Owlsome Stamp Set - Technique Tuesday WCMD Blog Hop

Hello and happy World Card Making Day! I had the chance to get creative with the punny and adorable Owlsome stamp set by Technique Tuesday in honor of today, and if you're here for the hop, great! If not, I suggest starting here.

One of my favorite things lately is to create with my four-year old daughter, Addie. Most recently it has been watercolors and washi tape at the kitchen table. Inspired by those precious moments and with those materials already at hand, I made this card for her.

Red, pink and yellow are so cheerful, fun, and oh-so-Addie. I watercolored one of the owls from the stamp set and while that was drying, I painted a background on my card. When dry, I added strips of washi tape, a chopped up sentiment, and the stamped images that I had colored and fussy-cut. A few scattered sequins had to make their home somewhere - Addie loves bling!

As always, I love working with Technique Tuesday stamps. The quality is fantastic and the designs are whimsical fun! Win your own Technique Tuesday stamps by commenting along this blog hop. Comments will be eligible if posted by October 8th. The winner will be announced on the Technique Tuesday blog on October 10th.

In the meantime, be sure to take a shopping break on this busy, crafty day and get this adorable stamp set for free! Here's how: 1) Select $30 in products in the Technique Tuesday store. 2) Add the stamp set to your cart. 3) Enter code WCMD18 at checkout and the stamp is yours free!

There's only a few more stops on the hop. You'll love what your next destination - Kymona Tracey - has done. Enjoy celebrating WCMD and happy stamping! Tessa

Technique Tuesday

Amy Kolling

Sandy Allnock

Daniela Dobson

Lisa Spangler

Heather Hoffman

Dana Kirby

Dana Joy

Mary-Ann Maldonado  

Emily Leiphart

Jill Dewey Hawkins

Tessa Buys

Kymona Tracey - NEXT STOP

Ana Anderson

Teri Anderson

Latisha Yoast

Technique Tuesday + Giveaway

Hello, friends! I recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with some fabulous stamps and dies from Technique Tuesday:

If it's not alphas or phrases, I'm not much of a stamper when it comes to layouts. But, these dragonflies were so fun to play with - and they stamped like a dream! My little girl, pictured here, recently learned about dragonflies and thinks they are pretty amazing, so she was extra excited to see me scrapbooking the two of us together with these stamps and dies.

I started by stamping the different dragonflies onto heavy cardstock with StazOn ink. Next, I used watercolors to paint the dragonflies in an ombre-inspired pattern from light pink to mustard yellow. Once dry, I used the die to cut out my dragonflies (so much faster and easier than fussy cutting!).

After watercoloring the background, I adhered the dragonflies to my page just at the body - the wings are free to bend and curl away from the page to give the feeling of flight.

I also used one of the sentiment stamps as a sub-title on my page. I love those fonts together!

Are you a stamper? How would you like to win some scrapbooking stamps and supplies from Technique Tuesday? Here's how:

1) Check out Scrapbooking Stamps & Scrapbook Supplies at Technique Tuesday.

2) Choose your favorite set.

3) Go to this Technique Tuesday blog post HERE.

4) Leave a comment below about your favorite stamp set - I'd love to know what you choose!

5) Technique Tuesday will pick a winner on August 1st!

Thank you to Technique Tuesday for the opportunity to play with such quality products. It was really fun to get messy with ink, paint and stamps for a layout!

Thank YOU for stopping by and good luck! Tessa

Announcing Decking Out Your Memorydex - Big Picture Classes

Hello, friends! I am excited to announce that I am a new teacher at Big Picture Classes! My first class, Decking Out Your Memorydex, goes live on January 1, 2018 and I can't wait for you to check it out.

If you're unfamiliar with what a Memorydex is, think of the old fashioned Rolodex, re-imagined for memory keeping by the amazing Heidi Swapp. It's like a mini album, but instead of pages between a book cover or in an album, the pages spin around on a rotating spinner or flip back and forth in a tray. It's a really cool format for displaying and opens up a lot of possibilities for creating original pages and embellishing in unique ways.

I've shared several Memorydex projects over the past couple of years, but the project that I teach in this class is especially near and dear to my heart. I call it "Here and Now" and it's a collection of memories, photos and journaling from the past several months. I have a section for each of my children, including our little girl who is going to make her debut any time now. In fact, in some of the videos you'll see my baby bump intruding on my work table ;). My daughter, Addie, gets up at my desk any chance she can to flip through it - pointing out all her photos and laughing at her silly brothers' photos.

My class is composed of six lessons complete with six videos detailing how to create dozens of cards for your Memorydex. Technique-based, you can apply all the tutorials to any paper collection or theme you would like. So, if "Here and Now" isn't your speed, you can easily create within any other theme you can imagine while still applying all the techniques I teach you. Learn how to make unique card bases, be inspired to try materials other than cardstock, make your own embellishments, get tips for journaling (you know I'm big on words!), learn how to layer to create dimension, and discover things other than cards that can attach to your spinner or tray. There is SO MUCH content!

While we wait for the class to launch, I have an amazing giveaway happening on my Instagram account. Friends, I am so grateful to Heidi Swapp, her team, and American Crafts. They sponsored almost all of the product for my class and have generously donated two HUGE prizes! If you win, you and a friend would have almost all the product you need to complete the class project just as I do in the videos. Just look at all this great Memorydex and Magnolia Jane! Thank you so much, AC and Heidi!

• Black Memorydex Spinner
• 12 x 12 Magnolia Jane Paper Pad
• Memorydex Recipe Cards Set (110 tabbed and lined cards)
• Magnolia Jane Washi Tape Set (8 rolls)
• Memorydex Clear Tabbed Cards
• Memorydex Tin Tabbed Cards
• Memorydex Cards (18 lined, graph and ledger)
• Heidi Swapp Acetate Words
• Magnolia Jane Ephmera Pack
• Magnolia Jane Clear Stickers
• Heidi Swapp Stamps (12, mostly words)
• Heidi Swapp Stamps (14, words and florals)
• Magnolia Jane Binder Clips in a Floral Tin

Head over to Instagram and comment on my giveaway post by tagging a friend. Tag as many friends in new comments as you would like by December 31st, midnight Pacific time. I will draw and post the winner on January 1st. Because the giveaway is so generous (translate = a bit on the heavy side), I will need some help with postage to winners outside of the US. US winners, I've got you covered. Instagram is in no way sponsoring or involved with the giveaway.

Please head over to Big Picture Classes to read more about my class here. If you are new to Big Picture, you can start a trial membership here. After that, it's less than $10 a month for all the amazing content on their site. There are so many talented teachers and inspiring classes - I can't believe I'm included in such good company!

I'll see you at BPC! Tessa

Elle's Studio + Giveaway

I am excited to announce that I am a part of the 2017 Elle's Studio design team! I have adored Elle's Studio products for years, even going back to Elle's etsy days. I loved guest designing in October (and will be sharing my final December spinner project soon). I am thrilled to be designing with such fabulous product on a regular basis this year, especially with such an amazing team:

I am grateful for the opportunity to move into a new circle of creative friends, many of which I have not had the chance to work with before. I know I'm going to be inspired and that I'll learn so much. Check out their talents here:

Alissa Fast: http://alissafast.typepad.com/

Allie Stewart: http://www.magicalmesses.com/

Andrea Gray: https://retrohipmama.wordpress.com/

Candace Perkins: https://findingeverydayperfection.com/ 
Daniela Dobson: http://danieladobson.blogspot.com/ 
Jamie Leija: http://www.jamieleija.com/

Jennifer Chapin: http://jenchapin.blogspot.com/

Jen Schow: http://www.craftyjenschow.com/

Jill Sprott: http://wordplaywordwork.blogspot.com/

Kay Rogers: http://rogerskk.typepad.com/ 
Laura Hager: www.laurelandfern.com

Maggie Massey: http://www.midwesterngirldiy.com/

Meghann Andrew: http://www.meghannandrew.com/

Melissa Mann: http://melissamann.typepad.com/

Michelle Wedertz: http://michellewedertz.blogspot.com

Nancy Damiano: http://thepaperorchard.blogspot.com/

Neela Nalam: http://memorablescraps.blogspot.com/ 

To celebrate, I'm doing a giveaway! I was sent these absolutely fabulous stamps in my design team box, but I turned around and bought another set just for you!

To enter to win, tell me how you would use these stamps. Make sure to leave an email address so that I can contact you if you win. I'll draw a name one week from today, Monday the 9th, and post the winner here. International friends (outside of the US), I have to ask you to chip in for shipping, but you're welcome to enter, too. And if you can't wait (or don't win), you can find the date stamps here.

For a chance to win another fabulous Elle's Studio stamp set, see my Instagram here. Completely separate giveaway there, so feel free to enter in both places! Good luck!

If you don't already, follow Elle's Studio here:

Shop: http://www.shopellesstudio.com/
Blog: http://www.shopellesstudio.com/blog/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellesstudio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopEllesStudio

Tessa

Christmas Catch-up - Gold Leaf Wreath and a Giveaway!

Hello and welcome to day three of my Christmas Catch-up! I had the wonderful opportunity to guest design for Craftwell this past month. Using Teresa Collins' Cut-n-Boss machine and the Woodgrain Cottage embossing folder, I created this wreath:

You can read more about my process for creating the wreath on the Craftwell blog here.

Basically, I embossed cardstock, hand-cut the leaves, painted them with gold spray paint, and attached them to a wire wreath frame.I love how the gold spray paint brought out the woodgrain texture of the leaves.

GIVEAWAY: Do you have a Cut-n-boss machine (or another die-cut machine that can take 8.5x11 embossing folders)? I happen to have an extra Woodgrain Cottage embossing folder that I would love to pass on to someone who could use it. Leave a comment on this post - including a way to contact you - and I'll randomly draw a name on January 14th (one week from today). I'll update this post with the name of the winner that day.

Update: The winner is cghundley! Thanks to all who left comments :).

Thanks for visiting today! Tomorrow I'll be sharing a new video, so stay tuned :). Have a great day! Tessa

Scrapbook Circle All Is Bright Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the blog hop for Scrapbook Circle. If you are here by chance but would like to hop along, start at the Scrapbook Circle blog. If you just came from Rebecca's blog, you're in the right place. Be sure to visit every creative team member's blog - you have a chance to win an All is Bright December kit at each stop! And believe me, you want this kit!

This is the first page I created with the main kit, a touch of the add-on, and a bit of the cardstock add-on. Here's the story:

I used white and gold metallic paint to distress my background and make a home for layered patterned paper, tissue paper, vellum, die-cuts and embellishments. Because the theme of my page is the joy children experience this time of year, I wanted my page to be whimsical.

Some of my favorite items include the gold glitter cardstock (title and snowflakes) and the giant rhinestones by Glitz Designs.

I also love the Fancy Pants Designs buttons and tickets! I am saving them for a challenge project that you will see a bit later this month at the Scrapbook Circle blog. Being a Pocket Chick (Fancy Pants Designs design team member), I already have these buttons and tickets on hand. Would you like my extras? Not only will I draw a name from the comments for the All is Bright kit, but I will also draw a name for a Fancy Pants Designs goodie bag from me personally. Good luck!

I hope you've enjoyed the hop so far, and that you'll enjoy the last few stops, too! Hop quickly - comments are only open to win the kit until December 3rd at midnight. Visit creative team member, the talented Melissa Mann, next.

Good luck and Merry Christmas! Tessa

5th Grade - DCWV

I know something you don't know.... :).

If you missed yesterday's post, my husband and I found out what we are having. It's a....just kidding! We're not telling until Sunday, at a gender reveal party for our boys and family. If you'd like to get in on the fun, I'm doing a little giveaway while taking a poll here.

Anyway, to hold you over until Monday when I post photos and words from the party, I'm going to be sharing some DCWV projects over the next few days. First up, this new layout about my oldest being a 5th grader this year. I used the Homeroom stack for this one.

The designs and details in this stack are so much fun! The paper airplanes are my favorite.

The "5th" and "grade" were made with my Silhouette Cameo.

I repeated the "5" with a journaling card from the stack.

And the journaling....

I cannot believe I'll have a middle schooler next year. He will be a junior when this baby is in Kindergarten. Crazy. I can't seem to wrap my head around it. They really do grow up way too fast.

I hope your day is going well! Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Hello, September - and Baby!

Hello, September! Ahhh, I feel like I've finally reached a point where I can breathe better, think better, feel better. If we aren't Facebook or instagram friends, I have some news for you. I'm expecting! And you see, the summer months ended up being a complete blur of morning-turned-all-day-sickness, spirit-crushing-headaches, and creativity-destroying-fatigue. I am absolutely thrilled to be pregnant, especially after our loss earlier this year - don't get me wrong. It's just that this time around has been the hardest. I suspect that being pregnant for the fifth time might have something to do with it. Plus, there's the fact that it's harder to have babies at 32 than 21. However, I think the real kicker was summer. I've never been pregnant over a summer, and the heat really took it out of me. To the point where medications were involved. But, it's just about fall now, and after the gloriously rainy Labor Day we just had, I calling it safe to say that summer is basically over. Whatever the season, I'm starting to feel more functional, and that makes me very happy.

Today, we find out the sex of the baby! So what do you think? We have three boys. Will we get a girl? When I was pregnant with my first son, I did the pin on the end of a string thing and that said I would have four kids - three boys followed by a girl. Right so far! I don't know, though. I think it's a boy. My hubby is leaning toward a boy. My doctor thinks it's a boy. Everyone else is hoping for a girl, especially Jaxon, our youngest. He said that if it's not a girl, he's calling Jesus to rectify the situation. :)

Just for fun, let's take a vote. Leave a comment here about what you think - boy or girl. I'll randomly select an answer, wrong or right, to win some goodies from my shop. We are revealing the gender on Sunday to our boys and close family, so I'll let you know (the sex and winner) on Monday.

And speaking of my shop, to make room for fall and winter things, I have all of my Samplers, as well as some Sweet Spots, on sale at a great discount! Shop here.

Thanks for stopping by and not giving up on this little blog after a 3-month long hiatus ;). Have a great day! Tessa

Etsy-versary Celebration - Giveaway Winners

Did you win? Let's see...

went to...

who graciously declined the prize due to her large SMASH stash, so the next gal in line was:

went to...

who is the lovely...

went to...

who is the lovely...

went to...

who is the lovely...

went to...

who is the lovely...

Winners, please contact me at precociouspaper (at) yahoo (dot) com. If you won a physical prize, please send me your mailing address. If you won the shop credit, just send me a list of goodies when you are ready and I will set up a listing for you in the shop.

Thank you all for your support! This has been a really fun week :). Don't forget - the sale is on through Sunday. Every fifth item is free and code 5YEARS will take 5% off of your entire order.

Have a great day! Tessa