Designer Friday!

Hello! Mandy has been playing with the Vintage Poinsettia line and has more projects to share! Let's start with this beautiful "Holly Jolly" card:

Mandy doubled up the gold cupcake wrappers from a pair of Cupcake Poppies and crinkled them for texture. The foil of these metallic Cupcake Poppies is perfect for this technique. She added a felt leaf and the gold tinsel trim for a truly festive, gorgeous card.

Next up, two mini cards made with scraps from Mandy's stash. What a great way to put those extra bits to good use:

Mandy used the two White Glitter Tulle Mini Poinsettias from the Sampler and felt leaves.

Lastly, a card that doesn't have to be for the holidays - "Follow Your Bliss":

Using one of the Vintage Poinsettia Butterfly Doilies, Mandy created a simple and very pretty note.

Mandy, thank you so much! I just love every little bit. If you are interested in any of these items, you can find them all in my shop here. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day! Tessa

Designer Friday - September Sneak Peek

Hello! I'm so sorry for my absence this week. After taking care of a sick husband all weekend, I caught what he had :(. Despite the sniffles and sore throat, I am excited to be sharing a sneak peek of my September Sampler with you, courtesy of Mandy.

First, Mandy created a birthday display for her daughter. How cute is this? The butterfly and large flower are from the sampler. Mandy used one of the included ribbons to create another flower.

Next, Mandy made this beautiful necklace. Using a chain from GCD Studios and a pendant made with Epiphany Crafts items, Mandy attached four flowers from the sampler: the large ginger-colored satin flower, two silk flowers in rust and mustard, and a woodgrain mustard yo-yo flower.

You will have to wait to see more with the September Sampler. I've asked Mandy to share another project during the Birthday Blog Hop. I hope you are planning on attending :). The designers I have lined up are all fabulous and I just know they are creating amazing things to share.

I'm off to finish orders and hopefully wrap up some projects before heading off to dance. I love my Fridays, but being sick is going to make 5 hours of dance class interesting :). Have a wonderful weekend! Tessa

Designer Friday - Mandy and New Items

Happy Friday! I'm excited to share a couple of projects by the talented Mandy Koeppen today, projects she created with one of several new items in a line I'm calling Raspberry Orange.  Mandy played with the Butterfly Doilies:

First, Mandy created a notebook.  From scratch.  This girl is so good at mini albums and the like :).  If you'd like to make one, too, look out for the instructions on her blog.

Next, Mandy created this beautiful card.  She used kraft cardstock as her base to match the cardboard in the Butterfly Doily.  I love the green patterned paper and that gorgeous embossing!

Thank you, Mandy :). Inspiring projects, as always! If you'd like to see close-ups, please visit the Precocious Paper Facebook page. The Butterfly Doilies were created to match the Raspberry Orange Mini Sampler, available now:

...as well as the Raspberry Orange Sweet Spots:

...and Raspberry Orange Felt Roses and Leaves:

You can find all these goodies (and more!) in my shop here.  I hope your weekend is a wonderful one! It's my last weekend free before starting up a new dance year.  I'm going to be teaching Fridays and Saturdays so that I can be with my boys as much as possible during the week.  I can't wait - I've been itching to dance and teach :).  Enjoy your day! Tessa

Designer Friday - July Sampler Sneak

Happy Friday, all!  I am excited to share with you a sneak peek of the Precocious Paper July Sampler.  Design team member Mandy has created some fabulous things that I just know you're going to love :). First up, brooches!

Mandy said, "I made these thinking of my granny but the girls love them so I guess they are keeping them. I replaced the middle buttons with Epiphany Crafts Vintage settings with the epoxy photo middles. Simple and fun!" I LOVE this idea and am going to have to pick up some of those photo settings :).

I love this next project, a layout featuring a tissue paper flower:

Mandy's last project is just genius.  With the aid of her sewing machine, this mini made from felt and baseball card page protectors houses wallet-sized photos perfect for a purse.  The large flower on the front and the ribbon tied on the side come in the sampler :).

Thank you for your inspiring work, Mandy!  For more photos of Mandy's projects, please see the Precocious Paper Facebook page.  The July Sampler will go on sale June 25th.  In other Precocious Paper news, sale #4600 is quickly approaching and whoever that may be will find a free mini sampler in their package :).  I like doing these little giveaways every 100 sales :).  You can shop here.  

On a personal note, thank you for all your well-wishes for Jaxon.  He's doing great and at the moment has the cheesiest grin with a funny tooth.  I still feel a bit like I'm being asked to run an obstacle course this month, but in the end, all is well :).  Have a fabulous weekend! Tessa

Designer Friday!

Happy Friday! I've been blessed with a wonderful response to the monthly samplers, so I thought it would be fun to offer more sampler options in the shop.  I have several in the works, but today I would like to share with you the first mini sampler to hit Precocious Paper's virtual shelves: Fuchsia Cherries!

The very talented Mandy Koeppen worked her magic with the mini sampler and created this fabulous card:

Don't these colors make you think of summer?  The deep pink and golden yellow say summer to me :).  Mandy's stellar cardmaking skills didn't stop there:

Gorgeous, right?! I love how easy it is to give a handmade note some serious texture and "wow" by adding a fabric and felt flower :).  Mandy also dressed up a simple headband for her daughter:

How cute is this?!  All you would have to do to recreate this look is sandwich your headband between a piece of felt and the flowers, with hot glue in between.  Not even five minutes and you would have your own sweet hair accessory :).

You can find the mini sampler, Fuchsia Cherries, here.  If you have any requests for color palettes or themes, let me know! I have a list going and would love to add your ideas.  Thank you Mandy for your fabulous work, and thank you for stopping by today!

The boys are gone on a camping trip tonight, which leaves me all. by. myself.  It's either going to be a scrappy marathon or a night out with my sisters.  Either way, I can't wait! Enjoy your weekend :). Tessa

May Sampler

Introducing the May Sampler, "Mother's Portrait"....

Inspired by both Crate Paper's Portrait collection and Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet fabric line, this sampler includes:

♥ 1 Fabric and Felt Flower
♥ 1 Coral Satin Rolled Flower
♥ 1 Woodgrain Lollipop Flower with Pearl Center
♥ 1 Layered Canvas Flower (perfect for misting or dyeing)
♥ 1 Black Polka Dot Cupcake Poppy
♥ 2 Rolled Fabric Flowers in Mustard Yellow and Aqua
♥ 1 Handsewn Black Gingham Yo-Yo with Button Center
♥ 3 Leaves
♥ 3 Ribbons on Clothespins, including Black Glitter, White Sheer, and Aqua Grosgrain
♥ 1 Decorative Stick Pin

The coordinating Sweet Spots are made with patterned papers from Portrait:

And here's a new item I've been excited to share with you - Butterfly Doilies!  This particular pair coordinates perfectly with the yellows, aquas, and black and white:

Design team member Mandy created a really fun layout with the Sampler, using Crate Paper's Restoration line:

I love the graphic look of the alphas blended with the bright colors of the flowers and butterflies :).  Mandy also created this vintage chic, large tag:

She combined the cavas flower with the cupcake poppy for a cool, layered look.

The Sampler, the Sweet Spots, and the Butterfly Doilies are all available now.  When you purchase your first monthly sampler, you will receive a special coupon code for the following month's sampler. You will receive free shipping on the sampler, as well as any other items you purchase at the same time. All the perks of a subscription without the commitment :).  Begin with May and you'll have the perfect embellishments for Mother's Day cards, spring layouts, and whatever else your crafty heart desires :).  Happy Shopping! Tessa

P.S. - Happy Birthday to my little man, Jaxon!  He's TWO today :).  There's a monkey party in the works - I'll share soon!

Designer Friday - Meet Mandy!

I am SO excited to introduce you to Precocious Paper's newest design team member, Mandy Koeppen! 

You can read all about her, as well as get linked to her fabulous blog, on the Design Team Page.  Mandy, I'm thrilled to have you on board :).

 Mandy has the May Sampler - Mother's Portrait - in her creative hands, and she is doing amazing things with it!  You will see the sampler revealed in all its prettiness on Monday the 25th, but for now, you get a sneak peek with this gorgeous shaped card:


Mandy cut the card into a circle using a circle template, then used a vintage dictionary page for the background.  Besides the butterfly, paper, and "grandma", all the other elements you see are part of the May Sampler.  I love how Mandy used her sewing machine to pleat one of the trims. So pretty!

I'm very envious of Mandy - she has a vintage Royal typewriter that she used to create the Happy Mother's Day flag. What a beautiful, vintage touch!




Thank you for the beautiful inspiration, Mandy!  Mother's Portrait will launch Monday, as well as several new add-on options.  And don't forget, if you order April's sampler, you get free shipping on the May Sampler and anything else you purchase at the same time.  There are still a few April Samplers left, so you can still get in on this special.  Customers who already purchased the April Sampler will be getting their free shipping codes on Monday.

Earth Day Sale!  In celebration of Earth Day, Precocious Paper is holding its annual Earth Day Sale.  This year, receive 15% off of your entire purchase and you will receive a free set of my popular, recycled Dyed Cardboard Flowers with your order.  Use coupon code EARTHDAY15 through Sunday to receive the discount.  Happy Shopping!  Tessa