Oh, the Places You'll Go

We love Dr. Suess at our house.  At least one Dr. Suess book is read on any given day.  Among our favorites is "Oh, the Places You'll Go".  So, when I saw that the first challenge of March at Scrap that Poetry was going to be this poem, I was excited!  Did you know that tomorrow is Dr. Suess Day?  What better way to celebrate than to create a layout based on this story told in verse.

I decided to apply the poem to a layout about my sister, Caitlin's, high school graduation.  I don't think there is a crossroads in life quite as full of possibilities as this one.  Caitlin is a pretty amazing person, so to see all the places she is going is exciting.

Did you notice the lace flower in the corner?  It's one of my Lemon Yellow Lace and Felt Flowers from my Etsy shop.  Did you know I offer more than 20 different colors?  I sell them in pairs so that you can scrap with one and wear the other in your hair or as a brooch :).

Thanks for stopping by!  Head on over to Scrap That Poetry to see the other amazing DT layouts and for all the details on how to enter.  Oh, and be sure to check this post to see if you were one of my winners during my Anniversary Celebration.  Have a great Monday! Tessa

Winners!!!

Thank you, again, for making these two years on Etsy an amazing experience!  Now, without further ado, here are the winners of my Anniversary Celebration prizes!

♥ Week One, $5.00 Gift Certificate: jacksoncarson

♥ Week Two, $5.00 Gift Certificate: madesigns21

♥ Week Three, $5.00 Gift Certificate: thehaircandystore

♥ Week Four, $5.00 Gift Certificate: customcreationsjazzi

♥ Papercrafting Contest, $10.00 Gift Certificate: Lisa Foust

♥ 2000 Sales, Grand Prize: scrapwithsuzy

Congratulations!  Winners, please look for an email from me soon.  If you didn't see your name on the list, I still have something for you - I had so much fun making little extras to send with orders this month that I will continue sending complimentary goodies with my packages.

Thank you for your support of handmade and Precocious Paper!  They say the third time is the charm.  I'm looking foward to a charming third year!  Tessa

Prima's got a secret.

Something big is about to be announced.  I wonder what it is?  In the meantime, two $100.00 prize packages are up for grabs!  Want a chance to win?  Check it out here.

Happy Friday! Tessa

No! We're not twins!

Everywhere they go, my sisters get asked if they are twins.  They are about the same height, they both have blond hair and blue eyes, they could pass for the same age, but they are a year and a half apart - not twins.  In fact, Caitlin looks more like our brother, Garrick's, twin.  Anyway, I thought I would document their frustration in this week's Sketchy Thursdays layout.

My layout:

Diana's amazing sketch:

See those yellow flowers?  They are Bridal Satin Blossoms from my Etsy shop!  I thought they were perfect for this page.  They are available in several colors, and a few more colors will be popping up soon.

Speaking of my shop, the Anniversary Specials are winding down.  I hope you get a chance to visit and shop before the free flowers, discounted shipping, and prizes disappear.  Although, you know me - I'm always giving away goodies!

Have a wonderful Thursday and don't forget to head on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog for last week's winner, the DT favorites, the new sponsor for this challenge, and of course - all the details on how to play along.  Tessa

Two Chicks February Kit

The February kit from Two Chicks arrived this past week and I was able to spend some time over the weekend playing!  Here are three layouts that I made, and once I get a little more time this week, I'll be working on some cards and another project.  Christie is going to be offering a Thickers/alphabet add-on to the kits each month, so even though you see alphas below that weren't in the kit, you will be able to satisfy your letter addiction!

Sweet Jaxon:

Oh, Sweetie. You'll Learn:

Great Big Little Yawn:

I am really happy with this kit.  And, oh my goodness, wait until you see March's kit!  It's gorgeous (and it includes one of my favorite color combinations!).  Some February kits are still available, so check them out and take advantage of the sale - spend more than $20.00 and you will get a free apron (SUPER CUTE!).

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm in the midst of making about 300 flowers today, so I'd better be going!  Tessa

Holy Scrap!

Last Friday I told you about Two Chicks Designs, who I now design for.  I was browsing their site for t-shirts recently and I just have to share with you some of my favorites:

These would be so cute to wear to a crop!  I'd wear them anywhere, then enjoy the expressions on people's faces as they try to figure out what my shirt means (there aren't many scrapbookers here).  There are tons more funny and cute designs, and they are all VERY reasonably priced.  I'm going to be a well-dressed scrapbooker!

Oh! And I wanted to remind you that my Anniversary Specials will be coming to a close in less than a week!  If you haven't taken advantage of the free flowers, discounted shipping, or contests, please do!  All winners will be announced on March 1st.

Happy Monday! Tessa

Swing Me, Daddy

There's a new challenge up at The Studio today!  This time around, a photograph is our inspiration:

I instantly thought of fall when I saw this photo, so I found some of my very favorite fall photos and created this layout:

It was wonderful to scrapbook out of season!  I'm surrounded by winter white (in fact, more is falling from the sky as I type), so to pull out the warm, deep tones of fall was so nice :).  Oh, how I long for the days we can take the boys to the park and push them on the swings!  The design team has come up with a fantastic variety of takes on this prompt, so please check out the challenge blog to see their amazing work.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the last of your weekend :).  Tessa

I'm a Chick!

Well, Chick-a-dee to be precise :).  In my Facebook travels I happened upon this great company called Two Chicks Designs.  They sell scrapbooking-themed clothing (super cute, must-see stuff), they have a kit club, and they have just recently begun selling embellies in adorable take-out boxes.  Christie, the owner, and all the Facebook fans made Two Chicks a fun place to be, so when the design team call was announced, I couldn't help but play along!  After completing three challenges, I was invited to join the team!  The girls are sweet, fun, and absolutely passionate about scrapbooking and Christie is amazing.  I feel so blessed :).

You can visit Two Chicks Designs here, you can become a Facebook fan here, and you can find the design team at the Chick'n Coop.  I highly suggest checking out the Chick'n Coop.  I'm being featured today and there are prizes up for grabs!

My word for 2010 is balance, and I think I've struck a wonderful balance in my scrapbooking endeavors.  On a regular basis I'm blessed to design with amazing sketches (Sketchy Thursdays), be inspired by poetry (Scrap That Poetry), be challenged with out-of-the-box ideas (The Studio), have fantastic product to work with (Two Chicks Designs, A Scrappy Design), and to create for others (my Etsy shop, Precocious Paper).  I couldn't imagine a better set of circumstances :).  Can you tell I woke up on the right side of the bed today?

And to follow-up yesterday's post, the 1st Grade Musical was a huge success!  Here is Colten with his music teacher, Mrs. Hageman. I LOVE her shoes :).

Now I am ready for a day of filling Etsy orders, listing some new things, and then housekeeping.  I am anticipating a happy mail day - my first box of Two Chicks goodies and a http://www.scrapbooksteals.com/ purchase :).  So excited!  I told myself that if the house were clean, I could play with my new stash.  Good motivation, right?

Have a wonderful weekend!  Tessa

First Snow

As I "enjoy" what seems like the twentieth snow this season, I'd like to share a scrapbook page I made about our first snow here in our new home of Wyoming.    I will always remember the pure excitement my boys felt when our first burst of winter weather left the landscape blanketed in white.  They begged, literally begged, to play outside, and I followed them with my camera.  Based on the new Sketchy Thursdays sketch, here is First Snow:

Pixie Cottage Stamps, this week's sponsor, sent me this adorable, snowy winter window stamp. 

If you look closely, you can see how I used the stamp to create a very subtle background.  I stamped in Versamark ink, embossed with clear embossing powder, and then let the spray of glimmer mist highlight the image.  The effect is very pretty and lends the perfect wintery touch to my page.

I'm off to fight the snow to get to the elementary school.  The first grade musical is today, and I had the opportunity to teach the boys some breakdancing and the girls some lyrical dance.  I choreographed a song called "Big Bad Squirrels" - it's SO CUTE!  Hip hop squirrels are the best.  And the girls are lovely raindrops in "Beautiful Rain."  I miss teaching dance so much that I have an appointment Monday with the recreation department here in my little town to discuss dance classes.  I thought that over time my passion for dance and teaching would fade, but I think I want to teach and dance more now than ever.

Well, have a happy, warm Thursday!  Tessa

Giveaway Winner!

The random number generator chose Lucky #7!  Who was it?  SavannaLea, who wrote: "I love, love, love the blue and brown ones! but I am digging the cardboard dyed ones too!!!"  Congrats!  Stop by my shop to decide which pair of flowers you would like, then email me your pick and address (see my profile).

Thank you so much, everyone, for playing along!  Stay tuned, there just might be more giveaways coming!

Baby

If you know me, you know my favorite color combination is red and turquiose.  When the challenge at My Mind's Eye called for us to use red in our layout, of course I thought of pairing it with my beloved blue.  I found this gorgeous picture of my son, Carson, and followed the sketch by Anam Stubbington.  All materials are My Mind's Eye except the ribbons, those little felt hearts, and the alphas. 

I made the photo corner by hand (super easy - maybe I'll whip up a little tutorial soon).  I punched and scrunched the hearts, and added the last of my treasured aqua pom pom trim.  Carson thought this was a picture of the baby, Jaxon, but nope - it's him!  They really are twins five years apart.

Thanks for looking!  Check back tonight for the winner of my giveaway :).  Tessa

Shop Update and a Giveaway

I'm so happy that so many of you are taking advantage of my Anniversary Specials!  Thank you for celebrating with me :).  Yesterday I was able to edit a big batch of photos and get some new listings up in the shop.  First, I restocked my Dyed Cardboard Flowers.  Look for these soon in a kit club offering!

I also added several new pairs of Fabric and Felt Flowers, including these three with polka dots:

Two new bouquets are available:

I also added three new colors of Lace and Felt Flowers to the mix - Turquiose, Perfectly Peach, and Navy Blue:

Now for the giveaway - I would love to send you a pair of flowers of your choice!  Leave a comment here about your favorite new design, and tomorrow evening I will randomly draw a winner.

And then, please head on over to A Scrappy Design, where Heather is having a fantastic sale!  I'm lucky to be on her design team and to have the opportunity work with her fun products.  I'm sure you will love them as much as I do!  Be sure to read more here.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!  Tessa

Love = Knot

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day and were able to spend it with people you love.  I was able to spend the weekend with my little family and my sister and brother-in-law, who drove out from Idaho where they are both going to school.  Knowing that they were coming, I took the opportunity to scrapbook one of their wedding photos for the new challenge poem at Scrap That Poetry. 

The line "for the knot, there's no untying," from "Freedom and Love" by Thomas Campbell inspired my title and journaling.  I framed the photo by first painting a rectangle slightly larger than the photo where the photo would go, then I adhered the photo and layered crackle paint around its edge.  I knotted sheer ribbon over die-cut felt lace to bring out the knot imagery.  Lastly, I journaled in the white space of the photo, and added a glimmer mist-dyed rose with leaves and stick pin.

I hope to see you play along!  Jennifer is offering a prize package for this challenge, and I can tell you that you won't be disappointed.  I just received my prize from Jennifer for winning an earlier challenge, and there was a ton of fun goodies!  Head on over to Scrap That Poetry for all the details.

Are you on Facebook?  Did you know that I have a fan page for Precocious Paper?  Did you know that both Sketchy Thursdays and Scrap That Poetry have fan pages, too?  We would love to see you on Facebook - you never know what might come up ;).

Have a wonderful Monday!  Tessa

2000!!!

Precocious Paper just reached over 2000 sales! 

Thank you to everyone who passed along a business card, shared a link, added me to a Treasury, featured me on their blog, told friends about my little shop, became a fan on Facebook, followed my blog, asked me to sponsor challenges, published my work, and of course - made a purchase!  I appreciate all of you so very much and want to say THANK YOU!  Remember, all the purchases from today will go into a drawing for a grand prize (see this post for details).  Will I be sending something special to you?  And just because I love my blog readers so much, if you put "2000" in the notes to seller during checkout today, I'll throw in an extra little gift :).

Thank you!!! Tessa

Yay for Thursday!

I woke up very optimistic today, and I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that it's Thursday.  Today, Thursday means Sketchy Thursdays time, friends over for dinner tonight, and 24 hours until my sister and her husband come into town for the weekend.  It also means Valentine's Day is a little closer, which will be fun because I've planned a yummy breakfast for the family, I get to teach the children at church, and it's just plain wonderful to celebrate with loved ones. 

Speaking of loved ones and Sketchy Thursdays, my layout this week is of my brother, Garrick, and his girlfriend, Sarah.  Garrick is serving a mission for our church in Paraguay right now, and Sarah is waiting for him :).  I've loved getting to know Sarah and I am so happy to see them so happy together.

Here's the awesome sketch:

And here's my take:

I tried to stay true to Sarah and Garrick and knew they wouldn't want it to be all lovey-dovey, so to convey a feeling of love without over-doing it, I stapled clear acrylic hearts in a few places. 

I am really happy with this layout (thank you Miss Diana, for another inspiring sketch), and Sarah told me she like it a lot, too.  Garrick will have to wait a little less than a year to see it, but I'm sure he will agree with us :).

Congrats to the winner and faves from last week!  Head over to Sketchy Thursdays to see who they are and for all the details about playing along.  I'd love to see your take on this one!  And the sponsor - amazing!  I fell in love with this kit club when Elizabeth Kartchner spotlighted them on her blog.  Go see, go see!

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

Today Might Be the Day!

Precocious Paper just reached 1990 sales, just ten away from a huge milestone.  I'm excited!  On the day I reach 2000 sales, all purchases made will be entered into a drawing for their choice of 2 dozen ribbon clothespins, 2 dozen flowers, or a custom paper bag album.  Will today be the day?  Will you win that prize?

On a scrappy note, I don't have a layout to share today, but I would love to share some cards I made recently.  I've really enjoyed making cards again.  It's a great way to be creative when I don't have much time, and I love using my scraps from layout projects.  Anyway, enjoy!  Tessa

10 Reasons I Am Glad I Am a Girl

For my first layout as a design team member at The Studio, I scrapbooked the prompt "If I were a boy...."  I've never wished I were a boy - sometimes I've been jealous of some of the advantages they have, but I am perfectly happy being a girl.  So, I decided to make a list.  I marked the things I wouldn't like about being a boy with a boy stamp, and the things I love about being a girl with a girl stamp.

Anti-boy reasons...

If I were a boy, I would have to think that gross stuff is funny.  It's not - it's gross.

Boys like bugs.  I do not like bugs.

I'd rather watch paint dry than ESPN for hours on end.

If I were a boy, I wouldn't be married to my husband.

I'd hate to shave my face.

Pro-girl reasons...

I can bring children into the world and be their mommy.

I love high heels.

I enjoy actually being right - not just always thinking that I am.

I am passionate about my role as a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me.

Girl clothes are way cuter. 

For those of you who haven't played along at The Studio, weekly challenges are posted, and for every challenge you complete by the end of the month, you receive an entry for the monthly prize.  The gallery is wonderful, the people are so fun and encouraging, and the challenges are really unique.  Come on over, get to know us, and play along!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Tessa

Puppy Love

We have another fun Second Chance Challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays!  This time around, Heidi has created an awesome "industrial grunge" sketch for a 12 x 12 layout, and we were given super cute digi stamps by Some Odd Girl to create with.  I chose the "puppy" design and decided to make a Valentine's Day card.

I got a little grungy with the distressed sewing and some misting.  I changed the puppy image to brown, printed him, and then colored him in with chalk and a metallic brown rub-on.  I added a foam heart with rhinestone accent and created the vertical and horizontal lines in Heidi's sketch with simple brown satin ribbon.  If you are a fan of digital images, you need to take a look at Some Odd Girl, and play to win because three images of your choice are up for grabs.  See the details here.

Have a wonderful weekend! Tessa

Elizabeth Jean

Elizabeth is my baby sister.  We are eleven years apart, and yet we are alike in a lot of ways.  She's an amazing person, so I just had to use this amazing sketch from Diana and Sketchy Thursdays to make a page about her.

Here's the new sketch:

Meet Elizabeth:

Do you see the machine stitched border?  I have been dying to machine stitch on a layout for years, and I finally gave it a try with a borrowed sewing machine (thanks, Melinda!).  I think I'm putting a sewing machine on my wishlist now!  I loved the result and am excited to get to know the sewing machine better :). 

I also stitched across the blue pleated paper border, and attached it to a chipboard bracket painted with Tim Holtz (*sigh*) crackle paint.  I misted the kraft cardstock with jazz blue, olive vine, and dazzling diamonds Glimmer Mists, so the layout shimmers.  I just love the texture this page has (and Elizabeth liked it a lot, too!).

We had a record number of participants this past week - let's break it!  Join us with this wonderful new sketch.  I'd love to see what you come up with!  For all the details and last week's faves/winner, go here.

Have a wonderful Thursday! Tessa