Wanted has been around for over 4 years and is one of my top 4 favorite collections that Eric and Julie have created. I'll save for another day my "Lindsay most favorite collection list."

Speaking of Wanted- I received an email last night from Cecilia Stephens. It seems ole Cecilia has been has been getting pretty creative on her own blog using our Wanted collection.  It's "Cowboy Week" on her blog and she will be featuring lots of terrific projects. Ingredients included. 

So when you get a second, Gitty on up and mosey over to her blog and check things out. You may just be able to rustle up some favorable ideas:

http://www.ceciliastephens.blogspot.com/

 Sticking with today's theme, here's a little Cowboy advice that I came across:

Have a great day!

 
 
This morning Julie   and asked if  would write the blog.
sat at my , put my   's on my 7, and tried to th of something fun to write about.Then  had an  .6was   out.

 Y  show a few gr8 projects! C b Low:

Both of these cards were made using  Weather!

 Nice job  Danni Reid AKA Danni Doodles! Danni should win an  .


 

  Users- There are few icons that will only show up on a PC. The "7" that you see is a keyboard and the "6" is an hour glass.
 

For this weekends design team blogpost we all worked with the new Togetherness, all of us just love those bright colors in this line!

Yukari made this fun layout and used the Ironport RSC Letters to create the title 

The next two cards are created by Debbie

I adore the Togetherness line--it makes me happy! WIth its varied color scheme, it can be used for so many projects and exude a different personality in each one. Togetherness has been my go-to-line lately.

This next summery layout is by Gurdun were she used the Fairy Tales and Blue Line RSC Letters for her title 

Natasja made this next cute mini album all filled with Togetherness.

I will be teaching this fun mini album with lots of dimension and layers as a workshop at two locations in September!

On September 18th you can find me at Bettypepper.com in Dusseldorf - Germany 
On September 24 & 25 at ScrapQueen's event in Morbisch am See - Austria were I also will be teaching a great Pixie-Licious layout workshop. 

So if you live in Europe and nearby any of those two locations please come and join me in this fun class!

Do you own a store in Europe and would love to have this Cosmo Cricket workshop taught in your store? Please do contact me through nvcats at gmail dot com.

Laura also made a cute card featuring Togetherness

Have a great weekend!
  
 

Wow, it's late in the day for a blog entry! We started bright and early this morning... way too early for me. It's back to school and I'm still adjusting to the new schedule.

Yesterday was the first day. It seemed to go well for everyone. Abby earned a ticket for good behavior, but according to her, "That isn't too impressive, since one girl in my class earned two." Kate managed to navigate her first day of middle school although to her dismay, the boy she thinks is cutest isn't in any of her classes. But no need to worry, there is a cute boy in one of them. (She is always the glass-half-full sort of girl.) Ethan came home and told us he wants to see Dumb and Dumber because they watched clips of it in Spanish class and it is SOOOOOOO funny. (Is it just me, or does that seem a tad unrelated to Spanish..... hmmmmmmm.)

Then there's Jack. You may remember this post about my 5 year old's developmental issues. But, I have to say that although the little guy is still behind he has come a long way! I've had him in with and occupational therapist over the summer and he's been the most wonderful thing for us. Jack can write his name!!!

So, what am I doing with my extra kid-less time? Well, not much yet, but a month ago that DeLovely layout that was on my desk forever did get done and I have plans for more! It's the same photo of my sister's baby that I've used before, but I just loved it with these papers. I'm giving it to her to hang over the crib.

I love how this turned out! To make it I used tons of Fiskars punches. I cut strips of white cardstock, punched the length of them with varying punches and maybe punched a repeating shape down the middle like with the butterflies. Then I backed each one with strips of patterned paper. I loved weaving the ribbon through the punching on a couple of them!

So the colors didn't get too overwhelming, I matted it all on white cardstock that I punched too. I trimed the design from the corners where it went weird. It's not exactly centered on either side, but it doesn't bother me.

I'd love to hear what you think of it and what your kid-less day plans are! Anyone doing anything amazing with their hobbies? Leave us a comment or a link. We'd love to see what you've been up to.

Good morning everyone! How about another giveaway? How about lots of chances to win?

Well, the SRM design team got their hands on Togetherness and we think one lucky person on our blog should too! Leave us a comment today to enter yourself for our random drawing.

Then head over to the SRM blog for more ways to win and to see more great work from their team like the above and below card from Carole.

This one by Nina.

This one by Jenyfur.

 They have lots of fun layouts like this one

Norma Kennedy created a great notebook tutorial that I'll definitely be checking out!

Wow! All these lovelies sure make me want to get scrappy!

After reading yesterdays blog and seeing the picture, it seems like John Jones wasn't the only one pretending to be someone.

So Julie should we call you Julie, Julie C., Julie Comstock, Mrs. Comstock, Dianna Price (Wonder Woman's Alter ego), Wonder Woman, or boss?

You almost have as many names as John Jones!

I have a confession to make to each of you. This morning I tried on the Wonder Woman costume. Not really, but I did crop my picture where Julie's was to see how I would look. I love the wrist bands and I do think that my man boobs may rival what you see in the picture.

Now for business. Yesterdays winner.....drum roll.........Michelle Burry. Hey Michelle email jade at cosmocricket dot com and she will put it on the truck.

Last we did'nt get time last week to show you all of the projects that trhe SRM team created, below are a few more:

 

Thanks again to the SRM design team including Nina, Tavis, Amy, Gina, and Jen.

Have a great day!

You know what I love about scrapbookers? They are nice. I mean, you've got a group of people that want to take photographs, preserve memories, deliver handmade cards and make things pretty. But, it's because they are so nice, that they need someone to watch out for them.

I know. I use to be even more naive than I am now. But, the business world has taught me a thing or two, mostly the hard way. And so here I am, Julie Comstock, protector of papercrafters. I come armed with deflector bracelets made with patterned paper and lots of Stickles. I have a lasso of truth woven from designer ribbon (it coordinates with the bracelets, of course). And, I sit in an invisible desk chair that lets me cruise the superhighway in search of IP addresses. What else do you need to rid the world of unfairness in blogging contests?

So, let's cut to the chase. John Jones, I know who you are. I know where you live. I've been to your myspace page. I've been to your facebook page. I have all your email addresses and aliases. And, I know that you circle F.... not M.... on your doctor forms. Mwah ah ah ah ahhhhh (evil laughter voice please). Your plan has been foiled.

OK, my work here is done! Now, I've gotta run, I need to polish my boots and bra cups.

While I'm polishing, leave me a comment to win a sparkly prize of Mitten Weather chipboard along with the paper to coordinate, of course! Please beware, I am still armed with my lasso of truth and will use it as needed!

Before we get to John Jones, let's talk crumpled flowers. Some of you wanted to see how I made the flower on the Wanted tag. Here's a video Tutorial, and the finished tag with the flower I made. The stickles are still wet, that's why they look a little gloppy, but they dry awesome!

OK, John Jones. You may have easily gotten Lindsay in your good graces, but me..... well let's just say that I have a lot more experience with men. (Afterall, Lindsay sells scrapbooking supplies to women all day.) It's this experience I speak of that has led me to be less than trusting of the male species and since I'm a skeptic by nature anyway, you kind sir, are gonna have to work a little harder to win me over!

When I read your initial response, my gut didn't say, "Awwww, how sweet." Nope, not me. I thought, that's a competitive women, getting her hubby to comment to double her chances. Why would I think such a thing? Because it's just what I would do!!! But, the thought was sweet and so I played along. Then....... day # 2's comment. Well, it seamed sort of "Eddie Haskel-ish" to me. You know that too sweet to be true sort of feeling! Not only are you claiming to read up on her hobby, you are claiming to want to engage her in conversations about it. Is it just me, or does this seem like something a women would do? I have never heard of a man wanting more communication about anything.... especially his wife's hobby. Jaded, I know! Red flags went flying.

So, do you have any hope? What could a poor man like you do in order to sway me?

First, you must answer the following questions:

1. How long have you been married?

2. Are you a fan of Cricket the sport?

3. Do you have a Cricket cell phone?

4. Why do you need these brownie points?

5. What reward do you plan to cash these brownie points in for?

6. What kinds of paper flowers do you know how to make?

7. Does your wife know your username and password for commenting on blogs?

8. What name does your wife comment under?

9. Did she comment yesterday or on the prize post?

10. Do you like to embellish things?

But John, you can't just give me your answers. You must answer the questions on video, hooked up to a polygraph machine with Jack Bauer as the interrogater! Then, I may believe you, but no promises!!!

Will I give you a prize even if I don't believe you? Hmmmmm, I don't know. I'm fickle. What can I say, I'm a woman!

Hi everyone! We thought it would be fun to share with you some great Cosmo Cricket projects the designteam spotted on the internet!

This DeLovely card is made by Anja Curvers

Here is a great layout showing a great way to use your scraps. It's by Wendy McKee.

This awesome Mr. Campy card with giftbox by Aidenmak. Don't you just think that little boat paper piecing is to cute?!

A great teachers gift made by Sarah Hodgkinson featuring the Cosmo Cricket Core Impressions cardstock.

A fun layout with Togetherness by Becky Williams

Last but not least this card with The Boyfriend made by Ingrid Danvers

Hope you all enjoyed the eye candy. Happy scrapping!! 
   

Don't you just love that title? Well, our Wanted collection is an old-time love of mine! When I started playing with the new mini deck and Ready, Set Chip it was like putting on an old record you love, but haven't listened to in a long time. I was amazed..... how had I forgotten just how much I love these papers? They are so beautiful to me.

But, before we get to all that, I need to announce that all the new CHA releases are up for order on our site. If you have been waiting for the new lines to hit the store shelves, but don't want to keep checking in to see if they made it, simply place an order on our site. A store in your area will ship it right to your door.

To make the above card, I used a page of our Jack's Blackboard Album. I love to use our albums as templates! In this card, I actually used the page itself too. It gives it a nice quality with added dimension and weight.

To recreate this card begin by cutting a folded piece of cardstock just larger than the album page (about 1/4" bigger, the decorative end will need to be 1/4" bigger from the longest point).

Then trace the album page onto the cardstock and estimate an extra 1/4" following all the contours.... for those of you that sew, I think of this as seam allowance. Cut out.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink on all edges of this card. I especially loved how it made the thread darker!

After that, trace your album page onto your patterned paper background. Cut this out, but before you adhere it, sew around the edge. While your at your sewing machine, sew around the edge of the cardstock base too. Now adhere your patterned paper to the page and the page to the base.

Add some ribbon through the album page hole. I happened to have some leather that looked good, so I used that. I also used a crop-o-dile to punch the hole in my paper and set a brad in the hole, but it doesn't really show up.... just me being a perfectionist.

The flowers are both cut from papers in the mini deck. I folded the edges up a bit and adhered them in the center overlapping one flower onto the other.

Now place your chipboard stickers and Tiny Type letters. If you are wanting a new-time love maybe change the Tiny Type to say Cowboy and give it to some hunk-a, hunk-a that looks good in wranglers!

If you would like a tutorial for making the flower shown on the tag, let me know. Maybe Eric and I can pull off another home-made tutorial.

Have a great weekend everyone! Oh, and the Togetherness winner will be announced on Monday morning, so if you haven't entered yet, see the post below.

Our Facebook Fanpage Fabric contest has come to an end and I'm so sad. I have LOVED!!! seeing all your great ideas.

Our random winner's project is below, a lovely bag made with our first fabric line Jitterbug. I love that Brook made a matching card to go with it. Congratulations Brook Schumacher! Please send your address to jade at cosmocricket dot com. 

Although the contest has ended, please don't stop posting your projects to our fan page. They were all so inspiring to me and I'm sure others! Some of you have done things I keep telling myself I am going to do like making farmer's market bags. This one is by Julie Campbell.

Some of you have done things I wish I could do like sewing darling outfits and softies of your own creation. Amy Gunson made this dress and Susana Jacques made the softy.

Some of you have done things even non-sewers could do like making fabric flowers. These ones were made by Tessa Buys.

You are all so creative! Thanks for taking the time to inspire us all.

Now onto the winner from yesterday's post. Congratulations Sandra K. at 1:19pm. Sandra, send your info to jade at cosmocricket dot com. As soon as you get those mini decks, we want to see your cards!

During or immediately after a trade show we start shipping to stores all of the product that we showcased.

When we release new collections we wait anxiously to see what inspiring projects you create using our products. Looks like the goods are already in some stores.

 Holly Humbert made our world stand still for a brief second when she created this layout using our new Togetherness collection.Thanks for sharing Holly, and we can't wait to see what other paper crafting projects you have up your sleeve.

Next our good friends at SRM Stickers has some really talented people on their Design Team. Check  out the projects that they created using their stickers and our paper.

 Leading off, this terrific project comes courtesy of the ever so talented Jenyfur Pohl.

We have heard through the grapevine that it's not safe to leave Jenyfur alone in a room with adhesive, stickers, scissors and paper.

From the loud speaker:

 "Next up batting second and playing with paper is Gina Hanson....Hanson.

When interviewed and asked what she thought would help everyone on our planet to have a better life, she calmly replied,.......".World Piece..............ing papers together, adding glue dots, and cute embellishments."

  You want to see more? Check out SRM Stickers blog at:

http://www.srm-stickers.blogspot.com 

There are a ton more projects on their blog and a little bird told me that Thursday and Friday they might even be giving away some fun Cosmo Cricket products.

"Thank you SRM for being our friends."

Speaking of giveaways, how would one lucky person like to win a Wanted and Matilda 6"x 6" Mini Deck?

 If you want a chance, leave us comment and wait until tomorrow to see if by chance, luck, fate, kismet, or serendipity, if you've won.

I don't have a lot of time for hobbies, but when the trade shows roll around my job requires me to make time. I love it. It is super fun to spend a week focusing on using the fun stuff we make rather than designing it!

Here are two cards I made with Pixie-Licious. I love how they turned out.

I realized looking at these cards how much I have learned since I started paper crafting. I have to give you all credit. I haven't taken any classes, it's just been by watching you and seeing your amazing creativity that I've picked up a couple things.

First is that tiny matted edges looking wonderful. I actually took out a ruler to measure some of Debbie Olson's cards to see how she was cutting her mats. By the way, Debbie usually cuts the inside rectangle 1/8" smaller giving you a mat of 1/16" all the way around. I often use this technique and sometimes a little wider by cutting the inside piece 1/4" smaller.

Next, stitching is easy, gives a great edge, brings the eye in and dresses up just about anything! Even my simple cards look fancy if I run them through my sewing machine. I love using metallic thread too.

Heavy cardstock bases make the best cards! I use to use our patterned paper for the base of the card. It is heavy weight as far as printed papers are concerned, but it is not as heavy as some of the cardstocks out there. I really like the stiffness of a heavy cardstock. Your cards will look more professional and photograph better if you use a heavy weight base. A helpful tip if you are trying to get published.

I also love ribbon, layering embellishments and generally making my cards un-post-able! I don't mail too many and it's fun to have some froo-froo for delivering to friends. When I do mail my handmade cards, they are usually in a care package instead of an envelop anyway. So, my motto: "don't sacrifice design for the postman!"

If any of you are new to cardmaking, I hope my tips help. If you're a seasoned old-timer, tell me your favorite techniques. I'd love to learn more!

Since Julie was showing you all these lovely fabrics along the week we thought it would be fun to show you some projects made with these lovely Cosmo Cricket fabrics! Take a look and see that this design team can't only play with papers ;)

For the new school year Gudrun Loennecken's two daughters were in need of a new pencil case. Don't you think they will have the cutest once possible?

Natasja Verbeek made this next pouch.

This lovely bag is from Debbie Olson

Although I'd already made a tote with Cosmo Cricket Early Bird cloth, I needed something smaller. Then I found this cute little reversible handbag tutorial by Bradie Sparrow online and knew that it was just right for Early Bird! I made the inside layer solid, knowing that I wouldn't be using it on this side as often as on the quilted squares side. If you try this pattern, I would highly suggest hand-basting the straps in place before trying to topstich both layers--it may save you some backtracking. ;)

Wendy Sue Anderson decorated a headband with some cute fabric flowers for her daughter

and she also made this pillow slipcase

 
All of us had so much fun playing with these fabrics! We hope you will be able to get your hands on some as well and than don't forget to show us the results.

Have a great weekend!

We want to see what all you avid Cosmo Cricket fabric fans are doing with the goods. Come on... spill the beans....... ok, just the ones you didn't use to stuff your softie.

The above project is one I helped my daughter Abby make when I got my first samples of Girl Friday fabric. Believe it or not, it is the only thing we've made with our fabric. Eeeeeek! I am an official horder! I like to claim the too busy excuse as so many of us do, but I know if I saw a super cute project I just might find the time.

So, what do you say, inspire me! Not only will it be fun, but you could win a set of Tailor Made fat quarters. All you have to do is post a photo of your project to our facebook fan page by August 17th, midnight, MST. There's a few cute ones up already, but your odds on this giveaway are going to be far better than the last I think!

Here's to a happy, crafty weekend!

Today- Is a good day. Julie asked me to blog and I wasn't sure what I was going to blog about until Merdrey Chew (See Picture below):

 From Singapore, sent me information on a class that she will be teaching at a store very soon (see picture below)

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking , " My goodness, she used Delovely and Garden Variety." You are so right and Wow! Talk about a great project!

Merdrey is a Class instructor/Total Sweetheart for two store's in Singapore, Laine's Papeterie and the Paper Market. I think we should all try hard to make arrangements to get our passports, book our flight and hotel, and go and attend Merdrey's class. What do you think?

 Here's another  project that she has created (see below):

 Talented I'll say! ( For more talent- see below)

Following two giveaways in a row are very tough acts to follow. Wow- Did you guys get excited about the fabric! Almost 500 comments and some were even men.

 I was a little worried about today, but with Merdrey's help, I think we did okay.

By the way............Yesterday's fabric winner is Jamie Long! And I wanted to thank everyone for  wishing me a Happy 50th Birthday this past week.

Boy oh Boy! Is that Material Girl made as fabric?!?!?! Why, yes it is, but in fabric we're calling it Tailor Made. In fact, there is a Garden Variety print thrown in too..... you know the one with all the flowers called Bloomers.

Anyway, Andover Fabrics has just released these patterns.  If you are a retailer and would like to carry this line, please contact Andover for more information. If you are a crafty sort of person and you would like to own these fabrics, leave us a comment today. We're giving this set away! For purchasing information, please give us some time. We'll update you as soon as we know where it is being sold!

Oh, I almost forgot yesterday's winner! Congrats Suzie Button. Please send your address to jade at cosmocricket dot com. She'll forward it to Paper Fashions Boutique and they will send you your prize!

Hey bloggers,

We have a fun give away from Paper Fashion Boutique today. Check out this super cute DeLovely card box with matching cards to go inside.

To win this fun kit with everything you need to make the above projects including the instructions, please leave us a comment!

Lindsay wanted me to tell you all thank you for the happy birthday wishes. He had a great day! Here's the pics:

Lindsay's not the only one freaking about his age! Poor Tehawna.

Lindsay and Bill. Like father like son! We had a great time visiting and getting to know Bill better.

Faster than a speeding bullet, stronger than a locomotive, able to down a cupcake in a single bound!

Just read the package. We have nothing more to say!