Monday Mailer

I've got a couple of Monday Mailers to share with you. This is the card Nikki sent to me. She used the top note die with Candy Lane DSP. The stamp set is Happy Heart Day.

This is the card I mailed today to my Tina, my MM partner. It is an acetate card.

Stamp set: Itty Bitty Buds (hostess set)

Ink: Riding Hood Red; Regal Rose; Garden Green

Paper: Candy Lane DSP; Black; Whisper White; Pink Pirouette; acetate

Access: Photo Corner Punch; Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain; brads

This is the inside of the card.The saying is from Echoes of Kindness, another hostess set.

A Busy Week

It's been a busy few days.  Our friends from Texas, Margaret and Graham, were here for a few days to visit us before heading over to their daughter's home to babysit.  After we picked them up at the airport on Wednesday, Margaret and I convinced the guys to drop us off at a stamp store in Charlotte for a little bit!!  We spent about half an hour just browsing.  Surprisingly, the only thing I bought was a "C" plate for my Cuttlebug which I gave to my daughter last month.  My C plate broke in half and I have been unable to find one to buy anywhere.  Then we headed to Davidson to the Brick House to have dinner, drinks and conversation.  The restaurant was really crowded with Davidson and Clemson fans waiting for the basketball to start. 

Thursday, the guys volunteered for the Red Cross while Margaret and I played in my stamp room.  We had a ball visiting and crafting.  On Friday, we went to Churchill Assisted Living in Mooresville and helped the residents make calendars.  It was so rewarding.  My neighbor, Marilyn's mother is there and she asked me if I would do this for the residents.  My sister, Marianne and friend, Judy came along too to help.  In fact, Judy and I split up the kit making - with Judy making 15 and me making 15 so it wasn't too bad.  We had a really good turn-out after coaxing a few of them to join us and the ladies (and a few gentlemen) were quite pleased with their calendars.  I think we will probably do something similar again next month for Easter.

We took them to Charlotte on Saturday to meet their daughter.  Our visit always ends too soon and there's always a lot of projects we want to do that never get done.  Margaret tells me every visit that she will come back for a week on her own next time but that never happens!!  (Her husband retired as a pilot from American Airlines so it's not a problem to get on a plane and fly here.)  Oh well, we just make the best of the time we get when she is here usually.

Judy, Marianne, Margaret and me at Churchill -

Some of the residents working on their calendars.

Marilyn (in middle) helping two of the ladies make calendars.

100 Things to Do ....

I've seen this before and decided I would finally do it. This list is a questionaire of sorts. You are supposed to bold or color the things you've done. I bet my daughter's list will be longer than mine!! (edited - I missed #42 - thanks Ashley!)

Feel free to play along!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (tambourines - out of tune, I'm sure!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland, (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving,
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had Chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Monday Mailer from Last Week

 

Another card that's been traveling around in my purse!  I received this from my Monday Mailer buddy, Nikki last week for Valentines.  She used the new heart punch, the die cut envelope and the stamp set, Love You Much.  Isn't it gorgeous!!

Thanks Nikki!!

A forgotten Valentine

 

I just realized I forgot to share this great Valentine I received last week.  That's because it's been in my purse for several days.  Isn't this just yummy???  I just love it.  It is from my friend, Brenda, who owns Stampers Alley in Mooresville.  The green is just beautiful especially with the little green crystals!

American Idol

OK, folks - this is Post #2 for today.  Can't forget about American Idol.  Just thought I'd give you my take on it tonight.

First off, they had us confused with the change-up of the format.  It was hard to pick just 3 from the 12 to go on this time.  What if when you get to another group of 12, they're all bad and you could have picked 5 from another group????  I do believe they are milking the show - 3 nights of 12 performances each!!

1. Little Less Conversation — Jackie Tohn - She just didn't do it for me.  The spandex pants were a little too much!!
2. Ricky Braddy - He got one of my votes.  I liked him and thought it was cute that people had on Braddy Bunch shirts.
3. Never Loved A Man — Alexis Grace  Another vote-getter for me.  I thought she was really good.
4. Hick Town — Brent Keith He was ok, but I don't think country songs are going to make the grade with the judges.
5. You Belong With Me — Stevie Wright  Not good at all!!  She needs to go back to her high school talent show!  I felt sorry for her, but at 16, she didn't cry.
6. Angel of Mine — Anoop Desai  I really like him, but not so impressed with his choice of song.  Think he'll make it through.  Got another of my votes.
7. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic — Casey Carlson  No - she's not going to make it either.  She was a little distracting with making faces.
8. I Don’t Wanna Be — Michael Sarver  I really like this guy but not sure that he'll go through either.
9. Natural Woman — Ann Marie Boschovich Don't think the judges were sold on her plus she put her foot in her mouth at the end talking to the judges! 
10. Stephen Fowler  I felt so sorry for this guy last week during Hollywood week.  He forgot the lyrics and started over; then screwed up again and ended up banging his piano and walking away.  But they gave him another shot.  Unfortunately, the judges didn't like that he picked a Michael Jackson song.  I actually thought he was pretty decent.
11. Saving All My Love For You — Tatiana Del Toro This girl has just about driven me crazy all during the other shows and I figured she would be just full of herself tonight.  She does have a very good voice though.  But tonight, she was very subdued.  She had the judges stumped!!  And she didn't even laugh (she sounds like a hyena!!)  I just don't think she has America on her side though.
12. Hero — Danny Gokey THE BEST!!!  This could be our next American Idol!!  He definitely got my vote!!  This guy has a hard luck story (don't they all?).  He lost his wife last year.  During all the try-outs, his best friend has been competing too.  Unfortunately, his friend got cut last week at Hollywood.  He was sitting in the audience tonight supporting Danny.

Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards are always hard ones.  A girl in my Newcomers Group lost her father last Saturday and I wanted to send her a card.  This is the one I made.  I really like it - simple but elegant.

I have this Crate Paper for a while and I just layered it on a black card.  I used a different pattern to die cut the leaves.  I used my Nestabilities Labels #2 for the words.  The stamp set is from Little Paper Shop.

This Week's Monday Mailer

I went to the movies today and saw "Taken" with Liam Neeson.  It was really good.  I would recommend it to you!

Here is the card I mailed out today to Tina, my Monday Mailer partner.

Recipe:

• Cardstock:  Pink Passion; Pink Pirouette; Black; Whisper White
• Ink:  Black, Pink Passion
• Stamp:  Love You Much
• Accessories:  Big Shot, Texturz Plates, Circle Punches; Markers; Pretties Kit flower; Scallop Punch

My Milk Carton Box and my sister's were on another blog site today.  I got the pattern from Becky Roberts and her site is a really good one.  Check out her blog here.

Birthday card and challenge

I started out the day by having to get rid of most of my African Violets.  I was so sad!  I had about 8 violets and they always look so pretty - one plant I have been able to grow well.  A few weeks ago, I noticed one of them looking a little droopy and had some dirt on the leaves (or so I thought).  A few days ago, I discovered that most of them had this "dirt" on them.  It really looks like little specks of brown dirt.  I researched it but never came up with what it might be.  So, I am figuring it is some type of pest - aphids or something that has spread from one plant to the next.  I had a couple of plants who looked like they were O.K.  So, I tossed the other plants in the garbage.  I took all the pots and soaked them in bleach water.  I repotted and divided the plants I am hoping are ok, so we will see.  Tomorrow I am going to go out and get some spray for them to make sure I get it all.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  Perhaps, you have some suggestions????

Sonny rode down to the beach with my brother in law to pick up some furniture, so I had a good old lazy day!!  I slept in; ate my leftover BBQ about 2 pm and had scrambled eggs for dinner!!

I made this card for a challenge posted on the NMBS Blog.  The challenge was to use paper piercing in a way that you may not have before.  Here's what I did - I paper pierced the designer paper and around the cupcakes.  I've enlarged the area so maybe you can click on it and see it better.  You, too, can enter this challenge - go to the NMBS blog and see how.  Let me know if you make a card for the challenge & I will post it on my blog (if you e-mail it to me).

This card is for a friend of mine .... who used to be a friend of my son's until he got married.  Funny how that happens, huh?  Anyway, her birthday is Feb. 22nd and I always send her a card.  

Recipe:
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes & All Year Cheer I (retired)
Paper: Cameo Coral; Orchid Opulence, Whisper White; Rose Red; Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Copic Markers; Black & Rose Red stamp pads
Access:  New SU Scallop Punch, Corner Rounder, Ticket Punch, Dimensional Adhesive, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Set

Happy President's Day!!

What I've Learned this Week

Musings of a Housewife sponsored a carnival about What I've Learned This Week.

Well, I don't know if what I learned this week will make President Obama stop and say, wait .... let's see what Sharon has to say, but here goes anyway!

• I learned Blissdom sounds like a lot of fun!!
• I learned that when it comes to blogging, some people (not mentioning names) think it's ok to blog about other people in a derogatory manner. They think it makes them look "cool". I do NOT!! That's rude and crude and probably reflects your up-bringing.
• I learned that you should not believe everything you read .... especially on the Internet. Especially if you don't know the full story!
• I learned that people who are not rational themselves should not call others irrational.
• I learned that it is good to have a lot of friends even if everyone does not approve of said friends.
• I learned that sometimes families can be very dysfunctional and there's not a lot you can do about it .... but wait it out.
• I learned that family members and good friends can come through for you and can be that shoulder to cry on to get you through the tough times.
• I'm trying to learn to keep my mouth shut and not be the bait for others to control.
• I've learned the Serenity Prayer this week BY HEART!!