Designer Friday

Hello, Friday! Ready for a sneak peek of the Precocious Paper May Sampler? 

I based the May collection on one of my favorite lines from CHA-Winter: Portrait by Crate Paper. Besides the handmade flowers you see here, the sampler will include some new product and one of my favorite designer fabrics.  You'll see more next week from new design team member Mandy.

Amanda has been busy with more Sewing Pattern Petals.  She made this gorgeous altered canvas for her mom for Mother's Day:

You can find the kit Amanda used here.  I love how the petals frame the canvas, and isn't that quotation just perfect?!

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peek of May's Sampler and Amanda's gorgeous canvas.  Just for stopping by today, please enjoy this coupon for 15% off your Precocious Paper purchase this weekend: APRIL15.  Happy shopping! Tessa

More Birthday Details and a Giveaway

Happy Thursday! I've been a bit absent again, haven't I?  I've just been busy with field trips, the Etsy shop, and life in general.  I'm dying to really get into some crafty/scrappy things this weekend, so you'll see much more from me soon :).

Today is Thursday, which means I get to share a layout inspired by this week's newest sketch at Sketchy Thursdays.  It's a fabulous double-page sketch, but I opted to use just one side for this layout:

The morning of Colten's birthday I treated him to donuts for breakfast.  Then I surprised him by sending him with two dozen glazed to share with his class.  He was a happy kid :).

Isn't this birthday line by Basic Grey fun?  I love all the woodgrain colors, pinwheels and banners.  It's a great boyish birthday line.

And speaking of Colten's birthday, several people were inquiring about the mustache party favors I made for the party.  I can finally share - my "make a wish" mustache wands are featured at the SRM blog today.

I also made a few really cute garlands out of red, yellow and white tickets, as well as punched circles.  I don't have another use for them and would love to pass them on to someone who could use them.  Are you interested?  Leave me a comment telling me that you'd like them and I'll draw a name on Monday.

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

Precocious Paper Update and a Sale!

Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm slowly, but surely, getting the next Precocious Paper update ready to roll.  It's looking like a mid-month release instead of the April 1st release I had hoped, but that's okay :).  I wanted to let you know about some designs that are almost gone, as well as a sale!

Anna Griffin Blue and Green Flowers:

Pink and Charcoal Bouquet:

Ava Rose Pink Ticking Flowers:

Geranium Dot Flowers:

Brown and Teal Bouquet:

Red and White Polka Dots Flowers:

Sunshine in My Soul Sweet Spots:

This weekend you can get these embellishments, as well as anything else in the store, for 20% off.  Use code APRIL20 during checkout.  Sale begins now and goes through Sunday.  Discount is not applicable toward special or reserved listings, only listings as is in the shop.  Have a great weekend and happy shopping!  Tessa

Happy Thursday!

Today is a special day at Sketchy Thursdays!  A whole new crop of talented, inspiring designers is beginning a new term today, and I am blessed to be a part of it :).  Diana and Heidi are like virtual family - two of the sweetest, most beautiful people - and I was so excited when they asked me to continue designing for Sketchy Thursdays.  Of course I jumped at the chance!

Yesterday I alluded to Colten's 8th birthday party.  He chose a carnival theme and a mustache motif.  I decorated in red, yellow, white and black and pulled papers from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer line to create cupcake toppers, favors, and banners.  Here are just a few shots from the party:

We set up a "photo booth" with mustaches for everyone (coming to a layout soon!):

I'll share more later :).  The sketch today is definitely one I'll be repeating.  I love using smaller, multiple photos lately:

So head on over to Sketchy Thursdays to see what the new team has created (fabulous stuff!) and to read all about the awesome sponsor.  Have a great day! Tessa

I'm still here :).

Hello!  I apologize for the quiet around here.  Little man started running a fever Thursday, symptoms piled up through Sunday, and I've just been exhausted since then.  He is doing MUCH better now and I'm starting to feel a little more normal.  Although, I have a ton of laundry to do!

Anyway, I have some fun things to share today!  First up, SRM Stickers has paired up with Pink Paislee this week!  I received the adorable Hometown Summer line to play with and created this fun layout:

What you don't see in this photo of my sisters and I out to lunch is my stain.  I leaned over my cheeseburger animal style to give Jaxon a french fry and ended up with a "well-placed", orange, greasy, cheesy stain on my shirt.  Thank heavens I was also wearing a cardi :).  You can see what the other designers have done with all of Pink Paislee's latest lines here.  You'll be seeing more SRM/Pink Paislee from me in the near future - pairing the two made for fabulous party decor for my son's 8th birthday a couple of weeks ago :).

We have a new challenge up at The Paper Variety.  Inspired by this image...

...I created this card:

I hope the happy sequin raindrops and cheerful yellow will help someone who is "under the weather" feel better :).  Play along for a chance to win some fabulous Studio Calico goodies!  Details here.

And one more thing before I go :).  Scrapbook Circle is participating in an event this weekend called True Scrap.  Go to Scrapbook Circle's blog here, and click on the link to True Scrap.  If you register through that link, you will receive a $15.00 gift certificate to Scrapbook Circle.  Pretty cool, huh?

Have a great day! Tessa

Guest Designer, Kerry Lambourne

I feel very blessed that my Etsy shop and scrapbooking has led to making friends around the world, including my guest designer today, Kerry Lambourne.

Kerry lives in the Yorkshire, England with her husband, 4 children and 2 dogs. She discovered scrapbooking when her youngest child was born in 2004 and has been hooked ever since. Her favorite way of working is from sketches. She also does a lot of knitting and has recently rediscovered sewing.  You can find her blog here. I sent Kerry the April Sampler, "Little Emmy", and she created these beautiful layouts:

Kerry, thank you so much for the inpsiration!  Many April Samplers have already sold and only a handful remain.  To read more about the sampler, see the reveal post here, or visit the shop.

Have a wonderful day! Tessa

You're the Best

Forgive me, I'm in a mommy fog today - Jaxon and I were up tossing and turning all night.  The poor guy is just miserable with a fever, cough, and stuffy/runny nose.  Just when I thought we had beat the winter bugs, and just when beautiful 80 degree weather arrived, my little man goes down :(.  He's in a pretty good mood this morning, so I'm hoping for a full recovery very soon :).

This little gift that I made for my sister is up on the SRM Stickers blog today.  I wrapped a handmade banner around a tube filled with Skittles and made a little card to match.  Those little banners are so much fun to make and the tubes make giving treats away super easy :).

On the Precocious Paper front, I was hoping to post all about my Etsy shop update today.  Jaxon getting sick has delayed my plans a bit.  I now hope to get things done this weekend and to update the shop Monday.  I'll keep you posted.

I'll be back later with projects from guest designer Kerry Lambourne, using the April Sampler "Little Emmy."  Enjoy your Friday! Tessa