Getting Shifty With My Counterfeit Kit

Last night I sat down in my craft room with only one objective: to make a page for this year's One Little Word. I've definitely had my word - shifty - in mind recently and I'd like to start documenting how it's starting to define me and my choices this year. But first, a title page.

So with this month's The Counterfeit Kit on standby, plus a few of my gorgeous stamps from Make The Day Special, I got a 'shift on'.

I would never have used this Making Memories patterned paper as a background (or possibly, ever) without the encouragement from the Counterfeit Kit Club. It seemed just too damn special. So, in order to make myself feel a little bit better about using it, I pulled the rest of the papers from my scrap stash.

The main focal paper was a practice sheet which I'd tested out my shimmer mists and stamps on and I've only added a couple of pieces straight from the packet - some American Crafts Remarks, Thickers and a little bit of bling.

Here's to shifting some of my stash!

Mini Makes For Valentines

Whilst I was putting together my Counterfeit Kit with The Awesome One, I came across a little bag of sequins in her stash and had a 'eureka' moment. Mel graciously let me steal them on the condition that I share what I did with them. So, as soon as I got home on Friday night, I sat down in my little craft room, pulled out some pieces from my kit and made some mini cards to send to some of my friends - just a little reminder that I love them too!

To make a similar card all you need is a card base, a piece of acetate that matches the size of the card front, stazon, sequins, a sewing machine and, of course, your favourite stamps. Mine are from Make The Day Special.

Stamp your image or sentiment into the middle of the acetate using your Stazon and set it aside to dry for a couple of minutes. When the ink dries, place it onto the front of your card and sew around three edges using your sewing machine.

Leave the needle down, through your acetate and cardstock and carefully stuff some sequins through the open edge of the acetate pocket - make sure that they aren't near the edge. Then sew around the edge of the card a couple more times to finish off. Simple!

I'm sure you could adapt this idea to all sorts of occasions - and all sorts of projects. I'm just glad that for once, I managed to sit down and make something as soon as I thought of it.

Hello? Hello? Is Anyone There?

I can't quite believe that I've been 'missing in action' for so long. I've had all sorts of computer troubles which are now, thankfully, behind me and my week has ended on a couple of good notes. Getting back my laptop and spending yesterday with The Awesome One.

Now, although we meet quite often to chat and craft, we generally end up spending at least an hour 'showing and telling' - showing each other any new bits of stash, sharing finished projects and telling each other about new techniques we've learnt. Yesterday was no different, Mel showed me some of the beautiful things she's been receiving in her monthly scrapbook kit club and I tried very hard not to be jealous of her Crate Paper and Studio Calico. *Sigh*

I've been um-ing and ah-ing over joining a scrapbooking kit club myself for...ooh...at least the last six months and I've finally made a decision, deciding that I would much rather purchase a few tools - punches, stamps and die-cuts - than spend my money on more patterned papers. Pretty though they are, they do tend to sit in my craft room while I use more and more kraft cardstock.

So, I'm super excited by new scrapbook challenge blog, The Counterfeit Kit Club and I spent yesterday putting together my kit from the stash I'd taken along to Mel's. She watched on as I spent at least half an hour arranging everything prettily before taking photographs and kindly told me I'd be excellent at putting together kits. Oh, a girl can dream!

This month's inspiration kit from Scraps of Darkness is full of beautifully rich colours and romantic designs and I wanted to stay as true to the kit as possible, so I pulled out a sampling of reds, blacks and pinks - and, because I don't have any purples or lilacs, I added some turquoise as a contrast. In addition, my 'main kit' contains some beautiful lace ribbons, Remarks by American Crafts, a Jenni Bowlin Bingo Card, Making Memories Notelets, Papermania bling and some chipboard frames. There's also some handmade journalling notes and flowers - and of course, a doily. What kit is complete without a doily these days?

In my 'add on kit' there's some complementary cardstocks, embroidery threads, some deep red teardrop shaped bling, a couple of handmade beaded embellishments and a chipboard Eiffel Tower - from a swap c.2009. I'll be adding in the 'colour kit' made up of Cosmic Shimmer Mists in Candy Pink, Aqua Lagoon and Mallow Blush - all of which I'd left at home.

Now, seriously, if you received all of this in a kit, wouldn't you be thrilled? And, you want to know the best bit? If I don't use it all this month, it's fair game for next month's kit. Hurrah!

It's good to be back 'showing and telling' here on the blog and I'll be around soon to catch up on everything you've been up to - I've missed you all so! x