Cosmo Cricket!

I just completed this whimsical-styled Cosmo Cricket layout this morning. I had the idea brewing in my head for a couple of days but was so busy I didn't have the time to get down to scrap it. I was looking at my Early Bird papers from My Scrapbook Nook's June kit and it dawned on me that the leaves from Brunch pp would make great leaves on a hand-drawn tree. And there were the perfect papers from Apron Strings and Ribbon Sandwich to form the rolling fields. And of course I had the perfect photo to complete this whimsical-styled layout. :)

The rolling fields are layered one over another with foam dots to create more dimension. Selected leaves & flowers on the tree are popped up as well so the look isn't all uniform. And of course, the silhouette photo is outlined with black backing and then made 3-dimensional to complete the look.

The most time-consuming part of this layout was cutting out all the little leaves and tiny flowers on stems that dot the fields. But I'm glad I did because it adds that little extra.

And of course I couldn't resist adding this little early bird to one of the branches.

I've been really fortunate to work on a couple of Cosmo Cricket collections in the past few months through My Scrapbook Nook. And what I've been struck by is how varied the collections are. Early Bird is so bright and cheerful, it lends itself perfectly to whimsical layouts like the one above. Then you have Ever After, that beautiful, dreamy romantic collection which is perfect for chic romantic layouts. I've fallen in love with Cosmo Cricket and I don't think I could ever tire of their collections.

Well, Cosmo Cricket's having a design team call so I'm giving it a shot as I love their collections. Here are some layouts and other projects I've created using Cosmo Cricket:

Sweet Biscuit

This layout was voted Top Ten at Two Peas the week I posted it. It was also Top Ten by views.

Best Friends




Cool Rider




Home Sweet Home Hanging Decor





Rise and Shine
(the other side of the Home Sweet Home)

Lil' Butterflies Card





The Story of Us (using Ever After)
- lots of intricate cutwork here.








You & Me
- lots of intricate cutwork and a homemade flower using diecut patterned paper interspersed with Prima petals.







Flower Girl






Butterfly Card



Imagine (using Fleuriste)




Fleuriste Thank You Card

And that's my Cosmo Cricket gallery. Thanks for looking. :)

The Sweet Life

A father-daughter themed layout using Collage Press' Sweet Shoppe collection. When I first saw this collection on the Collage Press website, I thought the design and colours would be too sweet for my taste. But I was in for a surprise when I saw the papers in real life. The collection's really lovely with a soft distressed feel to it. Not too tweet at all.

I used Yum's floral print as the background and to draw attention to the photo, I used the contrasting brown Root Beer scalloped paper.

To add texture, the edges of the papers are inked and distressed. The title work is on Chocoholic pp which I handcut the design out of, then matted on the reverse side. The layout is embellished with the pretty new cherry blossom branches from Prima, other Prima flowers and Prima crystal swirls.

To balance off the layout, which is heavy on the bottom left, I placed my journalling cluster on the top right.

Materials used:

Collage Press Sweet Shoppe: Chocoholic, Fruity Twists, Naturally Sweet, Yum.
Collage Press Sweet Shoppe Root Beer Scallop
Collage Press Sweet Shoppe Collage Cuts Journalling Tags
Collage Press Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Cardstock Stickers
Prima Marketing Cherry Blossom Branches
Prima Marketing Essentials 3 Caliope & Coquet
Prima Marketing Say It In Crystals Swirls
Making Memories Lace Trim

Lake Tekapo

A Prima layout I did using a fab sketch by Anam Stubbington for Prima's June Build-A-Page. I used mostly Prima supplies on this layout. Papers are from Flirty Little Secrets, one of my favourite collections from Prima. The fresh Spring colours are perfect for the photos we took by Lake Tekapo.

I created lots of texture on this layout with inking and distressing of the edges. The photo mat is actually a coordinating journalling card from Flirty Little Secrets, which I popped up with 3D foam dots.


I selected some of my favourite Prima flowers to use on this layout. Love the Petite Fleur Vine with the little roses and tendrils. My husband has declared this one of his favourite layouts. I have to say it's one of mine too. :)





Materials used:

Patterned Paper: Prima Flirty Little Secret's Coy, Memoirs and Meander
Journalling Card: Prima Flirty Little Secret
Flowers: Prima Woodstock Flowers, Petite Fleur Vines, Caboodles, & Artistry Flowers
Alphas: American Craft Thickers

New Graphic 45 release!

Here are the signature pages from three brand new collections from Graphic 45 for CHA Summer 09!

The Renaissance Faire Collection is a sophisticated journey to the golden age of fabulous art, music, and literature. Designs combine famous paintings, architectural elements, opulent textiles, wallpaper, and old text to create images worthy of royalty. An antiqued jewel tone color palette adds to the elegance of the motifs and patterns. This beautiful collection is perfect for collage and paper crafting, holidays, weddings, special occasions, heritage projects, card making and more. Renaissance Faire offers a fresh approach to timeless treasures.

The Domestic Goddess Collection is a playful celebration of women's traditional roles drawn from the days when they proudly wore aprons and vied for blue ribbons at the county fair. Designs featuring a rich mix of reds, yellows, blues, and greens, were inspired by vintage tea towels, table linens, food labels, and images of cooking, sewing, laundry, and other household chores. For collage, paper crafting, cards and layouts, this collection is endlessly versatile, offering a smile and a nod to the Domestic Goddess in all of us.

The Christmas Past Collection evokes memories of Grandma’s house, with the heady fragrance of gingerbread baking in the kitchen, a Christmas tree decked out in its holiday best, and carolers at the door. Angels, heirloom ornaments, Rudolph, Santa and the elves— they're all here, wrapped in a heartwarming color palette of red, green and gold with the patina of age. Holiday images seeped in Christmas Past—a terrific way to share and celebrate Christmas Present.

So very very pretty! I can already picture how I'm going to use the papers. :)

Good Times

I finally scrapped my Basic Grey Wisteria papers. I really like this photo of my daughter among the lupin flowers in New Zealand. The flowers come in all shades of purple, lavender, lilac, blue, pink... Really pretty!


For this layout, I cut out the flowers from Wisteria's Patio paper and layered them for more dimension. I then added stickles to the edges for definition and created a flower centre using Robin's Nest Dew Drops.

I created a picture frame/window effect for the photo using border strips from Wisteria's Stone Wall and added some trim to soften the look.

The title work continues wth the lace trim theme and embellished with little Prima hydrangeas which are liberally sprinkled across the layout. The title is reflective of the good time we had on our holiday in New Zealand.

Home Sweet Home

Here's a little hanging decor I made for My Scrapbook Nook using the cheery Cosmo Cricket papers in their June kit. The scalloped ovals are die cut from chipboard and stacked on top of each other. And I happened to have in my stash the perfect hydrangea petals in hues to match the patterned paper. And check out that red polka-dotted grosgrain ribbon which matches the Cosmo Cricket paper perfectly! :)

Here's the other side of the decor, which says Rise & Shine. Love the Cosmo Cricket chipboard toast and coffee mug. :)

I applied stickles along all the edges for that extra glitz.

And some good news, the Fathers Day card I made using GCD papers won the GCD Studios Fathers Day Card Challenge. :D

Take Time to smell the Flowers

Here's a layout I did for Graphic 45 using a lovely sketch by Hilde. I used papers from 4 different Graphic 45 collections on this layout; some from the most recent collection like Fashionista & Transatlantique, and some from the debut collection of Botanicabella and Times Nouveau. That's the beauty of Graphic 45, their collections mix and match really well.

Here's Hilde's sketch. A really pretty one. If you're inspired by the sketch, create some Graphic 45 layouts and upload it to our ning site: Graphic 45

Some close-ups:

Lots of handcut details of flowers and butterflies, interspersed with Prima flowers. I like how the butterflies and flowers look so lively and fluid.

I added a sparing touch of lace trim and Prima vine to complete the look.

Graphic 45 papers used:

Fashionista Le Fleur
Fashionista Potpourri
Transatlantique Paris Post
Times Nouveau Glad Rags
Times Nouveau Hey You
Botanicabella Ode to Butterfly

New Graphic 45 for CHA

If you're a fan of Graphic 45, get ready for the sneak peeks of our CHA Summer collections. We have three brand new collections making their debut:

The Domestic Goddess Collection is a playful celebration of women's traditional roles drawn from the days when they proudly wore aprons and vied for blue ribbons at the county fair. Designs featuring a rich mix of reds, yellows, blues, and greens, were inspired by vintage tea towels, table linens, food labels, and images of cooking, sewing, laundry, and other household chores. For collage, paper crafting, cards and layouts, this collection is endlessly versatile, offering a smile and a nod to the Domestic Goddess in all of us.

The Renaissance Faire Collection is a sophisticated journey to the golden age of fabulous art, music, and literature. Designs combine famous paintings, architectural elements, opulent textiles, wallpaper, and old text to create images worthy of royalty. An antiqued jewel tone color palette adds to the elegance of the motifs and patterns. This beautiful collection is perfect for collage and paper crafting, holidays, weddings, special occasions, heritage projects, card making and more. Renaissance Faire offers a fresh approach to timeless treasures.

The Christmas Past Collection evokes memories of Grandma’s house, with the heady fragrance of gingerbread baking in the kitchen, a Christmas tree decked out in its holiday best, and carolers at the door. Angels, heirloom ornaments, Rudolph, Santa and the elves— they're all here, wrapped in a heartwarming color palette of red, green and gold with the patina of age. Holiday images seeped in Christmas Past—a terrific way to share and celebrate Christmas Present.

Images will be on the Graphic 45 blog next week! Can't wait!

Fathers Day Card

A cheery Fathers Day card using GCD Studios paper. One of the pp was distressed while another was given a punched-out border for some texture. The intricate paisley pattern from the Paisley pp was handcut for a focus point and a little velvet cut-out tops the ribbon centre. The papers were elegantly black, grey and cream so I went for bright embellishments for a happy contrast. I found that in some red satin ribbon and embroided heart gingham ribbon and a couple of green Prima flowers.


A close-up:




Supplies:

Patterned Papers: GCD Studios Paris Nights Collection's Champs Elysee, Le Jardin, Louvre & Cosette Collection's Paisley
Flowers: Prima Marketing
Alphas: AdornIt
Ribbons: Unknown

Graphic 45 Card

A quick card I made using Graphic 45's Botanicabella collection and some teal satin ribbon. I like the colour combination here. The olive and teal combi makes the card suitable for a guy even with the satin ribbon.

The diamond-shaped flower cut-out is matted on black cardstock and raised with 3D foam dots. I love a card with lots of bulk. :)


Materials used:
Graphic 45 Botanicabella collection: Antiquity, Botanical News, Garden Suite
Prima flower
Robin's Nest dew drops

Top Ten at Two Peas

My Cosmo Cricket "Sweet Biscuit" layout is top ten by votes and views at Two Peas :)

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1499741

Sweet Biscuit

Yes, the name of that beautiful white horse in the photo is actually Biscuit. :)

I used Cosmo Cricket's ever so cheery Early Bird collection on this layout. Love the chipboard embellishments :) All material on this layout is from My Scrapbook Nook's June kit, except for the red ribbon. Once again Leah has done a great job of coordinating the paper with the embellishments.

Some close-ups:

Isn't that chipboard bird so cute?


Gotta love those Maya Road pins too.

Cool Rider

Another layout for My Scrapbook Nook using these truly happy papers from Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird Collection. This is a photo of my dd on an all-terrain vehicle in New Zealand. There were some scary moments on the ride. Very scary at the point it happened but it makes for a good story now that no one was badly hurt.



A close-up of the flower cluster. Everything on the layout is from the Nook kit, except for the yellow Prima flower and crystal centre. The Nook has the greatest kits and they're ever so generous with what goes in it. Go here to take a look: My Scrapbook Nook.

Best Friends

A bright and cheery layout using Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird papers and embellishments. Love the colours and the coordinated AC yellow thickers which go so well with the papers. All supplies are from My Scrapbook Nook's June kit.

Supplies:

Patterned Papers - Cosmo Cricket Early Bird
Chipboard Elements - Cosmo Cricket Early Bird
Butterfly Button - Chatterbox
Alphas - American Craft Thickers

Grab a Graphic 45 blinkie

Are you a Graphic 45 fan? Have you grabbed these Graphic 45 blinkies yet? If you haven't, now's a good time to grab either one and post it on your blog. Because if you're spotted with it, you stand a chance of winning a Graphic 45 prize.

All you have to do is go to either our main Graphic 45 site or our Graphic 45 ning site, save the blinkie that you see on the main page and post it on your blog. Then, let us know you've done so by leaving a comment here on this post. Or, you can add your blog URL on our Graphic 45 ning forum page.

Hint: We'll be choosing a winner really soon!

Laugh Out Loud!

Here's one of the layouts I did for Dream Street Papers during my stint as a Guest Designer there. I used the Fresh collection on this. Love the soothing blues and greens of the paper.

A couple of tips: For multi-photo layouts, circles are a great way to focus the eyes on the photos. Also, pick up colours from the photo and use those on your embellishments. Here I picked up the reds and blues from the photo and repeated them in my flowers and Robin's Nest Dew Drops.


I was quite happy to find this Making Memories metal embellishment which went perfectly with my flowers and overall layout design. :)

Playing with my Apron Strings border punch here :)

Supplies:

Patterned Paper - Dream Street Papers Fresh Collection

Flowers - Prima

Metal Embellishment - Making Memories

Epoxy Sticker - Cloud 9 Designs

Alphas - American Craft Thickers

Others - Robin's Nest Dew Drops

Imagine the Possibilities

This layout's for a tutorial I did for Graphic 45, using their gorgeous Transatlantique papers. I love the richness of the colours and the splash of citrus brought about by the flowers. And don't you just love the waterfall in the background? One of my favourite recent layouts. :)

The layout was featured at a scrapbooking conference and the tutorial distributed to all the East Coast reps. You can find my tutorial at the Graphic 45 blog here: Sue's tutorial

Some close-ups:

I kept the title small on this layout, using the word "Imagine" from a printed twill.

The little butterflies are from Graphic 45's Botanicabella collection's Ode to Butterfly paper. I love that paper and can't get enough of the butterflies.

Supply List:
Graphic 45 Papers - Transatlantique (All Aboard, Pack Your Bags, Globe Trotter, Bon Voyage & Paris Post) & Botanicabella (Ode to Butterfly);
Flowers - Prima;
Printed Transparency - Hambly;
Inks: Rangers Distress Inks;
Twill: Creative Impressions;
Others - Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Rangers Liquid Pearls, Lace (unknown brand)

Graphic 45 blinkie!

If you're a Graphic 45 fan, you might just want to grab this blinkie we have up on our ning site: Graphic 45. Because if you're spotted with this blinkie (or the other static one) on your blog, we might just reward you with a prize :) So if you've put one up on your blog, drop me a note to let me know.



More Graphic 45 News...

We have new collections coming out for CHA! Hurray!!! And they promise to be just as beautiful and rich as all Graphic 45 collections are. Details will be released soon. :)

Guest Designer at Dream Street Papers

So I'm really thrilled because I've been invited to be a Guest Designer for Dream Street Papers. A big box arrived for me last month which was filled with all their latest collections from CHA Winter. :)

I have to say the papers are really versatile and beautiful. I loved working with them.

Here are some screen captures of my feature at the Dream Street Papers blog:









You can see my feature on the Dream Street Papers blog here: May Guest Designer

Basic Grey Gallery

The butterfly card I made using Basic Grey's Infuse papers and Purple Onion Designs butterfly stamp is featured in the Basic Grey Gallery :)