Friday, June 29, 2012

Designer Friday - Ruffle Blossom Projects

I am in the midst of sewing up literally hundreds of Ruffle Blossoms. These flowers have been very popular and I am happy to be sending so many off to lovely customers :). I have rounded up several Ruffle Blossom projects from the Precocious Paper design team to share with you today. First up, this lovely layout by Amanda Jones Robinson:


Amanda has combined her signature white space style with a Calico Ruffle Blossom. I love the button flair she added to the flower center, and how it repeats the patterned paper behind the flower. Love!


Here, Cassandra Cyr has created a fabulous fall layout with a Tangerine Dot Ruffle Blossom. The fabric-covered brad in the center is a great contrast to the bright orange.


Cassie used a Pink and Peach Flowers on Oatmeal Ruffle Blossom to embellish another pretty autumn page. I love that glossy brad center!


And finally, Mindy Gallagher created this sweet layout featuring a Pink and Grey Damask Ruffle Blossom. I love how Mindy clustered a trio of pretty buttons in the center :).

If you have been playing with Precocious Paper Ruffle Blossoms, I would love to see! Whether you scrapbook with them or turn them into accessories, I would love to take a peek. Post your project on the Precocious Paper Facebook page, or link me in the comments on this post. I have a little something for you when you do :). If you don't have these pretty flowers on hand yet, you can find them here. There are currently 22 patterned styles available, as well as over 30 solid colors.

Thanks to Amanda, Cassie and Mindy for the fabulous project inspiration! Enjoy your day :). Tessa

Thursday, June 28, 2012

My new favorite glue :)

Helmar is partnering up with Epiphany Crafts this week, and today is my turn on the blog :).


I created this layout with the July Scrapbook Circle kit (coming soon!), Epiphany Crafts' circle tool and vintage settings, and Helmar adhesives.


It's the first time I've used the Helmar brand and I've decided that my new favorite glue is the 450 Quick Dry. Love that stuff! I used it to glue the circle bubble caps to the settings, as well as to my layout. And it was the perfect adhesive for the trim from the SBC kit.


Be sure to stop by the Epiphany Crafts blog all this week to enter to win the circle tool, bubble caps, settings, and a selection of Helmar adhesive (including my new fave). And be on the lookout for the release of the July Scrapbook Circle kit - it's awesome!


Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Triangles

Hello! Wow, it has only been a week since I posted last, but it seems like forever! The past several days have been so full that they could have been spread out over a month and it still would have been a quick pace. Cub camp, dance studio's big annual showcase, Father's Day, getting my baby sister engaged.... Yes! You read that right ;). My sisters and I choreographed a lip dub proposal and it went off without a hitch. As soon as we have all the video edited, I will share - promise! If we're Facebook friends, you can see the rough edits on my page.


As for scrapbooking, I have a layout up on the GCD Studios blog for Triangles Week. I had a lot of fun with this one. Easy-peasy, colorful, and all about the photo.


Carson took this photo on my phone. He's a little photog with an iPhone in hand :). You can see my post at GCD Studios here.


Well, the pace has slowed a bit, but I've got a to-do list I'm anxious to tackle. I'm more determined to check off that list quickly each day so that I can play with my boys as much as I can now that school's out.  Ready, set, go! Have a good one! Tessa

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Authentique and EC

Hello! I had the wonderful opportunity to work with some Authentique products along with Epiphany Crafts recently, and my layout was up on the EC blog yesterday:


This is the Carefree line. They also sent me the new, yet-to-be-released Lively line, which I hope to play with soon! I loved the orangey-red, grey and brown mix. It's a different palette than I would normally gravitate to, but it matched the photos I wanted to use perfectly.


I tried a new instagram printing service called printstagr.am. I will review my experience soon, but I was very happy with my prints and had to scrap this trio right away.


I've wanted to try my hand at paper-pieced circles for awhile. I was trying to use as many patterns from the Authentique line as possible and the circles were a perfect choice, I think. I used Epiphany Crafts brad settings and bubble caps to create centers for the circles. I love the shine and dimension they add :).


You can see more EC/Authentique projects on the EC blog here. There's a fabulous giveaway going on, too!

Well, we are officially on Summer Break in the Buys' household and it's starting with a bang - Cub Scout Twilight Camp is this week, as well as my dance studio's annual showcase. Just a little stressful, but we do have plans for next week that include some low-key, relaxing fun. We are also getting over a bug we caught that had us down for the count most of the weekend, but I'm trying to stay positive and productive :). I hope your summer (or winter for that matter) is treating you well! Have a great day :). Tessa

Friday, June 8, 2012

Designer Friday - Elise and Sunday Best

Design team member Elise has been playing with the Sunday Best Sampler...


...and she has come up with some fabulous gift ideas! First up, a mint tin perfect for holding a gift card:



I love how Elise made a little bow from the tulle and one of the fabric twist flowers in the sampler. It's so cute I might be more excited about the tin that what's inside if I were on the receiving end of this gift!


And how adorable are these altered notebooks? The fabric lollipop flower and the yo-yo flower make perfect focal points. Again, I love what Elise did with the tulle and sheer ribbons - so lovely!


Thank you, Elise, for all the inspiration! If you would like to get your hands on the Sunday Best collection, you can find it here. And as a thank you for stopping by today, please use this coupon code for 15% off of your order, this weekend only: SUNDAYBEST15. Anything in your cart, Sunday Best or otherwise, qualifies.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Tessa

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Travel Mini Album

Hello! There is a new challenge up at Scrapbook Circle today. Inspired by all the travel-themed goodness in the "Field Notes" kit, the challenge is to create a travel mini album. Myself and three other design team members have made albums to share this month, so you'll have plenty of inspiration available. I made this day book style mini album:


Everything you see in the book is in the June kit or the add-on, with the exception of some notebook paper, some vintage drawing paper, and the flair. This "Hand Drawn Camera Flair" is from my favorite flair shop, A Flair for Buttons. If you haven't stopped by Shelley's shop recently, you will LOVE all the new designs!



It only took about an hour to pull everything together. I left plenty of space for journaling, and adding photos (probably instagram and instax) will be easy-peasy.


I sewed the spine by hand with embroidery thread so that I can cut it out and sew in more pages if needed.



My sisters and I are going on a vacation together this summer, and I think this little album will hold our adventures on the road. If you know my sisters, you know that I could easily fill an album with entertaining photos of just us in the car.


If you want to play along with the challenge, you can find all of the details here. The prize is a huge patriotic kit called "Let Freedom Ring." It's gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by today! Tessa

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Clarissa and Me

I'm not sure how I found it, but I squeezed a little extra time out of my day recently to create a layout just because. I was inspired by the recent My Mind's Eye challenge to fussy-cut elements on a page. I chose to scrap an instax photo I recently took and the Miss Caroline line was a perfect, fussy-cut-able match:


I fussy-cut the small doilies and the floral pattern. I love my precision tip scissors - those things come in handy almost daily!


I'm loving the paper doilies trend right now, and since I don't scrap very many doily-compatible themes (boys are my main subject), I went full-force with the doily motif for this layout.


I hope your Wednesday is going well :). I've already been to the school for a 3rd grade assembly and a 2nd grade event today. Colten received a special award for making it into the half million words club (a reading achievement), and another special award for being one of only two kids in 3rd grade to accomplish that. Proud mommy moment for sure! Enjoy your day :). Tessa

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Father and Son

I'm up on the GCD Studios blog with a new layout today. When I think of generations past, I remember family names that have been used again and again, tying people together over decades and even hundreds of years. My name, for example, comes from my great-great-grandmother. I love that I can say that. When my husband and I were giving names to our children, we knew we wanted to carry on that same tradition.


Colten gets a kick out of having the same middle name as his daddy - Daniel. Connecting generations is an important aspect of this hobby to me, so I knew at some point I would document their shared name. When the assignment came up at GCD Studios, I snapped it up.


The blues and greens from the Splendor line were the perfect backdrop for these instagram photos that I captured recently. A pop of red in washi tape and Glimmer Glaze make for a striking contrast and tie the photos into the rest of the design.


This page is one of my current favorites and one I'm sure I'll love forever. Gosh, I love these boys :). Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll be back tomorrow with another layout I'm particularly fond of, featuring another family member I absolutely adore :). Have a great day! Tessa

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Paper Cut - June Issue

The June issue of GCD Studios' magazine, The Paper Cut, is now live! If you need Father's Day inspiration, this is a must-see:


Heidi Sonboul's coupon wallet (and clever tutorial for creating one) is fabulous and something I just may be scraplifting for my hubby :). The rest of the team did fabulous work, too, and there's a reader's gallery filled with great projects as well. You can find the magazine here. Be sure to let us know what you think on the GCD Studios blog, too. I promise, you really do want to stop by. Especially if you like the Bonjour collection. And free stuff ;).

I am bound and determined to stay on schedule with all of my appointments, assignments, and projects this week, which means I've gotta go :). I have monkey ears to sew (dance class costume), teacher gifts to finish, and orders to get off to sweet customers today. I hope your week is off to a great start! Tessa

Friday, June 1, 2012

Designer Friday

Happy Friday! If you are looking for the The Twinery/Epiphany Crafts blog hop, you can find that post here. Before I get started with Designer Friday I wanted to say hello and welcome to all of my new followers :). I'm glad you're here. For those of you new to me, every Friday I share the work of my design team. They play with products from my Etsy shop, Precocious Paper, and I get to share their amazing projects with you in the Designer Friday posts. Enjoy!


Today I am sharing work by the lovely Amanda Jones. Amanda was sent the Peachy Keen Sampler, filled with handmade flower embellishments, ribbons and mulberry paper flowers.


Amanda created this layout using two of the twist flowers, two leaves, and several of the mulberry paper flowers. What a cool event to be a part of! The map paper is perfect (Pink Paislee - Butterfly Garden) and the colors work so well with Peachy Keen.


This next layout was created with Crate Paper's Pretty Party line and a ruffle blossom from Peachy Keen.


I love how Amanda knotted the ribbon for the center of the ruffle blossom and layered a bit of tulle under the photos :). And how adorable is this kitty?!


With plenty of embellishments left, Amanda also made a trio of cards. Using the yo-yo flower...


Using a fabric and felt flower and the orange sheer ribbon...


Using another fabric and felt flower...


And can you believe it, there are still flowers to be played with from this sampler! If you would like to pick one up for yourself, you can find the Peachy Keen line here. All Peachy Keen products are in stock and ready to ship, so you could be creating with these very flowers very soon!

Thank you, Amanda! Beautiful work, as always. Have a fabulous day, everyone! Tessa