Find Yourself {May's Counterfeit Kit}

After successfully using my Counterfeit Kit For April while working on the Southern Adventure Album, I was incredibly keen to see which kit the Counterfeit Kit Challenge had chosen as inspiration for May. I wasn't disappointed! The Master Forgers had chosen a selection of kits from Paper Camellia, all of which had a travel theme. Perfect!

As usual I was inspired by the colours and theme of the kit, but I found that I was also keen to incorporate some of the smaller details - the banners, the uplifting phrases and, suprisingly, the buttons. (I never use buttons!) So, after putting together a selection of papers from Bazill, Echo Park, American Crafts, Dear Lizzy and Sodalicious, I decided to add a few personal touches!

I started by breaking out some of my stamps and using some of the leftovers from my Counterfeit Kit For April to make some embellishments. I included my favourite 'Life Is Amazing' sentiment; included some large, banner style elements; and broke out my tiny stamps and my sewing machine to make one of my favourite, little banners! (I wrote a Pennant Banner Tutorial a while back, if you want to take a peek!)

The best thing 'killing my kit' in this way is that, aside from making the most of my pretty paper, I'll have co-ordinating embellishments to spread throughout my album - tying it all together nicely.

I also included a sheet of 'handmade' patterned paper which was made, quite simply, using the 'leftover' from a sticker sheet and some Cosmic Shimmer Mists. (Again, I have a handy tutorial, already written on Using Mists To Make Your Own Paper in case you want to try it!)

I'm not sure exactly how much time I'll have to spend using my Counterfit Kit this month - it's shaping up to be a busy month - but at least I know that, when I have the time, everything is ready and waiting! Hurrah!

An Autumn Afternoon {November's Counterfeit Kit}

Finally a little bit of me time and I've spent it having some fun putting together my November Counterfeit Kit. This month's inspiration kits were both from The Scraptastic Club and I immediately fell in love with the rich colours of the Autumn Splendor Kit. I don't generally use such rich colours in my scrapbooking, but I knew I had some perfect paper choices hidden away in my stash.

My papers include American Crafts: Hello Sunshine - Spree & Brilliance; Garden Cafe - Petunia's Pastries; Botanique - Amelia; Peachy Keen - Cool Cat, Jitter & You're A Peach; Classics - Huckleberry Finn & Canterbury Tales; Sassafras - Mix and Mend, Fancy Free and Bella Blvd - Finally Fall, Autumn Splendor. There's also three, now nameless, half sheets of American Crafts patterned papers in brown, turquoise and kraft. Many of the papers that I've included have a solid reverse, but I've also added in some plain cardstock in kraft, steel blue, dark grey and turquoise.

I've deliberately kept my embellishments light - including alphas from American Crafts, Sassafras and October Afternoon, along with a half packet of Sunnyside Delights by American Crafts. I'm hoping to pull embellishments from my stash as go along, but I'll also be making an effort to use my stamps this month. I have a few sets that are perfect for autumn. And I promise they're not by American Crafts*

* How many times can I mention their products in one blogpost?

There Was Laughter {Pretty Paper Party}

I was thrilled when I received today's prompt from Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party. It's all about combining colours and, just last night, I finished a layout using one of the example colour combinations. I have never been so up to date with a class!

A certain someone will recognise this photograph immediately. In all honesty, it about time that the story of Meeting Mel made it onto a layout. And it's particularly apt, because we met through a Shimelle class! The journalling, and some of Mel's Photographs, are all on the blue piece of card that's tucked away behind the main photograph.

All of the cardstock and papers on the layout are from my October Counterfeit Kit only the base cardstock was a new sheet. I love the papers and the calm colours (though this colour combination could be a riot in different ratios!) but I think it's the splash of blue ink that really makes the layout come alive.

Whatcha think Mel?

Best Day {Pretty Paper Party}

It was an awkward moment. We hadn't seen each other for such a long time. But thanks to Shimelle I have, at long last, been reaquainted with my crafty mojo.

Shimelle's new scrapbooking class, Pretty Paper Party, arrived at just the right time. I needed a little bit of focus - and the class is certainly focused. On encouraging us to use up our pretty paper stash.

So far, Shimelle has been easing us in gently. Prompting us to look at new ways of combining our patterned papers - looking at colour combinations, base colours and pattern size. Although I've never felt afraid of pattern or colours in my scrapbooking, but it's been awkward for me to incorporate both into a style that suits me and my, slightly, minimalist tendencies. But, I have a couple of layouts done and dusted and, although they've incorporated lots of colour and pattern, I love them! Here's one, I'll share some more as soon as the light's good enough to take more photographs....

Shimelle has also been talking a little about how she puts together her cardstock and patterned papers for a crafting session. I smiled a lot, when she described the principles I use to put together my Counterfeit Kits.

Having my October Kit ready and at my side while I've been working through the prompts has made it so easy to pull out co-ordinating colours and patterns without constant rummaging. I have no idea how I used to scrap before I started counterfeiting. I only know that it used to feel so much harder. So, if you're visiting from Pretty Paper Party and the Counterfeit Kit Challenge is a new concept, I can highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Rose Garden {October's Counterfeit Kit}

How lovely it is to have a little bit of time to myself! I'm looking forward to - finally - having some time to work with my Counterfeit Kit. I actually started work on putting together my kit as soon as the October Inspiration Kit was revealed, but I haven't had much chance to show it off!

The Inspiration Kit was chock full of American Crafts - one of my all time favourite scrapbook manufacturers. I just love how each and every one of their patterns co-ordinate with each other, even across collections!

To start with I raided my stash for some of my favourite American Crafts papers, then added in some co-ordinating colours and styles from Echo Park and Prima. I've included co-ordinating alpha sets from Papermania and October Afternoon and a sheet of beautiful cardstock stickers from Echo Park's Victoria Gardens.

I've made some of my own floral style embellishments, using some trim and a few bits of bling that I had in my stash. I love the way these look - and hope you will too - watch out for a wee tutorial later this week!

I'm excited to start working with my luscious little kit and even though there's not really all that much of October left, I've received the first few prompts from Shimelle's new class - Pretty Paper Party - so I have no excuse not to get creating.

Grandma's Storecupboard {September's Counterfeit Kit}

It's been a little bit quiet around here of late. I'm sorry! But I've been a bit busy having a shitty week! *Deep Breath*

And...moving on!

I'm finishing the week in style though, because I've had a lovely evening putting together this month's Counterfeit Kit. And I'm loving it! There were two inspiration kits this month, both from The Sweet Peach Crop Shop and, much as I would love to counterfeit them both, I just don't have enough blues left in my stash to make up my own version of the Main Kit. All this counterfeiting has obviously been working!

I looked carefully at the cardstock and papers that I have got left in my stash and realised that the colours and styles were perfect for counterfeiting the Juicy Kit. So, craft shop splurge averted, I started pulling out all the papers that I love, but just haven't managed to work with. And, oh goodness, what sweetness!

Cardstock: Bazzill - Kraft, Chocolate Cream, Sunflowers and Jenni Bowlin/Coredinations - Grandma's Rocker.

Patterned Papers: Echo Park, For The Record - Fabric Store, Table Cloth, Vintage Linen, Advertisement, Stamp Of Approval. American Crafts, Enchanted - Wise Tortoise, Craft Fair - Myrtle O'Seam (And Two Papers from the Letterbox Collection that I don't know the names for!) My Mind's Eye, Lush - Green Houndstooth. Sassafras Lass, Mix & Mend - Fancy Free and Jenni Bowlin, Family Tree - Cousin Rose.

Embellishments: Papermania Birdsong Alphas, American Crafts Thickers, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type in Red & Yellow. Love Elsie Jack & Abbey Cardstock Stickers. Quote Cards - From A Massive Selection At Kind Over Matter. Handmade 'Family Heart' Embellishment. Assorted Ribbon. Prima Orchard Mix Dew Drop Flowers and Paper Roses from my little, local craft shop.

The vintage colours and patterns have made me so nostalgic that I'm going to be spending some time sorting through all of my old family photographs, searching for the right ones to scrap with these lovely papers. I'm also hoping that the mix of traditional reds and greens might make their way onto a few Christmas Cards, or possibly into a (very early) mini-book ready for December Daily.

I can't believe I just mentioned Christmas!

Travelogue {Inspired By Explore}

I may have been away for the majority of Shimelle's latest class - Explore - but I returned to an inbox full of inspiration. I've been working through some of the journalling prompts, coming up with ideas for new scrapbook pages and one thing became extremely evident. Unlike the majority of scrapbookers, I've never really concentrated on scrapping my travels - I love to travel and I have learnt so much through my experiences - so this is a major omission.

It might be a little difficult to create entire albums for each travel experience - it's so much easier to create in the moment or at least while the memories are fresh. So, I've decided to create a travelogue. One album to house all of my travel related scrapbook pages - and I'm going to focus on the journalling. I want to tell the stories of the places, the people and the memories.

I've started simply - using this month's counterfeit kit - by creating what might become a section/title page. The photograph is of Notre Dame and the journalling is simply printed information from our Paris Guide Book.

The style is a little different for me, but I'm liking the super, simple layout which has lots of room for journalling. I may be adapting this layout throughout the album! What is me, though, is the embellishment cluster - a cute flower, some sparkle, a leaf or two and a couple of diecuts. Good enough for Shimelle's Signature Accent Challenge, right?

Garden Party {August's Counterfeit Kit}

Balloon hats and wooden spoon puppets aside, I missed making things while I was in India. So, once I'd had a bath, a good night's sleep and a properly brewed cup of tea (who would have thought you couldn't get a good cuppa in India?) I decided to act on my urge to create and headed into the craft room to put together a Counterfeit Kit.

This month there were four inspiration kits to choose from, all originally available from My Creative Scrapbook in September 2010. I liked both the Main Kit and the Album Kit - but because there's less than half of the month left and I'm not a speedy scrapper - I combined what I liked from each of the kits into just one main kit for me to use. I'm calling it Garden Party.

I loved the floral elements from the papers and embellishments in each kit, along with the use of small repeat patterns and vintage style flourishes. I also adored the colours - pink, turquoise and green - and, although it looks as though I haven't used much pink in my kit, some of the sheets have pinks on their reverse sides. I love how versatile this makes my kit, without making me feel as though it's too big to work with!

Having restrained myself with my paper choices, I went a little crazy with my embellishments. I've pulled out three alpha sets, tons of pretty flowers from my stash and some super pretty die cuts. I've also added a couple of cute little birdcages that I stamped using Elegant Birds from My Cute Stamps.

Hiding under the flowers in the bowl, there's also a ton of buttons, beads and brads. Everyone needs a little bling every now and then, right? And let's not even talk about how much ribbon I've pulled out of my stash!

I'm A Card-Making, Pennant Monster!

Ah! It's been a strange old week! I had a little bit of a reaction to one of my injections for India (which is now only a week away - excited) and have been unbelievably ill. Bleh! So there's been very little craftiness in this house over the last week. The inspiration has been there, the inclination has not.

But, after reading through the posts in Going Postal, a new blog series by Julie Kirk, I had the undeniable urge to make cards. So I sat down last night, cracked open my Counterfeit Kit for July, and came up with a card inspired by Julie's General Greetings.

The base of the card is quite simple - a little patchwork of co-ordinating papers and a bit of stitchery. To create the pennant greetings, I stamped the ticket image from Admit One and used Jessie's ABCs to add the lettering. (Both sets are available from Make The Day Special.)

I then 'strung' them onto some embroidery thread (by sticking them with double-sided tape) along with some colour co-ordinating beads. And voila!

I've never used the tickets as pennants before, but I feel a lot of cards on this theme coming on. I have a feeling that Julie may have inadvertantly created a card-making pennant monster!

The Patriot {July's Counterfeit Kit}

The inspiration kits for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge was 'revealed' yesterday morning and, because I was poorly sick, I didn't manage to use any of the kit I created last month. So, I've decided to keep it small and simple this month. I'm going to concentrate on using my kit this month for cards and maybe a mini-album, but I'll keep last month's kit in mind for layouts. It all depends on what life decides to throw at me next!

There were three inspiration kits to choose from this month, but keeping in mind that I wanted a small and simple kit, I chose to focus on the Liberty Shores kit - full of red, white and blue. Obviously the original was full of Americana, but being quintessentially British, I can still call a kit with these colours patriotic! Yay!

My paper selection is definitely on the small side - compared to normal. There's cardstock in red, blue and kraft, a collection of smaller scraps in similar colours and several papers which were free with the latest issue of Simply Homemade Magazine.

I was a little more generous with my embellishments, adding tons of floral embellishment, crocheted doilies, ruffled ribbons, buttons, brads and a handful of matching trims and threads.

And, in keeping with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge's urging to Use Your Stamps To Their Fullest Potential, I'll be creating a lot of my own embellishments this month using my stamps from Make The Day Special. There are too many suitable sets to list them all now, so I'll make sure to include details when I'm using them.

Right, I'm off to try and make something. It's been too long since I sat down to do some crafting. Have a great month Counterfeiters x

The 'I Love It' Counterfeit Kit!

I hesitantly checked the Counterfeit Kit Challenge this morning for this month's inspiration kit - and I was absolutely thrilled with the kit for counterfeiting this month from Burlap & Buttercups.

I was so excited that I started on my kit straight away and initially pulled over thirty (!!!) pieces of patterned paper and cardstock. I finally managed to whittle that down to a main kit of sixteen pieces - larger than any of my other counterfeit kits. Obviously these are the colours I've been craving!

I've also added some Cosmo Cricket Tiny Types, a We Are Memory Keepers chipboard alpha set, gorgeous diecuts from The Girl's Paperie and some buttons from my stash. The cute lollipop flower, ribbon leaves and blue pin are all from Precocious Paper.

My fingers are literally itching to break into my new kit and start creating, but I'll definitely be visiting other counterfeiters to see how they've interpreted the kit. I think it's going to be a good month!

Just a note: I will visit everyone who posts a counterfeit kit this month - I love looking at the kits everyone puts together because it's always inspirational. But, Blogger still won't let me comment on all blogs (I'm still having trouble if you embed your comments.) I would comment if I could x

Card Making Central

I'm sighing little happy sighs at the moment! I finally managed to sit down and create something - and with my May Counterfeit Kit. The one I really wasn't sure about. And you know what? Even though I didn't love the original inspiration kit, I do love what I've made.

Stamps from Lawn Fawn's Admit One and Papermania's Cupcake Minis

Stamps from Unity's Life Becoming

Anyway. I've been making cards again. You guessed that, right? All of a sudden I can't get enough of them. I'm so glad that I didn't give up on card making when it all seemed so hard!

Stamps from Unity's Quiet Essence and Lawn Fawn's Sophie's Sentiments

I think these dinky, little numbers are suitable for lots of occasions. Perfect for stashing away for unexpected moments of panic.

I've still got quite a lot of kit left - even if there is only a couple of days until the next Counterfeit Kit reveal - and there wasn't really a lot to begin with. But, I have big plans to create a mini book this evening. I'm joining in Kel's 52 Weeks & 52 Lists project which starts this Sunday and I want a little somewhere to keep them all. Watch this space!

The 'I'm Not So Sure About This' Counterfeit Kit

I've been eagerly awaiting the 'reveal' of the kit that the ladies at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge chose to use as their inspiration this month, but I really wasn't sure how I felt about the Work In Progress Kit that they chose. It just didn't call out my name like the other kits they've counterfeited.

Normally, I'll base my counterfeits on either colour, pattern or theme and will choose the elements that appeal to me. But, alas not much about the kit really did apppeal.

So I thought about it for a couple of days and realised that, the oddly 'bright, but dull' colours (and I do realise how weird that sounds) combined with the fact this is a kit obviously designed for people scrapping their children, were the main things putting me off counterfeiting it - it's definitely not a kit I would normally swoon at. I was far more excited about the Mother's Kit, so watch out for that appearing soon!

Anyway, not to be put off, I've pulled together a smaller kit which nods towards the original, pulling out some papers with the same base colours - red, black, yellow and aqua - I've also added some cream and kraft. There's also sheet of scrabble themed paper which I got free with a magazine a little while ago.

The original kit was a little short on embellishments and, although I've added a few tickets and labels, I've kept it that way - mainly because I think I'll end up using this kit for card making and I tend to keep my cards clean and simple. By far the most exciting part of my kit is the Say Cheese Too stamp set which arrived through my door this morning!

You never know though, I might end up loving all of the projects that I create from this kit and that's what counts, right?

There's something about card making that I always find really difficult, so it was with some surprise that I made a little card that I actually like. I think I'm starting to get into my card making groove - a little like scrapbooking it's all about becoming happy with your own style.

Today I'm sharing a little card for my sister who's a bit fed up with being ill and off work. A 'Get Well Soon' card didn't seem appropriate but, luckily, the Sophie's Sentiments set from Lawn Fawn has something that will work for almost any card.

I've used the 'Thinking Of You' sentiment, along with one of the stamps from the Naturally You set - which is just peeking out behind the embellishments. This set is only available in stores, so head on over to Make The Day Special and snap yours up. You'll be the envy of all your friends!

The papers and embellishments are all from this month's Counterfeit Kit - including the little ladybird. Isn't she cute? So, all you beautiful blogreaders, have a wonderful weekend x

It's Counterfeit Kit Time!

I think we're all aware of just how much I love the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I have truly had so much fun playing along with the challenge; putting together cute kits from my own stash and creating some much loved layouts as a result. And the love affair is not about end any time soon.

This month the Counterfeit Kit DT chose the amazing A Little Birdie Told Me kit - the first from Front Porch Kits - to counterfeit. Since it sold out within such a short period of time, I have no hesitation whatsoever in a little copying.

The kit is based on Echo Park's collection For The Record and, although I have the kit on order, I just could not wait to play along and put my own kit together. (Though I'm sure that once it arrives, some of the papers may find their way into my kit this month.) So, in my version of the kit, I have tons of Bazill Cardstock - I'm a big, big lover of Kraft - and some of my favourite patterned papers from American Crafts.

This time around I've 'splurged' on the embellishments and I've added a huge amount of flowers - some bought and some handmade - along with a variety of leaves, brads, buttons, chipboard shapes, beautiful trims and some yarn remnants. Disappointingly, I couldn't find my 'googly eyes' so expect them to appear in the kit at a later stage if I manage to hunt them down!

I'm also using my new stamp set from Make The Day Special - Naturally You. How perfect are these stamp sets? I couldn't believe it when I saw the kit and knew I had just the right stamps!

In the process of putting my kit together, I also pulled rather a large amount of scraps - some paper, some fabric - and although there's no add on kits with the original I've made my own - Birdhouse In Your Soul.

This little kit is perfect for making mini-books, cards and smaller, little projects and is made up a ton of paper scraps in colours and patterns to match the main kit. Also included are several fabric remnants, burlap and some tidbits of ribbon, along with more delicious trim and another stamp from Itty Bitty - Dreams Make 'Em Happen. What do you think? Can I manage to make teeny, tiny scraps look appealing?

I can't wait to start creating with my counterfeit kits, but before I love you and leave you, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all the comments on my kits and layouts last month. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude, especially for those of you who wanted to scraplift my layouts - what a compliment! Please go right ahead! And then show me? Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that during what was a tough month at work, you all seriously kept me going. Much love x

An Indian Summer!!!

So, it's official. I'll be spending two weeks during the summer in India! At the university where I work we have a dedicated charity which, every year, sends teams of staff and students to development projects around the world to work.

This year teams are heading to India, Brazil, Mauritius, Uganda and Malawi - and I feel so amazingly privileged to be heading off to a country that I have never visited (have never even dreamed of visiting!) and to be working with the local community on a project which will benefit them long after we come home.

In the run up to our departure I'll be getting to know the other members of staff who'll be accompanying me and meeting the team of students we'll be taking with us and, together, we'll all be fundraising to cover the costs associated with our project. The journey starts right now!

To make sure that I don't miss out on documenting any of it - the 'getting to know you' meetings, the fundraising, everything - I've put together a mini-book using some of my Counterfeit Kit.

I've used a lot of papers from my versions of Into The Woods and Sunny Clearing, because the colours are so vibrant - just how I expect India to be. I've also added in scraps leftover from my projects using the other kits, so I've used up quite a bit of stash!

To add extra details to my mini-book, I've added some stamped images using my Make The Day Special. stamp sets, All About The Journey and A Girl & Her Adventures. I don't think there could be any stamps sets more perfect for documenting this trip. And aren't they beautiful?

I'm so impressed that I've been able to use my kits from the Counterfeit Kit Challange this month despite being extremely busy. Obviously having everything ready in kit form is just what I need. I cannot wait to find out which kit we'll be counterfeiting next month!

Believe In Good Things {Counterfeit Challenge Blog Hop}

If you're stopping by as part of the Counterfeit Kit blog-hop then 'Hello. Hi. Welcome.' If you haven't heard of the Counterfeit Kit Challenge then, oh my, you've been missing out! The idea is to create your own scrapbooking kits from stash, using some of the most popular kits available as inspiration. And, despite the fact that I've not yet spent a single penny, I've been creating with some fabulous combinations I would never have normally used; had access to mini-challenges all month long; and become part of a growing on-line community. Sounds good, right?

When I started scrapbooking, I often saved links to layouts that I loved and I would try to emulate those layouts when I sat down to scrap - only, I'd never really like them because they never seemed to measure up to the original! As I've become more confident in my own style, I've relied less and less on the idea of scraplifting - though I still love looking at other people's layouts - and I've started to love my own layouts, simply because they reflect who I am. I no longer feel as though my layouts have to look a certain way or they 'won't be good enough.'

So, I went back to my old layouts and chose one that I love - just because it was one that really feels like my own - and copied it. The colours might be a little different, but it's still bright and cheerful. And, since I've only used one piece of cardstock, plus scraps and a few embellishments (all the last few in their packets) it's the perfect use for all of those scraps we accumulate while using our kits!

Now, I'm off to the next stop on the blog-hop - Kathy-Jo - to check out what she's been creating, but if you'd like to make sure that you're not missing out you can head back to the beginning at the Counterfeit Kit Challange.

Inspiration Everywhere

Last week's Layout Challenge at The Studio Challenges was instantly inspiring. I knew exactly which photograph I wanted to use and it took mere minutes to pull together the right elements for the page because my Counterfeit Kits were ready and waiting.

I used my version of the Babbling Brook kit, plus a few embellishments that I pulled from my version of the Wildflower Kit - and look - a patterned paper background! Unbelievable! That's twice in a row! There was also an additional challenge to accompany the sketch of using a ruffle somewhere on your layout, so I made my own ruffled ribbon out of some cream satin and added it beneath my photograph. Then I clustered all of my embellishments together to form a focal point and to break the lines of the layout a little. I included one of my handmade rolled roses, some polymer clay leaves, one of roses from my original kit and a cabachon glued onto a chipboard button. Lots of extra used in such a small space. Loving it!

But, there was something missing. Just beneath the cluster of flowers there was a little space and every time I placed another flower there it just didn't look right. I was at a bit of a loss and put the layout to one side for a whole week before inspiration struck.

I'd headed back to The Counterfeit Kit Club and noticed the Inspired By Etsy Mini Challenge then and immediately went to search through my favourites. When I came across these beautiful Temple Lotus Hoops by Lala Design Studio, I knew I'd found the cutest, little addition to my layout. One dinky, pink glass teardrop bead and I finally had the perfect layout.

*happy sigh*