3 D Card Swap for Quarterly

Well, I wasn't going to enter this swap (as I told you, Judy).  But, Friday, during a weak moment, I did it!!  And I made 18 of them (using different papers) on Friday!

The card opens up and can be used just as a card or you could put a Gift Certificate inside.  I have a small magnet under the top note and between the designer paper and the cardstock on the "card part" to hold it closed.

American Idol Final Results

Well, we were walking around the Riverwalk here in San Antonio after viewing houses all day so I missed the first half of Idol. But, I figured I didn't really miss much!

The second half that I am watching has a LOT of big name groups performing - Queen, Kiss, Steve Martin (who knew he was a singer???), Santana, Rod Stewart plus all the Idol performers from this year and previous years. I heard that I missed Queen Latifa during the first half. Wow! Idol has come a long way over the years to have all the $$ to get all these big names. And we even got to see a little bit of Tatiana tonight!

My understanding is there were over 100 million votes last night!! A world record! I can tell you about 5 of those votes were mine!!

YIPPEE!!! KRIS ALLEN IS THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL!!! I am in shock. He had come the farthest of any of the others. He was definitely the dark horse in this competition. What happened I believe is he got Danny Gokey's votes and knocked Adam out.

American Idol Final Night!

Had to watch the show tonight live - commercials and all. W.e're in San Antonio helping Ashley house-hunt. More details on that later

This is it. Why do I feel oddly let down already? I don’t necessarily think Adam has it in the bag like the judges seem to think. I think Kris will get a lot of Danny’s votes. It could be close. And they’re both so good; it should be a phenomenal show tonight. I think I’m bummed that Danny is gone.

So Adam was a hyperactive child. Is anyone surprised by that? Okay then. Adam is performing Mad World from the Birth Year show. I like this subdued but passionate performance. Kris is singing Ain’t No Sunshine from his comfortable perch behind the piano. I like the bluesy spin he’s putting on this classic. So, good song choice, Kris! And isn’t his wife the cutest, nodding her encouragement from the front row?

Simon gives Round One to Kris, after eating some crow. I agree, Simon!

For Round Two, they’re singing songs chosen by the show’s creator, Simon Fuller.
Adam has changed from the Dracula robe to a classic gray suit, and he’s singing an R&B classic by the great Sam Cooke.

Kris is in his element with this one but it's just OK. Randy said it was “a little light” and I have to agree, but I have to point out, Kris didn’t choose it. I still love ya, Kris!

At any rate, the judges give Round Two to Adam. So, what else is new?

Round Three. Let’s roll.
In Idol tradition, both are singing the same song — No Boundaries, written by Kara DioGuardi and two other people I haven’t ever heard of.
Adam’s up first, of course. Um, what’s with the pants?

These finale songs are always so cheesie I can hardly stand it. Adam is doing his best to give it a rock edge but the melodrama is a bit much for me on this one. The judges look dubious about this performance. “Not one of my favorite Adam performances,” says Randy. Um, yeah. Pretty much.

Simon starts to bash the song and thinks better of it. Awww, come on. I feel like I missed out. Of course he still thinks Adam is the most amazing contestant to ever grace the Idol stage and doesn’t even try to hide his bias.

Kris gets his turn, and I have to say I prefer this performance to Adam’s. It’s more my style, and I think he makes it more modern and less cheesie. I’m giving Round Three to Kris.
They’re both phenomenal, and I look forward to hearing from them A LOT. Who are you rooting for? Will you vote? I voted .... for Kris, of course!

Word of warning: Ryan says tomorrow’s show will go long, so don’t depend on your DVR to catch the end. I’ll be watching live from my hotel room. Over and out!

More Quarterly Swaps

This card is bright!!  I used the "poppin' pastels" technique.  Stamp the image with Versamark and use a dauber to apply chalk.

Quarterly Swaps - Thoughts and Prayers

Quarterly Swaps

I am flying to Texas tomorrow for 10 days so I will be posting some of the swaps I have been working on for the quarterly meeting.  I will be attending the NC Stampin' Up Quarterly the weekend after I return from Texas.

This one uses the de-embossing technique.  Run the cardstock through the Big Shot Embossing folder and run the ink on the reverse side of the paper.  I used Chunky Glitter on the butterflies.

Hats Off to Spring Tea

  My Newcomers's group had a "Hats Off to Spring" tea on Tuesday.  I had been making little hats and baskets for the centerpieces and was so glad to be done with that project!!  But, they really turned out cute and the tables really looked festive.  We got lots of favorable comments about the tea so all the hard work was worth it!

We had a barbershop quartet perform.  They were a group of professors from Davidson College and they were really good.  Plus .... they didn't charge us anything!!

I took several of my great-aunt Love's hats.  She was a milliner and had her own hat shop at one time.  I wore one of the hats!  Here are a few pictures.

Ginny made her hat with a tea cup on top!

Doesn't the guy on the end look like Barney Fife???

Another great Michael's find!

I went to Michael's yesterday and bought a craft table/organizer that I had seen last week.  I had written down the measurements but kept forgetting to see if it would fit in my room so decided to go ahead and get it and take my chances!  What a steal!!  It was marked Clearance $50 and they let me use my 40% coupon so I got it for just $30!  It weighed about 100 pounds!  I had to get someone to lift it into my car and Sonny used his dolly to get it upstairs.  Since he didn't offer to put it together for me, I decided to tackle it.  So, that is what I did most of the night last night while watching the hockey game (Pittsburgh WON!!). 

Here is the finished masterpiece table:

I haven't decided yet what I will put in the drawers (one of the drawers is a ribbon drawer and has a rod inside for ribbon) but the main thing I wanted it for is to put my cutters on the top.  I have a big Carl Cutter and the SU Tabletop Cutter.  I love both of them.  Right now, I have my Carl Cutter on a TV tray in the corner and my SU cutter on my table but it seems to travel around the room.  Now, they'll both have a home and I won't have to bend over the TV table to use them.

Now tomorrow I'll be rearranging my room to make everything fit!

88 Million votes for American Idol Final 3

Katy Perry performs on American Idol but first Danny Gokey says what we've all been thinking -- "there's been enough commercials, enough suspense -- I just want to get it over."
Then Katy comes out in some Vegas showgirl version of Elvis' getups, singing "Waking Up in Vegas." She looks totally ridiculous, like she's a cartoon character or something; also her outfit doesn't fit her that well.

Well, our final two are Kris and Adam. I can truthfully say I'm surprised! I really thought it would be Adam and Danny but was hoping it would be Danny and Kris. Danny was NEVER in the bottom 3 and should not be going home!! I hate to see Danny go. I was an early fan of his, although I admit my loyalty became divided between him, and Kris as the season progressed. For the first time ever, I didn’t have a strong preference between those two going into the semi-finals. But, I know this won't be the last we hear from him.

I'm sure Kris is totally living the dream, he was the dark horse coming in, and his fans really came through for him. And if what Ryan said is right, that less than a million votes separated Kris and Adam -- is "American Idol" setting the stage for an unbelievable upset next week?!

Now .... who will be the winner???? I'm afraid it will be Adam but I can hope for Kris, can't I?

American Idol .... Top Three

Tonight the top 3 guys - Adam, Danny and Kris - will sing 2 songs each. One of the songs will be chosen by the judges and the other song will be chosen by the guys.

First up is Danny singing a song chosen by Paula.

Danny - Dance Little Sister by Terrence somebody - I've never heard of this song or the artist who originally did it, but the judges thought he was great (except for Kara who didn't like his dancing.) "Dope" according to Randy! Simon disagreed with the song choice.

Kris - Apologize by One Republic - chosen by Kara and Randy. I love this song and am loving Kris' take on it. The judges weren't so blown away with his performance. Simon is right - he said that Kara & Randy shouldn't be criticizing Kris' arrangement of the song when they picked the song for him. Kara said he should have not been behind the piano, but done it acoustically .... well, they should have told him that! I agree with Simon for a change.

Adam - One by U2 chosen by Simon. Simon had to get permission from Bono for Adam to sing this song tonight. Pretty theatrical as usual. Standing ovation from the crowd. Kara told him he was a strategist and he was unbelievable and did his own version. The judges .... except for Randy .... are all over themselves drooling over Adam. He is very talented .... he's just not my choice.

Round Two --- the contestant's choices:

Danny - You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker) Great! As Randy says, he can really, really, really sing. Kara and Paula loved it. Simon called it a "vocal master class."

Kris - Heartless by Kanye West Well, the judges just loved it. Even Simon! He told Kris after the first performance he had written him off of the competition. But after this performance, he is back in the running. I am really surprised. I liked it but figured the judges wouldn't like this one.

Adam - Crying by Aerosmith To me, he's screaming and I don't like it. I don't think he's near as good as the other two on this round. Randy told him he was one of the best they've ever had in the competition. The judges have basically called him the winner. Good for Simon .... he says he's not going to suck up like the other judges. But, he made the point that America needs to not assume Adam will be in the final 2 but to vote for him because he deserves to be there.


This is going to be a tough one tonight. Simon was on Oprah this week and picked Adam to win. He might be right but sometimes that's the kiss of death for the contestants. I think Simon picked David Archeleta last year to win and he didn't. We'll see. I know Adam is talented, but something about him bugs me. I would much rather see Kris or Danny.

I think Kris won Round One and Danny won Round Two.

I'm afraid America will listen to the judges too much and Kris will be the one leaving though. Hope not!!