Using my March Kit and Seeing Stars

This past weekend my daughter celebrated her 7th birthday so a little photo shoot was in order.  She is head over heels for American Girl dolls so it seemed appropriate that Caroline should be in the pictures as well.  The dolls cost a pretty penny and some of the accessories are through the roof!  What a lucky girl to have one and the chance to choose another for her birthday!   Thinking of lucky 7 and lucky stars reminded me of the Whimsical Musings prompt to be inspired by stars.  While this isn't a scientific connection to the stars, I thought the layout did fit nicely with Lisa's prompt.    In my tucked away journaling, I write about how lucky my kids are to have so many blessings.  I remind them to appreciate and take care of what they have and not lose sight of the important stuff like PEOPLE.  And while things are great, it's the love and relationships in our lives that hold the most meaning.  I think they do get it, but it's always good to remind them :)

Here's my lucky layout using my March Counterfeit Kit, "Chalk and Talk".

Be sure to count YOUR lucky stars, too.  Thanks for stopping by.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge #1 - Using Watercolors

I seem to be one step ahead of the game!  If you remember, last month I did a tutorial on watercolor heart paper.  I used every last scrap of that paper while creating lovey-dovey pages with my February "Love Birds" kit.  Well, that's okay to use watercolors again because they are easy, fun and inexpensive to play around with.  While not necessary, I did purchase some thicker watercolor paper to prevent sogginess, but regular cardstock works just fine with just a little bit of care.  The texture of actual watercolor paper also provides a nice effect.

I kept my technique rather simple just creating subtle blocks of color and drips of paint.  Here's my layout using my March kit, "Chalk and Talk".

Some on-trend stars in turquoise and green tie in nicely to my subtle watercolor mats.

The mini canvas of watercolor provides a nice contrast to the black and doesn't detract from the real beauty in this layout!   <3

Remember, you can join in the fun by creating a watercolor inspired layout for our Reader's Blog Hop.  More details on the CKC blog.  We would love to see your creations.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge March Reveal

Welcome to a new month of stealthy scrapbooking as we rummage through our supplies to assemble copycat versions of an inspiration kit.  Our adventure begins over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog here and you should have arrived here via Leslie and her fabulously creative kit.  The whole line-up, including our guest designer is listed below.  Welcome Elaine!  Hope you have fun this month!

This time around we are looking at Cocoa Daisy's February offerings as seen here.  There are many varieties from which to choose your inspiration...art journaling, project life, straight up scrapbooking.  And even if you don't do one or the other, don't feel you can't draw your inspiration from any of the choices.

With chalkboard art being so on-trend, I was drawn to this one entitled, "Mood Board".  Here's the inspiration:

 I love the chalkboard art scrap supplies so much that I've also taken a stab at creating some as a home decor piece that I change up seasonally.  Here's my creation especially made for my kit along with this month's collection of goodies appropriately named...

Chalk and Talk

I took some color inspiration from the sheet of tickets and receipts in the inspiration for my papers.  Since this was an add-on, there was a limited number of papers and I knew I would need more to meet my scrappy needs throughout the month.  Here's an up-close look:

Here's a look at some of the embellishments I added.  Of course, I had to raid my MME Chalk Studio stash as well as this fabulous piece on the end from DCWV Vintage Collector series, but not everything needs to be chalky.  I am desperate for some better weather and brighter colors, so pops of lime green and pink give me hope for warmer days ahead.

I stuck with black and grey letter stickers to drive home that chalkboard feel, but I can't wait to use that new turquoise Heidi Swapp Color Shine to add that WOW factor to my layouts!

My handy dandy printer's tray wouldn't fit into my vignette, but it was still worth photographing to show you all the goodies.  

Flair, wood veneers, journaling cards, baker's twine, ribbon and even polka dot crepe paper will make interesting additions to a page.  I highly recommend a little tray like this.  Bits and bobs get used and it is so much fun to fill each little compartment.

So, let's re-cap.  Lots of black and chalkboard accents coupled with pops of color make a kit that should put you in a good mood.  I'm not sure I'm enough of a chalkboard artist to be writing menus in restaurants, but it is fun to play at home.  Try it...worst case, you just erase it.  And better yet, try assembling a chalkboard art kit with supplies you have - even if it's just black paper, a white gel pen and some papers with a punch of color!

As promised, here's the blog hop order:

Guest Designer : Elaine http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Angela http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk/

Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com/

Julene http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au/

Lesley G. http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa H. http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/

Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/

Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/

Millisa http://millermall.blogspot.com/

Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca/

Want to play along?  Post your kit over on Mr. Linky on the CKC home page in the sidebar.  You'll be glad you did!

A Heartfelt Tutorial and Layout

Hey there!  Ready to do a little forging?  I have a little something to show you.  Not anything earth shattering, but just a bit of inspiration to make one of the papers that was featured in this month's kit.

Let me pull up the photo...

See that watercolor heart paper under the doily?  You can make THAT!  So easy!

Just grab some plain cardstock and watercolors.  My scrapbestie, Leslie sent me some watercolor crayons, but I also used a good ol' Crayola paint box, too.  You can see I practiced a bit on some scrap cardstock.  I tried not to draw a heart with the brush and then fill in as that left a line around the outside (you can see that on the blue one below).  Instead, I tried to just swirl the brush around making the bumps of the heart and then extending down to the point.  I also kept my color pretty watery to get the same look as the inspiration.  

And here's my finished result. (Conversation Candy Hearts not included!)

While we are at it, I have a LOAD (Layout A Day) to complete for today, so let's make this easy by using my new kit and the paper I just made.

Hey!  There's the paper I made!

It's important to not be too critical of yourself when painting.  First of all, the original paper is pretty free form and second, if there's anything you feel is less than perfect, then just cut or hide that part!

And here's a close-up of how I trimmed it into a photo mat.

Hope this inspires you to get your watercolors out and make this paper or just play.  I have to admit...it's soooo relaxing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Making My Kit Work for Me

This month I am participating in Lain Ehmann's Layout A Day month long challenge.  It's a fast paced, inspiring filled month of scrapping.  Each day there's a new prompt in which you have about 24 hours to create a layout.  While you don't HAVE to follow the prompt, challenging yourself to do so broadens your creativity and scrapping horizons.  Using my Counterfeit Kit, "Love Birds" definitely helped my process today.  Pre-assembled product at the ready makes for fast and easy scrapping on this journey.  Here's the layout I created today...

Today's prompt was no journaling.  GASP!  While the story is usually so important, sometimes (just sometimes) the photo truly does speak a thousand words, as in this case.

Here are some close-ups...

Just a few strategically placed brads and a few other embellishments from my printer's tray and this layout is good to go.

Love, love, love these kids and when a layout comes together this easily.  I wouldn't recommend it for every layout, but go ahead and give yourself permission to let the photo tell the story.  

Thanks for stopping by!

CKC Challenge #1 - Behold the Ugly Sweater!

Our fearless Counterfeit Kit Challenge leader, Bethany always offers us beautiful and interesting inspiration for creating layouts.  This month she is pushing us a little out of our comfort zone.  Our inspiration isn't pretty or beautiful.  It is downright tacky.  The inspiration for Challenge #1 is to peruse her Ugly Sweater Pinterest Board and draw inspiration from it.  Huh?  Well, the saying, "Inspiration is Everywhere" certainly rings true this time around because while I wouldn't be caught dead in any of these, there are certain aspects of each one of these bedazzled "duds" that can be inspiring.

As I frantically scrolled down the pinterest page and nixed each one I saw, I was relieved when I spied this one...

Yes, I said relieved!  Compared to my other choices, I was relieved.  My family and I are huge fans of the movie, "A Christmas Story" and we just saw the musical on Broadway in New York City this past December.  BAM!  INSPIRED!

Here is my interpretation...

Not only does the layout follow the subject matter of the inspiration, but it also follows the same color scheme.  And it's a Hat trick (any hockey fans out there?) to have this "knit-inspired" paper by Authentique in my February Kit, "Love Birds".

Let's take a closer look...

So, give it a try!  Be inspired by something gaudy and ugly.  Keep an open mind and you are sure to end up with a unique and beautiful layout from a very unlikely source.

Be sure to share your creations over on Mr. Linky or better yet, save it for our readers' blog hop at the end of the month.  Find out more information about that here.

And if you were to wear that sweater, please do so carefully...it's FRAH-GEE-LAY!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge February Reveal Blog Hop

Welcome to another month of kitting and creating.  This month Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog has some wonderful inspiration for your papercrafting needs.  Check out Kits De Somni here to see all of their offerings.  The one I chose has a decidedly lovey-dovey feel.  Take a look:

Speaking of doves and love, take a bird's eye view of my kit for February, "Love Birds".

\

Fly off your perch and let's soar over to the papers...

Maggie Holmes' products are soooo romantic!

Settle in to the nest where you will find stickers, chipboard and brads.

Lots of sweet embellishments fill my printer's tray this month.  Punches and stamps (which I often forget to add) found their way into my aviary themed kit.

Let's take one more look of the whole flock...

Hope you can find some inspiration to help you soar to new heights with your scrapping this month.  

Be sure to follow along the hop and say hello to all of the Master Forgers...especially one of our favorite former forgers (that's a tongue twister!) Susanne, who is our guest designer this month.  Good to have you with us this month, S!

Guest Designer Susanne: http://snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com
Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com/
Julene http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au/
Lesley G. http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk/
Lisa H. http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/
Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/
Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/ you are here!
Millisa http://millermall.blogspot.com/ go see Millisa NEXT!
Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca/