This Week in my Planner - Scrapbook Circle

Hello friends! I'm sharing this week in my planner on the Scrapbook Circle blog today. I had so much fun working with the Plan On It add-on last month that I decided to use the You + Me add-on this month to decorate more planner pages:

The add-on includes the adorable Thickers from the Paige Evans/Pink Paislee Fancy Free line, as well as super cute pleather bows by We R Memory Keepers and clear acetate words and shapes by Jillibean Soup.

I made planner clips from the bows, as well as a piece of flair from the main kit.

I also used stickers from the other add-on and patterned paper from the main kit.

You can read more at the Scrapbook Circle blog here. And if you're a Facebook groupie, we have a new Scrapbook Circle community that you're welcome to join. Find Scrapbook Circle of Friends here. Have a great day! Tessa

NSD Sketch Challenge - Scrapbook Circle

Happy interNational Scrapbooking Day! We are celebrating at Scrapbook Circle with an Instagram Round Robin, a new community on Facebook, a sketch challenge, a cut file challenge, freebies and prizes! So much fun! I had the privilege of creating the challenge sketch:

I played along using the May kit and add-ons:

I pulled pinks and blues from the kits and followed the sketch fairly closely.

My favorite part of creating this layout was cutting up the acetate sheet by Amy Tangerine for embellishments. I had never fussy-cut acetate before and it's definitely something I plan to do again.

I'd love to see you in the new Facebook group, and I'd love for you to hop over to IG and participate in the Round Robin. If you're scrapping up a storm this weekend, I hope you'll consider joining in on the sketch challenge! I can't wait to see what you create. Have a good one!

April Planner Pages - Scrapbook Circle

I am SO excited! Did you know that Scrapbook Circle has a planner kit this month? It's called Plan On It and you can find it here. I used it to decorate the monthly spread and first two weeks (so far!) of the April pages in my Webster's Pages Color Crush personal:


I've been reluctant to abandon my more utilitarian planner for a decorated planner because I didn't think I would be able to organize all the important information that I needed to write down among all the stickers and washi tape. I finally took a good look at my planning habits and realized that I wasn't sitting down and really using my boring planner like I imagined I was. Also, when I did devote time to thoroughly completing weekly plans, I got really stressed out.

I came to the conclusion that psychologically, the decorated planner might actually work better for me. I would enjoy the process of decorating, which would encourage me to plan regularly. Plus, the format of the planner didn't have me detailing every hour of every day, and that would help me avoid unnecessary stress.

So, I've been experimenting with the Scrapbook Circle planner kit and my new Color Crush and guess what? I'm enjoying the process - excited about planning, even! - and I'm not stressing. I will continue to fine-tune and polish my process of filling out the weeks, but this is working for me and I'm happy about it :).

You can check out my post on the Scrapbook Circle blog today with tips for using items from the kit. I'll be sharing more as I work my way through more of the kit, so be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Have a good one! Tessa

So Happy Together - Scrapbook Circle

Today I am sharing a layout on the Scrapbook Circle blog. I used the Only You kit and was inspired by the February Technique Challenge - Heart Strings:

The challenge is to include a stitched heart on a layout. I decided to go big, and I'm so glad I did. I love the look and it was actually fairly quick and easy.

First, I drew a heart lightly in pencil. Next, I pierced holes with my needle evenly around the heart.

Using three shades of pink, I stitched back and forth across the heart, somewhat randomly. I secured the ends of the thread on the back of my layout with tape.

I added my photos (love those gold foil polaroid frames!) and fussy cut flowers last.

If you'd like to join in, there's still a week left! Check out today's post here and the original challenge post here. Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Love Always - Scrapbook Circle

I'm sharing on the Scrapbook Circle blog again today, this time a layout featuring some fun stickers by Seven Paper (Studio Calico):

These trendy icon stickers are in the January Fresh Start kit. I saved most of the sheet for my planner (because they are adorable! and gold!), but chose a few favorites for this page.

Besides the main kit, I also used this add-on. I just love the giant Maggie Holmes alphas!

I wanted the colors of the photos to stand out, so I kept the rest of the page neutral: white, gold, black and cork. You can see the theme of my layout - always, every day - in the title and the calendar background paper. I love how a year-at-a-glance calendar makes some great white space.

You can see my post on the Scrapbook Circle blog here and find the Fresh Start kit here. Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Mom & Addie - Scrapbook Circle

Next to my laptop is the layout I'm sharing today, and I just noticed the arrows. One points across, moving on. Two more point downward, focusing attention on the important parts of the page:

What's that phrase about life imitating art? I'm having one of those weeks with arrows pointing in all directions. No corner of my life has been left untouched by both blessings and challenges in the past few days. While feeling especially stressed out yesterday, I received news that my grandpa had passed away. In the chaos I paused, prayed for my family, and regrouped my thoughts. Life on this earth comes to an end. Time - my one little word - is precious. I can choose to spend my time grumbling about needing a new roof and cleaning up the leak in my kitchen, or I can be grateful for my house, for the rain we so desperately need, and for the people helping us. I can spend time stressing out over circumstances beyond my control at work, or I can channel that energy into positive thoughts and actions. Life is going to be a combination of ups and downs and sideways no matter what I do, so I choose to spend my time wisely.

Today, that means sharing this bright and happy layout. It's inspired by the January Trend Challenge at Scrapbook Circle, which you can find (and play along with!) here.

The challenge is to create a page with a "ransom note" style title or sub-title. I used the Seven Paper washi tape included in the Fresh Start kit:

I shared one of these photos on instagram and told the story behind it already, but this was the morning I left for CHA a couple weeks ago. After we were dressed, I noticed that we were both wearing charcoal gray shirts that said "home". I swear I don't dress us like twins on purpose! But it was a fun mother-daughter moment to capture :).

Hug your loved ones. Spend time doing something good for your soul today. And be sure to stop by Scrapbook Circle :). Have a good one! Tessa

Let's Get Together - Scrapbook Circle

Have you seen the July kit - You are My Favorite - at Scrapbook Circle? Oh my goodness, I love it! It's filled with Crate Paper, American Crafts, Pink Paislee.... It's awesome. I had the chance to create a layout for the One Item Wonder feature on the Scrapbook Circle blog all about the exclusive stencil included in the kit:

This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of Precocious Paper. I do receive financial compensation and products from Scrapbook Circle to develop certain blog posts, but all of the ideas and opinions are my own.

I used the stencil to add some much-needed blue to my page. I simply traced the stencil and filled the space with a waterbrush and Distress Ink. You can read more here.

I used papers from the 6x6 Dear Lizzy Fine and Dandy paper pad. You can find it - and the Maggie Holmes title - in the add-on here. That darling wood veneer bow is Maggie Holmes, too. I need a whole sheet of bows! You can find it in this add-on here.

Visit Scrapbook Circle here, and keep up with them here and here. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your day :). Tessa

Scrapbook Circle and The Cut Shoppe Blog Hop

Hello! Today I am hopping with Scrapbook Circle and The Cut Shoppe. If you just happened upon this post and would like to start from the beginning, click here. If you just arrived from Diana Fisher's blog, you're in the right place :).

Scrapbook Circle and The Cut Shoppe have partnered to bring you digi-cut inspiration with the June kit. I mixed elements from the main kit and add-ons, and layered them on the Straight as an Arrow background.

I decided to keep the background subtle by cutting it out of vellum. I treated the die-cut vellum like an overlay and attached it to my white cardstock background with staples. Working with The Cut Shoppe file was easy-peasy, and the design is awesome - just the right amount of whimsy.

I love the exclusive flair in the kit this month! This piece was perfect - a touch of red, a great sentiment, an awesome font.

I also love the travel lines from Pink Paislee and My Mind's Eye that are in the June kit. While the two lines each have their own look, the pieces in the kit blend together really well.

Before I send you on to the last stop on the Scrapbook Circle side of this hop, be sure to leave a comment at each blog as you go. Scrapbook Circle is giving away a $20.00 gift certificate to The Cut Shoppe to one lucky commenter. Then, be sure to hop with The Cut Shoppe and leave comments to win the Scrapbook Circle June kit.

Head on over to Lisa Andrew's blog next. I hope you've enjoyed the hop! Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Scrapbook Circle Anniversary Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the Scrapbook Circle Anniversary Blog Hop! If you have just happened upon this post and would like to join us from the start, click here. If you just arrived from the lovely Diana Fisher's blog, you are in the right place :).

I am excited to be celebrating Scrapbook Circle's 9th anniversary with the creative team. We've all been having a ton of fun with the May kit, "Hello Sunshine." I decided that since we are celebrating a birthday of sorts, I would create a birthday page just for this special occasion:

I started with patterned papers from the main kit for my background. I love this great ledger by Pink Paislee and I just can't get enough of the black and white plus sign paper by Bella Blvd.Next I pulled a few sheets from the Amy Tangerine Rise & Shine 6x6 paper pad from the "Hello Love" add-on. I hand-lettered then hand-cut my title. I love that trend right now and will probably do it again soon!

My favorite part of the layout has to be the "balloons". When we were at CHA this past January, these tags were one of my very favorite embellishments. I'm so glad Lisa added them to a kit! I think they make darling balloons :). You can find them in the "Sweet Day" add-on.

I used foam squares to pop up my photo and a few of the balloons. I created the confetti look with three of my trusty Heidi Swapp mists.

Now on to the hop details:

* Each comment left on a creative team member's blog is one entry into a random drawing for one of FIVE May kits - so leave a comment below!

* The hop runs through midnight PST on the 21st.

* Winners will be announced on the Scrapbook Circle blog on the 22nd.

The next (and last!) stop on the hop is Scrapbook Circle's founder herself, the amazing Lisa Andrews! I hope you enjoyed your time here and that you have found inspiration throughout the hop. Be sure to follow Scrapbook Circle on Facebook here, and IG here.

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

I Am - The Studio Challenges, Scrapbook Circle

I'm excited for March! The calendar is full - fun stuff, challenging stuff, projects, events, birthdays, etc. Although we would rather have the rain, the spring-like weather we are enjoying is beautiful! Blossoms in the trees, poppies growing everywhere...I love it!

I also love the new challenge up today at The Studio. The design team suggested items to include on a layout, and the challenge is to include as many of those things as possible. I managed to include every single one:

I wouldn't normally reach for all of these things for the same layout, so this was definitely a challenge. To get it done, I used two strategies: use small amounts of everything, and use the same color for most of it.

One chipboard heart, three tiny brads, two sequins, a bit of thread - all in gold. The mist was easy as I almost always include a little bit of mist anyway (that was my contribution to the challenge), and the vellum was also a simple addition. The stamping was intimidating at first, but after turning to this row of triangles stamp by Scrapbook Circle, I thought the stamping was a great finishing touch.

Speaking of Scrapbook Circle, almost all of my materials for this page came from the March kits. The thread, sequins, brads and mist are from my stash, the stamp and chipboard heart are from past kits, but the papers, stickers and die-cuts are all from Here's the Story and the add-ons. Lots of "I Am" by Simple Stories, "On Trend" by My Mind's Eye here. The kit also includes quite a bit of the new papers and embellishments by Pinkfresh Studios (one of my favorite booths at CHA this year!). Be sure to check out the kits here.

You can find the challenge details at The Studio here. Thanks for visiting today! I hope your March is fantastic :). Tessa

Chickaniddy at CHA

Hello! I got home from CHA (the Craft and Hobby Association trade show) late Sunday, cuddled the kids Monday, and am ready to share with you one of my favorite booths and companies - Chickaniddy Crafts!

(left to right: Diana Waite, Heather Leopard, me, Heidi Sonboul, Jennie Blaser, Lisa Andrews, Meghann Andrew)

I had the opportunity to attend the show again with Scrapbook Circle. We had so much fun designing the next several months of kits. If you aren't a subscriber, you're going to want to be! Anyway, we were all pretty excited about Heidi Sonboul's latest collections for Chickaniddy and were sure to put in an order. If you haven't seen 365...

...or Yipee...

...run to the Chickaniddy blog to take a look. The papers are fabulous, the embellishments are fantastic, and you have to see the enamel words. Chickaniddy is the first company in the industry to do enamel words and they are awesome! I can't wait until my design team box gets here and I can play :).

On another note, I was up on the DCWV blog yesterday with a new product reveal video of the Insta Photo Fun collection. Check it out here.

Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa