Killing Kits: In The Christmas Mood

Hello! It's time for a new video for the Killing Kits Series and today, I've used the leftovers from my wonderful November 2018 Wild Hare Kit so that I can make room for some new holiday themed stash! Honestly, the best bit of finally finishing off all of these kit leftovers, is that I feel less worried about the occasional stash addition!

The kit was full of the most incredible selection from the December Days Collection by Pinkfresh Studios, Sweater Weather by American Crafts and a whole host of extra embellishments. Now, I felt that I used most of it in my December Daily 2017 album, but I still had a lot leftover and I've utilised most of those leftovers in the video to make a set of little cards!

>

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you!

Killing Kits: Mix & Match Cards

Hello lovelies! It's time for a new video for the Killing Kits Series and today, I've used the leftovers from my Wild Hare Kit from May 2018. It was full cardstock and embellishments from the Be You Collection by Pinkfresh Studios and I didn't have a lot of it left!

I've made the most of all my little leftovers by combining them with the Chevron Mat Die from Avery Elle, but it's really easy to adapt my 'mix and match' method - and, as a bonus, you could use up some extra washi, ribbon or trim!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you!

Killing Kits: Stitched Backgrounds

Hello lovelies! I'm back with a new video for the Killing Kits Series and today, it's a little short and sweet (because I lost the last little bit of video!) But, better short and sweet, than not here at all!

I've used the leftovers from the 'Rose Garden' Counterfeit Kit that I made in October 2011. It was, and still is, one of my favourite Counterfeit Kits and I must have wanted to save every last bit of it. I can't remember exactly why I decided to reduce it all down to little squares but, since I've been known to make a 'Patchwork' or two before, I can only assume that I believed I'd make one a little sooner :)

I must have, at some time, added to these leftovers with some from other kits - as there's Basic Grey and, what looks like at least one other kit (that I don't remember) in here too!

I'm afraid that the video doesn't include the machine stitch, as I lost this little bit in the edit, but the main idea is there - and, hopefully, it's one that you may decide to use on your own projects!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you!

Happy Mail (Killing Kits Series)

Hello lovelies! It's Clair with the latest video in the Killing Kits Series and today, I'm sharing some 'Happy Mail' that I made with the last little bits of my 'Field Notes' Counterfeit Kit from September 2017.

I'm actually a little sorry to have finished this kit. It was one of my all time favourites! Do you have a favourite? Have you kept little bits of it around to look at wistfully? Let me know, okay? It would be nice to know I'm not alone!!!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you!

You Are Wonderful Layout {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! It's Clair with the latest video in the Killing Kits Series and I'm thrilled, because in this video, I combined the leftovers from two kits to make one, fantastic layout!

Both of my Wild Hare Kits from August 2017 and September 2017 featured the Carousel Collection from Crate Paper (as well as lots of co-ordiated loveliness) but I was left with a selection of cardstock that featured bold colours, carnival/animal cut-outs and some embellishments!

I've been asked a lot, since I started the Killing Kits Series, what I do with leftover items that feature bold colours, cute animals, and otherwise 'awkward' to use bits and bobs! So, in this video, I show how I 'reduce' the awkwardness - and reduce my leftovers!

I used the Heart Board Fri-Die from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to die-cut all of the cardstock that remained from both kits into a selection of hearts in different sizes. Then added them in 'stacks' to a white 8x5 x 11 sheet.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I would love to hear from you!

Hidden Journalling {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! It's Clair with the latest video in the Killing Kits Series for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and this time around, I wanted to share a layout that I made with the last little bits of my Planning For Perfection Kit from January 2016. I can't believe that I've finally killed that kit!

Today's layout is small in size, but it's so easy to scale the methods I've used to suit 8x11 or 12x12 - and with minimal effort. Really. It took me more time to edit and voice-over the video, than it took to make the layout!

I've also added a 'hidden' section for some journalling. If, like me, you find it difficult to add your stories to a layout once it's finished (or you simply want to keep some of it a little more private) then I hope this idea will be useful.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you! 

Killing Kits: Quick Cards

It's time for me to share the next video in the Killing Kits Series and this time, I dived into the leftovers of my 'Field Notes' Counterfeit Kit from September 2017. I loved the colours of this kit - it seemed like the ideal transition between summer and autumn, and it had a lovely botanical feel.

I've made two cards, both based on a card that I made for The Wild Hare Kits back in May (see that card here) with some of the leftovers from an earlier mini-album. I adored that card because it looked fantastic, but it took me less than ten minutes to make it! In the video for today, I've used the same basic materials - a white card base; cardstock leftovers; die-cut sentiments and little jewels - to recreate that card.

Different colours and textures make the cards look so different - seasonal almost - and, because this method would be so easy to 'batch' for multiple cards, I'll definitely be making more of these come winter!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you! 

Killing Kits: Tackling Branding Strips

Hey! It's time to share the latest of my videos in the Killing Kits Series, that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. Today, I'm using a little bit more of the leftovers from my 'Planning For Perfection' Counterfeit Kit January 2016. (I made a start on them in the last video to make some Handmade Embellishments & A Quick Card. Be sure to check it out, if you haven't already seen it!)

This time around, I'm tackling a little stack of branding strips (because who doesn't have lots of those leftover?) to make some cute tags that could be added to a layout; used as a bookmark; or added to a gift!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you! 

Killing Kits: Handmade Embellishments & Quick Card

It's time for me to share the latest of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I'm delving back into the leftovers of my 'Planning For Perfection' Counterfeit Kit from January 2016. 

This was such a massive kit that I had to store the leftovers in two files (!) but I've nearly finished the first file - and I've loved making new, with old! I often find it easier to work in batches, so today's video includes a set of handmade embellishments *and* a little card. Who doesn't love a two for one, eh?

Whether you are struggling to finish a current kit, or need to revisit some older stash, I hope that the Killing Kits Series inspires you to love - and use - what you have!

As always, feel free to leave comments here, on my YouTube Channel, or over in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community. I'd love to hear from you!

Killing Kits: Clamshell Layout Process Video

Hello! I'm excited to share the latest of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This time around, I'm working with the leftovers from my October 2017 Kit and December 2017 Kit from The Wild Hare Kits. I loved the October Kit so much that I asked for a similar kit in December - and, of course, that meant a fair amount of leftovers!

My inspiration for the layout was the beautiful HKC Exclusive Paper by Kimberly Hutchison, that's included in the May 2018 Kit from the Hip Kit Club - which is this month's kit to counterfeit over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on my YouTube Channel, or over in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community. I'd love to hear from you!

Killing Kits: Patchwork Cards Process Video

Hello! I'm excited to share the first of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. (Check out the Introduction for a little overview if you missed it earlier in the month!)

This video features the leftovers from my 'Summer In The City' Counterfeit Kit from August 2015! I was a little shocked when I realised it was that old, but I'm so happy to have rediscovered an older kit - that I still love - and I think, that with the addition of a few recent embellishments - it looks on trend!

Whether you choose to use the ideas in this new series to help you finish off your current kit, or whether you haul out the remains of some of those older kits, it’s up to you. But, I hope that the Killing Kits Series will help you to make the most of those little leftovers!

Introduction {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! I'm so excited, because today I can finally share the introduction to my new video series, Killing Kits, that I'm working on in collaboration with The Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Before we start, I wanted to share a little overview of how I store all of my unfinished kits – because, once I found a system that worked for me, it made everything so much easier. Well, until it didn’t … but more about that in a minute.

Normally, I’ll have two or three monthly kits in use and I, most often, will have some leftover at the end of the month. Of course, I could sort the leftovers into my stash, but I tend to think that after all of the effort of co-ordinating a kit, it seems a waste to break it down.

It used to stress me out. I had two or three kits in use – all over my desk – and the leftovers from (at least) the last month, sat around in little dishes or boxes making me feel guilty.

Eventually, I found a solution.

I store all of my kit leftovers in these Wilko A5 Binders. These frosted binders, came with a small exercise book, dividers and, a set of four removable wallets. I removed the exercise books and dividers (I still have them somewhere!) and found that the wallets were about the size I needed for most of my kit leftovers. They are surprisingly roomy. I went back to the store and, now, I have a set of four folders and a total of sixteen wallets.

The small size of the binder has made it really easy to store them on a shelf, next to my desk – and, of course, it’s so easy to snatch a couple of them of the shelf on my way to a scrapbooking crop. No need to spend time co-ordinating supplies, more time crafting! Yay!

But, here’s the issue. Those little leftovers eventually built up and, when I finally filled the last wallet, I found out that these little binders aren’t available anymore. What?! I really didn’t want to start over with a new system – and, honestly, I would rather spend my money on new stash (or new shoes!) So, I realised that I need to start making more an effort to use those leftovers – and it’s been a lot of fun to take a fresh look at some older kits. It’s even more fun to finally kill a kit.

Whether you choose to use the ideas in this new series to help you finish off your current kit, or whether you haul out the remains of some of those older kits, it’s up to you. But, I hope that the Killing Kits Series will help you to make the most of those little leftovers!

I'll be back on the 30th with the first of the inspiration videos!