Irony indeed...

So, as I was designing, "Get Well," cards, my cat threw up on the rug...

What more is there to say to that?   :>)

More Beauty in the world

Well, I STILL haven't gotten anything designed this weekend but I've managed to drag my brother to nurseries all over Ventura County.  We got him some salvia at Barron Brothers', in  Camarillo, last night and went out to Otto & Sons', in Fillmore, today.  I was hoping to opt for Mark Holmstrom's  organ concert, in Reseda, this afternoon, but we didn't make it back in time. 

Here are some of the beauties we saw this morning:

Stormy Weather

 
Purple Splash

These two will be climbing up our back fence soon. 

A couple more I liked were:

Citrus Splash

Carefree Celebration

It always amazes me to see the diversity of our world.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Which is YOUR favorite?

Beauty Around Us

Even though I didn't get to play with paper in the last couple of days, it's been wonderful to see all the beauty around us this Spring.  When I arrived at my friend's house on Friday night, I opened to car door and had the wonderful scent of the ocean surrounding me.  When we got back from dinner, the sky was so clear!  I looked up to see the Big Dipper and surrounding constellations.  As I was driving home I was struck by the beauty of the multitudes of pretty yellow flowers on the weeds on the side of the road and the gorgeous green in the fields which just screams, "It's Springtime!"   :>)

I got home to find my brother had arrived to visit and we had a nice trip out to Barron Brothers' Nursery in Camarillo to hunt for salvias and other plants he's been having a hard time finding in his area.  I toted along my Western Garden Book to make sure they wouldn't die in Tulare.  I ended up bringing home 5 new little friends (some pretty blue Penstamen) too. 

We try to "do" birthdays whenever we get a chance, so he brought Aaron's ( my son's) birthday present from March and my birthday present for this coming August.  I went ahead and bought part of his plants for him at the nursery so his birthday, in July, is taken care of too.  :>)  I ended up with a clock which meows on the hour for my kitchen.  If you know my hubby, that might even make sense to you.  :>)

Using the Petite Purse

Good Evening, All.  
Well, I haven't played with paper in the last couple of days, but I found a new use for the Petite Purse. 

My Mama Friends and I had a Mamas' Night Out last night to celebrate the Spring Birthdays in our group.  I'd organized getting gift certificates for the four of them and everybody contributed. 

We all know how tricky it can be to pass around cards and get them signed without the recipient seeing them (especially if there are four!).  I got to thinking, if we all wrote our messages on slips of paper before we came, it would be easier.  I gathered the slips, rolled them together, and put them in four little purses we presented to the Ladies with their gift certificates.  Use some pretty paper and this makes a really nice presentation.  :>)

The Petite Purse

The Petite Purse

You can purchase this die on my website.  Click on the link above.

I LOVE this new Die which is available ONLY until April 30th, and then will go away until the new Stampin' Up! catalog comes out in June.  If you can't resist it either, it's the Pedtite Purse BigzL Die (Item # 125606 -- $32.95).  You must have the Big Shot to use it.

SO simple and SO cute!  I can see these as favors at a bridal shower or a little girl's tea.  For those of you who are also chocolate addicted, they can hold the Ghiradelli Squares.  :>)

I used the Basic Gray cardstock with one of the flocked sheets from the Mocha Morning Designer Series Paper (Item # 122366 -- $$12.95-- It's retiring!  Hurry on this one!), Black Satin Ribbon for the handle and a rhinestone in the center of the flower.  I can show you how to make the flowers.

Kid's Card Party

I just booked my first Card Party which will also be a Child's Birthday Party.  This will be interesting!  If you have any suggestions let me know.  If you were making cards with children, ages 6 - 9, what Stampin' Up! sets would YOU use?

What a great day! 

I got to start off by teaching my second class for this session of the Conejo Valley Homeschoolers' Group.  It's a nice group of kids and I can already see progress in their confidence level and in their being able to figure things out.  Yeah!!!

I provide materials and instruction for 3 cards I've designed for each session.  If they get done with that, they're free to experiment at the "Choice Table".  That's the home of all a bunch of different colors of card bases to choose from and scraps I've collected over the last 3 years.  There, they get to make whatever they like.  It's such fun to watch them on their own creative journeys!

After that, I headed to my first Heartlink Meeting in Westlake Village.  I got to catch up with some old friends and meet some new marvelous ladies endowed with the entrepreneurial spirit.  :>)  Thank you to Rosalie and Mary, our intrepid leaders for Heartlink.  I need to practice 3 minute presentation skills.  :>)
Any of you who know me know about my long-winded tendencies. ;>)

One more task for the day:  It's time to head to my website ( www.playwithmarcia.stampinup.net ) and check out what accessories are retiring!!!  Some of them are on sale and they're ALL going away!   You can find the list of retiring stamps there too.  You have until May 31st to order stamp sets but the accessories are gone when they're gone! 

I had 10 lovely ladies come out to join me in playing with paper this afternoon.  Thanks to Terri, our Hostess Extraordinaire, who's always so much fun.  If you'd like to have your own party, just let me know.  So far Terri's earned $30 in free goodies as well as the stamp set I gave her today.  I wonder how many free goodies she'll end up with once all the orders are in.  :>)

Thanks to Aileen, Lisa, and Angelica for coming out to play with me last night.  They made some cute stuff including:

AND

Yes, someday I WILL post pictures right side up.  In the meantime, please forgive me and lean to the left.  If anyone knows how to fix that little problem I be grateful if you shared the information. :>) 

In the meantime, contact me if you'd like to come out to Westlake Village tomorrow afternoon and make some of your own.

Kite Card I CASED

www.playwithmarcia.stampinup.net

This set, "Send Me Soaring", is such fun for a nice Sping card.   Throw in a little Designer Series Paper and Ruffled Ribbon and you have something adorable, especially after using the Big Shot to emboss the background and the clouds. 

I'll be making this card available at my Card Buffet in Westlake Village tomorrow (Sunday, April 22nd) from 1 to 5 pm . 

It's quarter to 12:00 (AGAIN!) and here I am, wide awake again.  I guess that's good except for the knowledge that I'll be up at my Card Buffet tomorrow night until WAY too late.  At least I have a good excuse.  There's a fun new die which will be in the upcoming Stampin' Up! catalog and is temporarily available until the end of April.  It makes an adorable little purse to be used for a small gift. 

I got a little carried away and cut out 22 of them.  :>)  I'll post a picture or two when I have them decorated a little bit.  At least I got to watch a couple of episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" while I was cutting.  :>) 

On the really cool side, my son got to go on a field trip to an art center where there are a bunch of artists in residence who share their art with visiting children.  Wonderful!  He got to see what various artists do today and got to try his hand at chalk (sidewalk art), collage, weaving, and wire sculpture.  Thanks to the folks at Sciart in Camarillo.

Wedding Card

The "For the Bride" stamp set is in the current mini-catalog.  Check it out on my website:
www.playwithmarcia.stampinup.net

Here's a simple card for Mother's Day.  I'll be offering this at both my Card Buffets this weekend: Friday night from, 7pm until Midnight, in Oxnard: and Sunday Afternoon, from 1 until 5, in Westlake Village.  Let me know if you're interested in coming. 

Also, if you can help me figure out how to rotate the picture, please let me know...  : -(

I started teaching a class for the Conejo Valley Homeschooling Group this morning.  It's a nice group of 13 kids with 2 returnees from last year.  My intrepid helper, Stacey, was marvelous, as always.  :>)  My cards this first week were simple as I get the kids used to the process and the basics of stamping.   I have 8 weeks to work them up to much more involved cards.  Judging by today, I have a lot to look forward to.  I always give them a chance to create their own from scraps if they finish with the 3 I design.  Some of their creations today were terrific!  I especially liked the forest with the starry skies.

Hey, Look! I'm blogging!

Hello there.  Thanks to Marianne, I'm starting to blog about my Stampin' Up! business and my odd life.  I hope you'll enjoy my input and tell others about it.  Thanks!