Accessories Star - We R Memory Keepers

I want to start today's post by saying thank you for your words of comfort. As I shared in a recent post, my grandfather passed away last week. The viewing and church services were yesterday and today is the graveside service. Celebrating his life yesterday was very special, and seeing family that I haven't seen in a very long time was really great. As we sat at the luncheon after the service, a video that the family put together for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary was playing. As I watched photos go by of myself from little girl to mother of my own kids, I couldn't help but feel impressed to take more photos. I encourage you to do the same.

Judging by today's project share, I can't help but add a photo to just about anything ;). I'm excited to share with you my first project for We R Memory Keepers using their fabulous new Ruler Studio collection.

If you're looking for a unique piece of home decor, that can also be really functional, this is it! The system is easy: start with a ruler. They come in different lengths and a few different colors. If you wanted to, you could combine rulers, too. They are hinged so that you can bend them into pretty much whatever shape you can imagine. I wanted lots of angles to hang things from, so I chose a star.

This piece is hanging over my little girl's changing table, so it's great for storing accessories that she loves. Not only are her favorites within reach, but they also act as cute decor. The knobs and clips that are part of the collection are so fun to mix and match.

And of course, I had to make some flowers to embellish the star with! I'd love it if you hopped over to the We R Memory Keepers blog today to check out my post and more about this project. And while you're there, be sure to check out all the other Ruler Studio projects from this week. There are so many possibilities!

Enjoy your day. Take some photos. Save them. And perhaps print them and create something with them. Someone, someday, will appreciate your efforts very much. Have a good one! 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

Ooh La La - Pink Paislee

As soon as I found out I was having a girl, people asked if I'd put her in dance class. My answer was always yes, if she'd like to dance. I didn't want her to dance just because Mommy did; however, I knew she'd be influenced. In her little life she has gone to many dance competitions and performances. She has stopped by the studio, she has played during private lessons, and she loves to get together with Mommy's dancers at our parties. She has seen Mommy work on choreography at home and she loves to watch dance videos on YouTube, Facebook and IG. 

Addie loved getting ballet shoes. I have to hide them or else she'd wear them 24/7.

I just knew she was a dancer when I taught her "I'm a Little Teapot". The way she pops her hip when she does the "handle" action and the way her jazzy little hand shoots out in the air when she does the "spout" action told me that yes, this girl is a dancer (and probably a jazz dancer like her Mom!). Put her in class! 

Practicing a bun. We usually let her curls do their wild thing. Can't get away with that for ballet class!

So, she joined my tiny tots class for 2 and 3-year-olds at Northern California Dance Conservatory (NCDC). I don't know how long this will last. Part of me hopes forever, and part of me - who knows all the not so fun stuff about dance - wouldn't mind getting caught up in different hobbies or sports or passions. But, she loves to dance, and I love to dance, and I'm going to love sharing that passion with her as long as she wants it to be that way.

She wouldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror long enough to smile for me ;).

The new C'est La Vie collection by Pink Paislee was perfect for documenting this incredibly special moment in her - who am I kidding? - our lives. You can read more about the gorgeous products in the line and my process on the Pink Paislee blog today. 

I've also got tips in the post for what you don't want to miss when documenting dance class milestones like this.

I LOVE the mirror stickers and the gold glittered cork stickers and the ephemera and...all of it, really. It's a great collection for dance layouts and much, much more.

Thank you 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

Pinch Me - Pink Paislee

Seriously. Pinch me. Wednesday's news followed by this amazing opportunity again....



I'm so excited! I get to work with very talented people, and I get to work with gorgeous product. Did you see the new releases? First of all, I'm thrilled that Paige Evans is creating lines for Pink Paislee:

She is so cute, and super sweet, and I just LOVE her Fancy Free line. Is Spring here yet? I want to play!



Second, Ces't La Vie! If you know me, you know I have a thing for black and white stripes and florals. It's probably more obsession than "thing", but I own it. I'm playing with this amazing product now and having the time of my life :).

Check out the announcement on the Pink Paislee blog here. You can read a little bit about each of us there, too.

Thanks for stopping by, and all the kind words this week. I felt the love :). Have a good one! Tessa

Exciting News! - We R Memory Keepers

Hello, hello! I've been keeping a little secret, but the word is out!



I was incredibly honored by the invitation and accepted right away. Are you familiar with WRMK? They are part of the American Crafts family and I would call them the "tool" people. There are dozens of innovative products with the WRMK label (like Crop-o-dile and Cinch), as well as great paper and embellishment lines. I am most excited about the home decor and party possibilities. My head is spinning with ideas!

Thank you to We R Memory Keepers for the opportunity, and stay tuned, friends! I'm working on my first home decor project for Addie's room at the moment and it is SO cute! You're going to love the concept and be able to adapt it to any room of your house.

Check out the announcement post at the WRMK blog here. Did you notice who I get to design with? I'm feeling pretty lucky :). That post will link you up to all those lovely ladies.

Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Time - One Little Word 2016

Hello 2016! I love a new beginning, and nothing has shaped the start of a new year for me more than "One Little Word". I'm grateful to Ali Edwards for this concept, and for the workshop she leads. I signed up for the workshop for the first time this past year, and even though I didn't participate every month, my word was visible in a way that it never had been before. I'll be doing the workshop again this year and I'm looking forward to making it more of a priority. I've seen what my word has done for me, and I can only imagine what it can do for me with more nurturing.

The word I have chosen for 2016 is TIME. To be more accurate, my word chose me. In October I started seeking out my next word, but I struggled to find it. I began to wonder if I'd ever find a word to connect with. One afternoon, while feeling the stress of the daily grind, I took a break to practice my current word - still. In that quiet moment, my next word settled like a falling feather in my mind - time. It wasn't accompanied by any fanfare, mental fireworks or a spiritual awakening, but the peace I felt was a witness that "time" was the one.

I love that I was led to my 2016 word by my 2015 word. If I had not realized meaningful growth with still, I probably would have missed out on time. I have no idea what TIME will teach me, but I am excited by all the possibility.



I expect 2016 to be just as challenging, hard, and beautiful as 2015, but I know keeping my word visible will help me to cling to what I know to be important, increase in what I lack, and start 2017 as a better person.

How about you? What's your word?