Save the Ransom ... I'm still here!

Sorry about the lack of posting lately.  I'm still in Texas and have been super busy!  Today was about the first day that I did absolutely nothing and had planned on blogging and doing some catching up this a.m.  BUT we didn't have any power.  A big storm hit the area last night with winds at about 65 mph and Ashley's neighborhood looked like a disaster area this a.m.  We were having dinner when the storm hit and had to make a dash for the car in the storm (not easy with my 82 year old mom!).  As we were driving home, all the traffic lights were out and  we saw the police blocking off some areas because of flooding.  When we turned down Ashley's streets, we had to maneuver the car through all the tree limbs and debris that was in the street.  We lit candles in Ashley's house and visited for a couple of hours when we determined the power was not coming back and we might as well go to bed.  The power came back on about 3:30 a.m. but went off again about 8:00 a.m. until noon.  Luckily, it was not raining today so Mom and I sat outside where there was plenty of light for her to see and read.  It was too cool to go in the pool - the temp. only got to about 75 today which is remarkable for Texas in June!!  Here is a picture of Ashley's neighbor's house that I took this a.m.

Luckily, when Sonny was here, he cut down a lot of branches off Ashley's trees so the damage at her house was minimal.  The worst part was all the "gunk" floating in her pool today.  Her cleaner is working overtime!

We have been busy doing a lot of yard work as well as eating some great food - BBQ, Mexican, Italian.  And it is time for me to go eat now!  I will be posting wedding pictures tomorrow so check back by.

Here is a Monday Mailer card I received while I was here.  It is great!  I just love the bright colors.  Each of the letters was run through a Sixxiz Folder.  I will be CASE'ing this one for sure.

LAST CHANCE

Yes, it is June 1st and time for the Last Chance Stamp Sets and Accessories to be revealed! Lots of changes going on with the Color Renovation. Many items are 25-50% off! Others are being reconfigured, so make sure to note the * in that column. Some colors are already sold out, so don't wait…place your order NOW! These lists will be updated at 6:00 PM each evening.

LAST CHANCE ACCESSORIES

LAST CHANCE STAMPS

LAST CHANCE DEFINATELY DECORATIVE

Last Chance List tomorrow

The Last Chance Lists will be posted here tomorrow afternoon - June 1, 2010.

Last Chance items are all the goodies that will NOT make the new 2010/2011 catalog.  Once they are gone they will no longer be available.

The Accessory Last chance list will be while supplies last.
The Decor Elements & Stamp set Last Chance Lists will be available until June 30. 2010.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day to everyone.  Please give thanks to the great men and women that are out there protecting our country.

I arrived safe and sound in Texas last Monday and have been going non-stop since I arrived.  We spent several days with some good friends from Dallas before heading off to Austin for my nephew's wedding.  It was a wonderful wedding last night and I have pictures to share as soon as I can download them.  The only problem was the HEAT!!  It was sooo hot - in the 90's.  Sweat was literally pouring down the groom's face during the ceremony (not to mention the guests) and his bride kept mopping his face!  It was rather funny.  When we returned to our motel at midnight last night, it was still 85 degrees!  We have another wedding to attend tomorrow night and it is also outside!  Maybe this heat will melt some pounds off me while I'm here.  Today we went to a Brunch for the newly married couple at my niece's home (still, hot!)  But when we arrived back in San Antonio around noon with my niece's two little boys, we all hit the pool and didn't come out until dinner time!!  They were out like a light when they hit the bed tonight.

Have a safe Memorial Day and I will try to post more details about the Carnaval wedding and pictures next week.

American Idol Finale Season 9

Can't believe the finale is here already!  When they're doing the talent search from city to city, it seems to take forever, but when they get to Hollywood ... bam, it goes so fast!

All season, I've been pulling for Crystal.  But tonight before watching the show, I was feeling like Lee would beat her out.  He has improved so much during the season.  Crystal started out strong and leveled out.  Whatever happens, it's going to be a tight race and I will be happy with either of them winning.

Round #1 - Contestant's Choice

Lee started out singing "The Boxer" a song he sang earlier in the season.  It was great and he got into it no matter what the judges said.

Crystal did the Janis Joplin classic, "Bobby McGee" which was my guess as to the song she'd do!!  I love it!!

Round 1 goes to Crystal I think.

Round #2 - Producer's Choice

Simon Fuller picked "Everybody Hurts.  I wasn't familiar with this song but I hate that he's doing another slow tempo song.

Crystal is singing "Black Velvet."  Not a favorite song of mine but she did a great job and it really showed her range. 

This might be a tie.

Round #3 - Their Song

This is different this year.  Usually this is a cheesy song that is written for whomever wins but not this time.  Lee will record "Beautiful Day" a current song by U2.  Lee's nerves are showing a bit tonight.  Simon had some really sweet words for Lee but I think he was basically telling him he is not the front runner tonight. 

Crystal sings "Up to the Mountain."  This is another one I'm not familiar with but Crystal knocks it out of the park and wears her emotions on her sleeves.  Randy summed it up nicely with “this is one of the greatest performances and at the perfect time on this show.”   Yep.  Pretty much.  This round goes to Crystal. 

Crystal just might be the next American Idol, guys.  Unfortunately, Lee just didn't have his "A" game on tonight.  Don't know if it was song choice or nerves that got to him. The Crystal we loved during the first half of the season made her comeback just in the nick of time, and I predict she’s the next American Idol.  Lee doesn't have anything to worry about - he will do well. They both have successful music careers ahead of them, but I think Crystal will be taking the trophy home tomorrow night.

Monday Mailers for May

I spent yesterday packing for my Texas trip.  I actually started packing on Saturday night but yesterday I took everything out of the suitcase I had packed and redid it .... about 4 times!!  I am trying to get around not having to pay $25 for my suitcase and $25 for Sonny's suitcase - that's $100 roundtrip!  Ridiculous!  I've also heard that they now charge you for the blanket and pillow on the plane.  When will this madness stop?  So I decided to combine our clothes and stuff in one large suitcase and we would each take a carry-on.  Good idea ... then it has to be under 50 pounds!  I was doing ok until I put the case of Cheerwine Ashley requested in the suitcase.  Oops .... about 65 pounds!  The dang suitcase itself empty weighs 10 pounds.  I need to buy a new lighter weight one.  Finally, I ended up leaving the Cheerwine out and hoping my mom can bring it next week.  If not, it would be cheaper to UPS it to her I think!  So, I am packed and ready to go today.  Just hoping for a smooth flight and not a repeat of the last time I flew to San Antonio.  That time when we landed, my sinuses went beserk.  I had the worst pain I have either had in my life in my gums and teeth.  I'm going to try taking a decongestant this a.m. before I board the plane.

So, my postings may be rather sporadic the next couple of weeks.  Don't know how much creative time I will have.  Some of our friends from Dallas are meeting us in San Antonio so we'll be busy with them.  We will drive to Austin Thursday am for the Rehearsal Luncheon and spend Thursday - Saturday in Austin.  Then we'll be go back to Ashley's for a day only to return to Georgetown (just past Austin) on Sunday for another wedding!  After that, Sonny will leave to return home on Tuesday and my mom will join me for another week.  Hopefully, the second week will be a little more relaxing - laying out by the pool and "chillin."

So, here are a couple of Monday Mailers to share with you:

This is one that I received.  I love the colorful flowers!  I thought the white lines were done with a scoring tool, but she said she used the DSP on page 15 of the Summer Mini.  Isn't it cool?

This is a card that I sent using the Black Magic Technique again.  I just love this technique!

Have a wonderful week!!

Historic Tour of Homes

A quick post before I hit the sack.  I'm so tired!  I was a docent today at the third annual Historic Mooresville Tour of Homes.  Check out the lovely homes HERE.   The home that I was in was the original home of Annie Rankin.  There are three houses side by side that were built by Annie's father, S.C. Rankin, the first President of the Bank of Mooresville. Mr. Rankin built the three homes for his daughters. Two of the Rankin sisters were married in a double wedding ceremony in 1902 and set up households at the same time in twin Queen Anne cottages on South Academy Street.   The housees have undergone extensive renovations.   While the other two sister's houses take you back in time, the Annie Rankin home has been "modernized" but still has kept the historic look.  A young couple live in the house now and have updated the kitchen in particular.

I finished the wedding cards that I will be taking to the weddings I am going to in Texas next week.  I CASE'd them from a card I saw at the Kernersville Quarterly.  The DSP is the Bride DSP on pg. 158 of the SU catalog which I brayered with black ink.  I used decorative punches in the comers. 

Rag Purse

Lookie what my sister made for me!!

Isn't it pretty?  We picked the fabric out when we were in Kernersville last month and she made it using her Big Shot ... and her sewing machine, of course. 

This is the cell phone holder that is hanging on the purse handle with a fabric flower.

I love it!!  Thanks, Marianne!

Sorry I've been MIA!

Sorry I've be MIA for a couple of days.  Yesterday I left the house at 9:30 AM and didn't return until 8:30 PM.  I started out playing Mahjong and was on a winning streak.  We only play with $2 but I wiped 2-3 people out of their $2!!  After that, I had a lot of errands to run all over town - Belks, WalMart, Dollar Store, Staples, Stampers Alley ....  I picked up the collage pictures (from THIS post)  from WalMart and they turned out great.  I am so pleased.  I ended up buying some super large binder clips which I am going to decorate and clip the pictures (8x10) in them.  I'll have to support them somehow from behind so they don't flop over.  After all my errands, I met Sonny and Marianne and her family at Fusion Bowl for dinner. Yumm!! Marianne and Greg had been in Asheville for a conference.

I went to Stampers Alley to see the BEE-U-TEE-FUL Northwoods Board that had just come in.  I will be doing a class on June 19.  We will make 6 of the cards.  Then, later in July or August, we'll do the other 6 cards.  You can view the cards HERE.  The Northwood cards are always so beautiful and glittery.  Call Stampers Alley (Mooresville) to sign up!!  If we get a full class, I can add another date.

Today was my Stamp Club.  We had a small group today - one gal was sick, another out of town and the third had Book Club earlier in the a.m. and couldn't make it.  But, we had fun anyway!!  We made two great cards and a tea-bag (chocolate squares) holder. 

This card is a great one for using up your scraps.  The stamp set is Circle Circus and the colors are Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana and Brocade Blue.

This is a great cheerful card!  We made that speckled background using Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp in Only Orange, Pink Passion, Turquoise and Old Olive.  We put Crystal Effects on the drink.  Just wish I was in Hawaii!!

This is one of the tea holders.  They had their choice of this one or another one.  This one has a belly band that slips off.

This is the inside.

This is the second tea bag holder.  It has a ribbon closure and uses the truck from Loads of Love.

inside

I got the directions for these little tea bag holders on Splitcoast. 

My Digital Studio & Idol

My nephew is getting married in a couple of weeks in Austin, Texas.  The wedding is to be outside with a Carnival Theme - complete with picture booths, corny dogs, cotton candy, etc.  I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures!  I am helping out my niece with the rehearsal lunch.  When Ashley was in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, she took a bunch of pictures at the Seattle Center of a carousel, hot dog stand, ticket booth, etc.  So, using My Digital Studio, I downloaded the pictures and a few others I found on the 'net.  Then I put a picture of Jack and Katrina on top of the whole collage and made it transparent so you could barely see them with the carnival things in the background.  I love using MDS and love what you can do with it.  I've sent these off to be printed and will pick them up tomorrow.  Can't wait to see them!  I'm having them done in 5" x 7".  I'm either going to find some clear frames for them at the Dollar Store or get some binder clips at an office supply store, decorate them and use them for a picture holder.

As of today, these are the items that are SOLD OUT and no longer available:

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  Sweet Pea Designer Series paper stack
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  On Board Heart Book
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  Sweet Pea stitched felt
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  Sage Shadow 12 x 12 card stock

I watched Idol tonight.  The contestants each sang two songs - one they chose and one chosen by the judges.

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  Casey was up first singing "It's All Right With Me" and it was only just all right with me.  His second song was "Daughters" chosen by Kara and Randy.  I like that song and he did it well, but was it worthy of making him a finalist?  I don't think so.
• 
  
  Crystal sang Melissa Etheridge's "Come to My Window" and did it well!  She was on the harmonica and I loved that.  Her second song was chose by Ellen, "Maybe I'm Amazed."  She is amazing!  She has not compromised herself once during this show.
• 
  
  Lee sang "Simple Man."  I loved it!  He's finally feeling comfortable on stage.  He could edge Crystal out!  Lee's second song, chosen by Simon, was "Hallelujah" and he knocked it out of the park!  He is in the contest to WIN.

I have been pulling for Crystal the whole season but Lee has started to sway me.  He has improved sooo much and has a great attitude.  He graciously accepts the judges criticism.  Sometimes I just get the feeling he wants it more than Crystal.  Anyway, I won't be disappointed in either one being the winner.

I am assuming Casey will be leaving Wednesday night and it will be down to Lee and Crystal.  What do you think???