April's Review	Catherine's Review	Penny's Review	Renee's Review	Jennifer's Review

Review by April

I have been scrapbooking for over 8 years now, and normally my actual scrapbook albums are an afterthought. I usually create my layouts, then slip them into the first empty album I can find. When you think about it, it seems like after spending so much time on your creations, you would want to display them in an equally attractive album...right? I am happy to say that Cosmo Cricket has created a beautiful way to display your layouts, album, and memorabilia, all in one! Their new Biography 101 is an adorable suitcase album that comes complete with an 8" post bound album that straps in on one side, and a shadow box on the other. You can leave the case open on a shelf to display your artwork, or enjoy how cute this little suitcase looks closed and even stacked!

I was thrilled to be included in this review! I love working with Cosmo Cricket's high quality products, and the chance to work with an album and a display case was exciting. I received the black Biography 101 album for this review. It measured about 11" in height (not including the handle), and almost 9 3/4" in width. The leather cover is super soft and smooth to the touch. The 8" album inside comes with 10 page protectors and buckles into the case. The shadow box has a hinging door with a black ribbon closure. The whole suitcase locks shut and has a cute handle to aid in carrying.

I decorated the album cover first by adding a picture in the 3 inch window. Then I added glitter glue, self adhesive rhinestones, and a decorated chipboard heart. I loved the fact that I was able to dress up the cover, even though it was leather. Next, I started on the shadow box. I cut a piece of chipboard to fit the inside, then used patterned paper, chipboard, and a variety of 3-D embellishments to complete the design. The inside of the shadow box is actually 1 1/4" deep, which provides plenty of room for almost any memorabilia you would like to display. Since the album is post bound, you could easily add more page protectors for additional layouts.

Title: Recipe For Love Album
Products used: Album (Cosmo Cricket Biography Black 101)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Hey Sugar Collection: HeartStrings, Cupid, Honey Honey, Journaling Cards)
Chipboard (Cosmo Cricket, Heidi Swapp, Making Memories)
Paint (Ranger Paint Dabbers)
Rhinestones (Heidi Swapp, Cell phone bling)
Glitter Glue (Ranger Stickles)
Metal Embellishment (Making Memories)
Rub-ons (BasicGrey)
Bobby Pen (Pebbles Inc)
Jewel Brad (Karen Foster)
Pens (American Crafts, Sakura Gelly Roll, Uniball)
Felt Shapes (Fancy Pants)
Sequins (Hobby Lobby)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner, K&Company)

I usually stick to 12" x 12" layouts when scrapbooking, but I must admit, I really enjoyed scrapping the 8" x 8" pages for this album. They all came together so quickly and I was thrilled with how they came out. I used Cosmo Cricket's Hey Sugar collection to scrap my layouts with and I was able to complete 5 layouts in 2 hours. Something about scrapping on a smaller surface area really got me inspired and I can't wait to finish out the album! Since I used the white cardstock that came in the page protectors to size my layouts, all of them easily slid into the protectors.

Title: Recipe For Love Album Pages
Products used: Kraft Cardstock
Album (Cosmo Cricket Biography Black 101)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Hey Sugar Collection: Honey Honey, Journaling Cards, Candy Girl, Striptease, Be Mine, Sweet Nothings, HeartStrings)
Paint (Ranger Paint Dabbers)
Rhinestones (Heidi Swapp, Cell phone bling)
Rub-ons (BasicGrey)
Pens (American Crafts, Sakura Gelly Roll)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

Honestly, while completing my review, I fell in love with this album. I love how cute it looks...I love the size and feel of it...and I loved the shadow box display! I have a ton of events and themes that I would like to scrap about, but I usually put them off because I don't want to dedicate an entire 12" x 12" album to them. This album is the perfect solution for me. I can't wait to scrapbook my children's baby pictures and also include all the hospital memorabilia that has remained in a box until now. I can think of a ton subjects these albums would be perfect for: Holidays with special ornaments or decorations, Weddings, Baby Showers, Birthdays, the list goes on an on. I am really looking forward to using more of the Biography 101's and I would highly recommend them to all scrapbookers!

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Review by Catherine

Cosmo Cricket’s Biography 101 Album is one item that has been on my wish list since I first saw one in my local scrapbook store. That’s why when I saw that I was going to be able to review this album, I literally shouted in glee! The concept behind this album, and the overall design of the album have intrigued me from the first. I couldn’t wait to decorate and fill my Biography 101 album and case.

The Biography 101 Album System consists of a 8 X 8 inch scrapbook album with ten clear page protectors inside. The album is housed in a very classy case. The album straps into one side of the case, and on the other side, there is a changeable shadow box to house more three dimensional items. There are two options of color in the Biography 101 album. The first is a tan luggage-style case with brown trim and straps. The second option is an all black luggage style case and album. The front cover of the album inside the case has a three inch window for highlighting a favorite photo, or for setting the theme of the album. The page protectors inside the album are true 8" X 8" sized page protectors, and I had no problem fitting the pages that I had created into the page protectors without trimming them down.

The first thing that I needed to do upon receiving my case and album after fondling it for a bit, was to decide what theme I wanted my album to be. I decided that I would create an album of my son’s firsts, since his first year of life is almost complete. I will use the album as a gift for my mother-in-law for Christmas. I wanted the album to very classic, stream-lined, and timeless. I chose papers from one of the Cosmo Crickets collections, and an overall design for each page, and was able to begin filling my album pretty easily. The first thing I did was to create a small collage for the front window of the album.

Title: Biography Album Cover
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Papers; Making Memories)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Chipboard Letters (Li’l Davis Designs; American Crafts)
Adhesive (Adtech Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

The inside of the case is a shadowbox frame which is about 1 ½” deep. I put the baby’s picture in it, along with the first cap the hospital placed on him, and a copy of the birth certificate that the hospital issued. I placed a binkie in the bottom, which fit surprisingly well. The clear cover of the shadowbox frame is made of plexiglass and did not come with a protective coating or anything over it. Somehow, after the first time I opened my package, the plexiglass cover scratched. I would like to see a sheet of removable plastic to cover the plexiglass until you are sure that you have completed the project.

Title: Biography Shadowbox frame
Products used: Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Cardstock (Prism Papers)
Adhesive (Adtech Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

The look of the case with the album strapped into it, and the shadowbox on the other side is a very sophisticated look. I really enjoy having the case open on my mantle to look at it as I pass by.

Title: Biography Album Open
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Papers)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Chipboard Letters (Li’l Davis Designs; American Crafts)
Adhesive (Adtech Permanent Bond Glue Runner; Diamond Glaze)

I still have more work to do on the album before I can give it away, and I started on more recent pages so that I could remember more easily, but I do believe that the recipient of this gift will greatly appreciate it. I used the same formula for the interior pages, and I love the way that the pages lay inside the album as there is very little “gutter” area in between the pages.

Title: Biography Interior Page 1
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Papers)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Stamp (7gypsies)
Chipboard Letters (American Crafts)
Rub-ons (Cosmo Cricket)
Labels (7gypsies)
Adhesive (Adtech Permanent Bond Glue Runner; Diamond Glaze)


Title: Biography Interior Page 2
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Papers)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Stamp (7gypsies)
Chipboard Letters (American Crafts)
Rub-ons (Cosmo Cricket)
Labels (7gypsies)
Adhesive (Adtech Permanent Bond Glue Runner; Diamond Glaze)

The Cosmo Cricket Biography 101 Album System is classic, sophisticated, and unique. It is perfect for gifts, and for your special memories. The price point is a bit high, but considering what you get for the price I would say it is worth it. This album and shadowbox display are definitely something that will have people oohing and aaahing over your priceless memories.

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Review by Penny

Cosmo Cricket's new Biography 101 albums are seriously cute! The slightly padded case appears very well crafted covered with a cream colored tweed fabric and edged with a darker brown faux leather and a flexible handle stitched with matching cream thread. The metal hardware has a shiny pewter look to it. The closure keeps the case tightly secured. This case is cute enough on its own to make me want it!

(Case Front)

Once you open the case you will see a shadow box on one side and an 8" x 8" album on the other.

(Case Open)

The shadow box compartment is approximately one inch deep and enclosed by a clear acrylic panel which is edged with the same faux leather brown and cream stitching. The panel opens and closes freely and can be secured with a ribbon tie at its side. One word of caution though, make a secure knot to keep your cover tightly closed. The silky ribbon can loosen if not tied tightly enough, leaving your shadow box contents vulnerable.

(Shadow Box)

The album is strapped into the other side of the case with two belt closure straps in the same faux leather. The album front has a 3" x 3" opening for a treasured photo, again with the brown edging. The album covers are lined with the cream tweed fabric. Inside the post-bound album is ten clear acrylic page protectors ready for your pages. The protectors seem sturdy and fit 8" x 8" pages perfectly.


Title: Album Pages
Products used: Case and Album (Cosmo Cricket Biography 101 Brown)
Chipboard Letters (Cosmo Cricket)
Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket, BasicGrey)
Die Cut Flowers and Tags (BasicGrey)
Flower (Petaloo-large, Prima-small)
Grungeboard (Tim Holtz for Advantus)
Acrylic Paint (Ranger, Making Memories)
Ghost Letters (Maya Road)
Brads, Label Stickers, Tags, Notebook Pages (Making Memories)
Ink (ColorBox)
Rub-Ons (Hambly, BasicGrey, Making Memories)
Brads (SEI)
Ribbon (Tie One On Monthly Ribbon Club)
Adhesive (Ad Tech Permanent Bond Glue Runner)
Other: chipboard ("D")

The album retails around $39. It seems a little pricey to me, but the quality and uniqueness of the album and case are worth a little extra cost. Currently available in brown or black, adding some additional color choices would amp up the cuteness even further. I think this is one item that may not be appreciated until it is seen and held, and I recommend that you do that if you are unsure about buying one. It would make an excellent and memorable gift. As for mine, it will be proudly displayed in my family room.

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Review by Renee

Have you ever looked at an album and thought, "This is so beautiful. I really need special pictures to compliment it’s beauty." Well, that was my reaction when I first saw the Cosmo Cricket Biography 101 album. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful and unique albums I have ever seen. Cosmo Cricket is a product line with a “retro, vintagey” feel to it. The Biography 101 album stays true to the Cosmo Cricket vintage feel in the most elegant way possible.

The Biology 101 album is housed in a vintage styled suitcase. The album I was given to review is the Brown album. This album is a tan, fabric album that is bound with a rich, brown strapping. The case opens just like a suitcase. On one side of the case is a shadow box with a clear acetate cover held closed by small ribbons. On the other side are two brown straps that old an album made from the same tan fabric and brown strapping. The album is 8" x 8" in size and has ten page protectors contained within the album.

The concept behind the Biography 101 is that you can scrapbook your favorite memories in the album, just as you would with any other album. But you can also display your more bulky memorabilia in the shadow box along side the album. This concept lets you store many more memories than you would ever be able to with a regular scrapbook The case is designed to allow it to stand upright on a shelf when open, allowing the album and shadow box to be visible. However, the case can also be closed and put away when there is no need for the album to be on display.

For my Biography 101 album, I wanted to capture the special feel of the album itself by displaying the special memories that I have captured through my number one passion, photography. The theme of my album is “My Life Through my Lens.“ For the shadow box side, I initially tried to house one of my most prized possessions from my photography hobby, the camera body from my first Canon Rebel. However, the depth of the shadowbox was not quite deep enough to hold it comfortably. I decided to do the next best thing and placed the strap from this camera body inside the shadow box. Because of the depth of the box itself, I was able to place the strap in such a way as to create a backdrop for a favorite photo of me holding my camera. When I store my album on my fireplace, I plan to sit the camera body itself beside the album to further carry the theme.

Title: Album and Shadowbox
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Prismatics White)
Album (Cosmo Cricket Biography 101)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

For the album, I selected a cute photo of my children that carried the theme I wanted for my album. I took the fabric colored album from it’s straps and inserted the trimmed down photograph into the 3" x 3" frame on the front of the album. The black and white photo I selected is beautifully displayed against the tan and brown.

Title: Album with Photo

For the inside of the album, I created several 8" x 8" pages using photos that show my photographic personality. I was very pleased with the quality of the album itself. It is a sturdy album, capable of supporting many bulky pages inside it’s covers. I was very pleased to find that the album has true 8" x 8" page protectors, which is a definite plus. My pages fit within the protectors beautifully.

Title: Inside pages


Title: Inside Pages
Products used: Cardstock (unknown tan and brown)
Patterned Paper (My Mind’s Eye)
Embellishments (Heidi Swapp, My Mind’s Eye and Imaginisce)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

The Biography 101 album and case is one of the most beautiful additions that I have made to my mantle in quite a while. It is the perfect place to display all my most prized possessions, both the bulky ones that can not be scrapped and the scrappable ones. If you have memories of both varieties, this is definitely the album for you. There is no more beautiful way to display your memories than with this lovely album.

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Review by Jennifer

I recently had the opportunity to review the Cosmo Cricket Biography 101 in black leather. When I opened the packaging that held the Cosmo Cricket Biography 101, I was stunned. Cosmo Cricket is known for their innovative, vintage-inspired, distressed pattern paper collections. There's nothing vintage or distressed about Biography 101. The ensemble I received is designed like high-quality luggage, with butter soft black leather and white stitching, and smooth-operating hinges and clasps. It is clean, sleek, and simply elegant. It's beautiful and impeccably designed - gift quality. Inside, I found a well-designed shadowbox on one side, an 8" x 8" post-bound album on the other. This is more than an album. It's a top quality memory keeping system that displays beautifully.

The shadowbox measures approximately 10 3/4" x 9" x 1 1/2". It could easily accomodate a wide variety of bulky items, from a seashell collection to a baby layette. The shadowbox closes and opens easily with a hinge on one side and two ribbons on the other. A clear acrylic frame edged with leather keeps contents protected. It feels sturdy, opens smoothly (no creaking), and closes securely. I've never worked with shadowboxes before. I wondered - how hard is it to get things to stay in place? I tried it out by adding some colorful gifts that were within reach. I was suprised by how easy it was!

Title: Black Leather Biography 101 Album, open
Products used: Album from Cosmo Cricket
Dove of the East India Journey Lotus Lake Paper
Memory Star Handmade Gold Paper
Ornament from The Culture Shoppe
Nag Champa, Satya Incense
Beads from local bead show
Fishing line (to sew beads in place)

I taped incense boxes to sturdy Dove of the East India Journey paper so that they would be easy to remove and have a lovely background. I taped the flower down and punched two holes to wire the bird ornament to the paper. The paper fit snugly inside, but the heavyweight bird wanted to pull the paper down, so I added a glue dot to the back of the pattern paper to keep it in place. I loved opening the quiet black Biography luggage and being greeted with the scent of incense and colorful, global visuals. I loved the idea of the giftee replacing the contents with their own special trinkets. And I really loved the way it looked on my shelf! So the bird and incense stayed, and I admired it on my shelf for a couple of days.

Like the carrier and shadowbox, Cosmo Cricket used quality materials for the album as well. The outside cover features a 3" frame and padded leather. The inside is covered with finished with soft, black cloth. The inside page protectors are sturdy, anti-glare protectors. For the front of the album, a mat and a clear acrylic cover are included to frame and protect a special photo. In this case, I showcased a large focal bead instead and tucked the frame into one of the back pages so that the recipient can use it in the future.

The 8" x 8" postbound album is a fantastic size and album style. Here's why:

1. 8" x 8" is great for digital scrapbooking at home. No wide-format printer or lab printing required. I especially love that I could fill an entire page with a favorite photo.

Title: Spin This, left side & Scrap Mix, right side
Products used: Cosmo Cricket Gretel Autumn Cardstock
7gypsies Naked CD Holder
Technique Tuesday, Handful of Henna Clear Stamps
Hambly Overlay Grandpa's Wallpaper Overlay, Gold
Technique Tuesday Technique Tiles, Arrows and Stars
Font - The Maple Origins from dafont.com
ClearSnap ColorBox Fluid Chalk, Dark Brown

2. The post-bound style made it easy to add the clear and interactive layout, such as the Hambly Overlay with a 7gypsies CD Holder.

3. Each 8" x 8" page can easily accomodate up to two 4" x 6" photos easily. 8" x 8" is a great size for beginning and experienced scrapbookers alike. Layouts come together in no time! This is the ideal size for archiving a big stack of photos quickly and easily. Actually, out of all the layouts I created for this project, this was my favorite one. Photos can get lost on a 12" x 12" page. I sometimes get distracted trying to fill up negative space. Three hours later, I lost the focus on my photos adding a lot of unecessary embellishments. This layout took two minutes to put together and kept the focus on the photos. I like that!

Title: Flower
Products used: Fancy Pants Pattern Paper
Daisy D's Autumn Hearts Stickers
Marcella by K Monogram Rub-Ons
7gypsies Calais Clear Stamps
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks Shabby Shutters, Frayed Burlap
Zig Writer, Brown

4. The 8" x 8" page protectors are strong enough to handle extra-lumpy embellishments like the paintbrush below.

Title: Art is the great democrat
Products used: Cosmo Cricket Halfway Cafe, Barstow Paper
K & Co Tacks
7gypsies Abbey Key, Black
7gypsies Reinforcer
Paintbrush, Beaded Chain
Scrapworks Rub-Ons

The 8" x 8" size is so much fun to work with, I wanted to make more interactive pages. I added another clear, interactive layout, with ATC supplies, to be played with and explored.

Title: Just Play
Products used: Left Side:
Hambly Bohemian Pink Overlay
Scenic Route Route Laurel, Rookery Road Paper
Scenic Route Grid Paper
BasicGrey Phoebe, Telegraph Hill Paper
Heidi Swapp Floral, Rounded Kiwi
Prima Build A Frame Clear Stamps
Clearsnap ColorBox Fluid Chalk, Aquamarine
Zig Writer, Red
Right Side:
Scenic Route Laurel, Rookery Road Paper
Dove of the East Japan Journey, Floating World Paper
Heidi Swapp Playing Cards
Mary Mata ATC Kit

Cosmo Cricket created a fantastic memory system that makes a wonderful gift - for loved ones and for one's self. I love the playfulness, practicality, and style of the Biography 101 in black leather. For now, I'm enjoying what time I have with it. The shadowbox will stay on display in my scrap room until the album is full of creative ideas to share with a friend. Then I will sigh as I box it up, send it off, and plan on buying another for myself!

Many thanks to Cosmo Cricket and ScrapFriends for allowing me to work with Cosmo Cricket Biography 101.

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