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.

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.