Precocious Paper Birthday Blog Hop

Good Morning! Today I am here to share in an exciting Birthday Blog Hop sponsored by Precocious Paper. Tessa the owner of Precocious Paper is celebrating her 30th birthday by giving away over $100.00 in product and 20 designers are sharing fabulous projects in her honor. You don’t want to miss this! You can join us by starting at Tessa’s blog here. If you’ve been hopping along and just came from Mandy Koeppen's blog, you are in the right place.

I’ve had the opportunity to design with some of Tessa’s products and have a project I’d like to share….

 I received a package will filled with these incredible flowers from Tessa!  I just love the blue and yellow roses - these are my favorite! The layered canvas flower is to die for - how can you go wrong with this clean and simple design!

 I had two flowers left to use so I made a few cards and these flower were the perfect embelishments!  Not mention the coordinating ribbon that came with in my pacakge! These are incredible products made with the highest quality!

Would you like some Precocious Paper goodies to work with? If you complete the entire hop, leaving a comment on every designer’s post, you will be entered to win the grand prize – the September, October, November and December Samplers! That’s a $54.00 value and dozens upon dozens of hand-crafted scrapbooking embellishments. Follow Tessa’s blog to be entered to win a $20.00 credit to the shop, and if you follow Precocious Paper on Facebook, you could win another $20.00 credit. Tessa is also giving away surprise credits to blog hop participants, so be sure to leave a comment on this post!

Tessa has added many new things to her shop as part of the celebration, so be sure to stop by and take a peek. If you use this code during check out SZBBHFREE you will receive free shipping and a free thank you gift. Click HERE to get your goodies before they are gone!




Thank you for stopping by and happy hopping - next your on to visit Windy Robinson

Summer Picnic

Cole and I enjoyed our annual summer picnic durring out towns weekend carnival.  We have done this for 4 years now and I love it every year!  We start by enjoying the books in the park where kids gather and listen to stories read by teachers and parents.  Then the kids get a hay ride to the school where their is an ice cream social waiting for them (and the parents to!).  I took this photos of us as we were sitting under a shady tree eating ice cream.

I worked on this layout yesterday during the last hour of a 12 hours crop!  I was in need of inspiration so I turned to one of my favorite places - Scrapbook Circle!  I used their Garden Party Kit that I had with me and I found their most recent challenge of a summer memory - a perfect challenge for this photo!  Lastly I was inspired by a sketch my friend had with her from Sassy Lil Sketches!

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you get a chance to scrapbook some of your summer memories soon!

Paper Lovelies Kit & Sketch Thursday Sketch

If you have not seen the current kit from Paper Lovelies you are missing out!  I just adore this kit packed full of Jillie Bean Soup products!  The colors are bright and fun!  I created to layouts out of this kit and still have a TON of products left to use!  The best part is the kit is only $15!!!!

I was so very happy with how my first layout turned out!!  I was so stuck on what to do with this photo of my husband and I. I love the pic but was not sure what to do with it! Thanks this amazing kit and the help of an inspiring sketch from Sketchy Thursday I was able to make a layout I love!

New Sweet Peach Crop Shop Kits!!!

Its my favorite time - new kits from Sweet Peach Crop Shop!!!! I cant wait to share with you my work with this months amazing kit! But you dont have to wait to get a kit for yourself - you have 2 amazing kits to choose from plus the add-on bundle!

Some new challenges!

Today I am sharing with you my first challenge over at The Trail Makers!

The challenge is to create a birthday card out of NON birthday themed supplies! 

This was fun!

I don't know about you but I never have enough cards on hand, so I was really excited when I found out about my first challenge!  We needed to make a birthday card out of non birthday themed products - this is what makes it challenging!  But I love a challenge!  I started with the Basic Grey 'Out of Print' paper collection and since these were double sided papers I had so many beautiful designs to work with.  I started with a large square card and cut paper just 1/4 inch shorter than the card and inked the edges.  I then cut another square 1/2 inch shorter than the last and inked the edges. Next I created a boarder out of paper and a large scallop punch. Before I adhered the boarder I wrapped some twine around it.  Then I added the Basic Greg Pop-Sticker to the center of the boarder.  Of course then I need a sentiment. With coordination Basic Grey alpha stickers I wrote "Happy Day' and outlined it with black maker to make it sound out just a bit more.  You can find these awesome Basic Grey products in the store!

Go HERE to link your card for a chance to win a great prize from The Paper Trail!

Workout #50-  Be Inspired By A Book! 

I love books, especially kids books!  They are great for little minds and they can also be great to spark your crafty creativity!  Use the book cover below to inspire your next layout!  Use the design of the cover, the color or the vintage vibe – be creative! 

And of course the very talented and amazing Tessa at Precocious Paper has created another beautiful sampler to offer as this workouts prize!

Summer Twilight Sampler

I just love the diversity and creativity that the FITgirls used when coming up their layouts based on this book cover!  Some used the color combo, the layout of the photos, the title and some even researched the meaning of the title and went on that! 
Check them out HERE!

Fabric Fun

I have had a itch to play with fabric latley so when I saw a turorial on how to make this little bag I knew I had to try it!

Now I like to sew but I am a bit of a perfectionist and I get easily frustrated when something does not work out well.  When it comes to sewing if your half 1/4 inch it can mess the whole thing up!

I had my very talented mother in-law come over to supervise the construction of the first one and then the next day I made the second one myself. They are not as perfect as the one in the turorial but I am happy!

The one with the white button is the 1st one and the yellow button is the second one that I created on my own.  After I made the first one with my mother in-law she recomended I make the outside pocket smaller on the next one and I agree with her, it looks better. Thanks for the help Jo!

Here is the next bag I want to make!

Speaking of Fabric........

I am lucky enough to get to be part of this fun event! Click the logo for info!

Recent Activity

Its been a whirl wind kind of week!  I have not made here for a post even though it was on my to do list all week.  The biggest reason for not getting here is our new puppy!

Our new Puppy - Bauer

8 week old Boxer

We have talked about a dog for a while now and about a month ago Cole have us a BIG sob story!  In a nut shell he told us that if he had a dog to play with he would not be so lonely!  So we decided to keep our eye out for a puppy.  Last Friday I say and ad in the paper for 8 week old boxer puppies (which is the kind of dog we wanted) and called and made a trip the next day to pick him up.  We did not tell Cole where we were going and he was SO SURPRISED when we got their and I told him that puppy was coming home to be part of our family!  So its been a week now and I had forgotten how much of your time puppies need.  Bauer is a good boy and I am training him to come to my craft room with me when its 'Craft Time' - so far he likes to sleep under my desk while I work.

Before Bauer came a long I had time to play with my August 'Sweet' Kit from Sweet Peach Crop Shop.  I am really in to yellow right now and this kit is packed full of sunshine yellow and its coordinated with bits of gray and pink - Stunning together!

Here are my layouts

This is one of my favorites. I just loved the vintage circus sticker that were in the kit an wanted to create a tent scene with them.  I free hand cut paper and then made it temp with a baby whip so I could wrinkle and distress it.  I then brushed each piece with brown ink and then build my tent around my photo.  I love the look!

This layout is based on off of one of Keri's sketches - our amazing sketch artist at Sweet Peach!  I had these mini pics of myself on a day I felt really good about myself!  You know we all have days where we feel great an others where we feel blah.  This layout is about how I hard I have worked over that past year and a half to exercise regularly and push myself to be in good shape (thanks for the encouragement Missy!).  I was excited to use the gold rub-ons here - I wanted to order like 10 more sheet and decorate my walls with them!

I love these photos of Cole in the ferns that were taken during our family photo shoot.  He was talking about how much he loves ferns because they were around when dinosaurs were alive. He has said he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up!  I free cut all the flowers out of a sheet a paper in the kit and layered them and added bling.  One of my favorite parts of the kit are the chip board butterflies! 

Click HERE to see a tutorial on my butterfly.

Head over to Sweet Peach to get your hand out this months kits!

Scrap N Chat Day & Retreat Reminder

***This is for all my local scrapbookers***

Scrap N Chat Days

Every month I host 'Scrap N Chat Days' at my home. This is chance girls to get away to enjoy a whole day dedicated to scrapbooking/ paper crafting with others who share the same enjoyment!  You can expect a fun time, good food and to learn something new! Below is the list of my upcoming Scarp N Chat Days. You must RSVP to me at szenger@twcny.rr.com 3 days prior to the event. RSVP early there are only 24 seats available.

Saturday, August 27th - 9am-9pm, Cost $20  1/2 Day $10 - RSVP Soon!
 

Saturday, September 24th - 9am-5pm, Cost $10

 

 

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Crop 'Til You Drop Retreat

October 21^nd- 23^th

 2011

I am happy to be hosting my 8th 'Crop 'Til You Drop Retreat'! This is an entire weekend for you to work on your scrapbook album and other projects.  You will also have access to scrapbooking tools, classes and vendors.

 

Registration forms are coming in daily with many friends returning and lots of new faces!!! Over half of the seats are already filled so do not delay send your registration form in today!!!

Click the links below for the full Brochure and Registration Form.

Brochure

Registration Form

 

 

Up Coming Scrap N Chat Days

For all my local scrapbookers! 

Every month I host 'Scrap N Chat Days' at my home. This is chance girls to get away to enjoy a whole day dedicated to scrapbooking/ paper crafting with others who share the same enjoyment!  You can expect a fun time, good food and to learn something new! Below is the list of my upcoming Scarp N Chat Days. You must RSVP to me at szenger@twcny.rr.com 3 days prior to the event. RSVP early there are only 24 seats available.

Saturday, August 27th - 9am-9pm, Cost $20  1/2 Day $10

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Saturday, September 24th - 9am-5pm, Cost $10

Sneak Peaks From Sweet Peach Crop Shop

Earlier this week I shared a layout with you that I made with the latest kit from Sweet Peach. Well, I just cant help myself - here are some more sneak peaks of layout to come!!!  

YUMMY!!! I just love this kit!

I know its going fast to dont wait any longer, visit Sweet Peach Crop Shop today!

First Layout For The Paper Trail Store

Today I want to share with you a layout I made with some new products from The Paper Trail Store.

I am very excite to be getting a little box of goodies each month from them to create with. 

I used the Orbit paper collection from Crate Paper, which was great because it was double sided so I had lots of options.  I also used coordinating alpha stickers for my title.

Be sure to check out this collection and more at The Paper Trail Store and for some fun ideas and up coming challenge check out the Trail Makers Blog.

New Workout At ScrapFIT & A New Kit At Sweet Peach!

Its the first of a new month and you know that means, new stuff!!!  Its time for our next Workout over at ScrapFIT!

Workout #49 ' Put A Banner On It'

Banners of all kinds have become popular in the scrapbooking world.  They can be pre-made or hand made, big or small. You can show case your title on it or just decorate it to go with your layout.  Lets see how you showcase your banner creativity! 

I am so very pleased to have our this months sponsor!! She is a very very talented lady and has an incredible Etsy store filled with her hand made goodies! Please welcome Tessa from 

Tessa creates new a 'sampler' of product each month! Each sampler has is own unique flower, ribbon and colors!  For this workout she offering one lucky winner this sampler!

Pink Limeade Sampler

What an amazing prize!!! Those colors are so bright and vibrant and the work impeccable! 

I had fun creating my banner!

 I am really enjoying scrapping my family photo shoot pics! This is one of my favorites!

I also want to let all you Sweet Peach Crop Shop Fans know that I used the newest Kit to create this layout!

I am in LOVE with this kit!  So many wonderful paper and I have hug thing for yellow right now so it came at a good time!  Dont delay if you want a kit of your own! Head on over to Sweet Peach now!

I will have more layouts to come through out the month!

Cardabilities Sketch 36

Join in the fun over at Cardabilities!  We have a brand new sketch to work with.   If you link up card based on this sketch not only will you have another card to add to your stash but a chance at being a Guest Designer at Cardabilities!

I used up some of my last Sweet Peach Crop Shop (the Juicy Themed July Kit) kit to create my take on the sketch.

I also used some left over of this past kit to alter this frame. 

I love taking only things and give them a face lift!