ScrapFriends Community Forum: ScrapFriends Community Forum -> Cosmo Cricket Blackboard Album & 8"x8" Designer Paper Pack

I was so excited to get a chance to review a few Cosmo Cricket products! I love the company’s distressed paper look and beautiful color palette. I have been stalking the Cosmo Cricket Blog since CHA Winter 2008. This is a company with a sense of humor! I enjoyed the exploits of Jon the Warehouse Guy, oh, and if you haven’t visited their website, you need to do that now (after you finish this review of course)! LOL. There is even a panic button for you to press when your Dear Husband walks in on you shopping. Check it out!

On to the review...I received a six page 8”x6” Ethan’s Album (retail $7.00) from the new Blackboard line, “think chipboard without the ugly grey edges.” Ethan’s album comes carefully packaged with a cardboard hang tag and plastic on the front. On the back side you will find a few full color tips with a reference to the Cosmo Cricket website where you can find even more tips and video demonstrations for Cosmo Blackboard products. When I shop I always read the labels. This product is acid free, lingin free, fat free, sugar free and high in fiber. So it’s even good for you!!!

In addition to Ethan’s album, I received one Cosmo Cricket (Fleuriste) 8” x 8” paper pad (retail $7.99). Wow! This one pad of paper has a generous helping of 29 beautiful designer papers, 4 journal card sheets and 2 strip teases. The journal card sheets have an assortment of titles, and lined and unlined journal blocks. The strip tease sheets are quotes and patterned borders that measure 8” long.

I started with my Cosmo Cricket Ethan’s Album for my first project. Because of the black color of the board, there is no preparation time. The edges are nicely finished, corners professionally rounded, no sanding or painting necessary! The album came together very quickly. I took each page out of the binder rings before decorating so that each page lay flat. I love that the cover page is a little thicker than the rest of the pages and that it has grommets to reinforce the holes. I am guessing that the grommets are mainly for looks as the chipboard is very sturdy by itself. This is a nice touch and makes the album look finished. The inside pages are slightly thinner than the cover page. I was a little surprised to find that there was no second thicker page with grommets for the back cover, it would be a nice touch, but not essential. This is probably something that only I would notice, as the people viewing the album would not even miss it.



“Family”
Products used:
Album (Cosmo Cricket Blackboard (Ethan's) Album)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Quotes (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Titles (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Metal Title and Tabs (7 Gypsies)
Colored Pencils (EK Success)
Brads (Joann Essentials)
Other: ribbon
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)


Following the tips on the back of the album packaging, I created my pages using a variety of techniques.


“Tip no. 1--Use Cosmo cardstock to cover”

My pages came together easily with pre-printed titles and journal blocks. Everything contained in the Cosmo Cricket 8”x8” paper pad is coordinated to complement everything else. I loved the gorgeous patterns, subtle words, shapes and images coupled with amazing effects like distressing and something that looks like what happens when you zoom in on pixels on a printed image.




“Tip no. 2--Use colored pencils to decorate Blackboard”
My poor colored pencils usually sit disregarded and unused in my supply drawer. Imagine their surprise when I took them out and started doodling. I don’t know when I had so much fun. I would purchase this Blackboard again just for the fun of doodling!


“Tip no. 3--Keep it simple, just add photos”
I think black makes an awesome background, so there was no problem for me to just add photos! What a perfect quick and easy album for a beginning scrapbooker or for a gift album.

My second project was a little Star Journal. I wanted to see how well Cosmo Cricket would work for altering. The weight of the paper is perfect, not too thin and not to thick. I did not have any problems with air bubbles or ripping while using Mod Podge to adhere the paper. Another excellent feature.


“Star Journal”
Products used:
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Album (Secret Scrapper)
Stamps (Studio G)
Swarovski Crystals (Rhinestones Unlimited)
Acrylic Paint (Folk Art)
Adhesive (Mod Podge, Zip Dry)

My last project was another altering project. I wanted to make a Father’s Day album with a collection of photos for my DH. I was very pleased with the coordinating papers and pre-printed titles and quotes which made this album incredibly fast to put together! I left lots of space for DH to fill in his own thoughts and musings, and you can see that my son helped with the journaling. I included the page with no photos because it really shows off the beauty of the products. I am waiting for the perfect new photo to add to this album.




Dad
Products used:
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Quotes (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Titles (Cosmo Cricket 8"x8" (Fleuriste) Paper Pad)
Album (Melissa Frances)
Metal (Joann Essentials,)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner, Mod Podge)

Despite all the competition in the scrapbook industry, Cosmo Cricket is a name that I remember not only for their quality products, unique patterned papers and innovative albums, but also for their warm sense of humor. If you want a good chuckle, take a moment to visit the Cosmo Cricket website, and click on their “about us” link to find out how they got their name. It is great entertainment!

I had a blast playing with these Cosmo Cricket products! Even after these three projects, I still have tons of paper left, enough for another mini album or two. At only $7.99 retail, the 8" x 8" Designer Paper Pad, is a great value for anyone who has photos to get onto a page! It is also perfect for card makers with it's small size and pre-printed title blocks. As for the Cosmo Cricket Blackboard Albums, I am looking forward to playing with some of the other fun and funky shapes on offer.

If you are looking to put some fun back into your scrapbooking, grab a Cosmo Cricket Blackboard album, a Cosmo Cricket 8” x 8” Paper Pad, and some colored pencils and enjoy!! Your pencils will thank you for it!