August Inspiration Kit and Social Media Hop

 Welcome to the August Inspiration Kit and Social Media Hop. You should have arrived here from Christine's YouTube channel. I have the full hop listed below.  Laurie has picked the Farmhouse Summer by Carta Bella, 

Our Guest Designer this month is Nadine Michelle, known as Paper Route Scrapbooking on YouTube. Please give her a warm welcome.

Now for my August 2025 CKC - The Country.

I went with bicycles instead of barns and doors, watering cans instead of pots and flowers. I substituted in a bit of orange coral for the golden rod color in the inspiration kit.

I didn't quite finish of the Jen Hadfield 6x6 paper pads, DIY Home and Heart of Home so I'm including them again. 

I'm also made a little mini kit from scraps of the DCWV "The Guy Stack". 

As for embellishments I'm including a few ephemera from Jen Hadfield "Home Made", bicycle clips, and of course a few different stamp sets.

Your next stop on the hop is JoJo's Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions/

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Reveal and Hop

• Counterfeit Kit Challenge - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/  
• Guest Designer - Nadine - https://www.youtube.com/@paperroutescrapbooking4007
• Brandi - https://www.instagram.com/scrappy.boymama/
• Christine - https://www.youtube.com/@ScrappingHarden
• Cindy - https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/
• JoJo- https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions/
• Julene - https://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/
• Ryann - https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookjoey/
• Tara - https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com/
• Tina - https://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/
• Vikki https://www.instagram.com/memoriesandmomentsscrapbooking/
• Amanda -https://youtube.com/@amandacreates1980?si=j3Ed1pSbf7Wm3DF

Thanks for stopping by. 

Scrap lift Challenge - Helping out

 I'm using my July CKC Kit - Waiting for Summer for the Scrap life Challenge at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

We were to Scrap lift Julene's layout from 2014 

and her blog post is here: Julene By Design: July Counterfeit Kit for her kit and here Julene By Design: Stuck on U sketches for her layout.

I pulled in this paper from DCWV "Taja Mahal" from 2009. I thought the circle design was a good representation of Julene's paper. I also had no ideas of the photos I would scrap when I pulled my kit together. I found a few pictures of Derek helping out when we were shoveling snow. I thought the circles made excellent snowflakes. 

I added a few things when it came time make my layout, Dark Blue, white, orange and red cardstock, 3 snowflake punches, alpine snowflake, crystal and large Fiskars snowflake punch, I am using the Martha Stewart Cherish border punch.

I matted the paper with the dark blue cardstock along with the photos. My photos are a different size than Julene's 1 4x6 and 2 4x4. I added the punched border to the bottom of my 4x6 photo and the top of the page. I found a mitten ephemera and added that to the circle. The snowflakes are punched in the orange, red and white cardstock. I love how this layout turned out. Thanks for stopping by. 

Dream Layout

 Today I'm using the 6x6 paper pad I included in my July Counterfeit Kit and following a sketch on Ginger's Corner Facebook group. 

I pulled papers from the Crate Paper "Good Vibes" paper pad and a few of the elements from the Pink Paislee "Bloom Street die" cuts.

I thought the pinks in this paper pad were perfect for Darcy taking a nap at Grandma's. 

As usual I made 3 layouts with little tweaks on each layout.

Up first is layout one:

I added in chipboard flower and bow from my stash.

My 12x12 layout.

I added in a chipboard frame I just cannot seem to get used up. 

The 8 1/2x11 layout.

I used different papers and the other half of the chipboard frame.

Thanks for stopping by.

July Counterfeit Kit and Social Media Hop

 Welcome to July's Counterfeit Kit and Social Media Hop. Ryan is the Master Forger in charge this month.  You should have arrived here from Brandi. As usual the full hop is listed below. Ryan has selected Moonlit Collection by Traci Reed. It has a Summer Nights vibe which should appeal to anyone who enjoys evening activities in their summertime. It is a pretty vestal kit. 

Our Guest Designer this month is Lacy Stockton.  She says, "Hi, I’m Lacy Stockton and I live in a boy’s world, married to my playful husband and we share three beautiful boys, plus my “Baby,” Zuko (our Boston Terrier) and only other female influence, a tabby cat named Paisley.  I began scrapbooking in 1998 when I purchased an idea magazine and scrap lifted every layout from the book, starting my passion for the creative, hands-on art of documenting life.  Currently, I am primarily a Creative Memories scrapper, as I love the coordinating collections, but have years’ worth of supplies that mostly remained stored until I was introduced to this group.  I am really enjoying reinventing a purpose in old supplies and combining it in ways I wouldn’t put together otherwise through the inspiration kits.  I love being involved in the challenges as I am a list maker/checker, and the challenges feel like assignments giving me criteria to complete.  I’ve only been involved for a few months and already have been excited to create layouts with old supplies that have happily found a home in a scrapbook.  I look forward to a well themed event to assure a more scrapbook content, and it’s very common for me to take a photo knowing something will match scrapbook paper I already own.  This is a photo from my “Clue” birthday party when I dressed as Mrs. White."

Lacy will be posting her layouts on the Counterfeit Kit Facebook page. Please give her a warm welcome.

Here is my July CKC - These Moments.

I have a variety of papers. I tried to stay to the darker side, but I have added in a few lighter colors. 

I have a variety of photos to scrap this month, Derek with a sparkler, eating ice cream, at the fire pit, making hot dogs with dad, Darcy playing in the sunshine with Derek, and watching a parade are just a few of the layouts I plan on finishing this month.

As for my embellishments I have a wide variety, a couple of cut- a-parts, sticker sheet, I have one alphabet picked out, enamel dots and some chipboard. 

Various Flowers, DIY Enamel dots, ribbon, wood veneer words, cameras, buttons, labels, tabs, and paperclips.

More cut-a-parts, chipboard and chipboard frames, bare chipboard, tasses, tags, stamped images and some puffy stickers. 

I've added in my circle dies and punches, a couple of Cricut Cuts from various cartridges, Stamps, glitter and sequins. 

Your next stop on the is JoJo  https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions. Thanks for Stopping by.

July Counterfeit Kit Challenge Reveal and Social Medial Hop:

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/  

• Brandi - www.instagram.com/scrappy.boymama 
• Cindy - http://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/ 

• JoJo -https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions
• Misty - https://craftysoup.com
• Ryann -https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookjoey/
• Tara - https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com/
• Tina - http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/
• Vikki-https://www.instagram.com/memoriesandmomentsscrapbooking/?hl=en

Counterfeit Kit Challenge #2 - Color Explosion!

 Welcome to Counte3rfeit Kit's challenge #2 - Color Explosion! Laura asked us to create a layout bursting with color, using vibrant hues and playful patterns to express joy and creativity. There is no journaling as it is part of Darcy's birthday pictures for Katie's album, the picture is of Grandpa Mark and Darcy. 

I used the Distress ink in picked raspberry, peacock feather, and twisted citron. I have the mini–ink pads. I used the ink pad on white cardstock to make my background, just inkpad to paper. This is my Vibrant hues paper.  

From my stash I found the "love" cut is from a Cricut cartridge that was already cut out, the butterflies are ones that I have fuzzy cut out of other pattern paper and keep in a small container for future use. I glued the butterfly body and used foam dots behind the butterfly wings to give dimension.,

I did get a picked raspberry smudge where the bottom left had side cluster is. I used a word sticker and flower from the Carpe Diem sticker book and another butterfly. 

Layout using Forgery on the Fourth

 From my June Counterfeit Kit - CKC June 2024 - Bright and Bold, I am using my Ray of Sunshine Forgery paper, post is here. 

My paper is 8 1/2 x 11, the photo I am scrapping goes into my youngest album and this the size he chose. 

The is part of a two-page layout. The Minnesota Vikings had a fundraiser at the Vikings new training center a couple of years ago. When you signed up you scaled a walled of the training center and got you picture taken with him. 

I pulled in a scrap of red to mat the photo and trimmed down the white cardstock to mat on black cardstock. 

Distress ink: mustard seed and fossilized amber

Thanks for stopping by.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - Forgeries on the Fourth

 Ourt inspiration kit this month is 49 and Market Vintage Artistry Sunburst collection. Here is a preview of the Kit:

I really like the yellow "Ray of Sunshine" paper, but I do not have this paper.(Vintage Artistry Sunburst - Ray of Sunshine - 49 and Market).

 I find the distress paper hard to use, but this one was calling my name. I pulled out my Cricut cartridge Artbooking and played around with the cut on page 15. 

The set is cut at 3 1/2" - top right, 7 inches middle, and the left side is at 11". 

The left is cut at right side is cut at 8" and the left is at 11". I am cutting them out of white cardstock to use as a template.

After cutting and removing the rays from the first set I thought I should keep the cut-out parts to use for scrap paper. (I did not go back and do this any of the other but the 11" on the left side. 

For my forged paper I used Distress ink in fossilized amber and mustard seed. This paper is for an * 1/2 x 11 layout. I outside the top, so I just extended the ink beyond the border. No can really tell until you lay the stencil on the top.  

Thanks for stopping by

May Looked Like this - 3 Double Page Layouts

 I am finishing off the paper from Page set 3 for two of my double page layouts. The third on I pulled in another piece of Stampin' Up paper. 

I am still using the wood veneer, distress ink, brayer, Unity Stamps and Stories of the Month stamps. I did not use the ribbon or the flowers going forward.

Here is the first set of double pages. My wood veneer changes as I used all of the tags that I had and switched to hearts.

The second set

For this last set I brought in another sheet of Stampin' Up paper. I had one heart left and a house with a heart in the center for this layout.

Thanks for Stopping by.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge #1 - Mood Board.

 Challenge #1 is up on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Bog and Facebook Group. Just a reminder we are using Traci Reed's Time to Thrive Kit for our inspiration this month,

which can be found here - Introducing the Time to Thrive Digital and Printable Scrapbook Collection by Traci Reed — Traci Reed Designs

For Challenge #1 we are to use her Mood Board to Create a layout. Here is the mood board.

From the mood board I took inspiration from the color blue, greenery, flowers, butterfly, selfcare and meditation for my layout. 

I started with the one of the papers from Craft Smith (2015) Sweet Mint papers. and a neutral background from Jen Hadfield - DIY Home (2015) for my backgrounds.

I never did find my "self-care" stamp, so I pulled another 3x4 journaling card cut at an angel added to a 3x4 paper from Fancy Pants 6x6 paper pad - Office Suite (2014) to make my own. I was planning on stamping and fussy cutting out the a few of the stamps that were in the March Stories by the month for the leaves but did not like how they turned out. I pulled in some of the leaves I had cut for a prior Forgeries on the Fourth to use instead. I had the butterfly stamp and die I included but had these butterflies I fussy cut for another Forgery on the Fourth instead. Sometimes the Stamping and dies do not turn out the way I thought they would. The chipboard pies is from one the Stories by the month. 

As I was looking for my prior forgeries, I found one of transparency frame (another Forgery) to give me just a little bit more blue to my layout. I fussy cut it so that it looks like is running all the way down the side of the page. Once it in a sheet protector and album no one will notice. 

I added a small cluster of pattern papers, butterflies and a word sticker to the bottom cluster. 

My journaling will read: 

During Covid I started taking time to sit and have a cup of tea or coffee in the mornings and at night. Just a few minutes during all the craziness at the time. Today I still take the time to sit on my patio before and after work with a cup of something watching the birds, bunnies and squirrels. Just a few minutes. This winter I have I left out the table and chairs, shoveled the patio when it not extremely cold and will take a few minutes out there. 

Here is what the patio looks like today and yes, it is still snowing. 

Don't forget to check out the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog and Facebook Group. Thanks for stopping by. 

I hope your day sparkles . . . Coral Card Challenge

 Here is my first card with the 6x6 paper pad I put into my CKC March 2023 - Adventures Begins Here. I found a Through the Rainbow Challenge where they are working on the in-between colors of the rainbow. February's color is coral.

I pulled out the December 2021 - Kit of the Month {smile wider laugh longer} to stamp the flowers and sentiment. I used blank ink then heat embossed with clear embossing poser. I used color pencils to color the image in. I'm using the Jen Hadfield - DIY Home that I included in my kit. There is a perfect Coral background for the February 2023 Challenge.

I stamped another flower on the front of the envelope and embossed it. Now it looks like I need to January and March's challenge.

Counterfeit Kit Challege -Kill that Kit - Pocket Pages

Today is Kill that Kit over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.  Let's have a quick look again at the inspiration kit this month, Cocoa Daisy February 2022 - Elegance Blooms. 

I did not take a picture of my scraps from my February Counterfeit kit; I totally did not remember to do this until I was writing this post. Last month Lisa used her scraps to make a few cards. My go to is to use my punches and dies on my scraps along with the cards. This year I'm using my scraps to make cards for some of the many pocket pages I have. 

Up first is the back side of my oldest son's 12x12 pocket page.

The top and bottom rows of 4x6 cards are all with scraps and die cuts from my kit. The middle row is 3x4 cards that I pulled out when I was making my kit but didn't make the cut. I had not put them away yet, so I incorporated them in.  

Next is my youngest son's 8 1/2 x 11 pocket page.

Most of these papers were from his 8 1/2 x 11 pages. I used more of the die cuts that were included in my kit. I don't normally put pictures on their pocket page layouts leaving for them to fill. Sometimes they come back with the pictures and the story for me to finish them up. 

Lastly is my 12x12 pocket page layout.

The top 4x6 card was another one that did not make the first cut for my kit. the rest is scraps from the papers I did include in my kit. The chipboard and stickers were on one of my miscellaneous sheets. I cut apart the Love This 4x6 journal card and added twine to it.

 I have a bunch of old photos from mom and dad that I want to use in the pocket pages. They are not the best quality and not the 4x6 we have today, but it is a memory that is now scrapped. 

Thanks for stopping by.

February Counterfeit Kit Challenge and Blog Hop

  Master Forger Cindy here welcoming you to   February's Counterfeit Kit Challenge Kit Reveal and Blog Hop. Please welcome our Guest Designer Karen Pietruszkiewicz

I am a newly retired Neonatal Nurse Practitioner that loves being home now full time with my 5 rescue dogs and 2 cats and catching up on all of my scrappy fun that I have so misses over the yars when I was working! I started scrapbooking in the early 90's with Creative Memories shortly after I got married. At the time my Husband was Active Duty in the Submarine Service, so I had LOTS of time on my hands when he deployed to keep busy, thank goodness for scrapping! I also love jewelry making, reading, and travel, looking forward to checking off places on my Bucket List one at a time! I am also a Certified Pet Massage Practitioner, but unfortunately, with physical limitations and progressive arthritis, I have not been able to continue with this as a business but enjoy the occasional massages I can provide the rescue dogs at local shelters. I am so happy I found CKC and love seeing what you all are able to do with shopping your own stash, so so inspiring! I like to scrap non chronologically with what I am in the mood to do that particular day and try and do something in my Crafty Space everyday! It is truly my therapy in this crazy world...Thank you all so much for having me this month, it is truly and honor!!! Karen.

I wanted a kit that did not represent all winter, snow and Valentines for this month, and could eases us into the coming months.  I picked the Cocoa Daisy February 2022 Elegance Blooms kit for the softer colors, the lighter greens, yellows, pinks, and blues. You could still do a Valentine's Page or card and even a winter or snow page. I think this kit will be very versatile for this coming month. I know it's a LOAD month which is why I'm keeping it open for you to pull from any or all of the kits for inspiration.  

Cocoa Daisy February 2022 - Elegance Blooms Kit Elegance Blooms | Cocoa Daisy (link is all of their kits, 4 pages worth of inspiration, page 4 has downloadable prompts)

Modern Memory Keeping Kit: 

Papers:

Pocket Cards: 

Stamps:

Stickers: 

Here are a few unboxing videos of Cocoa Daisy February 2022 Elegance Blooms: (4) Elegance Blooms Live Facebook Unboxing with Christine & Mr. Daisy - YouTube

Now for my kit CKC February 2023 - So much to Celebrate.

My kit is a little bit different this time. I'm trying to use up a paper pad from DCWV - The Mariposa Stack this month (2009). The two row and most of the bottom row are from this stack. I have stiped paper in the bottom row from DCWV The Heirloom Stack (2011) and the last three are unknown papers and years.  The colors are just a bit richer, than the inspiration kit, some have glitter on them.

I pulled a wide variety of embellishments; most are leftovers and I want to try to use them up. I put my leftovers on wax paper and then store them in sheet protectors. At this point I don't always remember where they are from. I know there is some Jen Hadfield, Simple Stories, My Mind's Eye, Heidi Swapp, Various Printables and the sticker book from Park Lane (2021).

I do not have any of The Mariposa Embellishments - I'm not even sure there were any, so I am again planning on making my own. I have included the stitched and hexagon dies, a mall heart and arrow die set, Art C Stamp and Die set, Tim Holtz Garden Greens and Small Tattered Florals, Gina K Designs - stamps and dies.

Lastly, I will be adding in cardstock, I know I forgot to include an Envelope, bag, and tags. And I did not pick out any ink. There is probably more stamps that I will add as these are only flowers.

Your next stopon the Hop if Julene  http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for stopping by

Here's the full hop link list:

Counterfeit Kit Challenge: http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
Guest Designer: Karen Pietruszkiewicz - Check out the “Counterfeit Kit Community” Facebook page for her kit.
Anna: https://www.youtube.com/c/piececraftlove
Cindy: https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com (You are Here)
Julene: http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com
Juliet: https://www.instagram.com/julesd
Leslie: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com
Misty: https://craftysoup.com/
Tara:  https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com
Tina: http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com