Cosmo Cricket

Mini deck fun

LG here sharing with you a fun and easy layout that I did using only 4 patterned papers from DeLovely's Mini Deck line. 

Aside from making cards, have you ever wondered how you can maximize the usage of these lovely Mini Decks? I initially made some Easter cards that I'll be sharing to everyone soon but I end up with a fun idea using my butterfly punches. Just grab several pages from the mini deck and start punching. I have used 3 different kinds of butterfly punches on my page and punched over 100 butterflies. Don't worry about the excess butterflies since we can still use them on other projects later on.

What I loved about this technique is the time you can save by just coming up with a design. Once you are ready, just stick them randomly on your main background paper. Pretty easy right?

And another tip, before throwing away small pieces of patterned papers that you've used, grab your punch and use it. Set aside these punched scraps in a small bottle or container and organize it by color. You'll find them very useful when you need to fill up some space on your pages.

Have fun scrapping!

Another Gluber Flower Technique with Lindsay and Julie

Happy Friday everyone!

Things to know while watching this video.

1. I still haven't gotten my hair cut.

2. Eric got mesmerized at one point during the filming. He is watching us instead of looking through the camera. He's sorry that he is showing me, instead of what I'm working on. What can we say, these are not professional quality videos!

3. We think this could have a difficulty level of 3...... a man can do it, with practice.

4. For more information on how these would work as hair accessories, check out the line of products I designed for EK Success under the Laliberri line.

 

Lindsay, Julie and Glübers

Lindsay and I got together to see if Glübers really make flower making so easy that a man can do it.

As you watch, here are some things to know:

1. Lindsay has not provided proof that I scraplifted his layout.

2. Eric never really turned red during the filming of this clip.

3. Eric was right. The flower did look good on my green shirt. I apologize for criticizing his art direction abilities.

4. I need a haircut, but I'm waiting because I will be attending some events later this month. If I get it cut now, it will be too short to be cut again, but too long to look good.

5. Have a great day!

Oh, and here's a photo of the layout too!

Lowri McNabb: Cosmo Cricket Loves Your Art!!

Hello everyone,

It's time to feature another new artist I found. Lowri McNabb was nominated for our guest design team spot. So, I headed over to her blog to check her out! What I found were fab card sets, tons of mini albums and projects with tutorials.

Take a look at a few of my faves.

She had another drawer set like this one done in Material Girl too.

Aren't these bookmarks so simple and cute?

If you are into mini's she has lots of really great ones!

And I love that when she makes cards, they are usually done in sets.

If you love papercrafting, but need a break from layouts go visit Lowri's blog. She's sure to inspire you. Because of that inspiration factor, we want to celebrate Lowri by offering her our special button!

And, here's to all artists working to make life a more beautiful experience. Add this button to your blog and link it back here. Together we will inspire the world.

 

Cosmo Cricket Layouts and a Moxie Giveaway

If you're not aware, we have a Friend who lives in either New Hampshire, Conneticut, or Maine ( we really do love her even though I can't remember what state she moved to this past year- I know I need to be better with details) who we love to pieces who used to live in Utah.

 She has a super fun blog that details the world of scrapbooking. Not only does she tell you what's hot, she gives tips, and provides opportunities for her followers to win fabulous prizes selected just for you..

 Her blog is Moxie Fab World and Cath is Moxie Fab herself. Today she is featuring UpCycle and she' will be drawing two lucky winners.

 I know Julie told you that my favorite new release is Salt Air.

I must confess, I love all three new lines, but especially love the color palette from UpCycle. Pinks, Greys, Yellows, Greens. The colors are hip, cool, chic, and work lights out together.

Oh by the way, here's the link for those interested in a chance to win: Win Cosmo Cricket UpCycle Collection

We have another friend and I think we have mentioned her before. Her name is Heidi Sonbul and she is a huge Cosmo Cricket helper. She creates crazy great layouts in a very short period of time.

We've included a few for you to see from Social Club, UpCycle, and Salt Air:

 
 
 
 
 

Great job Heidi and thank you so much for all that you do!

Design team spotlight

Hi everyone...it's me...Wendy Sue...and today it's my turn to tell you a little bit about myself. I'm not really sure what you'd like to know. You know how much I love scrapbooking and paper crafting. You already know I love Cosmo Cricket! You might even already know that i'm a late-night (sometimes all night) creator (with four kids, late night scrapping is usually my only option.

I recently moved to a new home with my handsome husband and kiddos - and much as I'd like to say my new office is all set up and looking cute, it's not.(yet) It's slowly being unpacked and put away...so no fun photos to share today - but hopefully within the next few weeks I'll have some fun new scrapbook room photos to share.

Maybe you'd be interested to know that I love diet coke (especially if it's from McDonald's). MY favorite treat is chocolate - in any form - ice cream, candy bars...I'm not picky! I always wear socks in the house...I hate having cold feet. I HATE mice - I cry and scream and shake uncontrollably if I see one. I like writing - and really need to make more time to write. I love having a clean house & my mood is about 100 times better if I know it's clean, even if I'm not at home. I love singing, and sing a lot, but I have a terrible voice...my poor kids have to listen to me all the time. I wish I knew how to play the piano...it's on my list of thing to learn someday. What? You don't have a list of things you want to learn? Oh, that's another thing...I'm a list maker. I LOVE a good list...especially one with everything crossed off at the end of the day! I love date nights with my husband. I love movie theater popcorn. I love junior mints. I love the color green.

If there's anything you would like to know, please ask - I'm an open book and I'll do my best to answer anything you want to throw at me! :o)

Oh, and because it's always more fun to finish a blog post with a project or two, here are a couple of recent layouts I've created with fabulous Cosmo Cricket products!

Have a great weekend! :o)

Oh Salt Air, Please Cure My Wintertime Blues!

Last spring break Eric and I took the kiddos to California. We spent one day on the beach soaking up the sun. This was Jack's first time at the ocean and he loved every minute of it. So did the rest of us and now we have a dream of moving to the coast!

If you looked outside my window right now, you would know why! I think we got at least 6" of snow last night. I've got some serious cabin fever, or as John Hyatt would say, "A little jump of somethin' I call wintertime blues." His song hits the nail on the head!

I looked for a clip of him singing it, but I couldn't find one. Here's the lyrics which are almost as good. They totally crack me up.... it's like he's in my brain!!!

I've been too long with my nose in a book
I hope you sing just as good as you look
Come on over baby, I got a song for you
A little jump of something I call
The wintertime blues

I wanna hear those mockingbird wings
I want gravy on everything
Lovin' in the kitchen
What have we got to lose
Just a nasty case of
These ol' wintertime blues

Cold as snot with a big frozen smile
Ain't foolin' nobody after a while
Time to let the cat out
I've got a real short fuse
I'm just about to blow up
These ol' wintertime blues

There's no spring
There was never any spring
Spring's a long gone thing
There won't ever be a spring no more

At least that's the way it feels when your
Skin is cracked and peeled
And you've been livin' under
Sixty pounds of blanket
And the snow's drifting up to your window
And you're out of firewood
And the wolf is howling at your door

Three hours of day light
And all of them gray
The suicide prevention group has all run away
I'm running out of groceries
I ain't got no rubber shoes
Bring the bacon baby
I got the wintertime blues

I could cut a hole in the floor
Catch you a fish by a quarter to four
But I'm stuck up this mountain
Where I got a bird's eye view
Of couple more months of these
Ol' wintertime blues

And it's a one, two
My lips are turning blue
Come on over baby
What have we got to lose
Just a nasty case of
These ol' wintertime blues

And it's three, four
I'm stiff as Al Gore
Come on over baby
What have we got to lose
Just a nasty case of these ol'
Wintertime blues

Well, it's the same old drill
For Punxsutawney Phil
If he sees his own shadow
I'm shootin' to kill

Come on over baby
I stand accused
There's a man going crazy up here
With the wintertime blues

At least Puxatawney Phil didn't see his shadow! Come on spring...... do your thing!

Hey, we have a winner from yesterday too! Congratulations go to Cheri who said, "I just now heard about this fabric from em's scrapbag blog. It really is de-lightful. Hopping to find some when I shop around here locally and will ask about it if I don't and give them your webpage."

Cheri, send your information to cathie at cosmocricket dot com and she will cut your fat quarters and send them your way. When you make whatever fabulous project you have planned, send us a photo, we'd love to see it and maybe share it here.

It's DeLightful, It's DeLicious, It's DeLovely In DeFabric

Well, I have been playing with our newest line of fabric. In fact, another of my 2011 to do's is done. Check out my pin-cushions. I have plans for lots more because they are super fun to make and I think they will be great gifts! These first two are for my girlies.

Would you like to play with DeLovely too? What you would?

Well, all you have to do is tell us where you have found Cosmo Cricket fabric, if you have been so lucky, so that the rest of us can find it too. Or, if you haven't been able to find it, tell us what you would do with it when you do. We'll pick a random winner to win a set of fat quarters.

Have a great day everyone and best of luck!

Me + Love = Awkward Moments

I hope you all had a fabulous Valentines day. Lindsay called me last night and asked what we were having for dinner. I told him chicken salad.

He replied, "Is that your Valentine's dinner, or your regular Monday night dinner?"

I replied, "Should there be a difference?"

I have never really gotten the whole sappy thing. In fact, the first time Eric told me that he loved me..... after a very long pause, I said, "Thank you."

This was the man I was HOPING to marry and yet I replied, "Thank You!"

What's up with that?!?!?

And, it's not just romantic love I struggle with, it's all sorts of affection. If you have ever hugged me at an event, maybe you know what I'm talking about. I give the most awkward, stiff hugs you have ever seen because I am not comfortable hugging anyone I don't live with.

Now, don't worry that you may have offended me by leaning in for a hug. I realize I am the odd ball, not you lovely people. In fact, when Lindsay's daughter Kiley got married Lindsay tried to hug me. At first I resisted..... just leaving him there with his arms out. Then, Eric gave me a good push and Lindsay got the stiffest, most awkward hug of his life. We still laugh about it.

Maybe it's my DNA, or maybe it's the way I was brought up. My parents were very affectionate in my early childhood, but as I got older, the hugging eventually faded away. Now don't get me wrong, I always knew my parents loved me.... we just like our personal space!

My little sister, being the baby, got hugs into her teen years. They were so funny and unique that they have become known in our family as Hairball Hugs. Here's how you give one: The receiver of the hug will be seated, most likely reading the evening newspaper. The giver will be on her way to bed or out with friends and as she passes, the receiver will say, "aren't you going to hug me goodbye/ goodnight?" Then the giver will bend down, turning her head AWAY from the receiver and give a side hug so that just the shoulders touch. One arm of each person involved, and one arm only, will be wrapped around the other. If you have never been given a Hairball Hug, you may make the mistake of turning your head toward the giver, thus receiving a lot of hair in the face.... hence the name!

So, if you are like me... maybe cards are the answer! You can easily tell someone that you love them. If they don't know how to respond, there isn't an awkward silence because they can just pretend to be a slow reader. Or, even better, you can mail the card and then you don't have to be present at all!

Here's some great cards for letting those special people in your life know that that's just what they are!

By Debbie Olson

By Laura Craigie

By Wendy Sue Anderson

Cosmo Cricket Loves Beate Johns' art!

A while ago I told you I would be featuring some great talent I've come across. I learned about some of these artists from our DT contest, some from our facebook page and some have emailed our company personally.

But, what they all have in common, is amazing skills! I find their work totally inspiring..... just take a look at this card.

The artist is Beate Johns and I found her when she posted the next card on our fanpage.

I had forgotten how much I loved Everafter until I saw this creation. So I looked Beate up. Wow, you seriously have to check out her blog!

She is a fantastic cardmaker, her colorings are beautiful and I especially love that she shows a sense of humor at times.

So, here's to you Beate! We love your art and appreciate so much that you put it out there to inspire us all. Thank you for your contribution to the creativity and craftiness of the world.

If you, like Beate, love art, creativity and inspiring others to explore their right brains, then add this fun button to your blog.... just link it back to us!

We made the following badge to give out to the artists we feature. You could be the next one to recieve it. But, until then, wish Beate congratulations because we love her art!