Cosmo Cricket

I really like this Cosmo Cricket patterned paper.  I like that it is a solid grey with some white markings to make it a patterned paper.  I tore off the manufacturers strip and then glued it back down the right edge.  I liked the orange colour.

 

Under the photos I've used the acrylic leftovers from a sheet of acrylic embellishments.  It's clear and adds a little depth to my layout.

 

I really like the Prima frosted branch. I've hung a pink heart from it.  I think this same frosted branch would look really pretty a little higher on a layout with snowflakes hanging from it.

I stamped some script in various areas of my background and used grey magic mesh to add texture. The Bella Blvd sticker, the clear flower with an MM brad center and the map embellishment are all bits from my stash.

I used some pretty Prima blooms and leaves.  The blingy LOVE is one of Making Memories metal embellishments.

I really like the frosted Prima branch on this layout. It's very pretty.

Be sure to check out this Cosmo Cricket line next time you are in Unforgettable Memories.  And check out the Prima selection.  There are so many pretty flowers, branches and embellishments available.

Cosmo Cricket summer

The last time I was in Unforgettable Memories I picked up some Cosmo Cricket.  I love the colours and patterns of this summer line.  Just gorgeous! Pinks, oranges and yellows.  And I found the perfect Prima flowers to match.

 

I collected a bunch of leftovers from my stash that matched.  Like the transparency down the left border, and the orange felt flowers in the center.

 

I tied a posie of three Prima flowers with a piece of gold ribbon.  The metal plaque is Making Memories and the stamp is SMASH by K & Co. I punched some butterflies out of black cardstock and used pink bling down their bodies.  So pretty!

Remember 'magic mesh'? I still have some iin my stash.  I cut strips of orange magic mesh for some texture on my layout.  I also used pieces of pink vellum (I'd punched some butterflies out of this piece for some past layout).  The square epoxy stickers are really old SEI.  I save everything and love using up my stash.

The HOME sticker and Grandparents are both from a Making Memories sticker sheet.  I stamped one of my Kaiser camera wood pieces using my SMASH date stamper.  The pink Bakers Twine is twisted up and glued down under the stickers and embellishments.

My journaling is a mix of alpha stickers, hand writing and SMASH date stamper. Accented with another Prima bloom and black butterfly.  I wanted the black to match the left border.

The next time you are in the store you really should check out the Cosmo Cricket lines.  the geometric designs are so striking and there are lots of great colour combos.

Stamping and Vellum

We got a new puppy for Christmas this past December.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with Christmas photos still waiting to be scrapbooked.  Unforgettable Memories has a great selection of Christmas papers and embellishments grouped together.

I spotted the Kaiser wood-cut ornaments on a recent trip and grabbed it.  I thought it would make a gorgeous border on one of my pages. 
I rubbed it with gold ink and then used 'crackle accents' by Ranger tattach gold micro beads. I sprayed some bronze Glimmer Mist and rubbed some red ink on parts.  I kept playing with the inks and accents till I was happy wiht how it looked.

The vellum has white snowflakes printed on it.  So pretty.  I've accented a few of the snowflakes with bling.

I started off by stamping a holly stamp randomly across the top of my 'harvest gold' cardstock. Instead of reinking each time I stamped 3 or 4 times with the same ink. The faded images give some depth to the border.
I used red acrylic paint and the end of a paint brush to dot a few of the holly berries. The gold glitter stars and poinsettas are Making Memories. I added Kaiser jewels to the center of the flowers and to accent some of the holly berries.

My journal spot is from one of the Smash Journal pads.  Love them! Each pad has a few different designs included. 

Love this BIG poinsetta.  I've been saving it for a special project. The round frame and smaller flower are from an old Basic Grey Christmas line.  Basic Grey never goes out of style.
The heart and oval stick pins are with the Wedding scrapbook supplies at Unforgettable Memories.

 

So check out the Christmas section at Unforgettable Memories next time you're in, and get those Christmas photos scrapped.

Cosmo Cricket chipboard

So this isn't one of the challenge blogs I listed earlier this week.  Instead it's a challenge I set for myself. 

 

I have so many partial sticker and chipboard sheets in my stash.  When I picked up the 'Sew Sweet' chipboard sheet I decided to challenge myself to use up the entire sheet.  This layout is the last of the sheet; with the pieces I found most challenging to find a place for. 

 

 

I started off with black cardstock. I decided it was too 'black' with the old black and white photo so I swiped some white paint on with an old credit card. I matted my photo with blue vellum which matched the blue in the chipboard pieces perfectly.

 

Some closeups...

 

I created a border along the top of the page with scissors, spools and a needle.  I wrapped twine around the spools before glueing them down.  The strip of red Cosmo Cricket wood grain emphasizes the border.

 

 

I layered the dress model, flowers, buttons and the little girl on one corner.

The measuring tape was a 12" piece that I had cut up and used on my last Cosmo Cricket layout.  I added the remaining piece to my layers of patterned paper.  The transparency was a piece I discovered when cleaning up in my scraproom this morning.

I love the title  'Sew Sweet'.And the scissors.  The colours in this line are perfect with older, black and white photos.

I'm all done with the Cosmo Cricket 'Sew Perfect' line.  It's perfect for girly photos though I managed to get my son in one of the layouts. If you've picked it up I hope you have fun with it. I did!

Happy New Year

 It is very rare that I overlook a paper line from Cosmo Cricket.  I love Cosmo Cricket.  But I completely overlooked this line, Twenty Three.  But when I printed my New Years photos I just knew this was the line to use.  Works perfectly I think! 




 I purchased this paper for the above New Years pictures and had some left over.  This photo was the next one and since this paper was out I decided to run with it.  Turns out this is my new favorite layout of 2013.  Although the year is new, I love the simplicity and negative space on this layout. 

More Cosmo Cricket chipboard

That's right. I'm on my third layout using the Sew Sweet chipboard sheet. And I completed my first March challenge!

The challenge was from the 123 Challenge blog. I used black with the polka dot washi tape and my title,  I used the word 'year' in my journaling and I framed my subjects with a twine circle.

 Here are some closeups...

  I like how my circle turned out with the two colours of twine; pink and grey.  It's kind of messy but frames Grandma and Breanna perfectly.  I adhered it with glue dots.

 I made a clothesline with the doll clothes and button pieces, from the chipboard sheet, to embellish the top of my page.

 There are lots of pieces of washi tape on my page.  I layered the polka dot tape with the newsprint tape. 

I love the chipboard font I used for my title.  It is perfect for munchkin layouts. I underlined it all with bling that comes in 12" lengths.  This length is black, but it comes in other colours to.

Cosmo Cricket 'Sew Perfect'

I used another third of the Cosmo Cricket 'Sew Perfect' chipboard sheet on this layout.  Lots of flowers and the vines are layered on the patterned paper. 

 I punched butterflies out of the acorn paper and then placed them back in the punched holes, curling up the edges a little so the red polka dot paper peeks through.

 

There are quite a few layers under the photo.  Vellum, patterned paper and chipboard, as well as paint dauber splatters and ink. 

More chipboard, and I inked the edges of my journaling strips with pink distress ink.

The days of the week Washi Tape was the perfect colour green to work with this line. I have used it on several spots.

I've been busy sorting photos; more older ones like the photo above from 1999 and also recent photos or our new puppy that I need to get developed.  I will have to look through the pet section at Unforgettable Memories for any new pattern paper lines.

I want to get lots of scrappiing done this month so I'm going to check out some challenge blogs for inspiration.  Check back here in a couple days and I will summarize the different sites and this month's challenges for anyone that want's to scrap along with me.

Happy New Year

Tonight I'm playing with Cosmo Cricket.  The chipboard in this Sew Perfect line is bright and cheerful and perfect for a girlie page. The photo is an oldie.  From 1999. Breanna had gorgeous hair right from the start.  But she hated brushing it, or having it brushed. 

I cut up some cheesecloth and placed under my photos and chipboard.  Love the chipboard girl. She even has red hair like Breanna.
Some of the chipboard flowers are cut in half. It's easy to do with a good sharp craft knife. 
My journaling is scattered on the right half of the page in random sentences.

Heather

Simple Design

Throughout the years I have randomly changed my design strategies.  Sometimes I follow trend.  For example over the years I have cut photos into cute shapes, layered flowers, misted, inked, used buttons, matted photos, ripped paper, layered paper...

Currently I am trying to mix old with new stash and just get the important photos scrapbooked.  Sometimes it feels like I have not done enough or the layout is incomplete.  But really I am just liking the look of clean lines, more negative space, fewer but most important photos and journaling. 

 

I like how the beach photos pop off the Cosmo Cricket background paper.  The big chipboard wave is from my stash. Sometimes these large chipboard peices are hard to use.  This layout was so simple it needed something.  I think this wave adds movement and some dimension to the design.

 

Jen Louie challenged me to use this peice of paper.  I tried several photos and thoughts out for this paper.  Nothing was right.  Then I picked up this photo and it just seemed to fit.  I love how the photo and design is simple but so effective when added to this great peice of paper. 

 



 

Some great photos of swimming at the outdoor pool in Hudsons Hope.  A simple 10x10 sheet of blue dot paper and a large scallop that I cut free hand, a journal spot, some word stickers.  Bam, done!

 

Keepin it simple and getting caught up one layout at a time!



Card Class March 20

There has been some requests for cards lately so I have created four detailed, 3D cards. I am really liking the techniques in these cards. The "thank you" card is coloured with Copic markers and the background is not patterned paper - I made it all myself! You can do it too - it's very easy! As you can see in the pinwheel card photo each card is also completed on the inside as well.

This class will run at 7:00 pm on Tuesday March 20. Cost for the class is $28 or $23 for members. Call the store at 250-785-2711 to sign up today.

This clear stamp set from Hero Arts is used on every card in the class. The best part is, you get to have your own to take home! The sparkle gems at the top look like flowers in this picture, but they are really round. We use a few in the class, but you'll have leftovers to play with as well!

Apron Class

I am so excited for the new store to be up and running. The first class scheduled to be taught in the new classroom is this very pretty canvas apron. This class is on Wednesday, November 30th from 7-9 pm. The cost of this class is $15.00, which includes instructor, apron and adhesive. At an extra cost you choose your own ribbon and bling to create your one of a kind designer apron! Members will recieve a discount for additional product. We will learn to make these neat ribbon flowers using Cosmo Cricket's extra large glue dot Glubbers! This apron would make a great Christmas present for that special someone who loves to get dirty or just look pretty! Sign up today as space is limited. Call today 250-785-2711.

Misting and stamping

I used Cosmo Cricket's odds & ends line on this two page layout of my cute nephew enjoying his Mexican vacation.

I started with two 12x12 sheets of kraft cardstock as my background.  I wanted to do a misted border down the left side so I covered all but 3" with a piece of scrap paper.  I laid my curly mask and sprayed with Espresso and then with Gold glimmer mist.  Then I pulled out my world stamp and placed 4 images on to my border.

I used the same recipe on the lower right corner.

Here are some closeups...

I used loads of the stickers from odds & ends on this layout, like the 3 tags I tucked under the photo of snoozin' Wade.

I love the huge green brads in the center of the red flowers.  They are so bold and vibrant.  I think they're by Bazzill.  I know Unforgettable Memories has them in a few colours.

I layered some more stickers on top of a piece of patterned paper and a length of MM's travel tape.

I wanted more green on my layout so I drizzled some ink vertically in a couple of places. Just hold the paper upright so it dribbles down the page. 

Stamping with Glimmer Mist and a challenge

I have a stamp that is a collage of tropical images.  More Hawaiin then Mexican, but I decided to go with it anyway. I sprayed my stamp with a green Mist and stamped down.  Than I cleaned off my stamp by rubbing it off on the top and lower edge of my paper.  

Glimmer Mist stamped this way is not going to give you a sharp, clean image.  Instead you get the grungy look you see below.  Rubbing the remaining ink on the paper edges adds to the grunge :) 

Then I decided on a challenge for myself.

Only use stickers on this page.

No patterned paper, no flowers, no lumpy embellishements.  I counted the MM decorative tape as a sticker.

When I first started scrapbooking I used A LOT of stickers.  Then there was a period of time when I thought all stickers were not 'cool', even alphabet stickers.  There are so many neat sticker designs out there and I had a sheet of Cosmo Cricket "Salt Air" stickers that I hadn't broken open yet.  I wasn't sure about mermaid stickers for a boy page, but I found a spot for them ;)

If you try this challenge I would love to see your page!

Use masks & mists to create backgrounds

I had some snapshots of my sister and her family geocaching last summer that I wanted to scrap.

I started off with  a couple of pieces of kraft cardstock and laid my latest favourite mask ~ the vine mask by Crafter's Workshop ~ in the center of the two pages. I sprayed with Jazz Blue Glimmer Mist.

I also sprayed a butterfly mask in the top right and lower left with Latte Metalic Mist ~ also by Tattered Angels.

I rubbed Pinecone ink around the edges of my pages

There is a fun line by Cosmo Cricket called Odds & Ends.  I started cutting into the papers I picked up at the store last shopping trip and used strips and rectangles to put under my photos. 

The butterflies are K & Co.

I used woodcut scrolls and leaves, chipboard flowers, buttons, epoxy photo corners, Thickers felt alpha for the title and some photo frames - I love them!

Cosmo Cricket 'Salt Air'

Have you seen Cosmos Cricket's 'Salt Air' line in the store.  What a fun line to use for summer water pictures; at the beach, on holidays, or in the tub. 

I picked up 4 patterned papers; 2 Deckchairs for my background and 1 Fish tales for matting and extras and 1 Border piece.

I love that they're all double sided.  To get my stripy border I cut a 3" strip from my background, flipped it over and attached it back on using a strip from the Border sheet to hide the join. 

The border strips are perfect for making rosette flowers.  I see rosettes everwhere so I decided to give them a go.  I used a 6" length the width of whichever border strip I chose and folded them back and forth in about 1/4" increments. So easy! I punched little circles and distressed them for the centers and added a Kaiser jewel. 

I used another of the Border strips for my journaling bits. I just tore each piece out and stacked them on top of each other before writing out my story.




I like to tuck tags behind my photos as an embellishment. These ones are outlined in black ink and then I scattered a few buttons.
 
 
 
 
 

I think my favourite rosette is the bright coloured stripy one.
 
 
I tucked a couple of Prima's pink hydrangeas below the rosettes and title sticker (Jolees) and scattered some Kaiser jewels around it all. I even put a few on my photos.
 
 
 
 
 
And here's the finished layout.  I used more of the Border strips to ground my photos.  The alphabet letters are from another Cosmo Cricket line I had in my stash.

Don't you love the pink flip flops?  Those are Jolee's stickers.