Early Bird

I was excited to get my hands on an Early Bird Crafting Kit. "This Girl Loves to Sing" was created prior to the scrapbook store receiving the Ready Set Chip. I would have loved to have had the little chipboard music notes for this layout, but instead made use of a Magistical Memories note, left in raw color, but coated with sparkle mod podge and a touch of red Stickles.

The fun idea in this layout was creating "cherry" embellishments with red buttons and red floss. Hot tip - use a small hole punch to create a hole under the location of a button, and under the location where the cut out leaves will be adhered. I simply guided the floss through with my fingers, and used magic tape to secure the floss to the backside of the layout. Super quick!

"Taste Tester" is a Christmas layout created with Early Bird. The greens and reds in the collection, plus all the fun shapes and such with a baking them, make Early Bird great for scrapping family recipes, and family time in the kitchen.


I wanted to share another example of how cardstock stickers can be used as a part of the journaling block. The first layout I created using this technique, "Long-Time Friends", was picked up by Creating Keepsakes for October. The journaling in "Taste Tester" is a bit different in style, but it is the same concept. It is an interesting way of journaling "outside the box".


To cover the Magistical Memories chipboard tree, below, I used paper cut from the Crafting Kit packaging. Again, be sure to utilize the retail info sheet and take advantage of the mini print versions of papers within the kit.


Before you leave today, I want to direct you to my good friend, Lisa Fadulto's blog - where she is hosting an awesome giveaway. Please be sure to come back and see other fun Cosmo Cricket projects I have shared. I hope you will be inspired to play with your own stash of Cosmo!

Snorkel

Snorkel is a fun collection to use for a variety of summer projects - from pool party invitations to layouts - this could be my very favorite Cosmo Cricket collection of all time. I love bright colors!


To create the title I used a die-cut from the collection, American Crafts Thickers coated with Stickles, and a few "water action" shapes from Snorkel Ready Set Chip. I coated the shapes with sparkle mod podge, although it is hard to see it in the photo. I will point out that the journal card is from Early Bird, again, one more example of how collections often coordinate with one another for vast possibilities.

BTW, for fun on this layout I used a pencil eraser, dabbed in VersaMark ink, to dot the background cardstock. I sprinkled clear UTEE on top and heat set -for a fun look of water droplets on the page.


"Summer '03", a 6x6 mini album was very fast to put together, and is perfect for all those summer 4x6 photos that you love, but don't necessarily want to devote a layout to.

Here are samples of some of the inside pages. This album can be created in its entirety in two hours!





On July 7 I will be doing a version of the same album for the Middleton Public Library at 6:30 p.m. The mini album class is free,and is only one hour! The only thing different between this album and the one above is the use of Snorkel chipboard shapes in my personal album. We did not have a budget to use Ready Set Chip shapes in a class of 20. In place of the whale I used a Magistical Memories Seahorse - with a fun painting technique that I will be teaching as well. (If you sign up don't wear Sunday's best!) I also designed my own title block in Photoshop that I could step out and punch twenty times.

As of this posting there were two spots remaining. Call now for a deal - an 8 page album in an hour for zero the cost!

Girl Friday

Girl Friday is a versatile line. It is beautiful to use with sweet photos of our daughter blowing bubbles in her Easter dress.




Girl Friday also lends itself to a fun layout - this one about me (and this insane passion of mine to create daily - every day!)



Cosmo's retail strip inspired this grouping of "embellishments" on my page. I love the shape of their logo and cut it out. I then began looking through my garbage, etc. to see what other labels I might glean.


Finally, I just had fun in Photoshop with this photo - lovin' the wild look with a Magistical Memories tiara.

My Last Pub with Memory Makers

I was so bummed to learn that Memory Makers would cease publication. For the past four years I have enjoyed working with Patty, Beth and a number of the wonderful editors at the magazine.

Seeing my last traditional layout in the Scrapbooking Idea Gallery 2009 (which has been on newstands for more than a month now) was a bittersweet moment.

Originally created as a Hall of Fame entry - I had a eureka moment spotting Sculpey Clay in my stash. I molded a couple of footholds, used a sharp tool to make a hole, and baked the pieces. I then fastened them to the layout with a screw brad. Each foothold appears to be holding up a photo - this layout was a blast to create!

Hello Sunshine

A few more layouts using Hello Sunshine. Others were posted further down below in the blog posts. (Look for Beautiful Girl and my very first post in this blog, Little Miss Sunshine) The photos in Grow are simply precious, and I wanted to really "do it up" when it came to creating a layout. I was thrilled that it won the Cosmo contest at Scrap4Life some time ago. Here are close ups of some details. I love using Cosmo's blackboard!



In "Rain, Rain Go Away" I love the black paper with green dots raining down, or at least that is the vision I had. We had SO MUCH rain that spring - flooding was happening everywhere. Fortunately our home is situated on a hill, so we can enjoy the rainfall without worry.

As you may notice, papers included are also from the Get Happy line. I really love both of these bright Cosmo Cricket lines.

Get Happy

This is one of my all time favorite layouts. I love the photo of our children interacting while walking the RR tracks. Magistical Memories chipboard was utlized with the Get Happy line by Cosmo.





In this photo Kyle was reading another book on military history, while waiting for the rest of us to finish up in the library. Quick designer tip: rather than matte a photo to set it off the page, use a black sharpie and tightly trace around the outside edges.

Mix & Match Cosmo Collections

This layout is dedicated to a man I met years ago while working at the church. He and I initiated a number of new programs, and an "out of the box" worship service together. He's like a dad to me. He's had some tests done recently and I worry about his health. On Monday nights for the past 4 yrs he and his wife meet with us for Bible study. On Father's Day we were blessed to have them join us at the coffeehouse after church. I had just received a Cosmo Early Girl crafting kit - and was tickled to see that Marv's shirt matched one of the papers. (LOL)

"This Marvelous Man" actually has Cosmo papers from the Christmas Be Good, Wanted and Early Bird lines. How cool is that? Cosmo Cricket continually produces new lines that coordinate with the "old". What a great way to use small amounts left from a previous favorite line!

I love Marv's treasured, and worn, straw hat. I incorporated jute into the layout, which also goes well with the Wanted paper used. (Our friends favorite respite is a place called "The Ranch" - using a western paper design shares a bit of who Marv is.)

The larger letters in the title were created using a Cosmo die-cut letter sheet, that happened to be missing the M-A-N that I needed. I used it as a stencil, tracing with pencil, and cut out letters with a craft knife. Red brads add a little pop to this layout. The red, in small amounts, really makes a difference.


I found a lapel in my stash that was perfect to use - no doubt mailed to the church as a promo. The back was filed off so I could use it on the page. I just happened to find a piece of leather in my "misc. fiber" drawer, and wove it around the jute. I love finding little details in my stash drawers!

Do you have an elderly friend dear in your life? Marv's recent health problems really made me consider how much he will be missed when God takes him from this earth. I wanted to be sure I had a page dedicated to the man he is, and how much he means to me.

If you haven't found time to create a page like this about someone you love, please make it a priority. Often we never realize how much we miss a person until they are gone.