Precocious Paper on Pinterest

Hello! I am busy finishing up filming for my next Miss Art's Papercrafting School class today, and I am so excited to share it with you! I can't give away any details yet, but it may just be inspired by one of my favorite places on the web. Where is that, you ask? Hmmmm, read on and see if you can figure it out ;).

I love Pinterest (ha!). If you aren't already pinning away, it's worth taking a look. It can be a big time suck, so I limit myself to just a few minutes per day. My favorite ways to use Pinterest are to discover new recipes (I've cooked more new recipes in the past year than I think I have my whole adult life, thanks to Pinterest), to find inspiration for projects, and to plan events. It's a great way to keep my ideas organized, and I love being able to go back to the original sources so easily.

Found on Pinterest - SOURCE

I also try to catch the Precocious Paper projects that I find online on my Precocious Paper board. If you've made something with Precocious Paper and I chanced across your blog or gallery, I've probably pinned it. It's fun to see all the different projects :). Precocious Paper gets pinned often straight from the etsy shop, from flickr, and from this blog - which brings me to our next giveaway!

Found on Pinterest - SOURCE

GIVEAWAY: Simply pin a Precocious Paper product image or project image from anywhere (a design team member's blog, the shop, this blog, or re-pin something from the Precocious Paper board) and make sure Precocious Paper is in the description. Come back here and leave a comment with a link to your pin and you are all set :). I'll randomly draw a name from those who participate and announce the winner tomorrow.

Found on Pinterest - SOURCE

Speaking of winners, yesterday's comment to win winner is: CURLYQMOSAICS! Please email or convo me and I will get you all set up with your gift :).

Have a great day, everyone! Tessa

Miss Art's Mini

Happy Tuesday! Today, over at the Miss Art's Papercrafting School blog, I am sharing this mini album:

I used the January kit, Vinnie's Vignette and had my first adventure with Crafter's Workshop templates and molding paste. Oh my goodness, I am addicted! Adding texture with the molding paste was so fun! I enjoyed the process so much that I bought more templates :). I loved cutting apart the GCD Studios word paper to create little phrases on the pages:

You can read more about my mini album here. You can see more photos in my flickr photostream here.

Etsy-wise, I have a winner to announce! The winner of yesterday's Facebook Shoutout Giveaway is LISA FOUST! Congratulations! Email or convo me to redeem your $10.00 shop credit :).

Today's giveaway is a simple comment to win. Let me know what your favorite Precocious Paper item is and you could win a gift bag of Precocious Paper embellishments! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

P.S. - The Spread the Word Giveaway is still open. Details here.
P.P.S. - The buy three get the 4th free sale is still going on! Visit the shop here.

Precocious Paper has been Pubbed!

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to share with you two magazines out on the stands that include Precocious Paper on their pages. First up, design team member Amanda Jones has this gorgeous home decor in Scrap365:

Scrap365 is a UK magazine, and you can find their website here. Design team member Mindy Gallagher created a beautiful mini album with Precocious Paper front and center:

You can find this album in the current issue of Create: Mini Albums. Congratulations to both Amanda and Mindy for the publications! Thank you for sharing Precocious Paper, too :).

Today's Etsy-versary giveaway is for Facebook fans. All you need to do is post a shout-out on the Precocious Paper Facebook page. I'll be awarding a $10.00 shop credit to one random poster. Stop by the page here, make sure you like the page, and say hello. I'll draw the winner tomorrow morning and announce it on the blog.

As for Sunday's giveaway - spreading the word - I'm leaving it open through Friday. Just by sharing news of my Etsy-versary with your Facebook friends, Twitter followers or blog readers, you could win a $10.00 credit. The details are in this post.

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

PS - I've been under the weather all weekend, but I'm getting a lot of photos taken, edited, and items listed. Thanks for your patience as I get all the new goodies up!

Etsy-versary Celebration!

Today marks four years on Etsy for Precocious Paper! I'm in the mood to celebrate and I have a sale, new items, giveaways, and a design team blog hop planned for the week. Take a look:

SALE: Buy three get the 4th free! Buy any three items and get one item free (of equal or lesser value than the least expensive item in your shopping cart). Purchase your three items as usual, noting which item you would like for free in the notes to seller box during checkout. You can take advantage of this deal as many times over as you would like. Sale ends Saturday, March 3rd.

GIVEAWAYS: Each day this week there will be a giveaway. Giveaways will be announced here on the blog and on the Facebook page. Most days it will be a surprise, but I will let you in on Saturday's giveaway right now - one randomly selected customer will win a $20.00 shop credit, just for making a purchase this week :).

NEW ITEMS: I am still uploading new items to the shop, even as I type this! By the end of Sunday I should have all my new stock ready for purchase - Ruffle Blossoms, Fabric and Felt Flowers, Chipboard Frames, etc. Thanks for your patience :).

BLOG HOP: The design team is planning a blog hop for this Friday! They will be sharing their favorite Precocious Paper goodies and another giveaway.

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY: Spread the word! Help me spread the word about Precocious Paper and the sale, and you could win a $10.00 credit to the shop. You get one entry to the drawing for each of these: post on Facebook with a link to the shop, mention the sale with a link on your blog, or tweet about the sale. Leave a comment on this post with how you helped spread the word and you're set. I really appreciate it :).

Thank you all for your support of my shop! I'm truly grateful :). Have a wonderful Sunday! Tessa

Love, Family Mini Album

Hello, hello! I'm off teaching at the dance studio today, getting my little dancers ready for their first competition, but I wanted to share a mini album that went up on the Scrapbook Circle site yesterday. Using the February kit, Remember This, and the add-on (both sold out), I filled the pages of a 7Gypsies album with family photos and love notes.

You can read more about the content of the album in my SBC post, here. A few of my favorite parts of the album are the honeycomb patterns on the covers...

...the gold hole punch pieces scattered about (American Crafts cardstock - awesome stuff!)...

...and my cursive names/words. I drew them in pencil and then used watercolor to fill them in. I need more practice controlling my brush, but I really love the outcome.

You can see all the pages, as well as close-ups, in my flickr photostream here.

Before I go, I want to thank Epiphany Crafts for the wonderful opportunity to be on their new design team. They announced the team here yesterday and I just cannot be more excited. I've worked with just about all of these ladies in some way or another, and I am excited to build on those friendships and make new ones, not to mention play with some incredible product! Also, don't forget - the Precocious Paper Etsy-versary Celebration starts tomorrow! I can't believe it's been four years! My heart is full today :). Thanks for stopping by and see you soon! Tessa

Designer Friday - Suzy with the For Like Ever Collection

Happy Friday, all!  Today I'm excited to welcome back Suzanne Spokus to the Precocious Paper team :). Suzy was one of my very first designers and I was thrilled when she accepted my invitation to come back. Suzy has been playing with the For Like Ever extras. First up, a gorgeous pair of cards using the For Like Ever Butterfly Doilies:

Aren't they sweet? Next up, Suzy made a very pretty layout with some of the For Like Ever Sweet Spots:

Suzy used DCWV's Lemon Grass stack to create this page, and a handful of the Sweet Spots matched perfectly! I strive to design the Sweet Spots so that they can be used for a variety of color palettes. Love this one! Lastly, Suzy made a gorgeous wall hanging for her craft space with the For Like Ever Felt Roses and Leaves:

So pretty! I think I need a "P" for my studio, now :). Suzy, thank you so much for all of your inspiration! You can read more about Suzy at her blog, here. If you are interested in any of these goodies, you can find them in my shop here.

Did you know that my Etsy-versary is this coming Sunday? Yep, I'm celebrating four years on Etsy! Beginning Sunday the 26th and running through Saturday, March 3rd, there will be daily giveaways and a fabulous sale. Also, I'm spending the next two days uploading dozens and dozens of new items, so there will be lots of lovely things to shop for :). I will also be showcasing more from my design team with the new products. I'll post more details on Sunday. I hope you'll join me! Have a wonderful day :). Tessa

Long Lost Cards

Hello! I was going through some photos when I realized that I took pictures of projects that I never shared. So, here are my long lost cards.... All sentiments by SRM Stickers, of course :).

My sister's graduation card (matches the mini album I made here):

A thank you note for the boys' music teacher:

A thank you for one of my dance dads who helped with a piece I did last year (get it? high five?!):

I know I made many, many more, but not all of them were photographed before they were given away. Do you photograph all of your projects before you give them away, or are you more like me and only do so when you think to or have a minute to? I hope you enjoyed these :). Enjoy the rest of your day! Tessa

Aqua, Yellow and Grey

I love this trio of colors. Inspired by my Scrapbook Circle February kit, as well as a patterned paper from the Miss Art's January kit, I pulled together bits and pieces to make this shadow box.

I backed all but the center box with patterned paper, then filled the little cubbies with things from my stash. I wrapped bits of leftover trim around clothespins, added a pair of brads to a shipping tag, clustered buttons with a gorgeous setting from Epiphany Crafts...

...added Precocious Paper roses and a grey felt rose, grouped a die-cut with a button and a Scrabble piece (P for Precocious), filled bottles with glitter and micro beads, and draped a banner across the last section.

I chose to leave the shadow box in its natural state, but I was very tempted to do a color wash or to paint it. I have another and will definitely be doing something along those lines with it.

If you are in the US, I hope you are enjoying your President's Day! We are laying low this morning after a very full weekend. Colten received his cub scout awards and the Blue and Gold dinner was a success. I'm working on a new class for Miss Art's, as well as a to-do list of at least a dozen other things. Life is good this Monday morning. I hope yours is too! Enjoy your day! Tessa

Designer Friday - Cassie with the For Like Ever Sampler

Happy Friday, everyone! Before I get started on Designer Friday, I wanted to say thank you for all the sweet comments on Colten's post. He thought it was really cool that people (from all over the world!) would take a moment to cheer him on in his cub scout adventures. Tomorrow he will be receiving his Wolf, a gold arrow point and three silver arrow points. He will also be getting a computers pin. We're super-duper proud of him :).

And now, I'd like to debut the fabulous work of Cassie! Cassie has been playing with the For Like Ever Sampler and I could not be more excited to share her projects with you today. First up, a gorgeous wreath:

Isn't this amazing?! Cassie made all of those pretty paper flowers, then embellished the wreath with the heart doily, bow, cupcake poppy, leaves, and a bit of ribbon from the sampler. Gorgeous!

Cassie also created a pair of layouts with more bits from the sampler, including this one that features a crinkle satin ruffle blossom:

The For Like Ever Sampler included some sweet heart confetti in a little brown paper bag, and Cassie put it to great use on this layout (along with a sewing pattern petal from the sampler):

Be sure to stop by the Facebook Page to see more close-ups of Cassie's work. I hope to have the new design team page up soon, but in the meantime, visit Cassie's blog here to learn more about this fabulous lady :). I only have a few more of the For Like Ever Sampler in stock, and you can find it here. This weekend is a good time to buy because beginning now through Monday, I have a little President's Day Sale going on. Use coupon code PRESIDENT during checkout to receive a 15% discount. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much for stopping by today :). Tessa

Cub Scouts

*** Hello! My son is working on an elective in his cub scout book where he has to use a computer program to do something. He chose to write a blog post and this is it. Enjoy! ***

Colten on his first day of cub scouts, almost a year ago :).

My  name  is  Colten  Buys.
     I  am  8  years  old.
   I am in  the  wolf den.
   I  am  trying  to  earn  1  gold  arrow  point &  3  silver  arrow  points. This  is  going to get 1 of  my
achievements  .Thanks  for lookin  at  my post!
                       
                                                                Adios!

Happy Valentine's Day!

The boys wanted toast for breakfast, so this is what I whipped up:

We are going out for lunch with Daddy and tonight the boys get an auntie-nephew dinner date. Josh and I are going out for dinner at a restaurant we went to when we were first dating. And I am taking photos all along the way to fill a mini album that I will get to share soon :).

The boys celebrated with their school classes on Friday. We always try to do something non-edible but fun, and this year we made photo-booth prop mustaches and lips. The third and second graders LOVED them :).

Notice that I added them to giant popsicle sticks instead of dowels or skewers? I didn't want anyone getting poked at school ;). The mustache tag reads: "I mustache you a question. Won't you have a Happy Valentine's Day?" Those went to the boys. The girls' lips tag reads: "I ran out of real flowers, but please enjoy these two lips for Valentine's Day!"

Well, I'm off to wrap up a few chores and shop things. I hope you have a lovely day! Tessa

Ruffles and Rambunctious Boys

Hello, hello, hello! I hope your week is off to a great start :). We have a bit of a crazy one planned at the Buys'. The boys are out of school this week due to furlough days, "non-school days", and the President's Day holiday (I live in California, mind you). Between entertaining them, Valentine's Day, cub scouts events, and other fun stuff, I'm not sure when I'll have time for the usual routine. Oh, and Jaxon is potty-training. Am I crazy? Probably :). But I'm looking forward to all of it, including whatever time I get in the studio to stock more of these pretties:

I shared this photo on the Precocious Paper facebook wall several days ago, and it was met with a lot of enthusiasm :). My design team has been busy working with these new flowers, and I have been putting together a few things, too, including this brooch:

I put three Ruffle Blossoms together and added a charm made with Epiphany Crafts products (round 14 tool and setting). Tip: the glitter-outlined dots on My Mind's Eye Lost and Found papers are the exact same size as the tool, so I ended up with a touch of text and glitter - perfect!

Ruffle Blossoms will be offered in over 30 colors and in several prints. You can choose from cardstock backings for paper crafts or felt backings for hair clips and jewelry. I'll let you know when they are available! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day :). Tessa

Designer Friday - Mindy

Happy Friday! I am thrilled to be bringing you a fabulous project by my new design team gal, Mindy Gallagher! Mindy has been playing with all of the fun "extras" to the Precocious Sampler and she combined them into a beautiful, boxed stationery set:

So pretty! And just wait 'til you look inside. The box opens up to reveal organized slots for cards, mini cards and tags, as well as a little note pad and a pocket for stamps.

Wow, right?! Here are the tags, including Precocious Sweet Spots and Precocious Button Sweet Spots:

And mini cards, including more Sweet Spots and a felt rose:

And some really fun cards including a Butterfly Doily and even more Sweet Spots (I love how far a package of those goes!):

Fantastic project, Mindy! If you've been inspired, you can find these products and more in the shop here. The design team page is currently being remodeled, so I invite you to get to know more about Mindy at her blog, here. Thank you all so much for stopping by today! Tessa

Fan Feature - Julie LaKose

Happy Friday! I received a wonderful email this week filled with photos from Precocious Paper fan Julie LaKose. Julie has been a long-time supporter of my Etsy shop and she just recently picked up the Raspberry Orange Mini Sampler:

Julie created a fabulous home decor item for her daughter's room - a cookie sheet magnet board. First, Julie started with these supplies:

She then added papers and used the ribbons and flowers from the mini sampler to embellish her corners. I love the title she added, too. Julie added magnets to the back of the smaller flowers. I love doing this, too, and have a refrigerator covered in them :).

Thank you so much for sharing, Julie! You can visit Julie's blog and get to know more about her here. If you are interested in being a featured fan, all you need to do is send me photos of your work created with Precocious Paper products. If your project is selected, you will receive an email with details of your featured fan post and a 25% off coupon code to use on a future purchase. Email me at precociouspaper (at) yahoo (dot) com with Fan Feature in the subject line. Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! Tessa

Remember This Kit

There's a new kit at Scrapbook Circle and it is FULL of gorgeous new CHA stuff and one of my favorite color palettes: blue and yellow. There are other bits of color and fabulous neutrals, too, but the sunny yellow and pretty blues have really drawn me in. Here is my first project made with the kit:

This is my take on Challenge #25 - Pocket Full of Sunshine. The challenge is to incorporate a pocket into your layout. The kit comes with these great chevron-design bags by Whisper Graphics. I used one as my pocket and let the October Afternoon die-cuts spill across my page.

The photo is one I took of the boys just a couple of nights ago while I was playing with my Hipstamatic app. They were getting along so well - I had to document it. You know, before Jaxon smacked Carson with a car or GI Joe or something.

Like the stars? A half sheet of American Crafts glitter paper is included in the kit. It's gorgeous, thick stuff, but a bit too thick for my little star punch. Here's what I did to make it work. I cut off a strip of the paper, then peeled away a few layers of the backing. It made the cardstock thin enough to easily punch through :).

If you'd like to enter the challenge, the details are here. You don't have to be a subscriber, you don't have to use the kit, and you could win a $15.00 SBC credit. Of course, you could always pick up February's kit and the fabulous add-on, too ;). Have a great day! Tessa