Watermelon Whimsy {June's Counterfeit Kit Reveal}

It's the first of June and that means it's time for another inspiration kit from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. If you have been following from the start of the reveal then you will have already seen the inspiration kit for the month and a wonderful counterfeit from our talented Guest Designer,  Lea Rhea of Scrap and Plan. If not, then stick with me for a short while, and I'll make sure that you know where to head to next for even more inspiration. 

Our inspiration kit for this month is the Felicity Jane, May 2017 Kit 'Willow'. As the contents of the kit are all exclusive to Felicity Jane, it's an especially fantastic kit choice for counterfeiting! 

It's an eclectic mix of colour, whimsy and loveliness; and I was instantly inspired! Oddly, the first item to catch my eye was the 'Candy Stripe' Washi. It reminded me instantly of a cardstock I knew I had 'floating around' somewhere and I continued to build my kit from there, based on some of the colours, textures and 'feel' of the inspiration. I have a fantastic selection of both old and new!

I've included two lovely, little notebooks that seemed to match in well. I've been keen to start a wee book or two to hold some lists and these cuties from Ikea (!) were a fraction of the cost of the Traveller's Notebooks that have been cropping up in my Instagram feeds.

I've added a little more whimsy with some cute die-cuts and sticker sheets from the Simple Stories 'Domestic Bliss'  and 'Posh' Collections. (I've been so happy with their recent collections - and I'm trying to use them while I love them!) These little succulent die-cuts are too cute! 

To finish off my kit, I've added some more embellishments - sticker sheets, alphas, resin flowers, metallic clips and some hand stamped envelopes! It's a fun kit and I'm looking forward to finishing work for the week tomorrow, so that I can make a start on some new projects! 

In the meantime, I'll have to 'make do' with visiting the rest of the team from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge - Kelly, Lisa and Margie - as they reveal their own versions of the kit! 

Still Worthy {May's Counterfeit Mini Kit}

This month, I’m 'officially' on the Mini Kit Team for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I am so excited to show off the kit that I made - Still Worthy - based on this month's inspiration kits - the March 2017 Kits from Gossamer Blue. I loved the mix of colours in the inspiration kits, as well as all of the fresh, fun embellishments!

My kit may have been mini in size, but I felt really inspired by bundling it up and, as soon as I had it all photographed, I took it all apart and started working with it, finishing it off in super, speedy style. In fact, I finished it so quickly, that I made another kit - The Noteworthy Kit - based on the March 2017 Life Pages Kit, which I revealed with the Main Kit Team! (And, I've used a lot of that already!)

Recently, my little basket of scraps has started to overflow and I felt the need to return to my 'use it or lose it' roots, so I had what I like to refer to as a 'rummage' and I've made a small kit, with a selection of scraps (most smaller than 6x4) based on the March 2017 Main Kit.

Yellow is definitely the major colour in my kit, but I also included all of the colours from the inspiration kit - navy, turquoise, lime, white and black. I also fished out several 'matching' sentiments (some handmade) and then added a small selection of embellishments. I love those little triangle enamels. Can you spot them?

You'll have seen the Counterfeit Die-Cuts that I made using the last, little remnants of this kit, but how about a little card-making inspiration? I love how simple it was to make this one! Just one or two scraps; a little sentiment; a few otherwise underused brads and a little scattering of sparkle!

There's a lot more for me to share over the rest of the month, but in the meantime, there’s more inspiration from the rest of the Mini Kit Team - Lisa, Margie and Kelly – over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Counterfeit Die-Cuts {Forgeries On The Fourth}

I had a lot of fun with my (soon to be revealed) mini-kit for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. At the end of the frenzied crafting session, where I used it all in one sitting, I decided to use the last few remnants to emulate some of the die-cuts, stickers and embellishments in the Main Kit. 

I used stamp sets from Heidi Swapp and Neat & Tangled, both of which have a wide selection of smaller, adorable icons and sentiments. I think the envelopes are my favourite - and I can see them featuring in a Pocket Letter soon! 

Head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for more Forgeries On The Fourth. It's full of inspiration this month!

Noteworthy {May's Counterfeit Kit Reveal}

It's the first of May (What?) and that means it's time for another inspiration kit from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. If you have been following from the start of the reveal then you will have already seen some amazing kits, including one from our talented Guest Designer, Christy Strickler, and will have found your way along to me via the rather fantastic, Susan Brochu! 

This month, I was so inspired by this month's Counterfeit Kit Challenge inspiration kits - the March 2017 Kits from Gossamer Blue that I made a Main Kit (based on the March 2017 Life Pages Kit) and a Mini Kit (based on the March 2017 Main Kit.) I love that I switched them around! Always contrary :)

As I'm 'officially' on the Mini Kit Team this month, I made that first, but I used it so quickly, that I decided to make another kit to use this month. I have my Week In The Life albums (2016 and 2017) to work on and Project Life to make a start on, now that all of my photographs have arrived!

As I like to include full 6x8 layouts in my albums, as well as Pocket Pages, I included a few sheets from the Chasing Dreams Collection by Maggie Holmes as a base. I've then added a massive selection of Pocket Life Cards, that I've been hoarding since I started my Elle's Studio Monthly Kit Subscription. In all, there's 50+ 3x4 cards and 15+ 6x4 cards! 

I've included stickers from Elle's Studio, Pinkfresh and Simple Stories; my favourite stamp sets from Elle's Studio and Heidi Swapp and a massive selection of little die-cuts, cute embellishments and some washi. 

Please let us know if you are inspired to play along with us this month, by linking up kits and projects in our Monthly Link Up or by sharing online with our official hashtag #counterfeitkitchallenge.

And, don't forget call back on the 4th May, when I'll be revealing some of my forgeries!

A Touch Of Whimsy {April's Counterfeit Kit Reveal}

Hello! Hello! It's the first of the month and that means that it's time for a new inspiration kit from The Counterfeit Kit Challenge! This month we're working with the Cocoa Daisy February 2017 Kits. 

There's a lot of fun, whimsical colour to choose from and, for some time, I was convinced that I would work with the rather lovely Day In The Life Kit. But, in the last month I ordered a little (and, by scrapbooking standards, I do mean little) haul of new stash, which included both the Chasing Dreams Collection from Maggie Holmes *and* the Lovely Day Collection from Dear Lizzy. So, for the very first time since I started counterfeiting, I've included stash that's new to me!

It's such a beautiful mix of colour and whimsy - and it's absolutely out of my comfort zone, but that's exactly why I decided to invest in some new collections! I want to include a little more colour, as I tend to stick to neutrals.

In order to be true to my counterfeiting roots, I've included some older sheets from the Serendipity Collection by Dear Lizzy, along with some older Thickers Alphas from Dear Lizzy. I love it when items from across collections work well in combination - it's makes counterfeiting so easy. To complete the counterfeit, I've added in some die-cuts and a small selection of washi. 

It seems like a small, simple collection, but it will be a challenge for me to use such an unusual combination of items!!!

I'm so looking forward to seeing what our Guest Designer Beth Moloney has created based on the inspiration. (And I'm looking forward to her YouTube format.)

You can also visit the rest of the Master Forgers for their take on the inspiration kit. 

Kelly - http://www.honeysucklehillcrafts.com/

Lisa - http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de/

Margie - http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com

Enjoy the month x

Sunshine Happiness Mini Kit {March's Counterfeit Mini Kit}

This month, I’m on the Mini Kit Team for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, which means that it’s finally my turn to let you know how I used this month's choice of kits from The Hip Kit Club as my inspiration to create a small, but sweet, mini kit – and what I made with it! (Not kept up with the amendments to our usual schedule? Catch up with a little overview!)

The kits featured recent collections including Maggie Holmes’ Chasing Dreams and Crate Paper’s Oasis. I must confess, that I added a little bit from each collection to my stash last month (and a few other bits - shocker!) so it would have been easy for me to use some of it as the base of my counterfeit this month, but I decided instead to base my inspiration on the colourful collection of items in the Project Life Kit.

I selected a sheet of 3x4 Journalling Cards and the 'Bits & Pieces' Diecuts from the Simple Stories' Sunshine & Happiness Collection, then added in some co-ordinating Simple Stories Alphas. (Using items from the same manufacturer makes kit building a breeze, especially when they work hard to make colours co-ordinate across collections!)

To finish the kit off, I added a couple of inks from Papermania (in colours that I would never usually touch) and a couple of cute washi tapes that I found last time I went to Primark! 

The cute, colourful cards were all the motivation I needed to start creating with some of my summer snaps from our annual visits to see Adrian's family in Portsmouth. We have such an amazing time and I am so, so happy to have finally made a start on recording these lovely memories! 

I'm really enjoying working with a smaller sized kit. It's not as overwhelming and I'm finding that less choice (and, therefore, less time making decisions) means more creating! I'll have a few more summer memories to share later in the month!

In the meantime, there’s more inspiration from the rest of the Mini Kit Team - Lisa, Margie and Kelly – over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Sunshine Happiness {March's Counterfeit Kit Reveal}

Hello! Hello! It’s a short and sweet note from me this morning, as the first of the month means that it’s time for a new inspiration kit reveal from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This month, we’re all using the February Main Kit (and add-ons) from The Hip Kit Club as the basis for our own counterfeit kits. The kits feature recent collections including Maggie Holmes’ Chasing Dreams and Crate Paper’s Oasis. They’re a little bit swoonsome, aren’t they?

I’m on the new Mini Kit Team this month, which means that I’ll be popping back with a mini-sized kit - and a little ‘something-something’ that I made using the mini-kit – on the 6th March. In the meantime, why not head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge to see how the Main Kit Team interpreted the inspiration kit? I can’t wait to see their ideas!

It Takes Two {Counterfeit Kit Challenge: February Challenge #2}

Inspired, indirectly, by Valentine's Day, our second challenge of the month 'It Takes Two' over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge is to make two of something - anything - as long as they work well in combination. Having recently moved home, I have a lot of people to thank, so I decided to add to my little stash of handmade cards. 

Deciding to use a little bit more of January's Counterfeit Kit, I started by choosing two off-cuts of similar, but not exactly the same, cardstock and trimmed them down to 3x6. Folded, this size makes such a cute, mini-card. Then I found two similar sized sentiments. One a really, really old sticker from American Crafts. One a more recent addition to my stash from Elle's Studio. 

I adhered both sentiments to the cardstock using some foam stickers, to add a bit of dimension, then added some embellishments and voila! Two dinky, little cards ready to send on their way!

Love Is In The Air {Counterfeit Kit Challenge: February Challenge #1}

It's time for our first challenge of the month over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and, since it was my turn to choose, I chose to focus on including some details about something that you love - family, friends, chocolate, wine? it doesn't matter, but I wanted it to include some journalling.

All too often, I leave out the important details, because I struggle to incorporate journalling. I find it difficult to write onto a completed layout in case I 'ruin' it, but looking back at some older layouts recently (more on this soon!) I re-discovered the idea of adding notes around the edges - there's usually lots of white space on my layouts to do this and, of course, it doesn't detract from any of my design elements! Win!

For this little 6x8 layout that will find a home in my Project Life album for 2017 (I've started, finally, on Project Life. More on this soon too!) I decided to focus on my love of beading and of the beading community. 

Journalling reads: For the last few years I've challenged myself with my beading and I love how much my skills have grown as a result. This year my challenge is to make one item, from a beading book that I own, each month. I've been joined by over seventy beaders and I am loving the sense of community we share.

How do you incorporate journalling into your projects? Is it something you struggle with, or does it seem easy? Let me know your thoughts! x

Stitched Pocket Pages Journalling Cards Tutorial {Forgeries On The Fourth}

Each month, over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, the Master Forgers share their counterfeiting tutorials and resources in a collection of Forgeries On The Fourth and this month, I included a couple of counterfeits in my Counterfeit Kit for February 'Spring Garden'. (The first was a camera acetate, made using the same method as my Stamped Planner Dashboard Tutorial.)

The second, are these little Pocket Style Journalling Cards. I had admired the selection of Little Things In Life Journalling Cards from ScrapDelight, but I didn't have any in my stash that I felt would work well with the rest of my kit. So, I sifted through my scrap box and found some in colours that would complement the kit and then made some of my own cards using those little scraps, my trusty sewing machine and some little leftover stickers from Elle's Studio.

You'll Need:

1. Some white cardstock cut down to 3x4 inches.

2. Scraps of cardstock in co-ordinating colours.

3. Gluestick

4. Trimmer, craft knife and/or scissors.

5. Sewing machine. (Optional.)

6. Stickers, stones and little embellishments. (Optional.)

1. Start by cutting some of the cardstock scraps into 3x3 or 2x2 squares, then cut each of the squares into halves to form two triangles.

2. Add the shapes onto the 3x4 cards, but don't stick them at this stage. (The example below shows two overlapping triangles, each half of a 3x3 square.)

3. Play around with several layouts until happy with the outcomes. (The example below shows two stacked triangles, one half of a 3x3 square and one half of a 2x2 square.)

4. Once happy with the overall layouts, stick the scraps into position on the 3x4 cardstock. Leave to dry before stitching, or the sewing machine will become a sticky mess! (The example below one half of a 3x3 square and one half of a 2x2 square, side by side.)

5. Use a variety of stitches to add detail to the cards. (The added bonus of adding stitching is that the scraps are more secure!) Trim all of the thread ends to neaten the cards.

NB: The cards using blocks, rather than triangles are, of course, even easier to create. Simply find a scrap with a straight section, stick, then trim before sewing.

6. Add some detail to the cards with some small stickers, sentiments, stamps or embellishments. Then sit back and feel accomplished!

If this little tutorial has whetted the appetite for combining scrapbooking with sewing, then you may be interested in checking out my Stitching On Paper Series. And, of course, I'd recommend visiting the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for more Forgeries On The Fourth.

Spring Garden {February's Counterfeit Kit Reveal}

Hello! Hello! This month, we've made some small amendments to how we're setting up the kit 'reveals' for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and to our standard set of challenges (so if you haven't started at the main Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog be sure to visit for the low-down.)

One thing that won't change is that when it's the first of the month, it's time for a new inspiration kit! This month, it was my turn to choose the kit (as well as our lovely Guest Designer, Lisa-Jane.) So exciting!

I chose the Little Things In Life Kit from ScrapDelight, because I almost never see lavender as the main focus of a collection or kit. It's so different from other kits I've seen recently - and I loved how fresh it felt - especially with the little hint of sunshine that the Little Things In Life Cardstock 'add on' lends to the overall feel. The kit is such a lovely transition between winter and spring.

Having said all that, I was really nervous about my creating my own kit. I rarely choose lavender (or any purple shade) when buying stash, because it's not usually a colour I love. But, once I started to sift the stash, I found a lot more than I was expecting. I unearthed some very small bits of some really old cardstock, which must be from when I started crafting. I have no idea when or where it's from, it's *that* old. (You'll see them in use when I share my Forgeries On The Fourth.)

I also found what must be a co-ordinated set of 6x6 double-sided cardstocks, which are now the main focus of my kit. These were in my 'Summer Crop Gift Set' from my local craft crop (there's usually cake, wine and a little 'something, something' to take home) and I can't now understand why I dismissed them and left them to one side. I love them!

I'm intending to use the kit in my Project Life Album for 2017, so I haven't included many dimensional embellishments. Instead, I've focused on including some smaller die-cuts, labels and stickers. I've also added in some small alpha stickers from Simple Stories (which I realised I needed *after* I took all of my photographs!)

You'll see that I've also included a small sheet of acetate, which emulates the camera sheet in the main kit. I'm happy to say that I broke out some of my stamps to make this myself, using the same method I used in my Stamped Planner Dashboard Tutorial. (Go make one. It's fun.)

I adored the beautiful Little Things In Life Stamp Set 'add on' which includes some banners, florals, wreaths, arrows and small sentiments; and I found the most amazing match for them in the 'Folk Sentiment' Stamp Set from DoCrafts. I've not used this set much, so I'm really happy to be breaking it out!

I also loved the Little Things In Life Journalling Cards 'add on' but I didn't have any suitable matches. Instead, I went hunting in my stash and then made my own from a selection of 'leftovers'. I'll be sharing the tutorial for the cards in Forgeries On The Fourth.)

I love how inspired I've been by this kit - and how it's broken me out of my comfort zone. Now, I'm excited to see how the rest of the team have interpreted the kit, so I'm making myself a cuppa, then I'm off to visit Kelly, Lisa and Margie.

Moody Blues {January's Counterfeit Kit}

Well, it's a New Year - and a new month - and that means that it's time for a new inspiration kit from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This month Master Forger, Julene, chose this lovely kit from the Australian kit company, Shop and Crop Scrapbooking. It's base is the new collection, Ubud Dreams, from Kaisercraft. It immediately made me think of summer (which is somewhat refreshing after Christmas!)

I started out by making myself a little list of the elements that I could spot in the inspiration kit - Aqua, Black, White, Navy, Hessian, Tabs, Doily Shapes/Mandalas, Pennants/Bunting, Laser Cuts, Arrows, Woodgrain, Spray Ink and Borders. Keeping this in mind, I then trawled my stash for some counterfeits - and was amazed at how much blue I have (still have, even after so much counterfeiting in 2016!)

I stuck fairly closely in colour and texture to the inspiration kit, adding in some beautiful cardstocks from Dear Lizzy, American Crafts, Echo Park, Sodalicious and My Mind's Eye. To counterfeit the 'borders' from the inspiration kit, I included several base strips from the bottom of some 12x12 cardstocks, as well as some which were lingering in my scrap box. 

As I'm intending to start 2017 by finally (!) finishing my Week In The Life albums from 2015 and 2016, I wanted to include some Project Life sized cards. I've included a small selection, along with some die-cuts from Elle's Studio. I didn't find any hessian in my stash, but I did find a little bit of luscious grey felt and, although I have no idea what I will be doing with it, I thought it toned in well with the rest of the kit!

Now, I cannot wait to see what the Master Forger's (and our lovely Guest Designer, Cindy) have included in their own kits this month. I have a feeling that there may be some surprises! Let's head on over to Stephanie at Skyline Paperie to find out!

The Expectation of Christmas Future {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

My last task for our 'Counterfeit Christmas Carol' is to share a little about my creative wishes for the next twelve months. Well, 2016 has been a little bit of a whirlwind. I've been busier than ever at work; commuting; looking for a new home; and steadily building business in my little etsy store, Obstinate Pursuit. 

Unfortunately, it looks as though 2017 could be even more hectic. I'll be moving home (but the conveyancing is taking so long that it might be 2018 before I'm actually in the new house) and, hopefully, we'll be selling two houses! And, of course, there's still work. *sigh* Wouldn't it be amazing if we were all able to stay at home and create all day, without worrying about how to pay for all of our supplies? 

So Much To Do!

It's tempting to 'simplify' by reducing the time I spend on scrapbooking and beading, but I know that it's when we're most busy that we need time to ourselves. 

Week In The Life 2015

So, I'm keeping my scrapbooking wishes for 2017 fairly simple and am hoping that, in twelve month's time ...

• I will have started and finished my Week In The Life albums from 2015 and 2016. (Is hoping that I'll have completed 2017 as well a little too much to hope for?)
• I will have completed twelve months of working with my One Little Word.
• I will have made three mini-albums 'Portsmouth', 'Summer' and 'London' from photographs that I haven't even had printed (all of which are from 2015 and 2016.) 
• And, of course, that I will be looking back at a full year of counterfeiting with the amazing Master Forgers!

I think that's more than enough to start with, right? Please let me know if you have any of your own scrapbooking/creative wishes for 2017. I'd love to know!

Followers of Christmas Present {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

Over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, we've been busy, high-lighting some of the 'Followers of Christmas Present', showing a little love to the wonderful followers (who are like an extended family, really) who help to make the Counterfeit Kit Challenge such an amazing venture. We love and value each and every one of you! 

Joyce's August 2016 Counterfeit Kit

Today, I am thrilled to introduce the 'Queen of Collage', the lovely Joyce Rodli. The Counterfeit Kit Challenge was but a idea in the minds of our founders, Bethany and Meridy, when I first 'met' Joyce on Flickr. (Back when Blogger was 'the bomb' and Hambly Screen Prints were 'in'. So, so, long ago!)

Some of Joyce's Amazing Mixed Media Projects!

Somehow we lost touch. (When I was locked out of my Flickr Account, I lost more than my images. Yeah, thanks for nothing Yahoo!) But, amazingly, Joyce started following the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I found her on Instagram (@able2rejoyce) via our hashtag #counterfeitkitchallenge. I was so, so happy to find my long lost friend!

So, here's to Joyce. I hope we'll see more of you in 2017! x

Memories of Christmas Past {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

Hello! Happy, Happy Holidays! Today, I'm over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge sharing some of my memories of Christmas Past and what better than to share some a selection box and some Christmas leftovers?

Our kits for Christmas Past were meant to be small and easy to use - ideal for creating at such a hectic time. So, I returned to my selection box (well, files) of leftovers from my Counterfeit Kits. You can read more about how I store them in Keeping Kits (Plan With Me)

Having stashed away the remainder of my Document December Kit from 2015, it felt fantastic to haul it out and, after all that time tucked away, it felt fresh and exciting!

I cut two of the remaining cardstock pieces down to 6x8; layered up some of the scraps in a fairly simple fashion; then added some random photographs from my 'winter' stash of untold stories.

Once the images were on, I added a few final touches with some washi, embellishments and a little bit of stamping. I stuck with the same basic layout, as these little lovelies won't be next to each other in my albums. Starting with the supplies and a basic layout is a fantastic way to create more quickly, because you aren't lost in how best to tell the story.Just stick, stamp, scrap - and volia!

I'm thrilled to have final documented these small stories at last. And I might even add to them before the end of 2016. You see, there's still a wee bit of that kit left!

A Counterfeit Kit Challenge Christmas Carol

So, it's a new month. That usually means that it's time for a new inspiration kit over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, but true to form, we're shaking it up a little for December and this month, we're bringing you A Counterfeit Kit Challenge Christmas Carol!

Sneak Peek: One of My Projects for December

Each of the Master Forgers will be sharing three posts, during the month of December - The Memories of Christmas Past; The Followers of Christmas Present and The Expectation of Christmas Future. Head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for an explanation! It's fantastic!

Thankful for Counterfeiting {November's Counterfeit Kit}

Hello! Hello! It's so wonderful to be back with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge after taking a little break over the summer. Life has been devoid of scrapbooking for several months (what a sad state of affairs) so it's fantastic to be playing with pretty paper once more!

If you've been following the blog-hop from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge you'll already have seen the inspiration kit in it's full autumnal glory. Rather than counterfeit the kit exactly, I wanted to recreate the 'feel' of the kit and opted for a mix of autumnal colours as a base (and included a lot of kraft, which isn't seen in the inspiration kit.)

I've echoed those colour choices in all of the embellishment choices that I've made, adding in a variety of kraft coloured die-cuts and envelopes; blue lettering; burnt orange inks and cords; and some washi tapes in blue, grey and teal. And, can I mention these amazing stickers from Love Elsie's Jack & Abby Collection? (Um, remember when Elsie Larsen was a scrapbooker? It's so, so long ago, that no-one remembers!) And those stickers have been in my stash that long. About time that I used them, right?

Balancing out those ridiculously old stickers are some new stickers, die-cuts and stamps from Elle's Studio. There's a mix of colours included, but I felt the emphasis on thankfulness and family would be wonderful for November scrapbooking (or holiday prepping!) and I was thrilled to find these little diamond stamps which are reminiscent of the red diamonds in the inspiration kit.

And that's me! It's so lovely to be back with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I cannot wait to see how the other members of the Design Team have been inspire, so I'm making myself a cuppa and then I'm heading on over to see Lesley's version at Oh Blog It!