Announcing Decking Out Your Memorydex - Big Picture Classes

Hello, friends! I am excited to announce that I am a new teacher at Big Picture Classes! My first class, Decking Out Your Memorydex, goes live on January 1, 2018 and I can't wait for you to check it out.

If you're unfamiliar with what a Memorydex is, think of the old fashioned Rolodex, re-imagined for memory keeping by the amazing Heidi Swapp. It's like a mini album, but instead of pages between a book cover or in an album, the pages spin around on a rotating spinner or flip back and forth in a tray. It's a really cool format for displaying and opens up a lot of possibilities for creating original pages and embellishing in unique ways.

I've shared several Memorydex projects over the past couple of years, but the project that I teach in this class is especially near and dear to my heart. I call it "Here and Now" and it's a collection of memories, photos and journaling from the past several months. I have a section for each of my children, including our little girl who is going to make her debut any time now. In fact, in some of the videos you'll see my baby bump intruding on my work table ;). My daughter, Addie, gets up at my desk any chance she can to flip through it - pointing out all her photos and laughing at her silly brothers' photos.

My class is composed of six lessons complete with six videos detailing how to create dozens of cards for your Memorydex. Technique-based, you can apply all the tutorials to any paper collection or theme you would like. So, if "Here and Now" isn't your speed, you can easily create within any other theme you can imagine while still applying all the techniques I teach you. Learn how to make unique card bases, be inspired to try materials other than cardstock, make your own embellishments, get tips for journaling (you know I'm big on words!), learn how to layer to create dimension, and discover things other than cards that can attach to your spinner or tray. There is SO MUCH content!

While we wait for the class to launch, I have an amazing giveaway happening on my Instagram account. Friends, I am so grateful to Heidi Swapp, her team, and American Crafts. They sponsored almost all of the product for my class and have generously donated two HUGE prizes! If you win, you and a friend would have almost all the product you need to complete the class project just as I do in the videos. Just look at all this great Memorydex and Magnolia Jane! Thank you so much, AC and Heidi!

• Black Memorydex Spinner
• 12 x 12 Magnolia Jane Paper Pad
• Memorydex Recipe Cards Set (110 tabbed and lined cards)
• Magnolia Jane Washi Tape Set (8 rolls)
• Memorydex Clear Tabbed Cards
• Memorydex Tin Tabbed Cards
• Memorydex Cards (18 lined, graph and ledger)
• Heidi Swapp Acetate Words
• Magnolia Jane Ephmera Pack
• Magnolia Jane Clear Stickers
• Heidi Swapp Stamps (12, mostly words)
• Heidi Swapp Stamps (14, words and florals)
• Magnolia Jane Binder Clips in a Floral Tin

Head over to Instagram and comment on my giveaway post by tagging a friend. Tag as many friends in new comments as you would like by December 31st, midnight Pacific time. I will draw and post the winner on January 1st. Because the giveaway is so generous (translate = a bit on the heavy side), I will need some help with postage to winners outside of the US. US winners, I've got you covered. Instagram is in no way sponsoring or involved with the giveaway.

Please head over to Big Picture Classes to read more about my class here. If you are new to Big Picture, you can start a trial membership here. After that, it's less than $10 a month for all the amazing content on their site. There are so many talented teachers and inspiring classes - I can't believe I'm included in such good company!

I'll see you at BPC! Tessa

Guest Designing for Pebbles

Hello, friends! I'm excited to be on the Pebbles blog today, sharing Valentine's Day decor and cards with the new collection Forever Always.

First, I have to say how much I love that name. Forever Always. That's the best kind of love, isn't it? So of course I made Valentines for my kids, whom I will love forever and always no matter what.

I also made an X's and O's banner that I will stretch across my chalkboard in my livingroom.

I loved being able to use my trusty We R Memory Keepers tools to create this. The Banner Punch Board and the Alphabet Punch Board are the best! You can get all the details for making the cards and the banner at the Pebbles blog.

And you know what else is great? Being way ahead of the game holiday-wise. With baby coming in early February, I know I wouldn't have the time or energy to create for Valentine's Day post-Christmas. Now I'm ready :).

Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Elle's Studio October Reveal

Hello, hello! If we aren't connected on Instagram or Facebook, you may just now be realizing that I kinda dropped off the face of the internet. At least, in terms of blogging. My last post was written right before the dreaded morning sickness began. I'm now 25 weeks along with my baby girl, and just getting back into the scrappy swing of things, including designing with fantastic Elle's Studio product again!

The October kit (and my scrappy hiatus) inspired me to get inky and painty on a page. The fall vibe of the kit led me to these photos from last autumn, and the leaves in the photos inspired me to use two add-ons: this stamp set and these wood veneer leaves.

I began by stamping leaves with versamark ink onto vellum. I embossed the leaves with white embossing powder. I think next time I will use clear, but I like how this turned out. Next, I watercolored the leaves in shades of yellow, gold and orange. When they dried, they crumpled up like real fallen leaves.

This stamp set inspired by title: "Every Day I Fall for You". I stamped the days of the week down the page, scattered my stamped leaves and included the wood veneer leaves. Some thread and paint splatters give it that windswept and boot-crinkled feel.

For this page, I was inspired by the gorgeous green in the kit. Even though this photo isn't the greatest, my little girl loves it and has been wanting me to scrapbook it for weeks. I printed it extra large and used patterned paper from the Family Fun collection to make the left border.

I clustered bits and pieces from the kit and add-ons on the right side of the page and added my journaling.

I hand-cut my title out of more Family Fun paper and used alpha stickers to complete the phrase. A little tab from the kit brings more green to the left side.

You may still be able to grab this kit and the fantastic extras at shopellesstudio.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Everyday Adventures Travelers Notebook - Elle's Studio

I'm excited to share my latest TN with you today on the Elle's Studio blog. Elle's Studio has just released a mini album class called "Everyday Adventures", complete with a kit filled with fabulous product for making your own mini album. Inspired by the class, I was asked to put that kit to use on a mini album of my own and I chose to fill my jade Webster's Pages TN:

Every Mother's Day I try to get the kids together for a decent picture. The group photo doesn't usually turn out well, but I do manage to get pretty good selfies with each kiddo. I made the theme of my TN "Everyday Adventures in being Mom". The pages feature anecdotes of daily life, things I love about my kids, and quotes about motherhood. Each child has a few pages, and even though I have four, I didn't fill up a whole TN insert. I'm planning to save the other half for next year's Mother's Day selfies.

The kit is made up mostly of the new Live, Laugh, Love collection. 6x6 papers (great size for a TN), enamel dots, puffy stickers, wood veneer, bits and pieces (die-cuts), etc. The "Everyday Adventures" stamp set is probably my most favorite Elle's Studio stamp set to date!

There are also printable elements. I don't have a color printer at the moment, so I went to my local Staples and printed two copies of each sheet. I printed on nice copy paper so that the elements would stay as thin as possible. However, I didn't shy away from using the cardstock-weight labels and cut apart journaling spots.

I learned a good lesson as I was putting this together over several sittings. Because of all the small pieces, I was "losing" things under others and forgetting what I had to work with. So, I piled like items together in an arc around my desk space and was really disciplined about returning items back to their pile if I didn't use them. My productivity skyrocketed at that point ;).

Would you like to see more? I'm still finishing up several pages and plan to do a video flip-through very soon. I'll share more photos and a link here. In the meantime, I cannot recommend the "Everyday Adventures" class enough! Sign up here, and pick up the class kit here. You'll be so glad you did.

Happy creating and thanks for stopping by :). Tessa

Elle's Studio February Kit Reveal

Hello, friends! Today is the day! The February Elle's Studio kit is available now and I finally get to share in full two projects that I made for the gallery.

"Love these Crazy Kids" - The first layout I made is this super colorful one. The mix of colors in this month's kit inspired me to get out my watercolors, which then inspired me to pull out my embroidery floss :). Using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut the word love repeatedly in a font with a very circular "o". I knew I wanted to fit one of the acrylic heart pieces inside and just my luck, my first attempt was the perfect size!

I loved the black and white 4x6 card (kit) featuring the word "love" in all these different fonts. It just called for watercolors! I tucked other 3x4 cards (kit) around my photos, too. I love a good set of alpha stickers, and these black ones were perfect for finishing my title.

I told you I am not much of a stamper, but I really enjoy using the little stamps Elle's Studio has to offer. The "What Happened" set was so easy to add to nooks and crannies of this layout for an extra special touch. I stamped in the tag up at the top as well as near my journaling on this page. And that speech bubble sticker? Love!

"XO Dance" - This layout is all about how much I love my job. Teaching dance really is the best :). I took a very different approach to color with this page and focused on gray, black and white elements from the kit with a pop of red.

For my background, I used the Jonah stamp to stamp "joy" in several places. I guess I'm on a kick of filling letter o's, because I used red embroidery floss to then stitch little hearts in each "o". I love the texture and bright pop of color!

The large "XO" acrylic pieces combined with the gray alpha stickers make up my title. I hope the acrylic trend sticks around for quite some time - I love how flat and yet dimensional it is on a layout. I added a die cut heart from the kit to the acrylic "o" for more color and some fun detail.

Speaking of little details, I stapled tags to the white space area in my photo, and popped one up on foam adhesive in another open space. Whenever I need a "little something", I know Elle's Studio can help me out.

I punched the gray striped hearts from patterned paper in the Little Moments collection, and I mounted my layout on another paper from that same collection.

If you aren't already a subscriber, I encourage you to check it out. I love this little box of happy that arrives every month! If you're trying to be smart about how you spend your paper crafting dollars, this is a great deal. The pieces are easy to mix and match with your other supplies (and the add-ons), and you get a lot of really useful pieces for just $9.99 (today only or with subscription - price goes to $11.99 tomorrow). You also get free (in the US) or reduced (international) shipping on any extras you add to your box.


Find all the details here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! Tessa

Planner Dividers - We R Memory Keepers

Hello, hello! Today on the We R Memory Keepers blog I am sharing a planner project with the new Tab Punch Board. This tool can make file folders, dividers, and any other tabbed thing you can think of! I made dividers for my personal size planner:

You can read all about the papers, embellishments, and the washi tape pocket card on the WRMK blog. Here, we're going to get into how to make this fantastic tool work its magic on personal sized pages.

The Tab Punch Board has all the markings you need to make tabbed pages that measure in full inches. It's easy to follow, and all the thinking is done for you. However, personal size planner pages are 6.75 x 3.75 inches. That little quarter of an inch can throw off a series of tabbed pages, making them off center. That may still work for some, but the perfectionist in me can't have that ;). So, I experimented and came up with a "hack" for making the tool work for any size page.

Basically, I marked my tool with a Sharpie marker where the center of a small, medium and large tab would be in relation to the punch on the tool. Simply mark your paper (any size) where you want the center of a tab to be, and these marks allow you to line up properly. You have to do a little math to know where to put the marks on your paper, but it's not hard. In fact, I've already done the measurements for a personal size planner for you!

Just right click and save.

To see a tutorial for making a set of 5 dividers with small tabs, including how to set your tool up for the hack, check out my YouTube video here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! As I work in my other planners, I may update this post with charts for other sizes, but once you know the process, you can figure it out for any size paper - easy, peasy.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a good one! Tessa

Elle's Studio January Kit Reveal

Hello, everyone! The January kit, which I gave you a sneak peek of yesterday, is now available!

Having worked with a few of these kits now, I can honestly say they are an incredible value. I can make several layouts with these little packets of paper goodness, plus have leftovers for cards, my planner, and extra things like gift tags. Here are a couple more projects that I made this month with the kit and some fabulous add-ons:

Supplies: January Kit, Olivia Stamp (title), Sequins (Love Mix), Acrylic Frosted Hearts.

This girl cracks me up. She's such a jazz dancer. Not a ballerina at all. The bright colors in the January kit reminded me of these photos and they were a match made in heaven!

But the kit can definitely do something more monotone and manly, also:

Supplies: January Kit, All My Heart Stamps, Sequins (Love Mix), Large Acrylic Stars.

I pulled the blacks, grays, and yellows from the January kit for this one. I pulled out my typewriter and combined typed journaling with stamped words. I love the way it turned out and will probably use this technique again soon.

I love the large acrylic stars that are new in the shop. Such a great embellishment for guy pages!

If you're interested in picking up the kit, or even subscribing (guaranteed a kit every month for the launch price of $9.99 + free shipping on things you add to your cart on the 10th), go here. There is so much to love that's new in the shop right now. Be sure to check it out :).

What's your favorite part of the reveal today? Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Anything is Possible - Elle's Studio + Winner

Hello, friends! I'm excited to be sharing my first Elle's Studio project on the Elle's Studio blog today! I was asked to create a page with a New Year's theme, which was a great assignment for me because I do one every year about this time anyway. The January kit was perfect for this:

A few favorite things...first, my title. That 3x4 card is part of the January kit and was the jumping off point for the whole page.

Second, the 2017 acrylic. I love these! They come in two sizes (this is the small) and both black and white. They are a fabulous addition to a page like this, a title page for Project Life, or a mini book. I have more than this one on hand, so I'm sure you'll see it again!

Third, this 4x6 card, again from the January kit. I put my typewriter to use, and decided to add my handwriting, too. Using Elle's Studio products always makes me add more words to my layouts, which - I feel - is really important.

Find more photos and details at the Elle's Studio blog here.

The big reveal of the January kit is tomorrow! I'll be back with links and more details then. In the meantime, let's announce the winner of my Elle's Studio Date Stamp giveaway! Drumroll, please...

Congratulations! Please email me at precociouspaper@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I'll get your stamp out to you right away! If you entered to win the Jonah Alphabet Stamp on my IG, check there for a winner, too!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! Tessa

Elle's Studio + Giveaway

I am excited to announce that I am a part of the 2017 Elle's Studio design team! I have adored Elle's Studio products for years, even going back to Elle's etsy days. I loved guest designing in October (and will be sharing my final December spinner project soon). I am thrilled to be designing with such fabulous product on a regular basis this year, especially with such an amazing team:

I am grateful for the opportunity to move into a new circle of creative friends, many of which I have not had the chance to work with before. I know I'm going to be inspired and that I'll learn so much. Check out their talents here:

Alissa Fast: http://alissafast.typepad.com/

Allie Stewart: http://www.magicalmesses.com/

Andrea Gray: https://retrohipmama.wordpress.com/

Candace Perkins: https://findingeverydayperfection.com/ 
Daniela Dobson: http://danieladobson.blogspot.com/ 
Jamie Leija: http://www.jamieleija.com/

Jennifer Chapin: http://jenchapin.blogspot.com/

Jen Schow: http://www.craftyjenschow.com/

Jill Sprott: http://wordplaywordwork.blogspot.com/

Kay Rogers: http://rogerskk.typepad.com/ 
Laura Hager: www.laurelandfern.com

Maggie Massey: http://www.midwesterngirldiy.com/

Meghann Andrew: http://www.meghannandrew.com/

Melissa Mann: http://melissamann.typepad.com/

Michelle Wedertz: http://michellewedertz.blogspot.com

Nancy Damiano: http://thepaperorchard.blogspot.com/

Neela Nalam: http://memorablescraps.blogspot.com/ 

To celebrate, I'm doing a giveaway! I was sent these absolutely fabulous stamps in my design team box, but I turned around and bought another set just for you!

To enter to win, tell me how you would use these stamps. Make sure to leave an email address so that I can contact you if you win. I'll draw a name one week from today, Monday the 9th, and post the winner here. International friends (outside of the US), I have to ask you to chip in for shipping, but you're welcome to enter, too. And if you can't wait (or don't win), you can find the date stamps here.

For a chance to win another fabulous Elle's Studio stamp set, see my Instagram here. Completely separate giveaway there, so feel free to enter in both places! Good luck!

If you don't already, follow Elle's Studio here:

Shop: http://www.shopellesstudio.com/
Blog: http://www.shopellesstudio.com/blog/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellesstudio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopEllesStudio

Tessa

New Year, New Word

Hello, friends! Happy New Year! As I reviewed my online presence in 2016, I realized that my creative project-sharing shifted to Facebook and Instagram posts in the last several months. While I LOVE connecting with others on those platforms, I miss sharing the details and the background story in a larger space. This space. So, with the new year comes a new devotion to blogging.

Also, the new year brings a new word.

I chose the word "thrive" as 2016 was coming to a close. I felt it out for a week, and even started a Pinterest board. However, when I was adding quotes to my Pinterest board, this one - without the word "thrive" - made its way into the search results:

As soon as I read it, I knew my word was RISE. Positive. Literally uplifting. I know this word will carry me through 2017, and that I will be a better, stronger person because of it.

I signed up for Ali Edwards' One Little Word workshop (again). I'm excited to devote time each month to reconnecting, evaluating, and moving forward with my word.

Also, without infringing on any of Ali's intellectual property, I am sharing the general concept of a yearly word with the women at church. I'm teaching a mini workshop about taking a word and applying it to personal spiritual development. Several years into this practice, I have learned that my approach to One Little Word has a spiritual component at the core. While Ali's prompts are incredibly valuable and helpful, I needed something more, to speak to that spiritual core. I created worksheets specific to my faith that detail monthly prompts for 1) keeping your word visible, 2) reconnecting with your word, and 3) documenting your progress. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If any of my LDS readers/followers would like to join me, send me an email (precociouspaper@yahoo.com) and I will share the worksheets I have prepared.

Do you do One Little Word or something like it? I'd love to know your word. Watch this space - there's more to come, including a fun announcement tomorrow!

Tessa