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cousin memory

Levi loves his cousins. He talks about them all the time. He says each one of their names and asks where they are. He gets so excited when he gets to spend time with them. So, when I saw this idea for a cousin memory game I knew I had to make a game for each of Levi’s cousins. And they ended up being the perfect “valentines” for our cousin Valentine party.
 I take no credit for this idea. I followed all of Emily’s directions at Jones Design Company. I made a set with nine cousins for one side of the family and six cousins for the other side of the family. Levi’s set has all twelve of his cousins. I loved that Cora could be part of the cousins for this project. 🙂
I used Photoshop Elements to make the front of the cards with each cousins name, picture, and these papers for the background. Don’t ask me how I did them. I know just enough about Elements to be dangerous. I am sure I made them in the most inefficient way possible. 🙂 I used red mat board for the backs of all the sets except for Levi’s…because I ran out. I had a hard time cutting the mat board with a knife so I ended up using my kitchen scissors which worked great but gave me blisters on my hands by the time I got done. Crafting is hard work!
I put each set of cousin memory in a little bag and tied it with bakers twine. I was going to make a cute tag too…but I ran out of time…or I was too tired…I can’t remember which!
Of course Levi and several of his cousins are a little young to play cousin memory but who doesn’t like a set of cards with their cousins faces on them?! Levi spent lots of time going through the cards and taking them in and out of his mailbox.
We tried matching them but he was too excited about picking them up and looking at the pictures to do that for very long.
And then he would mix them up and laugh. I think he thought that was the best part about cousin memory. Funny boy.
For now they are just cards with his sweet cousins’ faces on them…but later they will be a great game for him to play. I think I might need to make him a cousin picture book. He would love that.
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  • Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft - These are so cute! I wish I knew how to use all of those “fancy” programs. 🙂 Great job! I am pinning this.ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - So very cute!ReplyCancel

  • Nemmie - We do ‘cousin memory’ with a phone app, but this is way way cuter – totally making a set. Thanks for posting!ReplyCancel

  • Melanie Martini - Jess, this is such a great idea. So cute. Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • Kate - Levi is the cutest little boy ever! Well, except for my NateReplyCancel

  • Melissa - How perfect is that, I love it! It would be fun to do with pictures of grandparents, aunts, uncles too or their favorite toys, books, and things. Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • Mandy - LOVE this idea 🙂ReplyCancel

  • E @ Oh! Apostrophe - All of your projects are so cute! I am the same way with photoshop elements… super inefficient and I’m sure there is a way to do everything I do in one step instead of 12 but I am too lazy to learn it!ReplyCancel

  • LauraD - What a cute and crafty idea! I love it!ReplyCancel

  • Kristi - Seriously cool idea! Thinking these would make cute Valentine’s for next year!ReplyCancel

  • Meggie - Such a cute idea! Love!!ReplyCancel

  • Danielle H. - Your cute Valentine “Happy Heart” pic and blog is featured on the Eighteen25 blog today!!!ReplyCancel

  • Jenni Lynn - love love love this idea!ReplyCancel

  • The Mershawn's - That is so cute! I really should make that for my kids. Memory is a big hit for sure, but with fun faces…over the top;)!! Thanks for sharing…ReplyCancel

  • Melanie Mueller - What an awesome idea!! I love this and may have to do something like this for my boys!!! Precious little guys you have!!!ReplyCancel

  • Colleen - Thank you for sharing your sweet chubby little boys. My kids are big now and I miss those busy hectic baby days!ReplyCancel

  • Jill - Very cute idea. Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • The Bordens - Love this, going to do this for my daughters preschool class maybe for Easter or for the end of the year gift:)ReplyCancel

  • Heather | Cookie Mondays - jess you are SERIOUSLY amazing.ReplyCancel

  • HWess - I love this idea, you’re right it’s great to have Cora in it (reader since before Levi was born but I rarely comment…)ReplyCancel

  • Rockin Baby Ryan - Thank you for the idea! I saw this long ago, and just made my own version for my sons 3rd b-day!ReplyCancel

  • Kelly - I’ve long had this idea (from seeing it on your blog) and am going to make a set for my daughter and her cousin for Christmas…. we’ll do all the members of our extended family (aunts/uncles/grandma) – just 11 in all, so it’s manageable.

    Just in case anyone is ever looking at these comments for ideas…

    I’m going to just print the photos via shutterfly/walgreens/etc. and then put them on a scrapbook paper background, then use self-laminating paper. Hopefully it works! 🙂ReplyCancel