Snow Day

Wippee!!  We have snow.  What is it about snow that make 60 year old women (and 50 and 80 ....) act like a kid again??!!  It's just so beautiful.  It started snowing here last night about 7:30 and was still snowing at midnight.  School closings were already posted along with businesses for Monday.  I just remember when I was a kid, I was so excited about those cherished snow days!!  Also, as an adult, I worked at our local high school and loved it when the schools closed and we got to stay home for snow.  (Although, living in Texas, it didn't happen that often!!)  These March snows always bring to mind 1960!  My sister was born in 1960 and it snowed every Wednesday that March ... yes, she was born on a Wednesday!!  But those memories officially make me an "old-timer!"  Yesterday's Charlotte Observer make mention of the 1960 March snow storms and said "old-timers in Charlotte always remember ...."  Old well ... guess that's me!

Here are pictures of our SNOW!!

Preorder SALE!!

Starting TODAY, Stampin' Up! is offering customers a special opportunity to pre-order select sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog , which won't be released in full until April 1. (Pre-order means you can order it & receive it now before the mini is released) They are just in time for your Spring and Easter craft needs. You can download the flyer here to see the sets larger and in living color!

Remember that with every $50 you spend you can select one of the FREE 6 Products from our SAB flyer.
Wagon Full of Fun 113262 $34.95



Eight Great Greetings 113822 $27.95

An Egg-cellent Easter 113196 $21.95
Egg Hunt Standard Wheel 113833 $6.50


You saw it as a sneak peek in SU's catalog (p. 202). Starting today, Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die (114517) is available to purchase.

• Exclusive Stampin' Up design
• Coordinates with SU's Manhattan Collection
• Use with standard cutting pads & Big Shot
• Creates a deep, bold embossed image
• Does not cut
• Clear design makes alignment a breeze
• Sized for a standard card front
  

CALL ME to place an order!!

Stamp TV

I've just discovered a neat site (thanks, Jackie!).  It's Stamp TV by Gina K.  It's pretty neat and has some good discussion groups, videos, a gallery and thousands of members.  Click on that "blinkie" on the sidebar and check it out!!

While I'm giving advice, thought I'd share this also.  I recently got the stamp set, Thoughts and Prayers and made this card with it.  The set is one of those double mounted sets from SU (that they are actually going to do away with!!).  Anyway, I also usually cut some of my stamps apart when I am mounting them.  This one was no exception.  Since I didn't have enough wood for all the sayings, etc.  I found a set of dominoes that I wasn't using and mounted the stamp on one of them!!

American Idol Results

Well, my predictions were "spot on" this week. The winners were Kris, Adam and Allison. Guess I could be a judge!! Although, there really weren't a lot of good ones to choose from this week so it was easy! Brooke White, the nanny who was the top 10 last year, sang her new single that was just released on ITtunes this week (Hold Up My Heart). It was really good. Hope she does well - she was really sweet.

Diva Coffee Break Challenge

Well, since I didn't follow all the rules yesterday with this challenge, I thought I'd give it another shot today.  I've had such fun the past couple of days making cards.  Everyone deserves a fun day or two!!

 

Remember - this is the color palette we have to use. 

 

 

 

My card uses Basic Gray for the card base.  I ran the Whisper White piece through my Big Shot with the Polka Dot Texturz plate; then I dabbed green chalk on the dots.  The turquoise paper was stamped with the Polka Dot background stamp (dormant) and embossed with white powder (as was the cupcake).  The green strip of paper is little drops of Crystal Effects with a turquoise ribbon tied around it.  The cupcake is from SU's Sizzix Cupcake die.  It makes it so easy!  I sponged the oval with green galore chalk ink.

American Idol Recap - 2nd Group

OK - just finished watching American Idol. I don't know .... the group last week were sooooo much better!!! I think the 3 who got voted through last week should be breathing a big sign of relief - they had NO competition from tonight's show.

1. Jasmine Murray - Love Song - A little pitchy and I thought she garbled the words in the beginning. I found it hard to understand the words she was singing.
2. Matt Giraud - a Coldplay song - This guy makes his living playing piano at one of those dueling piano places (like Howl At the Moon). He has potential but the song choice was bad.
3. Jeanine Vailes - This Love - That girl pulled out all the stops with her wardrobe - she has some legs and the judges didn't miss them. I think she was over compensating for sure. She sang a Maroon 5 song and I really wanted to like her 'cause I love Maroon 5!
4. Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle (or whatever he's choosing to go by this week!) He sang "Living Without You" from Dreamgirls and he has a decent voice ... if he'd just forget all the theatrics. He is a true showman and perhaps should consider a career in Vegas!! His parents were in the audience and didn't even seem embaressed!
5. Allison Iraheta - Alone (by Heart) Finally .... someone who can "bring it on!" As Randy says, she "blew it out of the box." She's just 16 and still in high school but she got my vote tonight.
6. Kris Allen - Man in the Mirror - Kara (the new judge) was the only one who "dissed" him. I thought he was very good and he got my vote.
7. Megan Joy Corkrey - Put Your Records On - She's a cute with a 2 year old little boy and an arm full of tattoos. She was ok. The judges were split on her with Paula loving her. Simon wants her to get voted through, but I don't know if she will.
8. Matt Breitzke - If You Could Only See - This guy is a welder from Oklahoma who you wouldn't expect to be a singer. He surprises me every time! He's like a big teddy bear! Unfortunately, his performance was a little boring. I thought he chose the wrong song as did the judges.
9. Jesse Langseth - Betty Davis Eyes - one of my favorite songs!! She's another single mom with an 8 year old daughter. I really liked her. I thought Simon was rude when he told her she was unforgettable. I voted for her.
10. Kai Kalama - What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - another favorite song of mine. I was hoping he would rock it but it was just ok. The judges thought the song was too old fashioned, but I think that song stands the test of time. His hair is something else! Sonny said it looks like me when I get up in the morning!!
11. Mishavonna Hensen - Drops of Jupiter - She was cut last year in the Hollywood round and is back again. The song was too old for her. She's just 18 and needs to act a little more "hip."
12. Adam Lambert — Satisfaction by The Stones - Oh yeah. He said it’s his MOTHER’S favorite band - well, yeah, our generation! This guy has talent, but he's a bit uncomfortable to watch. Yes, thank you Simon! “There were some parts that were excruciatingly bad and parts that were brilliant.” That pretty much sums it up for me too. But I can’t see NOT voting him through. He’s definitely got potential. He got my vote, of course.

Both nights they've saved the best for last!

So, my prediction: Adam, Allison and Kris

What do you think????? Leave me a comment!!

Two Card Wednesday!

I have been on a roll today!  I made two cards.  I'm not sure who I will be sending them to, but they were fun to make.

The paper I used for the dress came from the Saleabration catalog (Delicate Dots).  It is adherered to a piece of Pink Pirouette.  Then I stamped the Polka Dot background  on the vellum in white craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used the Eyelet Border punch on the bottom of the dress.  The ribbon is from the Saleabration ribbon collection.

The template for the dress can be found online as online extra for the Paper Crafts Magazine for March/April.

 

The next card is for the Diva Coffee Break Design color challenge and also for the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge today.  I was going to put it on the Diva site but in re-reading the instructions, realized I had to use all SU products.  Oh well ... I did not this time but I like the card anyway!!   These are the colors we were to use.  I really like the combo!

 

I used the stamp set, Cheep Talk.  I stamped the birdies in turquoise craft ink, embossed them and cut them out.  The branch was stamped in Choc Chip and embossed in Copper.  I colored the leaves in with a Green Galore marker.  The flower (isn't it great??) came from my friend, Margaret!  I used a button in the center with embroidery thread.

Christmas in February!

EDITED: I had an inquiry as to where I got this book. It is by BoBunny. Although I purchased it at a convention in Charlotte last summer, here is a link to a website - Shop Till You Crop, that sells them.

When our friends from Texas were here last week, we exchanged Christmas presents ... in February!! We still do Christmas with Margaret and Graham but usually not until January or February because that is usually when they are able to get to NC. It sure makes it easier at Christmas-time - I don't have to worry about having their presents bought, ready and wrapped until a month or two after Christmas. I've been wanting to share this Friends book with everyone that I made for Margaret, but had to wait. I bought this book at the CK Convention last August and put pictures from our July trip to DC in it.

This is the front of the book. I did each letter with different patterns of paper. and tied bows around them and did some stamping.

This is the "I" page. I made a tag and tied it onto one of the binder rings.

This is the "D" page and another tag .... a true one!!

This is the "S" page and a picture of the four of us with another couple that are really good friends. This was taken the weekend of my birthday in October.

This is the back of the book.

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.