New Design Team!

Please join me in welcoming the new Precocious Paper Design Team for April 2011 - September 2011!

Guest Designers:

Joanna Bandelin

Fabi Ormerod

Anna White-Sharman

Heather Leopard

Diana Waite

Jules Dix

Special Event Guest Designers:

Clair Rigby

Mindy Gallagher

Liz Weber

Elise Lindsey

Sara Zenger

Yara Freytes

Angelica Carballo

You may be noticing a couple of differences this time around :).  First, after much contemplation, I decided to shrink the size of my design team from 8 to 2.  I loved having a large team the past six months and know that each member's contribution was truly immeasurable, but there is only so much of me to go around!  I plan to spend more time devoted to creating new products and tending to my wonderful customers.  Next, you may have noticed that I have a "Special Event" design team.  Wondering what that's all about?  Well, you're just going to have to wait :).  Something pretty special is in the works, and I promise to spill the beans in due time.

I hope you'll join me in welcoming these ladies!  Each one will be formally introduced when their first project is posted.  The Design Team Page will be updated (with headshots for all, as well as blog links) on April 1st.  Look out for two more posts today - the launch of the April Sampler and the current design team's Designer Friday post.  See you soon!  Tessa

Number Six

If you've been following the senior portrait layout wars here on my blog, Elizabeth now has a score of 6 thanks to a fabulous new sketch from Sketchy Thursdays! 

It's been raining, and pouring, and sprinkling, and dumping, and cold and wet for what seems like weeks.  I am so ready for sunshine and warmer temperatures!  So I rebelled against the gray and made a spring-y page.

I had fun with my tapes, too :).  FYI - different brands of tape don't like to stick to each other, but I like the look of the curling edges.

Here's the sketch:

You could go a million different ways with this one.  Check out the blog today to see what the DT did and you will know what I mean.  Addicted to Scrapbooking is sponsoring this week, and a $25.00 gift certificate is up for grabs!  Awesome prize, huh?!
Enjoy your day! I'm going to take it easy while I try to shake a bug that I came down with suddenly yesterday.  Looks to be only a 24 hour deal, so I expect to be up and at 'em soon.  Thanks for stopping by!  Tessa

New Love

I found a new love.  Tags.  I've never done tags before, other than a quick one for a gift bag or something like that.  The new challenge at The Paper Variety is a tic-tac-toe game, and I chose the row that included making a tag, using spring colors, and adding a bird.  I thought I'd give a tag a go, and I'm so happy I did.

I misted Lily Bee text paper for the background, added chipboard, flowers, and an SRM Sticker sentiment.  Using a clothespin, I attached this tag to a bouquet of yellow tulips that I have sitting near my livingroom window, then got busy making one for my mother-in-law's birthday.

This tag may not scream spring, but I love the purple/yellow combination and it matched her flowers perfectly.  I tied the tag around the vase.  Now I want to make tags all the time!  If you play along, you don't have to make a tag.  Just use three in a row:

You could win this lovely prize from Birds of a Feather kits:

See that Glimmer Glam in the corner?  I'm picking up the Glimmer Glaze in the same color today, along with a couple others.  I can't wait :).  So please stop by and consider playing.  We'd love to see you at The Paper Variety.  Have a great day! Tessa

SRM and Cosmo Cricket

What happens when you combine SRM Stickers with Cosmo Cricket's new lines?  To find out, pop over to the SRM blog!  I was so excited to be a part of this collaboration.  I fell in love with this piece of paper from the Upcycle line and did (yes, another) senior portrait layout.

When I showed this to Liz, she actually squealed.  This paper is SO her.  I thought the photos seemed dream-like, and when I found an SRM Sticker quote about dreams on a sheet of graduation-themed stickers, I knew it was meant to be :).

FYI, the white mist from Studio Calico does not dry on masking tape.  I left it overnight to dry and it wouldn't.  I had to blot most of it off, but I still love the end result.  The flowers are all handmade :).

Be sure to take a look at the other SRM designers' Cosmo Cricket projects on the blog.  Have a great day! Tessa

Random Monday

♥ Eight years ago today, I became a mother.  My heart is so full - proud of the boy my son has become, happy to see him learning and growing, excited for his future, and a bit sad to know that he isn't "little" anymore.  Happy birthday, Colten!

♥ I have mustaches, popcorn, and tickets on the brain today. I'll post photos from Colten's carnival-themed family party after the fun is over tonight.

♥ I goofed yesterday - not only are we supposed to use the sketch for The Studio's challenge, but we are also supposed to include a ruffle of some kind.  I missed that important detail - please forgive me :).

♥ I received twice as many applications for the Precocious Paper design team as I did last time!  The talent is incredible and I am still studying applications and making my final choices.  I will send emails Tuesday :).

♥ Have you heard about this amazing contest with GCD Studios?  Oh my goodness, there's $200.00 in goodies up for grabs!  The contest ends April 1st and the challenge is pretty simple.  You can find all the details here.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll be back tomorrow with some delicious new Cosmo Cricket, SRM, and another senior portrait layout :).  Have a great day! Tessa

Journey

I'm so proud of my sister - this girl just got a HUGE scholarship for college! It pays to work hard :). Literally.  We went out to celebrate last Friday night and my scrapbook pages of Liz's senior portraits came up in conversation.  Caitlin was a senior two years ago, and if you've been around that long, you know I scrapped her senior portraits like crazy :).  So, Liz declares that she MUST have more layouts done than Caitlin had done, which resulted in the girls coming over to my house to go through a couple of years worth of layouts for an official count.  Caitlin's score - 10.  Liz's score thus far - 5.  And she's got another shoot scheduled this week.  I love you, Caitlin, but odds are that Liz might have more done in the end :).  Anyway, here's number five:

I based my layout on the new layout challenge at The Studio - this fabulous sketch:

We'd love to see you playing along at The Studio!  You can find all the details here.  So how many senior portrait layouts do you think my kids will have?  Honey, start ordering albums!  Have a great Sunday! Tessa

PS - I'm still sifting through oodles of amazing design team applications and will be sending out emails as soon as I can.  Thanks for your patience and support of Precocious Paper!

Designer Friday

Happy Friday! Today, like most other Fridays, I am sharing the work of the design team for my Etsy shop, Precocious Paper.  This month marks the end of the current team's term and, like last week, I am a little teary as today we enjoy Heidi's last post.  Heidi is going out with a bang, though, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to share two projects from this talented, talented girl!

Heidi worked with a new item coming up in the next shop update - black and ivory satin flowers.  I love how Heidi added centers to the flowers for this gorgeous card:

So elegant!  Inspired by a poem her daughter composed, Heidi created this stunning piece of art:

The painting, the textures, the colors - amazing!  My favorite part is how she altered the ivory satin bloom with mist:

Heidi says that these flowers take mist beautifully.  Just look at how the vibrant colors blend!  I can't wait to try this technique myself, and I'll be sure to stock plenty of white and ivory flowers for those of you who want to give this a go.

Heidi, it's been an absolute pleasure!  Thank you so much for all you've contributed to Precocious Paper.  You can read more about these projects on Heidi's blog here. 

For those of you considering applying for the design team, today is the last day I will accept applications.  Find the details here.

Have a great Friday! Tessa