Display board

Here is the last item that I made from the 9,000 piece Cosmo Cricket kit.  The display board on the left is another easy project.  It's just a piece of chipboard with openings for photos that I covered on the back with a coordinating piece of patterned paper - I left it open at the top to add photos, mats (if needed) or journaling.  I added a piece of ribbon to hang it and a chipboard title and embellishments. 

I hope you are checking out some of the links I have listed below - everyone is getting really excited about CHA next week.  Some including Tim Holtz are showing sneak peaks of the new items that are being released next week.  Tim Holtz has some amazing items that he's bringing along with Heartfelt Creations.  Guard your wallet!

Christmas cards

So here is a closer look at the eight Christmas cards I made with the 9,000 piece kit from Cosmo Cricket.  I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo but the kit included liners for the envelopes that matched the cards - quite a nice touch!

Chipboard Album

Here's another item made from the 9,000 piece Cosmo Cricket kit.  The front of this page actually was scraps that I had left but I love the way the little snowman is showcased in the red rectangle.  Photos and journaling will need to be added as well as any further personalization that is wanted. 

Accordion album

I'm so happy I figured out how to get the photos facing in the right directions - looks so much better.  Amazing how the small things can make us so happy!  Here is the accordion album that was part of the 9,000 piece kit from Cosmo Cricket.  All the edges are distressed with a Close To My Heart brown ink pad.  Most of the papers did not need a lot of distressing as they already had a "distressed" look to them.  I did not use adhesive on the top of the photo frames and was careful to put the adhesive on the very outside edge of the frames so that a photo could be slid in.  Photos can also be placed on the tags with journaling placed on the back of the tags. 

More projects

When I posted the pictures on July 11th I kept looking at the grouping and thought boy, this doesn't seem like much for all the time and work it took!  Well, that's because I forgot to include the 2 album set (see photo at right) that was part of this Cosmo Cricket 9,000 piece kit!  I've also included photos from one 2 page layout from each album.  Like the other projects they are intended for Christmas photos.  All of the items just need photos and personalization/journaling although there is room for more embellishment if wanted.

Did you notice that photos are all oriented in the right direction?  Yay!!  I figured out how to get them rotated finally.  Thanks for your patience!

Finally finished!!

So here are the projects I've been working on since June 26th!  I opened up the 2 boxes that the materials (9000 pieces!!) came in on my first day of vacation.  I've been working on them or fussing with them on & off since then.  I did not make all the projects that were possible as they did not appeal to me.  The hardest part of working with this kit was working with prints that I probably would not have picked myself.  Some of them I liked and some I didn't.  So I found that a challenge.  I'll have photos of the individual items posted over the next few days.  If you are starting on your Christmas cards or other holiday projects hopefully they will provide some inspiration!

The Artist's Way

I know many scrapbookers, stampers, cardmakers & papercrafters who have said in the past "I couldn't do that - I'm not creative!"  And even experienced crafters sometimes feel "blocked" and at a a loss of how to compose a card or page.  For anyone who wants to discover their creativity or recover it, check out The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  While I've not managed to get through the whole 12 week program, I love the book and it has helped me get over some hurdles.  In looking back over my blog and the projects I've gotten done in the last 3 months its certainly got me working again!  You can find the "Basic Tools"on http://www.theartistsway.com/ under the tab at the top of the home page. 

Cards

I posted the other cards to this set back awhile and forgot about these until I was reviewing what was on my memory card.  So I thought I would post these and be done with them. You can see the original post on June 4, 2010.  The set is called Blissful Blossoms.   As you can see it the kit was pretty basic and they were easy to do.  As usual I had problems getting the photos going in the right direction but at least this time they are all facing the same way!