Birthday Card

 I pulled in the 6x6 paper pads  and stamps to make three more Birthday Cards from my CKC March 2023 - Adventure Beings Here fit. 

Card#1:

I added in purple paper and an embossing folder for this one/ I stamped the image, used colored pencils then re-stamped the image and fussy cut out the gnome fairy.

She is specifically colored in purple as that is recipient's favorite color. 

Card #2: 

I did the same process for this card - stamped colored and re stamped. She is colored in oranges. The background paper is from the baggie of scraps that was included in my kit.

Card #3:

I added an extra mat underneath the colored image. 

 Each card has a stamped and clear embossed image on it. I used Tim Holtz Distress in for envelope. I was able to personalize each of the Birthday Cards with the colors I used to what they like.

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 Challenge and Blog Hop

 Welcome to Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog hop for March. I can't believe it is March - we just had approximated 22 - 24 inches of new snow last week. I am definitely ready for spring. Anna is the Master Forger in charge this month and this is what she has to say.

" I chose March fof my month to host because my son was born on March 17 (he will be 11 this year) and so I thought it would be fun to find a kit that could be used to scrap photos of my kiddo. In otherwards, not to much pink a little more green (St. Patrick's Day and all that). Well then I came across the digital kits from Traci Reed designs that have the same colors and even some of the same designs as Storyteller, her physical collection designed for Coco Vanilla, a company from Australia (yes, she's the genius behind that popular collection).The cool thing about a digital/printable kit is that there is no limit on how much she can create, and she always packs SO MUCH into her digital kits.

I also love that this collection has a very specific message of self-care for mental health and body positivity which is something I'd like to focus on more going forward.

 But first our Guest Designer is Amanda Castle

"Over twenty years ago, my mom bought me a scrapbooking kit from QVC. Thus began my journey into this wonderfully creative, addicting, and satisfying hobby. For many years, I was a stay-at-home mom to four kids, moving from place to place with my military husband, so scrapbooking became not only an escape from the stress and loneliness being away from family can cause, but also the creative outlet and ME time I craved. I have always been drawn to all types of mixed media and LOVE embellishments so much that a dear friend (who introduced me to stamping) dubbed me “the embellishment queen.” Today, I don’t get as much time to enjoy scrapping as I work both as a teacher and a realtor, so when I do, I love to participate in challenges. I had seen other scrappers participating in Counterfeit Kit Challenge and was beyond curious as to what it was—Enter Anna from Piece Craft Love. I am a member of her Facebook group and one day she mentioned the challenge. I asked about it and BOOM, here I am. February was technically my first month participating, but I had a blast and was so thrilled when Anna asked me to Guest Design for her month of March! I’m looking so forward to this month’s kit and the challenges coming up. It’s going to be a GREAT month!" 

Now for our Inspiration Kit. Introducing the Time to Thrive Digital and Printable Scrapbook Collection by Traci Reed — Traci Reed Designs

Now I am going roque this month. I didn't get any of the self-care, mental health, or COVID papers when they were available. So, I am basing my kit on the colors. I love the pops of poppy red, orange, green and blue in the kit.  I choose teal as I am very low on the dark blue paper, and I had more orange paper than the poppy red. 

Here is my CKC March 2023 - Adventure Begins Here:

Craft Smith - Sweet Mint Paper pad (2015), Dear Lizzy - Spring (2009), The girls Paperie (2010), Color Bock - Mint Julep (unknown)Little Yellow bicycle (2008), Unknown papers - left over from a paper pad. then the Shaped papers are Rhonda Farr (2007) Little Yellow Bicycle (unknown), Pink Paislee (2009 and 2010)

I pulled three set of Pocket cards, stamps, stickers and wood veneer for this month. 

I have March Stories by the month 2020, 2021 and 2022. There are a few pocket cards from each month, and I thought the wood veneer is perfect for this month's inspiration kit. In one of the other months there is a stamp that say something about taking care of you. When I find it I will add that to my kit.

I included quite a few 6x6 paper pad. The color combination works for the inspiration kit and they are all most used up. Fancy pants - Millie & June (2016) and Office Suite (2014,) Pink Fresh - Everyday Musings (2018), Pick Me Up (2008) and Jen Hadfield - DIY Home (2015).

I have three large stamps set for some card making - Unity Kit of the Month. June 2021 {magical summer days}, August 2022 {hope is stronger} and July 2022 {fresh air and sunshine) then I pulled in a Stamp and Die set, Pink Fresh Studio's Shaker tax dies, a polaroid die and a few small flowers. I still have my flower stamp and dies from last month along with the stickers I didn't use. I will add more if needed. 

Here is what I pulled that did not make the cut for my March Kit. To this means I do not have photos picked out to use with these papers. If I find ones, I want to use I'll use the add on set, if not it goes back into my stash.

DCWV - Old World Stack (2017), Jen Hadfield - Simple Life (206), Jen Hadfield - Heart of Home (2017), Simple Stories - Wood & Gingham (2017), Green Cardstock, Jen Hadfield - Patio Party (2017), unknown Polka dot, Kraft cardstock, DCWV - Old World Stack (2017), white cardstock DCWV Textures and Finished (unknow), American Crafts - Star Gazer "Happy" (2017"

Your nest stop on the Hop is Julene  -  http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com

Here is the full blog hop.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge: http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
Guest Designer: Amanda Castle https://youtube.com/@ajoyfulscrapper
Anna: https://www.youtube.com/@piececraftlove
Cindy: https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com
Julene: http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com
Leslie: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com
Tara:  https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com
Tina: http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

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.