It's my birthday month - AGAIN! (Didn't we just DO this?!?!? AUGH!!!!!!!!!)

Anyway. ;) It's your chance to win free stuff from me, and I'm going to give you TWO WEEKS to get the design JUST right and send it to me. :) This is last year's winner; I put up a gallery, and let people vote for their favorite.

I think that, this year, I'll ALSO give a prize to MY favorite. And to be brutally honest, that's gonna be difficult for YOU. :D I want to be WOWed, and the more STAMPIN' UP! products you use to do it, the better! :D

We only had SEVEN entries last year, so your chances are pretty darn good!

Email me at poohisstampin@aol.com for my snail mail address. This year, it has to be in my hot little hands to be in the contest. :) I will accept cards until JUNE 18, then will put them up on a gallery to allow voting. I will announce BOTH winners on THURSDAY, JUNE 26!!!!!!!!!!!!

They MUST be birthday cards, everyone! :D

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a winner!!!!

Today is THE BIG DAY!!!! Are you ready???? I know there are a LOT of you who will be disappointed that you didn't win this great blog candy, but keep watching! I still have a challenge going on, too - send me either a scan or pic of your SPLIT NEGATIVE card, and we'll have a contest! I have TWO entries so far. Who else? If you don't enter, I'm going to seed it with MY CARDS so I have a chance of not having to give anything away! :D

SO. Do you want to know who won? :D Here you go.

The lucky winner is...

ANDREA HAYS!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations, Andrea. :) I'm just waiting for her snail mail address to get it off to her. :) Be sure and tell me how disappointed you are - leaving me a comment, not hate mail, please. ROFL!!!

Thank you, dear readers. You sure do make giving things away fun!!! NOW, then, go make time to STAMP something - I am! :D

Well, well, well!

It's true! Women DO have a serious sweet tooth! :D

Thanks for turning out in such large numbers to enter for the blog candy. The counter doesn't know what to do with itself - it keeps rolling over. :) Of course, I know it will slow down again soon, but I'm grateful for the hundreds of hits I've gotten in the last two days!

Please keep coming to visit me! I promise I'll be as loquacious as possible soon. I'm also going to be offering instructions and kits for some projects, so stay tuned!!!

This card was one of the Christmas 10/10/10 cards we did earlier this month. Good ol' Frosty; I kind of expect him to be saying goodbye when the Retired List comes out in 18 days. The tag is from the Level 2 hostess-only set, PERFECT PRESENTATIONS - if you want IT, you ONLY have until Dec. 29 to earn it by hostessing a $330+ party, dear reader! CONTACT ME TODAY!

Anyway. Colors are Brocade Blue, Whisper White, and Rose Red. I know it's an unusual color combination for Frosty, but I like it. :)

I STILL only have two entries for the challenge, readers! I hope you'll play!!!!!

And I'm still selling our calendars - I pick up the first printing tomorrow. C'mon, you can think of someone who would LOVE it, can't you!? Email me at poohisstampin@aol.com if you have questions!

OK, I have to run! I have a new customer/friend coming to meet me in real life, and I don't want her to have to wait on me. :D Go ahead, enter the contest and challenge and buy a calendar - but TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING, TOO!!! :D

It's BLOG CANDY time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We finally did it!!! We went over 6000 hits on the counter! (I'm convinced about a third of those are from ME, but we'll go with it!)

SO, it's time to give away some AWESOME blog candy. :) There's a Simply Scrappin' Kit called "Friends & Flowers" that was a hostess-ONLY item from last year, a current wheel called "Watercolor Joy", black hemp twine, a Sale-A-Bration set from last year called "So Very..." which is great for stamping OR scrapbooking, and a paper bag album for your use and/or inspiration! You're looking at a prize worth over $40!!!

How can you be the lucky, blessed winner of this wonderful blog candy??? Well, here's the deal. You can ONLY enter by leaving me a comment this week ON MY BLOG. No where else - not in my email, not telling me face-to-face, not hate mail, NOTHIN'. :D JUST by leaving a comment! A random winner will be drawn on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19! So start commenting - and be nice. :D Don't forget to leave me a way to get in touch with you if you win!!!!!!

OK, I'm off to work some more. Don't forget to leave a comment - and then go take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful day!

Hit & run today....

I have SO much to do for this weekend, it's not funny! So I'm going to drop this out there, then go get busy on something else. :D

This is another design from the last 10/10/10. Colors are So Saffron, Handsome Hunter, and Mellow Moss; Watercolor Vine Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, done in Mellow Moss; gold embossing on top, with a verse from Elegant Inspirations. Simple, but the inside of mine is stamped with a sympathy greeting; I didn't want it to be a standard gloomy sympathy card. :)

OK, everyone, I'm outta here!!!! If you're coming this weekend, expect great things! :D I can't wait!

I've only received ONE PERSON'S entry for the contest!!!!!!! Look at the last posting for the challenge, ladies & gents!!!

TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING - then bless someone with it! :) Have a wonderful day!!!

Easy WOW card!

This card was one of the two projects we did tonight at the Chocolate Party. We had a small turnout, but we had a GREAT time!

We stamped the largest image from LOVELY AS A TREE in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink on the Very Vanilla card stock, then stamped it in Very Vanilla Craft Ink on the Chocolate Chip card stock - and embossed with clear embossing powder. Next, we cut both pieces of card stock on the diagonal, and mounted one piece of each color on the Ruby Red mat. The next step was to emboss the "thank you" from WONDERFUL WORDS with the Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and clear EP, and inside we put "from the heart" from HUGS & WISHES. Then we put the image on the Creamy Caramel card stock. Voila! And EASY.

Quite a stunning presentation, isn't it? It's beautiful with any detailed stamp! Here's a challenge: do the same technique, and either mail it to me or scan and email it. We'll have another contest!!!!

The NEXT post will probably be another contest, too! We're almost at 5000 hits, and that means BLOG CANDY!!!!!!! :) So, go STAMP something - and share it!!!

Yooo, hoo!!

I still need AMY BUCHANAN and SALLY to email me at poohisstampin@aol.com and give me your mailing addresses, so Greg can send you his CD! :)


I've heard two rough cuts from the NEW CD he's working on, everyone. GOODNESS, but it's going to be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! :D Keep checking at www.ahouseformykids.com for details!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...!

Are you excited????? :D Greg chose the winners randomly today! Here they are! If I don't have your email address, please email me at poohisstampin@aol.com to give me your mailing address!

1. Clara Ogren-Rubalcaba

2. Amy Buchanan - need your addy!

3. Sally - need your addy!

4. J-me

5. Hootie

Congratulations to our winners!!! :D Greg will be bringing me your CDs in the next few days, and I'll have them out sometime around the end of next week. Now, then, for all you who DID NOT WIN, please PLEASE take the time and the little amount of money it takes and go purchase Greg's CD. Remember: this CD is up for Album of the Year with other greats - INCLUDING ALAN JACKSON! It's GOT to be good! :D Go to http://www.ahouseformykids.com/ to purchase the album and support a great cause. God will bless you abundantly!

OK, I'm off to the races some more. :) TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING!!!

LAST DAY TO ENTER THE DRAWING!

I went on the Tennessee Stampers Retreat this weekend. This is a fun group of ladies, let me tell you! :) We stamped, talked, and laughed all weekend. Oh, and ATE. LOL! There was enough sweet stuff to feed an army, and the camp's food was great, too! Thank you, everyone, for making us newbies feel so accepted! :)

I'll be showing off some of our projects as I scan or photograph them, or finish them. :)

Don't forget: today is the LAST DAY to enter a drawing for Greg McDougal's CD! All you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog, on any entry you want! It's not difficult, and we're giving away FIVE of them!!! So your chances are pretty darned good! :) It's a great cause - and you can feel free to go purchase a CD as soon as you don't win one. :D (See, I almost NEVER win anything, so this way, you'll be prepared....:D)

Too much to do, not enough time again!!!!! OH, please pray for Becky P.; she's having severe toothaches, and arrived home yesterday after retreat to find that her 5-year-old daughter has a severe break in her leg. They're going to the surgeon today, to see if that's something they're going to have to deal with. Thanks, everyone!

Don't forget!! TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excitement is building!

WOW, so much going on around here!!!!!! First of all, if you try to get ahold of me this weekend, it may be VERY difficult! If you call my cell phone, Ken will have it - he can contact me if it's an emergency, but I'm out of town until later on Sunday.

OK. That part's out of the way. :D I'm sending out the HOSTESS APPRECIATION LUNCHEON INVITATIONS today!!!!!! I cannot WAIT to get the chance to thank you ladies once again. If you don't receive your invitation by the end of next week, and you think you should have received one, please email me at poohisstampin@aol.com! I don't want you to miss out! And don't forget: there's still time to get YOUR party in before October 27, if you want to come to the luncheon. It's one of the perks of being my hostess, and I think it's worth it! :D

The card above was made for me by my Tennessee Stampers Secret Sister. Isn't it pretty? Oval punches, faux stitching, and gingham ribbon are the perfect touches for this pretty So Saffron card. She's a very talented stamper, and I can't wait to thank her for all the beautiful cards she's sent me!

OK, I have a few more things to do before Becky P. picks me up! Have a WONDERFUL weekend, dear readers!!!!! Don't forget you have until MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 to enter the drawing for one of Greg McDougal's CDs!!! Just leave a comment on my blog - and look at Sept. 24's posting for more details. :)

TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING! I'll be sharing my projects with you next week from this weekend. :)

On the fly!

Hi, everyone!!!! I'm going on a stamping retreat this weekend with the Tennessee Stampers group - thanks to Becky P. - so I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off!!!!

Speaking of chickens....:) This two-page 6x6 layout was from this month's class. We had a lot of fun doing this one - although it's a little unorthodox for most people! :D We used Earth Elements Stampin' Spots to do the background. The turkey is almost all made of punches - except for the wattle (is that right? No time to look it up!!!) and the beak - and the only other stamping is the "Happy Thanksgiving" in the corner. The base is Very Vanilla, and the photo matting is Close to Cocoa.

I'll try to post one more time in the morning before I take off!! If I don't, have a WONDERFUL weekend, keep entering for Greg's CD, and TAKE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING - and share it with someone else.

Keep 'em coming!!

What an INCREDIBLE show, y'all!

You've visited this blog in numbers I never would have believed! Some of you have told me that you don't want to be entered in the drawing - that you're going to PURCHASE a CD to bless the McDougal family. You have been a TRUE blessing, and I can't tell you how much it means.

PLEASE KEEP IT COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm passing along pertinent comments to Greg - and we're all being abundantly blessed by knowing more people are praying, more people are thinking, more people are rejoicing in the love this family has for each other and for God. PLEASE continue to share his story with friends, family, ANYONE you can think of!

God bless you, dear reader!!!! I just wanted to show you another view of the family today. Keep leaving those comments - you have until OCTOBER 1 to leave one and get entered to win one of FIVE FREE CDs from Greg McDougal - read September 24's post for more details!

Did you think I would forget?!??!?! :D TAKE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!

FREE CD GIVEAWAY!!!

Hi, everyone! Last night, we helped get Greg McDougal a venue at our church to have a concert. It was a small turnout, but I believe he touched most of the hearts of those there. Greg's been a family friend for four years now, and he continues to touch our lives - as well as the lives of people around us!

Greg was on the verge of going all-out in a country music career eight years ago, when God told him to walk away. Since then, he's been faithfully working to support his family as a carpenter. But God has told him to take up his guitar again, to raise money to help his family - and families of other special needs kids - to get what they need to take care of these needs at home. And God's blessing! Greg is nominated this year by the Christian Country Music Association for Best Album of the Year, and Best New Artist!

And now, you have a chance to win one of Greg's CDs. :) I've talked to him, and we'll give away FIVE of his CDs, "The Work of a Carpenter". If you'd like to learn more about him, and about his cause, please go check out his website here. You'll be blessed by his music, and touched by his ministry. The cause? Well, this picture is Greg with his four kids. Three of them - Jeffrey (the oldest), Sean, and Gracey (the youngest), have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. May I just tell you, they steal the show when they sing with Greg? :D Katie is a most precocious 5-year-old, and Greg and his wife, Diane, do a wonderful job of making sure she gets special attention, too.

They are a wonderful family, and I believe you'll LOVE the CD. SO, leave a comment here on my blog by OCTOBER 1, and we'll draw 5 names to win! :) Be sure to leave me a way to contact you - email, link to your blog, something! :)

GOOD LUCK! Oh, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP SOMETHING!!!!

Happy Independence Day, America!

I hope your celebration today is safe, fun, and full of yummy treats and happy memories. :)

As promised, here is one of the card samples from my New Idea Book Open House Monday night. The colors are Whisper White, Certainly Celery, and Brilliant Blue; the matted saying is from WORD ON WORD, a new Level 2 hostess set, and the other is from Hugs & Wishes, a new set in this year's IB&C. Don't forget - hostess sets are only good for the six months of the current IB&C now, so book your party to get your choice for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway. :) See the new rhinestone brad?? They are SO awesome! What a great way to add some bling to your card! This is an ice-colored square brad - but they all look like diamond shapes to me.... :)

Cheryl emailed me; that's HER card that won the Birthday Card Contest!! Congrats, Cheryl! :) I'll have your prize out sometime within the next week! And I'll be announcing yet another contest soon - you have so many ways to get free stuff from me! :D

Have a wonderful day! Do some stampin' - and share your passion with someone else!

And the winner is...

Congratulations!!! :) You've WON the contest!!!! If you recognize this card, please forgive me - I can't seem to find your email ANYWHERE on my computer!!!! Just drop me your snail mail address at poohisstampin@aol.com so I can send you your prize. :)

Last night's open house was a lot of fun. If you're local, and didn't come, you missed out on making two cards, a cardstock sample with the new IN COLORs and new RHINESTONE BRADS, and getting to go shopping - and oohing and aahing over the new Idea Book & Catalog. :) Plus food and laughter - you just can't beat stampers for having a great time together! Thanks to those of you who did attend, and made it such fun. :) And those of you who still don't have your Idea Book & Catalog, you can go to http://www.poohisstampin.stampinup.net/ and click on the CATALOG button on the left-hand side to browse!

Keep an eye out - tomorrow, I'll post one of the card samples we did yesterday. :) I wanted to get the winner's birthday card up, so she'll contact me. Phew. Life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's the LAST DAY to vote!!!!!

Don't forget to vote for your favorite birthday card I received! Today is the LAST DAY! Just go to http://www.pbase.com/ifistand/bd_cards and leave a comment to tell me which one you think should win. Number 7 is the big hit so far, but you've got until MIDNIGHT CENTRAL TIME TONIGHT to vote!!!!!!

I'm on a group online who is doing something called POTS - Passin' On To Others - and this is what I made to pass along. It's a paper bag album, made with the retired Tickets & Tokens SS kit. I REALLY like it; it's a little austere inside, but I don't have any travelling stamps that really go with it - so I'll let the recipient add whatever she wants. :) It's a little hard to let it go, honestly! :D You can barely see the pocket tabs sticking out on the right side; I used the diecuts with the kit to make journaling cards. I hope she likes it!!

I'm getting my new Idea Books & Catalogs from Mr. Brown today!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope he comes with plenty of time before I go to water aerobics; Ken won't let me skip that, and I REALLY want to look and OOOHHHH and AAAAAHHHH for a long time - then start making my MUST HAVE list. :D Be SURE and get your book!!!!!

Have a wonderful day - and try to do some stampin'! :)

OK, go VOTE!!!

I spent some time today uploading all the scans of birthday cards I received, so it's time to get this contest going. There are seven entries for you to choose from; you might have a hard time with this one!

Simply go to http://www.pbase.com/ifistand/bd_cards and leave a comment, telling me which one you think should win. It's that easy to vote! I haven't RAK'd back the senders yet, not all of them. Life just never seems to stop going, does it?!? If we could only tap the way time speeds ahead, we'd need no crude oil! LOL!!

Now, I don't think I'll tell you what the prize will be; but I promise, I give GREAT prizes! Here's what Cheryl - the prize-winner from the May scrapbooking contest - said when she received hers:
I got my package from you in the mail today! Thank you SO much for the simply scrappin pack! I've never had one of these, and it is perfect for me! I love the colors and the die cuts! I am so excited! I can't wait to play with it! Thanks so much. I hope you had a great birthday!

:) I like to make people happy! So, GOOD LUCK if yours is one of the seven entries! If you're not, maybe you want to go stamp a little! Who knows when I'll have another contest going on? :)

Have a wonderful day! Keep cool, and count your blessings!