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

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

Let's Get Together - Scrapbook Circle

Have you seen the July kit - You are My Favorite - at Scrapbook Circle? Oh my goodness, I love it! It's filled with Crate Paper, American Crafts, Pink Paislee.... It's awesome. I had the chance to create a layout for the One Item Wonder feature on the Scrapbook Circle blog all about the exclusive stencil included in the kit:

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

I used the stencil to add some much-needed blue to my page. I simply traced the stencil and filled the space with a waterbrush and Distress Ink. You can read more here.

I used papers from the 6x6 Dear Lizzy Fine and Dandy paper pad. You can find it - and the Maggie Holmes title - in the add-on here. That darling wood veneer bow is Maggie Holmes, too. I need a whole sheet of bows! You can find it in this add-on here.

Visit Scrapbook Circle here, and keep up with them here and here. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your day :). Tessa

Scrapbook Circle Anniversary Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the Scrapbook Circle Anniversary Blog Hop! If you have just happened upon this post and would like to join us from the start, click here. If you just arrived from the lovely Diana Fisher's blog, you are in the right place :).

I am excited to be celebrating Scrapbook Circle's 9th anniversary with the creative team. We've all been having a ton of fun with the May kit, "Hello Sunshine." I decided that since we are celebrating a birthday of sorts, I would create a birthday page just for this special occasion:

I started with patterned papers from the main kit for my background. I love this great ledger by Pink Paislee and I just can't get enough of the black and white plus sign paper by Bella Blvd.Next I pulled a few sheets from the Amy Tangerine Rise & Shine 6x6 paper pad from the "Hello Love" add-on. I hand-lettered then hand-cut my title. I love that trend right now and will probably do it again soon!

My favorite part of the layout has to be the "balloons". When we were at CHA this past January, these tags were one of my very favorite embellishments. I'm so glad Lisa added them to a kit! I think they make darling balloons :). You can find them in the "Sweet Day" add-on.

I used foam squares to pop up my photo and a few of the balloons. I created the confetti look with three of my trusty Heidi Swapp mists.

Now on to the hop details:

* Each comment left on a creative team member's blog is one entry into a random drawing for one of FIVE May kits - so leave a comment below!

* The hop runs through midnight PST on the 21st.

* Winners will be announced on the Scrapbook Circle blog on the 22nd.

The next (and last!) stop on the hop is Scrapbook Circle's founder herself, the amazing Lisa Andrews! I hope you enjoyed your time here and that you have found inspiration throughout the hop. Be sure to follow Scrapbook Circle on Facebook here, and IG here.

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

Serendipity Stationery Set - SRM Stickers

Hello and happy Tuesday! When I make cards, I like to make several at a time with the same kit or collection. Using the Serendipity 6x6 paper pad from Scrapbook Circle's February add-on, as well as some of my favorite SRM Stickers products, I put together this stationery set:

I love how different these three patterns are - lemons, a navy/periwinkle floral, and a multi-colored floral. I thought they'd make a great set of cards, especially paired with the green "hello beautiful" sticker from SRM. It's actually a long strip, a border sticker, but I cut it up to be my sentiment.

Tip: Be careful how you place a sentiment like this. When I adhered my first sticker, I realized I had created a new word (think "hello" minus the last letter) as the sticker ran off the edge of the card. Oops. Not quite the sentiment I was going for ;). I had to very carefully pull up the sticker and try again, but I was much more careful with the other two.

SRM Stickers now carries these fantastic clear card boxes (they also come in kraft with windows!). I chose an A7 box and added patterned paper to the back of it as a background for my stationery set.

I added a Target dollar spot pen, as well as an SRM glassine bag filled with sequins and envelope seals that I made from leftover patterned paper.

You can read my post over at the SRM Stickers blog here. Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Summer Sun - SRM Challenges

It's the first Friday of the month, which means there is a new challenge up at SRM Challenges! This month's theme is summer. I had some extra prints of a San Diego trip a couple summers ago that I've been meaning to scrapbook, and this challenge was the perfect opportunity.

I used two sticker sheets for this layout. The general summer sentiments from this one, and the beach/water-themed stickers from this one. I simply trimmed out my favorite sentiments and lined them up on rows of washi tape and stripes in the patterned paper.

The papers are from Dear Lizzy's Lucky line. I have hoarded this collection and it's about time I use some of it! It felt good to use some of that stockpiled paper :). The flower brads are Chickaniddy Crafts. The alpha stickers are Fancy Pants Designs.

I also finally got to use some washi tapes that hadn't made their way on anything yet. I love the dark navy and floral tape! It almost looks black here, but it's really a beautiful blue in person.

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you can check out the details here. Several other designers have projects up to inspire you, too, so be sure to stop by and take a look. If you were just there, thanks for clicking over to my blog. I hope you enjoyed the close-ups :).

Thanks for visiting! Tessa

Dear Lizzy and a Sale

Scrapbook Chicks is at it again!  The First Friday sale for June is up and running, and there are some fantastic deals to be had! 

♥ 75% off My Mind's Eye Meadowlark, Kaisercraft, American Crafts Abode, and Pebbles

♥ 50% off American Crafts Dear Lizzy, Little Yellow Bicycle Clothesline, and MME Quite Contrary

♥ 40% off Jillibean Soup and American Crafts Adhesive Refills

♥ 25% off My Mind's Eye So Sophie Collection and American Crafts Cardstock

I already nabbed some Dear Lizzy and Meadowlark :).  Speaking of Dear Lizzy, here is a layout I made using Dear Lizzy papers, thickers, and embellishments, as well as a smidgen of October Afternoon.

I have to say, I'm in love with crocheted flowers now, thanks to that Elizabeth Kartchner!

Now I've got to run - I'm trying to entertain children and get new things for the shop photographed and listed.  Finding balance this summer is going to be a challenge :).  I'll be back with shop update news!  Tessa

Bridesmaids and Sisters

Unfortunately, I just didn't have the time this week to devote to the Spring Challenge Blog Hop that I wanted to.  I did manage to complete one challenge (besides the one for STP that I already had done as a DT member) for Sketchy Thursdays.

Materials Used: cardstock - Best Occasions; paint - Plaid; mist - Tattered Angels; papers, thickers, and fabric paper - American Crafts; buttons - Buttons Galore; thread - DMC; pen - Micron.

I loved the sketch and hope to find time to use it again soon!  I used Dear Lizzy goodies that I got from the Scrapbook Circle April Kit.  FYI - You'll see some other yummy Dear Lizzy in the upcoming Scrapbook Chicks kit, too :).  The flowers are made from the fabric paper - I just removed the adhesive backing and it creased beautifully.  You can find a tutorial for this kind of flower by my friend, Anna, here.

I also used paint and a new glimmer mist, Star Fish, to create my background (check off another embellishment challenge at Scrapfreak).  I took the swirly line motif from the Dear Lizzy "puddle play" paper and stitched it to frame out my photo space.

If you have some Dear Lizzy that you're looking to use, join in on the challenge at the American Crafts blog.  Use at least two items from the line on a layout or card, and you could win a big selection of Dear Lizzy yumminess!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Tessa

A Lot to Share

Hello, all! I have quite a bit to share today.

First, a Valentine's Day card.  While drooling over all the new American Crafts releases on their blog, I came across a challenge to use at least two mini marks in a card or layout.  I used a red dotted oval to frame my sentiment, and I created the sentiment with a combination of a mini mark and my own handwriting.  I think I may give this to my hubby :).

Supplies used: cardstock (Georgia-Pacific and DCWV), rub-ons (American Crafts), pen (Sharpie), heart paper (Sassafras), other paper (unknown - it came in a kit I won), paper frill (Doodlebug Design, Inc.), ribbon, dimensional adhesive.

Next, it's Thursday!  Wow, we had so many wonderful entries over at Sketchy Thursdays for the last sketch.  Head on over to see who won, the design team faves, and the new AMAZING prize and sponsor. 

Here is the new sketch:

And here is my take:

Do you see the Nikki Sivils papers we got to play with?  Adorable! I love having orange in a Valentine's Day color palette.  And in case you can't tell, that's not my hubby.  It's Chad, the Old Navy manequin :).  On our annual day-after-Christmas-shopping-trip, my sisters and I all posed with the manequins - too fun!

Have you visited my Etsy shop recently?  I just added three new embellishment sets.  Each one includes a dozen ribbons on clothespins, flowers, and buttons.  I would love to see what you could make with these.

*Frosting*

*Romantic*

*Sugar*

Have a wonderful day! And check back tomorrow for that blog hop - I'll have a really fun Valentine's Day project to share.  Tessa