Congratulations on your new home cards

It seems like with this time of lower interest rates, a lot of people are moving into new homes. I recently went to Tennessee to help my daughter move into her new home. Clayton was so happy that he now has a fenced in backyard, as he loves to play outside!

 I took a few snaps inside the house and outside.

One of the gifts I like to give someone when they move into a new home is a set of notecards announcing their new address. I work from one of my photographs and create a watercolor image of the house.
I scan the image and print them to use on the cards.

 I was so happy to find that Quietfire has come out with a Home-Congratulations stamp set that is absolutely perfect to use on my cards. Below, you can see how I put the house stamp into use both on the envelope and inside amongst the computer generated text.

I love the warmth the gold gives inside! I love this set so much that I am featuring it on my next Guest Designer posting on the Quietfire Blog on June 21. It will include other projects where I have used this most versatile stamp set!
I recently made a set of cards for my friend Yunetta for her new home and am even hoping to move myself!
Even if you don't do personalized watercolor notecards, I am sure that you would find the new stamp set from Quietfire very handy to use! Be sure to check out the blog there!

Spellbinders 3D M-Bossabilities

 I love texture on a card! I was thrilled when Spellbinders came out with M-Bossabilities as there are two designs and I like the larger size (compared to many folders). Then they came out with 3D M-Bossabilities! I couldn't imagine the design being deeper, but these things are amazing. As a crafter who kept a notebook of "texture items" to put through my Wizard back in the day (I cut up baskets, screen, had just about every type of gutter guard made....etc), I was just thrilled how easy these make it to achieve a deep sculpted surface!
The 3D folders, due to their depth, provide only one design per folder (compared to those not 3D that have two designs per folder) but there are six different designs available. I also like the larger size of 5 by 7 inches. That size is perfect for a framed piece, like the one below. If you want to make a smaller card, just choose a portion of the design and use that only.
The shell examples above were made with watercolor paper and then the color one was water colored and the other had ink applied. You can also use these for letterpress. Apply ink with a brayer and then insert paper and run through the Grand Calibur.

 Above and below, I used the Ornamental Swirls 3D folder. In June, I am the guest designer for the Quietfire Blog, Quietfire Creations. Above is a little sneak peek of the project I having coming up there in early June. I have used Spellbinders projects and Quietfire images together for years as I think they both have such a classy look! Be sure and check out the Quietfire blog and website!

 This basket weave really takes me back to my texture folder of actual baskets that I had cut up! Look at that detail!

 Aren't these cogs fun? You almost expect to see the gears to begin to turn! Here again, you can cut up the sections and use them individually if you want a smaller portion.

I am just beginning to play with these folders, but I can tell that it is going to be a long lasting relationship!

Big Apple Circus

I think it is time for a grandchild update! Jim and I took Jackson to see the Big Apple Circus when it was in the Atlanta area in February. Jackson is a typical two year old and one of the first things he told me when we arrived was "No photos, please!" As you can tell, I did not listen to him!

Jackson decided these empty seats were more inviting than his Papa's lap, so he made himself at home, even inviting a new friend to join him.....and stayed there after the ticket holders arrived!

He did come back to us after the intermission (he wanted food!) but he wasn't too sure about this clown picking him up and taking his Papa.

This one ring circus was very entertaining and was perfect for a two year old! I think he would have been overwhelmed with a larger circus. We were very happy with the Big Apple Circus!

Gibbs Gardens Ballground Georgia

 Just north of Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens is located around the home of a landscaper who opened his beautiful garden to the public in March 2012. This spring, I decided this would be the place I would visit and buy an annual membership. It is famous for it's daffodil plantings so I visited in March. As you can see, the daffodils are quite impressive.

 I was under the weather on that first visit, so I did not see all there was to see. On my next visit, I made sure I walked up to the manor and walked through the Japanese Gardens.

 Gibbs lives in this house and it is landscaped beautifully!

 The Japanese gardens were just gorgeous and went on and on and on! I was amazed!

 I loved the fern dell and all the statuary on the grounds.

 Most of the planted daffodils had finished blooming, but there were many varieties blooming in planters so you could see the different types.

The rhododendron were just beginning to bloom when I was there a couple of weeks ago, with many more to come. Then the hydrangeas and day lilies will be coming. The autumn will be so pretty here. I look forward to seeing all the seasons at Gibbs Gardens!