Counterfeiting Calico

Here's the deal with my Counterfeit Kits. In January, I managed to put together a beautiful kit, which I didn't manage to use - at all. In February, I managed to put together another beautiful kit, which resulted in just one layout.

This month the team have counterfeited all five of this month's Studio Calico releases - and I'm wondering whether I'll manage more than putting them together. But, with the exception of the Mossy Knoll kit (which was just too dark) I had no trouble at all feeling enthusiastic about the colours, patterns and themes. I actually had to force myself to eat breakfast before running off to 'shop my stash'. So, I am hoping that this will be the month that I shake off the winter lethargy and find my crafting mojo!

Here's my four counterfeited kits, along with links to the original 'inspiration' kits.

I tackled the Sunny Clearing kit first because I knew that I would be able to use papers from my We Are Memory Keepers stack, 72 & Sunny. I didn't really need to add much, so I kept it simple with some co-ordinating ric rac and butterfly punches, along with some Buttons and Thickers from American Crafts.

Next, I took on the challenge of counterfeiting the main kit Into The Woods. Again, I pulled quite a lot of the papers from 72 & Sunny, added in some American Crafts and pulled together some co-ordinating cardstock. There's also a partial sheet of Love, Elsie stickers, Thickers, labels, dimensional butterfly stickers, a chipboard frame, wooden star and some butterfly ribbon.

Moving on, I chose to work on the Babbling Brook kit next. At first I thought that I might not be able to find matching colours or patterns in my stash, but I decided to work with the circular theme or the kit and pulled out some more 72 & Sunny (the stack that keeps on going) and some polka dot papers from American Crafts, before adding in a Jenni Bowlin paper which - somehow - works really well. There's also some Papermania cardstock alphas, sticky labels, chipboard embellishments and some pretty, flower trim.

Flagging a little by this point I moved onto the last of the kits, Wildflower. It's so much more feminine and much, much softer than the other kits, but it's turned out to be my favourite and I can't believe it's the only original kit that's still available.

In my counterfeit kit is a very special Basic Grey paper that I've hoarded for far too long, several sheets of patterned paper of unknown origin and some additional, partial sheets of Basic Grey. To complete the vintage feel I've added some pages from Enid Blyton's 'Hedgerow Tales'. The alphas are, of course, American Crafts - I am in no way affiliated with them, just in case you were beginning to wonder! There's also some pretty laces which I've added to an old ribbon card and a sheet of chipboard buttons from Crate Paper's Sweet Branch range.

Now, just in case you're wondering the beautiful rose cabochons and the pretty, lace flower are both from....Primark. Check out the accessories aisles and you'll be able to pick these up for just a pound or two. It's my secret source of scrapbooking products!

So, now that I've shared all my secrets and sources, do let me know what you think of the kits I've put together. I've had so much fun and I'm beginning to wish someone would pay me to do this for a living.