Enjoy the Journey

Are we counting down now.  The east coast has already entered into the new year. Here in Arizona we have just short of 2 hours to go.  Will we feel any different than we did an hour ago or a day ago.  Probably not, but we can feel excited and anxious to see what 2011 brings each of us.  I truly hope everyone strives to make a positive go in life and enjoy the journey.  Starting in January, I sometimes think 'here we go again. Another whole year to go before we are right back to where we started'. And, only 11 months to go before my next birthday.  Yes, I love my birthday (another story on its way).

We can also make New Year's resolutions. And, by the way, resolutions are meant to be kept and accomplished.  I did accomplish a few of my goals:  1.  Get the blog done;   2.  Start a stampin' club (pinkpigy and the piglets); get a new recruit (yeah, piglet#1-Pam); 3. and,  work harder at holding stamp workshops and classes.  Now, this was just on my Stampin' Up! business.  For my family resolutions:  1.  Try to not be such a conservative in my opinions;  2. Be a bit more accomodating to family;  3. Strengthen my relationship with GOD.  (these are not prioritized so I can bounce between each one as things happen).

So, here is a convention swap I made for this past year and I still like the stamp I used.  I had the stamp set for a long time and was in the "last minute crunch" mode.  Wherever I go, whatever I do, whoever I have a chance to meet -  I want to enjoy it all.  Learn what I can and just enjoy the journey. It is not a current stamp set, but I just like it.  I will pick this card up several times and just admire that I could make such a beautiful, black and white, well-meaning piece of art.  It might not be the top of the stamping gurus, but it is nicely done.

Now, I must share a story about this pigture.  The bicycle reminds me of the ones back in the 50s-60s.  Most of you know what I mean.  Now, I do know how to ride a bicycle.  It took me about 4 tries to master the balancing thing; however, I made it with the help of my sister.  Oh yeah, this is another story in itself (about my sisters and brothers - another time).  For now, it's learning how to ride a bike.  We lived many places in our family lifetime.  One was on the outskirts of town (I believe it was in Indianapolis), and the yard was fairly big.  Along the property perimeter was a fence with a small opening so people could walk between houses.  Well, one day I begged my sister to teach me to ride a bike.  Now, the bike she had was not quite like the one pigtured above.  In fact, it was kind of downright embarassing to be seen on it.  We didn't have many luxuries, but we had fun with what we had. I wish I had a pigture of it so you could see it.  I propped myself right up on the seat (that had no seat covering at all - just the bare metal frame); no tires on the wheels (just the metal rims); and no rubber covering on the handle bars - we are talking major junk bike.  It did have brakes.  My sister (Peggy) promised to not let go and that she would run along side of me using one hand to guide me along the way.  I should have known this was not the right thing to do because I looked over and she wasn't there.  Oh my gosh!  I screamed and bam! right into the fence I went.  I started crying because I had scratched my knee and I was shaking like a leaf.  She hid her laughing and suggested we start again and this time, she really promised not to let go.  So, up I went again and this time, she was right there with me (for all of about 6 steps); and, then I knew I was going to have to master this skill by myself.  I managed to stay balanced and there was the fence again..... well, I steered right into the opening of the fence and continued on until I realized I had to do something like put on the brakes and learn how to get off the bike without killing myself.  It didn't matter if I even scratched my other knee because the one knee was still hurting, so what difference did it make - one or both hurting.  So, I leaned a little too much to one side and I fell over - on the ground. Now, I had two knees a an elbow hurting. I got up and decided to learn on my own.  I figured it out but I learned even more that the journey might not be the easiest, but I learned something even more valuable....  don't learn to ride a bike with good clothes on -  I ripped the shorts I had just put on (that my grandma had made for me).  I think I was in more trouble for that than learning to trust my sister. I did continue to trust her because I have more stories to share.

Have a new happy beginning this year, and happy pigtrails to you, pinkpigy@aol.com

I think I'm in trouble

So, I am on my way to posting my life and I think I am doing something right because people are saying they are leaving comments but it isn't showing that there are any comments to read.  Now that leads me to believe I am in trouble because 'Help' doesn't really help me sometimes. Does anyone know what I need to do to allow comments. I checked my settings and it shows I can receive them.
hmmmm..... once I get this figured out, it will be so good reading all the comments I have stored up for me.
Toodles.  Off to bed. Like, am I just crazy for still being awake?  Thanks for stopping by, pinkpigy@aol.com

Saying goodbye is hard to do

Well, saying goodbye is never easy.  Don't you remember all the times that someone you loved or liked came to visit and then, the dreaded having to leave time came, and amongst the tears and slight smiles, it was over.   This is kind of how I feel when the year is over.  I won't say it has been a 100% great year; however, I am still standing straight up and family is still keeping in touch with me.  Overall, it has been a good year for us. I have accomplished a few things in my Stampin' Up! business that are milestones to me. There are alot of people out in the world who are struggling to make ends meet, but as long as they can still eat and do other things then, life is good.  Anyway, in with the new one.  Pretty soon we will be doing the countdown and yelling Happy New Year. 

So, to get pinkpigycrafts into the 2011 spirit, let's do a calendar project class, shall we?  Yep!  I can't take the credit for creating such a fantastic project but I can thank a demonstrator (Pam H) for giving this to me at our Dazzlin' Divas' December meeting as her gift swap.   Anyway,  class fee is $35.00. Supplies list and Photo tutorial included.  Frame is handmade by my husband (yea! thank goodness he was in construction in his younger years).  If interested, please contact me at pinkpigy@aol.com.  I am not able to take credit cards at this time.  Cash, Check or M.O. only. Postage will be added (when I figure how much it will be).

side view

When I was a little girl......

So, we all have memories of special people in our lives and I am no exception.  I do remember quite a few things when I was a little girl.  Some I wonder about because could these have made me who I am today? Others I just sit back and enjoy the time (like getting a Shirley Temple doll from one of my uncles). None of my brothers and sisters got gifts like I did.  Shh, I think I was his favorite of all kids. Here, let me show you a couple pigtures.

This is the doll restored by a friend years ago and the picture is an autographed one given to me by my son, Travis for Christmas one year.

Now, here is a greeting card that I thought of while remininscing of Shirley Temple. This card was a swap from Jan Tink and it is from the 'Greeting Card Kids' stamp set.  It took me forever to find a card with this stamp set on it, but I found it! I guess you have to have been in that age group to connect. Now I am thinking of (how many of you out there don't know who Shirley Temple is?). 

You can still order this stamp set because it's in the current Idea Book & Catalog. Go to my website and browse through the book. Even if you aren't into stamping like I am, you will see pictures that are made using our stampin' supplies. http://www.janerappleyea.stampinup.net/

So, enough of my sharing. I have other stories to share and you might even 'connect' with them as well or at least you can laugh or chuckle at how silly I was (or I should say am).  Later and happy pigtrails to you, pinkpigy@aol.com

Here is how we will communicate

Hey piglets, I thought of something.  If you like to leave comments, please do so.  Remember to be kind and respectful.  I can get kind of sarcastic at times, but I am working on my moods and speech etiquette (LOL). Also, feel free to "oink" if you like something that has been posted.  Just type in oink in your comments. The more oinks the better.  I am working on getting the 3 little pigs complete (I only have one little piggie right now - so far, so good; but she's lonely and needs some buddies).  If you are interested in becoming a demonstrator on my team, let me know.  This is going to be a hoot (I mean, an oink here, an oink there) fun blog.  Click here to go to my Stampin' Up! website  or  Click here to send me an email

Getting my blog going

Hello all of you piglets out there! Yep and that is what you are when are you are cruising on my pinkpigycrafts blog. Welcome to my very first attempt at starting my blog.  I am trying to get this blog up and running; however, I am having a bit of trouble getting things in their places. So, just have a little patience and let's see where we go from here. At this point, you probably won't see much or won't be able to get into places but I am experimenting with setting up the tabs that will correlate with pinkpigycrafts - like: bay of pigtures (my gallery of photos); 'go hog wild' (my catalogs and products); etc. - you get the pigture, right?!
Now, I just put my first picture on here. Pretty cool, huh?  It's a handcart for hauling my craft things to the craft fairs I do. It will be used alot and will lighten legwork from parking lot to booth. I will take it off as soon as I can get a gallery going.  I need to learn how to set up tabs (like above). Not having much luck on that.  Any of you out there who are knowledgeable in this just let me know and I will give it a shot (not as in the Big Shot, hahaha). Christmas Day is officially over and now we all have to focus on the new year.  I always wonder what the year to come will bring me.  I am usually not one to ponder on the past year; however, some good things have come about and led me in a positive forward motion.  One thing I know for sure is that I have a lot of family and friends who support me in my Stampin' Up! business.  Now, I am going to attempt inserting a picture to show you what I (with alot of help by my downline Pam) for our granddaughters' school principal to hand out to her staff. Stinkin' cute?! Yes, they are.

We used the lil paws embosslit with the beary merry santa hat and tied a bow (retired red gingham ribbon). The baskets were done using the two tags die (it took two to make one basket). Plus, a little box template to hold things and the two tags to the sides.
Let's have some fun chatting back and forth, sharing ideas and pigtures, just all of that good stuff.  This is scarey to me, but I decided this is what I need to do.
Here is another pigture of a swap I made for 2010 convention.  I can't help it. I think it turned out so well. I have posted it on my Stampin' Connection photos (demonstrators only site). I wanted to share it with all of you who are not demonstrators.  It is using the Out West stamp set. Not bad. Anyway, I am going to get more pigtures to share with you. Some will be my own and some will be done by others (who are way more creative than I am). Always, remember to give credit to the one who did the artwork.

This is where I will leave you for now.  I am trying to link my website and email with this, too.  Thanks for stopping by. My hats off to those who have successfully set up their blogs.  Happy pigtrails to you,

 Click here to display my email address

 Click here to see my Stampin' Up! website