Orange Crush...another layout!

Hi there.  Just a quick post to share my 4th layout using my March Counterfeit Kit, "Orange Crush". My main inspiration for this layout was the fan embellishment.  I knew right away it would be a photo of my Dad since he was my biggest fan and supporter in my life, but I didn't necessarily have this one in mind.  I was actually looking for other photos when I came across this one and there was that serendipity again!  PERFECT!

I miss this guy so much.  Sigh...

Anyway, it's hard not to notice all that plaid in the photo!  Perhaps not the most flattering position for me to be sitting, but I think it is just the sweetest photo of the two of us.  It got me thinking of the prompt over at Whimsical Musings (the prompt I contributed a while back) about being inspired by plaid.  BINGO!  A "two-fer" layout is born!

Have you been over to Whimsical Musings?  It's a fun and free challenge site run by fellow Master Forger, Lisa.  Master Forger Leslie and I give her a hand with prompts and housekeeping things.  You MUST check it out as another wonderful and inspirational resource for your scrapping.  We would love for you to stop by!

Speaking of stopping by...thanks for popping in over here.  

Lynnette

CKC Challenge #3 - On Your Desk Challenge

Hi.  My name is Lynnette and I am a messy scrapper.

(Now you all say...Hi, Lynnette!) 

 I'm ashamed and yet I'm not ashamed.  Lately the treadmill of life has been set on super high speed and it's hard to get all the things done that need to get done.  When that little bit of time comes to scrap, I just want to scrap.  And usually when that little bit of time is up, I have to run to any number of places or get dinner going or get the wash done.  I have what I like to call a happy little (or big) creative mess going in my scrap room.  So for Challenge #3, I had to lay it on thick!  I have many piles of supplies, but they all seem to make sense to me.  I mostly can find what I need and when I can't, it forces me to be creative!

So, here's my layout featuring the staged photos of this month's kit:

I'm actually kind of glad my desk is messy because I LOVE the way this turned out.  I used up lots of stuff from my kit and it just makes me happy - happier than a pig rolling around in mud!

Thanks for stopping by!

CKC Challenge #2 - Everyone's a Wee Bit Irish!

I'm not Irish at all...in fact I am 100% Polish and proud of it.  Sometimes I get a little bit annoyed that only the Irish get a special day with such widespread attention for their heritage!  Ahhh...but I digress!  My husband IS Irish, which of course makes my children Irish (but more Polish percentage-wise!).  He is mostly Irish and each year, in attempt to embrace the holiday, I ask him if he'd like me to cook Corned Beef and Cabbage.  His response is always, "Oh no...that food is awful!"  Note:  He LOVES kielbasa, pierogies and stuffed cabbage!  Oh well, don't say I didn't ask!  However, an "Irish" food we have no problem eating is Shamrock Shakes!  Each March, McDonald's comes out with these delicious slightly minty green milkshakes to honor St. Pat's.  Now THAT is an Irish tradition I can embrace!  LOL!

Here is my take on Challenge #2:  Get inspired by something from Ireland.

(Ok...so Shamrock Shakes aren't actually from Ireland, but I think I'm allowed to twist the challenge a bit!  You can too, if needed!)

My son's expression (or smolder, as I like to call it) totally reminds me of the Dos Equis ad campaign, "The Most Interesting Man in the World".   I just changed it up a bit to work with the theme.  He is such a ham (or would that be a Corned Beef?)

The colors of Ireland come shining through on this layout.

I structured my journaling in the same format as in the ads.  So silly!  So fun!

Well, even though I sound a wee bit cranky about St. Patrick's Day, I really am ok with it.  Just don't make me eat Corned Beef!

Thanks for stopping by!

CKC Challenge #1 - Border Craze

I wish I could take credit for this inspired idea, but I really can't.  That's ok because the person who should get it deserves a special shout-out.  You may have seen a new name over on Mr. Linky - Susan B. She's a scrappy friend from my ScrapHappy group and LOAD who I invited over to play at Counterfeit Kit.  She jumped right in and has been kitting and creating like a counterfeiting pro!  No surprise as she is super talented and inspiring.  She created this layout with the luscious border of sequins and as soon as I saw it, I thought of the first challenge of the month.

Challenge #1 - Create a unique and fun border on your layout.

Here's Susan's layout:  (SWOON!)

And here is mine:

Ooooo!  A thick, shiny border of sequins!  

Perfect on my layout about Lisa's gift to me.  You know she just loves sequins.

And I sprinkled some of them down the page for good measure!

So fun to document yet another aspect of my meet-up with Lisa.  It was so sweet of her to travel across the ocean with gifts in hand for me.  She truly is a super friend! 

So, get ready to join the border craze!  Be inspired by one of your scrap buddies and tell them that you are.  Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!  Thanks again, Susan!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge March Reveal and Blog Hop

In my neck of the woods, it is cold, snowy and dreary.  It just seems like it will never end.  I need a pop of brightness to get me out of this funk and the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog has just the right scrappy inspiration to pull me out of my winter doldrums.  Take a look for yourself:

A Piece of Cake Designs

The pops of orange really grabbed me as I'm sure I am suffering from a bit of the winter blahs.  So, I focused mostly on color scheme this month and ran with the orange and turquoise combination.  Here's the kit I created that has me totally smitten this month:

There are a few papers I chose as a direct counterfeit like the wood tone, the sketch-like feathers and the map paper, but the others were added in as I just thought they had the same feel as the ones in the kit.  I have to say that the more I counterfeit, the more I can do it by gut instinct.  Like anything else, the more you do it, the more confident you become in your decisions and the easier the whole process becomes.

The wood grain alphas nestled in the orange soda six pack will serve me well in "popping" on the title on my layout.  I must say that I will probably dig into my Thickers drawer to add more along the way.  You know that's totally ok, right?  (Shhh...it will be our little secret!)

My kit presentation wouldn't be complete without showing you my printer's tray.  I added some cork elements as featured in the inspiration and HAD to include those wood grain polaroids which were an exact match.  The circular wood veneer pieces give a nod to the sunburst looking Studio Calico stickers.  I may have to glitter those babies up with some orange glitter.  And how could I not include that SMASH orange washi tape housed in...wait for it...AN ORANGE POP CAN!  So perfect!

A frosty mug and a crazy straw will quench my thirst while all these yummy supplies will satisfy my scrappy needs!

Another direct copy are the turquoise doilies, but don't be discouraged if you don't have exact matches. I rarely do.  If that really gets you down though, be sure to check the CKC blog for "Forgeries on the Fourth" for some ideas on how to forge your own copycats.  Great tutorials and links every fourth of the month!

So, if you're like me and have a crush on the color orange this month or something else grabs you in the inspiration, find your angle and create a kit you will be smitten by!

Be sure to "POP" in and say hello to all of my fellow Master Forgers, with Margie being next on the hop.   I know they will all have blog posts  overflowing with inspiration for you.  Also, please give a warm CKC welcome to our guest designer, Janine.  She is sure to inspire you the entire month.  Welcome, Janine!

Janine:  http://rachauscratchpad.blogspot.com

Jemma: http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk

Julene:  http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com

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

Lisa:  http://lisahausmann.blogspot.ca

Lynnette  http://www.sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com  you are here

Margie:  http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com

Stephanie:  http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.com

Susanne:  http://snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com

BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE...

A Kit Building Tip:  You may be counterfeiting, but treat your kit like the real deal!  Name it - just like a pet!  LOL!  Photograph it with a prop or two. Have it accessible in a box - just like how you would receive it from one of the fancy kit clubs. Treating it as such will give you a crush on it and inspire you to USE it!

Thanks for stopping by!