Scout Camp - Pink Paislee

Hello! Are you making plans to get out in the wild this summer? Have you seen Pink Paislee's latest collection - Outfitters? You're going to want to scrapbook all your outdoor adventures with Outfitters! It's Outfitters week on the Pink Paislee blog and I'm excited to kick it off with this layout about scout camp:

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

I barely managed to get Colten to cooperate for some photos before he left to his first scout camp last summer ;). This year, both Colten and Carson get to go, and Josh will go up for part of the week again. They're excited to earn more merit badges and get to hang out with their friends.

I'm not usually a fan of collections that are too themey. Camping/outdoorsy lines have almost always been my least favorite. They tend to be too cartoonish to me. However, I am really loving Outfitters! Pink Paislee is spot on the trends with this one, and it isn't too "campy" at all. Oversized plaids, copper foil accents, trendy triangles, cute campers and thermoses...it's all so great I want to plan more camping trips for the summer just to use more Outfitters!

Be sure to head over to the Pink Paislee blog this week to see what the design team is up to with this great collection.

Thanks for stopping by and have a good one! Tessa

Mixed Media Cards - Pink Paislee

One of my favorite things to do when I have some spare time (like waiting for school to get out during pick up) is to scroll through Instagram or Pinterest admiring mixed media scrapbook layouts and art journaling. I admire so much what talented people can do with paint! Someday I'll learn, but in the meantime, I play:

I was tasked by Pink Paislee with the assignment to apply some mixed media techniques to a set of cards. I chose to create with the C'est La Vie collection because I wanted to experiment with the gorgeous deep teal color in that line:

I mixed blue and green acrylic paints until I had the color I wanted, and then I mixed that with gel medium. The gel medium gives body to the paint. I generously applied the paint in thick brush strokes so that when dry, the paint was raised. It's the kind of texture that makes you think the paint is still wet.

I let each card dry and then I added layers of patterned paper, metallic thread and washi tape. I used foam adhesive to lift the embellishments off the card faces.

You can read more, see more photos and visit the other mixed media posts from this week, on the Pink Paislee blog here. Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

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!

NSD Challenge - Pink Paislee

Happy interNational Scrapbooking Day! Pink Paislee is celebrating with hourly challenges and a chance to win a fabulous prize! If you're scrapping this weekend and in the following week, I'd love for you to join in on my challenge:

The challenge is to ditch they typical squares and rectangles and make a layout out of circles! The gorgeous Fancy Free collection features a patterned paper that is patterned circles on one side and watercolor circles with phrases on the other side. I pulled out my scissors and fussy-cut my favorite circles.

Next, I used a punch to cut my photos into circles. I matted the photos on white vellum for a subtle touch. I used American Crafts colored twine to loop more circles and I secured the twine in place with We R Memory Keepers new Staple Board. The Staple Board lets you staple anywhere on the page without the limitations of your stapler's reach. It's awesome!

I embellished with round buttons and round splatters of mist. It was hard to stop with the circles once I got going ;).

If you play along with my challenge or any other Pink Paislee challenge, be sure to tag your IG post with #ppNSD2016 to be eligible to win. A winner will be announced on the 14th. Good luck and happy scrapping!

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

Today - Pink Paislee

Have you ever admired another scrapbooker's style but found yourself lacking the time or skill to make it happen? I have a short list of scrapbook idols and Paige Evans is on it. I LOVE what she does with patterned paper, colors, and her Silhouette machine. I know that many of her layouts are time-consuming and intricate, though, and so I've never attempted a Paige-esque layout of my own. Until now. 

Thank you, Pink Paislee! Paige Kits. Not only is the name punny-cute, but they are a miracle in getting the Paige look without the Paige effort. See all those different patterned pieces? I didn't cut out a single one. The background sheet is printed that way. The die-cut overlay is included and I didn't have to peel negative pieces off of a sticky mat...for days. I love that. Even the foam adhesive to pop the die-cut layer up on the background is included.

The title piece is included, as well. I chose to use the letters for my title and the negative of the "t" (my initial) as a sub-title. 

There are also die-cuts (hearts) and journaling spots included.

I can't say that I've been a huge fan of page kits in the past, but Paige Kits? They are the best! You can check out my post on the Pink Paislee blog here. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

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

Journey - Pretty Little Studio

Hello all! I love using travel-themed product as a metaphor for life - the journey, the adventures, etc. - and I did just that on this scrapbook page for Pretty Little Studio:

I used the Let's Go collection to document my little man's kindergarten graduation. You can get all the links to specific products on the Pretty Little Studio blog here.

Kindergarten for this kiddo went much differently than it did for his older brothers. It was an adventure, with a lot of learning (for him and for me) and growth. It has been interesting to watch first grade unfold and to see how he is continuing to overcome challenges and find success.

I'm off to do laundry and disinfect my house ;). I hope you're doing much better! Thanks for visiting today. Tessa

Stateside Map - DCWV

Hello! DCWV has a new collection (paper pads, alterables, embellishments) coming to JoAnn Stores called Stateside. It's all about maps, travel, and the United States. One offering from the line is a set of three maps, sized 20x36. I chose to work with the traditional style map for a nook in my livingroom:

To personalize the map, I took inspiration from this pin (totally not my idea!) and stitched around the states we've lived in.

I coordinated the thread color to the color of the state. Tip: While the map paper is great for wall art, it isn't meant for embroidery. When stitches are small (like around the Bay Area in California), your needle may tear the paper. To keep this from happening, put tape on the back side of the map before you pierce your holes. Yes, I learned the hard way!

I love the look so much that I am considering stitching all the states! Wouldn't that be even more fabulous on the wall?

Check out my post on the DCWV blog here, as well as more Stateside inspiration from the design team. Look for Stateside at JoAnn stores soon! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week :). Tessa

C'est La Vie Spiral Notebook - Pink Paislee

The C'est La Vie collection by Pink Paislee includes this gorgeous notebook, not unlike their Christmas-themed notebook or Memorandum notebook. I love them all, but I especially love this one because of the chic floral touches.

I decided to make a gift out of this one, a quote book that I would fill with special sentiments and decorate with C'est La Vie papers and embellishments.

I decided on a topic for each section. I embellished the first page in each section with handwritten and typewriter font quotes, acetate, patterned paper, stickers, and cork, as well as ink splatters and gold thread.

I'm going to share all the pages on Periscope this Friday, so look for that (username PrecociousPaper).

After that, I'm wrapping it up in more delicious C'est La Vie product and shipping it off to the sweet recipient. I hope she likes it :).

Check out more photos on the Pink Paislee blog here. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day! Tessa

Crush Valentines - We R Memory Keepers

I have more Valentines for you today! This time, I played with the oh-so-fun Crush collection by We R Memory Keepers:

Each of these cards was made with one of my kiddos in mind. First up, my oldest son, Colten:

When Colten was little, about four years old, he called cupcakes "pupcakes". One day, while I was cleaning in my bedroom, he popped in with a top hat on his head and said in his best British accent, "Hello, Pupcake!" I nearly died of laughter! It's a memory I will treasure forever, so when I saw the "hello" die cut and the cupcake die cut from the Crush die cut pack, I knew I had to pair the two together for Colten's card.

This one is for Carson.

You know that song, "I can't feel my face when I'm with you...." Carson loves to make fun of that song, mixing up the lyrics and putting the word "face" in place of lyrics in other songs. He's almost twelve, so, you know - normal behavior. When I saw the sticker that read "I love your face", I knew it would be perfect for Carson's card.

Jaxon's card is covered in x's and o's.

Every day, sometimes more than once, he will come up to me and say, "Guess what time it is?" I usually pretend I don't know, and guess silly things like lunch time or bed time. Then he giggles and says, "Hug and kiss break time!" So I stop whatever I'm doing and I get a hug and a kiss. I'm crushing on this kid and I wish he could stay my little man forever.

Addie's card was especially fun to make because I could use florals with abandon! She loves flowers, like her mama.

I recently had to teach her that they weren't called "bows" because every time I put a hair clip in her hair that was a flower, she was thinking it was called a bow. I didn't realize that she was associating flowers with bows until she called a bouquet of flowers bows. We're good now, so when she sees this card she will probably shout, "fowers!" We're still working on the letter "l". :)

Do you make your kids Valentines? It's so fun, especially with a collection as great as We R Memoy Keepers' Crush collection. Be sure to check out my cards on their blog today (if you didn't just make your way from there). Thanks for visiting and have a great day! Tessa