GIVEAWAY DAY!

I was so happy to see that this little blog has surpassed 100 followers and that more than 200 people "like" the Precocious Paper Facebook page.  And, true to my word, I want to say "thank you" with a giveaway!  When I was putting together a prize package, I realized I wanted to offer something for my scrapooking friends and something for my accessory-making friends, so there are two prizes up for grabs :).

First, the "Accessorize" prize :).

♥ two brown plastic headbands

♥ two thin metal headbands

♥ 5 alligator clips

♥ 5 brooch pins

♥ and 12 flowers of your choice from the shop

Second, the "Embellish" prize :).

You can see close-up shots at the Facebook page.

♥ 5 sheets of Botanique papers by American Crafts

♥ 2 sets of Botanique stamps by American Crafts (25 pieces)

♥ 1 Laundry Line by My Mind's Eye Parentheses stamps

♥ 1 Inkadinkado Dragonfly set of stamps

♥ 1 Studio G birdie stamp

♥ 1 package Botanique die-cuts

♥ 1 Prima Overlay

♥ 1 Queen and Company die-cut Felt Fusion in white

♥ 2 Pink Paislee Pixie Sticks in yellow and pink

♥ 6 textured note cards with envelopes - 2 each of green, yellow, and pink

♥ 1 package of Botanique rub-ons

♥ 1 package of Botanique Remarks journaling stickers

♥ 1 package Thickers - Vera Accents in yellow

♥ 4 packages of sticker alphabets in pink and green

♥ 1 corner rounder punch

♥ 1 flower punch

♥ 3 trims on clothespins

♥ 1 package of green pearls by Kaiser Craft

♥ 1 roll of self-adhesive lace tape

♥ doilies, tags, and journaling spots

♥ felt flowers and leaves, velvet flowers with bling centers, and birdie charms

♥ sequin butterflies, bullnose clips, tassles, and buttons

♥ 12 flowers of your choice from the shop

Ready to enter to win?
♥ Leave a comment on this post with your name and indicate which of the prizes you would enjoy (you can say both, if you'd like)

For additional entries, you can...
♥ follow this blog
♥ "like" Precocious Paper on Facebook
♥ blog, post on facebook, or tweet about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your post)
♥ invite friends to like the Facebook page (have them post on the wall who sent them)
♥ encourage friends to follow this blog (have them post in a comment who sent them)
♥ post a project on the Facebook page that you created using PP products (no facebook? email me)

The contest will end next Wednesday, July 7th and the winners will be announced on Thursday, July 8th.  I'll have each of my two oldest sons pull a name from a hat.  Old school, but so much more fun than Random.org.

Good luck!  And THANK YOU for being such wonderful friends.  Tessa

You Make My Heart Flip

So, even though my team is out of the World Cup, I'm still playing along with the World Cup Challenges at The Studio!  The challenge for this week is to find inspiration in the World Cup mascot, Zakumi:

I borrowed the colors and the polka dots to create this layout about my son:

We took the picture at our local soccer fields, but other than that, this has nothing to do with soccer :).  I decided to make this layout about how my oldest son, Colten, makes my heart flip.  He drives me crazy, but at the same time I LOVE THIS KID.

I drew my title, painted it with Twinling H2O's (watercolors infused with mica - they sparkle!), and then fussy cut each letter.  I also made the matching hearts.  Can you believe there are no flowers?  I just felt "finished" after spending so much time on the title, and I thought my journaling and the photo were too important to keep embellishing.  ...and then I added the yellow pearls.  But then I stopped :).

I hope you are having fun playing along!  There's only one more World Cup Challenge, so get in the game!  Oooh, and I almost forgot to mention - there just may be a giveaway post later today ;).

Happy scrapping! Tessa

Summer Checklist courtesy SRM Stickers

I am so grateful for summer!  We FINALLY have consistent, summerlike temperatures here in Wyoming, and there is no snow in sight!  Inspired by the "Here Comes the Sun" challenge at SRM Stickers' blog, I celebrated summer's overdue return by making this card.

I used SRM Stickers for the sentiment, Cosmo Cricket Delovely papers, a couple of K and Company stickers, and an inch or so of my favorite, and quickly disappearing, ball trim. 

I think this is the first summer I will not complain about the heat - winter is too long to be unhappy about summer!  Whether you are melting or on the other side of the world enjoying opposite temperatures, I hope your June is going well!  Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Family

The last of the June challenges is now live at The Studio!  This week the challenge is a fun, easy one: Splash! We want to see your pages about the beach, sunshine... anything summer-ish! How do you spend your summer holidays?

My journaling reads: "One of my favorite things about summer is the extra daylight.  Those precious hours of sunshine that linger long after dinner.  That sweet sunshine allows us as a family to get out and enjoy each other's company more, like on this day that we went to the local soccer fields to play games.  To me, summer = more happy family memories."

We've kind of begun a tradition of capturing photos like this whenever we can (see another one in this post).  This is the first family shadow portrait that includes the little guy.  Wow, 5 shadows.  I'm blessed :).  I used the June Scrapbook Circle kit and included some summery embellishments.

Don't forget! Precocious Paper is sponsoring the month of June at The Studio!  I'd love to send YOU some handmade scrapbooking goodies, so get to playing :).  Have a wonderful day! Tessa

Little Yellow Bicycle and Fancy Pants

Whoo hoo! Was I excited to see that I had the opportunity to design with some Snugglebug goodies by Little Yellow Bicycle from Scrapbook Chicks this month!  These papers are absolutely darling!  Well, almost as darling as my husband's cousin's baby boy, Ezra!

I created a grid with my photos and squares of this patterned paper.  I used this paper for my scalloped edge and to cover the chipboard brackets.  I created more of a border by layering stickers across the bottom edge of the grid and made flower and tab accents from Chick'n Noodles and Chick'n Feed.  I doodled a border all around, added a few little stitches, and used these sweet stickers for my title.  It all came together really fast, and I have enough patterned paper left for cards :).  Thank you, Cousin Candie, for letting me scrap your little guy!

I was also sent some really fun papers by Fancy Pants.  The teal, charcoal, pink, and mint colors in this line are so fun!  I decided to scrap a black and white photo to allow the colors to pop. 

I had fun with paint, added strips of this cardstock and this patterned paper, and adorned my photo with luscious Dear Lizzy ribbon.  I used Thickers and mini alphas that I had purchased previously at Scrapbook Chicks for my journaling and title.  Altogether, a pretty quick layout!  I think I spent more time waiting for paint to dry than actually assembling.

Be sure to stop by Scrapbook Chicks for the latest and greatest!  I am so excited about all of the lines appearing on Christie's shelves!  Follow Scrapbook Chicks on Facebook for news about fantastic sales - she really knows how to throw a sale :).  Have a great day! Tessa

I only have a moment...

...so I'm writing this post in bullet points :).

♥ It's Thursday, which means a new sketch has been revealed at Sketchy Thursdays!  Here is my take, featuring my sister, Shanae, and my little man Jaxon.  THANK YOU Diana and Heidi for the opportunity to guest design in June!  I've had a wonderful time!

♥ Speaking of Jaxon, we had a rough day yesterday.  We spent several hours at the doctor's and in the ER trying to figure out what is going on with his little tummy.  Thank heavens he doesn't have anything life-threatening going on, but we still aren't sure what the problem is.

♥ I'm working like crazy on orders.  I should be all caught up after today.  I'm considering closing shop for a few days soon to first, breathe, and second, get all those new listings I've been talking about posted.  I'll let you know :).

♥ This little blog has more than 100 followers now!  Thank you all for visiting and commenting.  I really appreciate all my blog friends.  And I'll show you just how much soon!  The Precocious Paper Facebook fan page is nearing 200 fans.  Are you one?  If not, you'll want to be soon!

♥ And lastly, a HUGE thank you to JULIE!  I am still dumbfounded at this girl's generosity!  A while back I posted a layout about Becky Higgins, basically my scrapbooking idol.  Julie left a comment about how she had met Becky once, and had even got her autograph.  Umm, I was jealous to say the least.  Anyway, Julie told a little white lie, got my address, and surprised me through the mail with her autographed copy of Becky's book!  I SO needed that this week.  Julie, you are THE absolute BEST!

Have a great day, everyone!  Tessa

Grrr!

There's a new challenge at the Studio today: Grrr! What gets right on your nerves? Tell us all about it with a spot of creative therapy! Get it off your chest... you'll feel much better for it!

Tailgaters, people who talk on their cell phone when at service counters, muddy footprints on a freshly mopped floor.... These things all make me say "grrr", but I chose to scrap about people not listening.  My dear hubby can forget entire conversations that took place, and my kiddos are too often more like brick walls when asked to do something.  It seems to be getting under my skin lately, which tells me I need to be more patient.

I used several elements from the June Scrapbook Circle kit, as well as bits from previous kits and other things.  I loved the little typewriter card (it's like I'm saying "Do I need to spell it out for you?").  The design team did a knock out job!  Please go see their incredible work.  And don't forget to play along this month for a Precocious Paper gift certificate!

Speaking of Precocious Paper, my shop update didn't happen as I hoped!  We survived a stomach flu, but then mother nature intervened.  We've been experiencing record flooding in my area, and unfortunately a family from church was affected.  She was making the flower arrangements for a wedding, but when she needed to evacuate, she wasn't sure if she could do it.  I offered to help, and several bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces later, we are ready for the wedding!  However, my little shop has been neglected :(.  But I've been happy to help and am planning on an update this week.  To hold you over, I restocked my Sewing Pattern Petals.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Tessa