Cosmo Cricket

April Fools: 5 Tricky Tips

Have you ever pulled off a really great April Fool's Day trick? Have you ever fallen hard for one yourself?

Here are our tips for getting someone GOOD!

1. Get them early in the morning before their wheels are fully spinning. I am very susceptible to this tactic. As a teen, my older sister thought it was hilarious to come into my bedroom around six in the morning screaming something like fire, earthquake or even boogy man. No matter how many times she did it, I never failed to start running around like a crazy person exclaiming the harshest language allowed in my house, "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness."

2.  If your victim would never fall for something from you, enlist a co-conspirator. Last year, my assistant Laura sent Eric the following email, "Myra Mains called, she sounded like she knew you, she said call back as soon as you can. Her number is 435.752.3245." The number was to a funeral home which Eric called asking to speak with Myra Mains.

3. Use visual aids because sometimes seeing is believing. When Eric and I were dating, I convinced him I got engaged to another guy. The kicker... a diamond engagement ring on my finger. This trick, a little on the cruel side, plays on our next tip.

4. Exploit emotional thinking. Eric fell for the above trick partly because when he is emotional, he doesn't think as clearly. Like I said, bordering on cruel. Hey, I was young and immature and have apologized a million times!!!

5. Plan a trick which doesn't require your presence. Typical ideas are changing the clock times, putting a honk at me sign on the back of a car, etc. If you don't have a poker face, extensive experience with deception or are prone to laughter, these are the safest tricks!

Instead of playing an April Fool's Day trick on you I am participating in Moda's April Tool's Day. Since I don't regularly blog on Sunday's I'm letting you all know today that this April Fools you may win my favorite tool for sewing.

I promise, I'm not joking....

Why don't you trust me?!?!? 

Make a Paper Purse

I was at CHA, setting up the booth displays when I first saw this project. I had never seen anything like it before! Donna, literally sewed a purse out of our 2wenty-Thr3e papers complete with washi tape ruffled trim. But the paper was sturdy and shiny and not going to tear. How did she do this I wondered.


Well I knew just the person to ask. Tim Holtz.

I think Tim finds my lack of crafting know-how to be quite humorous at times. I failed his make and take once despite Mario's one on one attention. Another time, I asked him about using melted wax over collage and he replied with something to the effect of "Are you sure you want to try that Julie?... maybe you should leave the serious stuff to people that can pass the make and take." (OK, that's not really what he said and I shouldn't put words in his mouth, but he was certainly surprised at my request due to his observations of myself!)


So I headed his way with this fabulous creation. Tim took one look at the bag, he didn't even need to touch it. He told me that she had laminated the paper with contact paper. How cool is that?!?! I would never have thought of it....obviously. 


Maybe if we all beg and plead we can get Donna to give us a tutorial? 

Tea Card Template

I had a couple friends ask for instructions on Donna's tea card from yesterday's post.

It is so cute and since I'm making several myself, I decided to create this template for all of you. Use it to give away tea bags, gift cards, tattoos or any other little gifts you can think of.

If you do, send us a pic (julie at cosmocricket dot com) or post a pic on our facebook page. I know I speak for all our followers, along with myself, when I say that we LOVE seeing what you come up with! 


To construct your card, begin with a 6.5"x5.5" rectangle of patterned paper. I really love the heavier stock Advantus is using to print our designs. It is perfect for this project.

Score your cardstock on the dotted lines at the measurements given. 

Use a 1" circle punch to cut your tabs by placing the paper into it halfway only.

Fold on score lines.

Glue or stitch where the paper overlaps on the center binding and on the edges of the pockets.

Decorate the front. If adding a ribbon to tie it closed, run it underneath another layer of paper for a secure hold.

Give to a lucky friend and wait for the good karma to come back your way! 

Tea for Two

This pretty project comes to us from Donna. I think this is a great idea to give to a friend that loves tea! 
The art of Tea is, for the most part, lost on us Americans. And, if Americans are lost, I would have been considered hopeless beyond repair.

Early on, I decided I hated tea. This opinion was formed when Eric's sister Tami made me a cup. I would describe it as tasting like brewed straw. Even with spoons of sugar added to it, it only improved slightly to grass-flavored kool-aid.

When I did the "5 Dollar Diet Challenge", hot cocoa was off the list and so I tried tea again. To be specific I tried cheap, grocery store tea. YUCK!

But, when I went to China, I drank their piping hot, green tea on a muggy 80 degree day.... out of respect only mind you. Although the temperature nearly killed me in that weather, to my surprise, I liked the tea.

Now, I have entered the world of Black, Green and herbal teas. I like them hot in cold weather and iced in hot weather. Raspberry Quince tea is my favorite with a squeeze of lemon and drizzle of honey! And, since I started drinking tea (two and a half years ago), I haven't even had as much as a cold. Luck? Coincidence? Mystical oriental secret? You decide. However, science has proven many health benefits and boosted immunity is only one of them. 

So, what better gift to give a good friend? (Ok, if a friend gave me this cute card, I have to admit I would not drink the Lipton.... call me a tea snob, it's OK, I don't mind.) 

Your Love for Tiny Text!

Once again, your projects are fantastic!

Lynn S. made an awesome layout with Twenty Three using Tiny Text to frame a photo and as accents. I love this! The colors, photos and design are so nice together.


Holly Humbert created this clever layout by cutting the cloud shape and then covering that with Tiny Text stickers and trimming away the excess. So creative! The whole thing is beautiful.

Sandi Pressley combined lots of different colored Tiny Types on this springy Easter card.

 Donna chronicles a blue-hair day with this fun project using our black and clear Tiny Types.

Lorena made a pretty card set. I think these are stamped and then accented with the Tiny Type stickers. I LOVE them and think they are so pretty!

Deborah Mahnken used her Tiny Text on the front of what I think is going to be a fantastic mini album! I like the brushed over text paper on the frame with the stickers.

Savi Ostrozny used Garden Variety with the red Tiny Text for another take on springtime. It's almost here and I can't wait!

Isn't it fun to see each person's take on the same challenge. I love it.

Are you up for another challenge? How about chevrons? Sew them, cut them, draw them, stitch them, paint them. Use them on a layout, card, pillow, bag, quilt, collage, or anything.

We want to see you zig and zag! Post your projects and link them here, put them on our facebook page or email them to julie at cosmocricket dot com. Please put Chevron Challenge in the subject of your email or facebook post. 

We will pick a random winner from the challenge contestants to receive the new Tea for Two papers and chipboard. Which brings us to our winner of the new Tiny Type. Congratulations go to Deborah Mahnken. Deborah, please send your info to julie at cosmocricket dot com so we can mail your prize to you.

PS: To last weeks winners, my car broke down last week, your prizes are being mailed today. Thanks for your patience! 

Chevron Layout with Tiny Text Love

It's done!

We will be featuring our Tiny Text Love challenge entries tomorrow, so if you have some time today, get busy! I tried to use as many Tiny Text stickers as I possibly could. I really like the effect it gave the layout to angle them along the one edge.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Mitered Washi Chevron Tutorial

I had a really fun idea for a layout that would feature a chevron background made out of Washi Tape. Well, that was a bit trickier to figure out than I thought it would be. I thought I would show you how I finally did it because now that I have it figured out, I plan to be using this technique A LOT!!! I love it!

I used a quilting ruler, but if you don't have one, you can make yourself a template. To do this, you would simply cut a square (2" is what I used) and then measure off a one inch border and cut away all but two sides (you will have made a right angle tool).

Take a look at all the circled areas in the photo below. These are where our points on the chevron will be. My important measurements on this ruler are at the two inch point and the four and a half inch point. I need to make sure my tape extends past those. (It takes a longer piece than you think to make the miter.) At the top of the peak I need to imagine a line extending straight up from the six and a half inch mark and have my tape extend past it.

Using a straight edge and a craft knife, cut through the washi tape (it doesn't take much pressure at all) at the exact point where the two pieces overlap on both the top and bottom edges.

Peel off the extra washi tape.

On one side, the washi tape to be removed is below the tape to be kept. Pull up on the part to be removed (this way you won't wrinkle the part that's staying).

Then gently pull the excess away. It's not hard to do at all, just be careful.

Push the top layer back down to reveal a perfectly mitered chevron point.

To know where to start your next point, measure across from the one you just did (you only have to do this on your first row) and place your ruler or template appropriately. Remember I am using the 2 inch mark so I lined it up exactly horizontal to the tip of my last chevron.

For the next row, place your ruler to match your previous row and continue as before. This is why we cut away all but 1" on either side of our square if we are using a template. If you want your chevrons closer together, make your template narrower.

This goes quite quickly once you get the hang of it. I however, didn't get the hang of it until I had tried several different methods, so unfortunately my paper is now waiting to become a layout instead of being one already. I can't wait to finish it up though and maybe do some chevron cards too!

If you try this technique, let us see how it works for you. Share your projects on our fanpage, link them here or even email them to me so I can feature them in a blog post.

Enjoy your Friday everyone. We have sunny weather here today and at Jack's request, we are having hot dogs tonight. So, Frank Goodness It's Friday! :)

 

Altering a Vintage Serving Tray

Frames can be really expensive. Sometimes I'll get a great deal on them at second hand stores, but it seems others are looking for them too and there just aren't enough to go around. So, I love this idea by Donna. 


Instead of using a frame, Donna created her collage on a serving tray. I can tell you from my frequent thrift store browsing that there are usually many serving trays to choose from. One can of spray paint in your favorite color and you'll have the perfect surface for a beautiful project.

If you're as in love with those gorgeous flowers as I am, they are the chipboard from Evangeline... the papers are from Evangeline too.

Have a great Thursday everyone... we just need to hang in there a bit longer and then WEEKEND! YEAH!!! 

Charming Collage & Living Small

Donna rocks Baby Jane, with this charming collage. Looking at this reminds me of looking at Eye Spy books... just when you think you've noticed everything you find something else to admire!

In other news....

Tell me what you think, can a family of 6+ dog currently living in 3400 square feet be comfortable in 2200 square feet without a garage?

Yep, Eric and I might be crazy because this is exacty what we're thinking of doing. Do you live in a big house? Do you live in a tiny house? How do you like your own situation and what do you wish were different?

Your Projects, 3 Winners and a Tiny Type Challenge

Our Bloomin' Project challenge was so much fun! We had tons of card entries and I'm feeling all inspired to make some to giveaway now.

But, before we get to all your fab projects, let's do another challenge. This time, let's see how you use Tiny Type and Tiny Text. We came out with some fun new skus at CHAW, but you don't have to use those (although I would love to see how you do use them). Use anything and everything. Here's a layout I did to get you all inspired.... you may have seen it before.

To the winner of this challenge will go one of each of the new Tiny Text skus!


So spell out some love for Tiny Text. You can upload your projects anywhere and link them in the comments here. Or put them on our facebook page with Tiny Text Love in the title. Hey, you can even email them to me with Tiny Text Love in the title to julie at cosmocricket dot com.

Now onto your Bloomin' Projects!

Lisa Sumpter's card is covered in flowers since she used Evangeline's Rose paper and a tag from the matching Element Deck. I think the whole thing turned out GORGEOUS!!


Karrie  used some Early Bird to make a great "Girlfriend" card decked out in coiled paper roses. I love how she has the lady holding one of our teacups! 
Shanna used a line I love, but haven't seen in a while... Honey Pie. What a fun card for Easter! On her blog she mentions that she got a great find of vintage lace at a thrift store. Isn't it cute on the card!

Next up is a stamped Thank You card by Char Dobson. Her flowers all come from Garden Variety... both the chipboard and the stamped ones! 

Click here to see Ivy's card on her flicker page. It's really cute and worth the click!


I love, love, love this project by Kayla Dupont. She took some plastic containers and re-vamped them with Earth Love to make really cute treat containers for gifting to friends. Very eco-friendly and friend-friendly I might say!!!

Shannon Lane made these cards that are bright enough to cheer up even the gloomiest friend.

Let's round this all out with a really cute card by Kerry Prill. Kerry combined Nutmeg with Hey Sugar. I love the bird in the center of the flower!

Our three lucky winners of the Chemistry fabric Charm Pack and the Magazine are:
Kerry Prill
Shanna
Karrie

Ladies, send your info to julie at cosmocricket dot com and I'll send you your prizes!

Thanks so much for playing. It really is so fun to see what you all come up with and I LOVE all the inspiration as I'm sure everyone does!!!