Cosmo Cricket

What's your favorite line?

So, hopefully today is the last day you will have to tolerate me.  Lindsay, Julie, and Eric are safely on the plane and headed home.  Soon, you will have your fill of stories from CHA, things that could only happen to the Cosmo Cricket team, and humorous insights from the CC celebreties themselves!  No more second (possibly third) string blogs from me.  You're welcome.

Which of the new lines are you salivating over?  Anything that you MUST have?  I really love all the new stuff.  Joyride is so much fun!  I love the colors and the whimsical feel to it. 

Material Girl makes me want to go back in time to when my gradnma used to make all my dresses.  She would smock the front of every one.  She is so talented.  I wish I would have taken time to learn more from her.

Garden Variety makes me green with envy.  I have a black thumb.  Don't let me near your plants or they will be gonners!  I LOVE fresh peas and pear tomatoes straight from the garden.  Unfortunately, I can't grow anything and people don't take to kindly when you walk in their backyard and help your self to some peas. 

I feel kind of like the plumber with the leaky faucet.  After playing with all this fun paper all day at work, I rarely have time to scrap for myself.  But, I am going out with the girls to scrapbook tonight!  I hope you get some time (and new Cosmo goodies) to scrap with!  Thanks for putting up with me this week.  I look forward to having Lindsay back, too.  Maybe I can break the speakers before he gets back so we won't be able to listen to sports radio.....hhhmmmm....great idea.  Gotta Go!   

Gym Girl
 

More new temptations and contest winners

Thanks everyone for your great comments yesterday.  I have the winner's names in front of me.  Are you giddy with excitement and suspense?  Well, I think I'll torture you for a minute longer (insert evil laugh here).   Hey!  Don't scroll down.  That's not fair!  Besides, you don't want to miss what I have to say next!

One of our friends and killer designer, Lisa Falduto, made some incredible projects for us to teach at CHA.  She has posted them on her blog.  She has several days posted with amazing CC altered projects and LO's.  Check out her amazing stuff on her blog: http://www.lisafalduto.blogspot.com/

Here is some more fabulous stuff from our very own designers.

Wait....was that last LO from the boyfriend?  Oh, I guess since I'm giving you inspriation from the boyfriend, I should announce the winners.  Two lucky girls have some coming their way to play with!  And the winners are:  Beth- Jan. 26th at 6:36pm from the blog and Emily Williams- Jan. 26th at 7:48pm on Facebook.  Congrats, Ladies!  Just email your info to [email protected] and she will send it out!

How about some Earth Love for the road?

Night all!

Gym Girl 

Want to see some Garden Variety?

Hey, All.  Must be super fun at CHA, because Julie and Lindsay haven't had time to send any pix or video our way, yet.  I'm sure they will have oodles of fun stories when they return.  Natasja did post a comment saying that she didn't realize "U-Turns" were so popular in the United States.  I guess I know why Lindsay drives his bike to work instead of a car!  Maybe it is safer to be in Utah than Anaheim while Lindsay is there.  Hold on for dear life, Nat! 

Speaking of Natasja, check out one of the amazing displays at the Cosmo Cricket booth.  Natasja is the master of paper flowers!

Here are some other goodies that all the lucky folks at CHA get to see:

Man, we've got some talented designers!  I can't wait to see what all of our talented blog readers are going to come with!  I'd love to see what you create with the new lines.  When you get your hot little hands on the new lines and create some spectacular projects, send them my way.  I'd love to see your talent!  email me at [email protected].

If you haven't gotten your fill of Cosmo Cricket inspriation yet (let's face it, can you ever get enough?) you really should hop on over to our Facebook fan page.  There are extra goodies over there, too.

Well, I said we'd try to sneak in a contest.  So, let's do it.  Leave a comment here and we'll pick a random winner tomorrow.  I think you should have an extra chance if you visit us on Facebook, too.  Sound good?  Leave a comment there and enter for a second chance to win.  The new stuff is on it's way to your LSS, so I'd better not give any of it away.  I'd hate to be the reason you can't find it on the shelves!  But, I do have some Earth Love/Boyfriend double decks and Ready, Set, Chipboard for the winners.  Good luck!

Gym Girl   

All quiet on the home front. Well, sort of!

Natasja wrote on Facebook that Lindsay and Julie had shown her around Beverly Hills and Hollywood already.   So, if Lindsay tries to pull the ol' Transient Global Amnesia trick again, we can bust him!  I hope they are having a blast out there!  Well, it's been quiet all day for Kristen here at the office.  That is, until I got here today!  My daughter, Natasha, came to work to play with Eric and Julie's son, Jack, today.  So much for Kristen's peace and quiet.  Jack is so quiet and adorable.  Natasha is a toronado of activity.  I think she's scaring Jack to death!  He is just listening to her talk and talk and talk.  The poor boy can't get a word in edge wise.   She just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny.  Natasha is telling Jack how to pretend and what to do and how to play.  All Jack says is "...ok..."  Then she starts in again.  Poor boy!  He's such a good sport.  Don't tell Lindsay, but we've turned his office into Lego central!  (He'll probably be jealous he didn't get to play!)

I haven't seen any footage from CHA yet, so here is some more of what we are missing.  Take a look at these great projects using Joy Ride!

I am so excited to make an album for my friend using this line.  How 'bout you?  Got any ideas, yet?  Check back tomorrow.  If I haven't heard from CHA, I will show you some Garden Variety. 

'Night all!

Gym Girl   
 

It's so quiet in here!

Do you hear that?  No?  Me either.  It is so quiet without Mr. Moore in the office today.  Usually, Lindsay makes up songs about what he is doing or thinking, or sings random songs I've never heard before, or tortures us with the dreaded sports radio.  Today...nothing.  It's kind of eerie.  Oh, Lindsay.  We miss you already.

Lindsay, Julie, Eric and Natasja (from our design team) are manning the Cosmo Cricket booth at CHA.  I'm sure Lindsay has already hugged over 1000 women, even though they only arrived last night!  For those of you who didn't get to go, here is a little peek as to some of the awesome projects on display made with Material Girl.

Are you drooling yet?  Feeling inspired?  Well, product should be shipping next week.  So, it's time to stalk your LSS!  

Lindsay said they may send something from CHA for the blog next week.  We'll see how busy they get.  If not, I'll show you some amazing creations with Joyride and Garden Variety.  Maybe, I'll even sneak in a contest. While the cat's away....ya know!  

Have a great weekend!

Gym Girl

Sketch #2 Players & Sketch #3

We had more players this time around than on our first sketch. I can see that this may get to the point that I can't include everyone. If that should happen, I say we pick randomly because I can't take the stress of choosing between them! They are all so fun.

Take a look at what everyone did.

From Michelle Roycroft:

From Kayla Dupont:

From Kristin Perez:

From Kelli:

 

From Melani Douthit:

From Kat:

From Bri:

 

From Melisa:

 

From Melissa W:

From Misty Rose Samosn:

From Rosemary:

 

From Tanya K:

 

This week's sketch is taken from this layout by Design Team Member Wendy Sue Anderson. Last night I did three different layouts based on this simple sketch for an upcoming make and take project. They all turned out so cute that I thought it would be a fun one for you to try as well. Here's Wendy's layout:

Here's our interpretation into a sketch:

If you would like to play along this week, simply post your take on this sketch and put a link to it in the comments on this entry.

Have fun!

Button Jewelry

I can't tell you how much I love our new buttons. The colors make my heart sing!

I envision getting Target tees and adding these fun buttons around the collars, replacing buttons on plain cardigans, adding them to purses and shoes and more.

I only had one package of each type to play with, but I decided to make a necklace out of Material Girl's set. Check it out.  Now I just need to find an outfit to match it.

If you would like to make your own, it's really easy to do. I used some 1/4" silk ribbon threaded through a needle. Then I went through two holes of each button. After you go through the holes, tie a square knot on the backside to hold it where you want on the ribbon, so it won't slide around. When you have the button part finished, find a wider, matching ribbon. Then knot it around the last button on either side. Ta-Dah! Your own funky jewelry.

CHA or Bust!

Lines designed. CHECK

Catalogs printed. CHECK

Inventory ordered. CHECK

Inventory re-ordered. CHECK (We have already sold out of some of our chipboard alphas.)

Trade show booth shipped. CHECK

Make and Takes designed. CHECK

Classes designed. CHECK

Hair cut. CHECK

Clothes. CHECK

House cleaned. It looks like I'll be doing that today!

Are you going to the show? Are you ready? What last minute details do you need to take care of?

If you are going, be sure to drop by and see us! We will be at booth #2269. The lovely Natasja Verbeek will be teaching make and takes. The wild and crazy Lindsay Moore will be hosting field trips and hugging women. The tall and dashing Eric Comstock will be tall and dashing. And, the sly Julie Comstock will be sneaking Tim Tams from the chocolate drawer now that the weight loss challenge with Thom will be over.

By the way, should I lose the challenge and have to wear a LYB tee shirt on the last day of the show, I want everyone to drop by and sign it for me.

Now, for the moment you are all waiting for. The winners of the new lines.

The winner of the Material Girl collection is Angela Fehr whose favorite store is Chocolate Clover in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

The Joy Ride collection goes to the lucky Sharon Burr who nominated Scrapbook Clubhouse in Westbrook, CT.

Aimee K wins the Garden Varity collection for herself and her favorite store, Family Memories in Charlotte, NC.

And, I thought we should also have a winner for the new Ready, Set, Chip Alphas and the Tiny Type stickers. That lucky gal is Nancy Peterson and the store she loves is Pictures in Time in Jacksonville, FL.

Congratulations everyone!

A little Sneak More

I can't believe I forgot to add this to yesterday's post, because I'm super excited about it. We have partnered with Core'dinations who is making these ultra fabulous, color-core, textured sheets of cardstock that work perfectly with all things Cosmo Cricket.

You'll notice some of our most popular patterns from Mr. Campy's woodgrain to Jack's World's alphabet, Early Bird's cross hatch to Earth loves "grass". And, you'll also notice the colors we are famous for loving.......... Yes, we do call that Cosmo Cricket blue.

Don't forget to nominate your store for the chance to win some of the newbies. Details are in the post below. 

Cosmo Cricket CHAW 2010 Sneak Peek!

Are you ready? Let's start with the contest rules. As you most likely know, you can nominate your favorite independent retailer (online stores are included) to win one of our new lines (store quantities). If your store is chosen, then you will win one of each item in the line (individual quantities) for yourself!

I love this contest. My favorite part is reading about all the great things these store owners do for their customers. So give them a shout out! Tell them what you love about their store! Let's generate some independent store spirit people...... 1 2 3 4, here is why I love my store. We'll pick our winners Monday morning.

Moving on......

Do you swoon over beautiful patterns, drool over pretty colors, or see huge potential in the tiniest of scraps? Well, if you do, you've found your perfect collection. Filled with the tools of craftiness, antique sewing art and vintage designs, this line is sure to speak to the heart of any material girl.

Celebrate the Staycation with a little Joy Ride. Load up your wagons, pack your bags and don't forget the pets. This line has everything you need for those summer road trip projects.... well, we aren't offering the kitchen sink, but you get the idea. If you're not planning a road trip, don't worry, Joy Ride is fun for parties, preschool and boy-life in general.

Garden Variety is anything but your "garden variety." Here, the strawberries smile, the peas are friends and the chicks wear bonnets. What could make for happier projects? Simply mix together some cardstock, add in a dash of colorful elements, a healthy serving of Ready, Set Chipboard and sprinkle with buttons. Voilà, a masterpiece.

But wait, there's more.......