Git 'er done - Challenge #1

Our first challenge over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge was to complete a started project.  My project hasn't been hanging around in limbo for too long, but this challenge was the perfect push to git 'er done before I lost my enthusiasm for it.

Last month I was "partying" over at the Whimsical Musings Challenge blog.  My good friend and fellow CKC Design Team member, Lisa is celebrating 100 inspiring and creative prompts.  Cathy, one of the guest designers, challenged us to make a list of our top 100 of anything we'd like.  She even said we could scrap just the top 1, if a list of 100 seemed too daunting.  I immediately thought of a top 100 song list, but as song names raced through my head, I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.  How would I rank them? Would it include old songs AND new songs?  What would the design of the layout look like?

And that's when my brain shut down.  It was too much to figure out in the midst of summer fun with the kids.

But, I really liked the idea of documenting my love of music.

Then I thought of a way to make the project more manageable.  I decided to break my Top 100 list into (10) Top Ten lists based on different categories.

Here are the categories I chose:
Recent Faves
Childhood
Classics
Middle School
High School
College
Early Marriage
Early Kids
Christmas & Church
Summer

So, with a category jotted down on the top of individual notebook pages with 1-10 written down the side, I started brainstorming.  Some songs came back to me immediately, while others required me to look over my itunes playlist or google Top 100 lists from specific years.  I completed this in small chunks in between other household tasks.  I didn't worry about ranking them as that could really slow the process down and this project would NEVER get completed.  This process took a few weeks, and had it not been for this CKC prompt, I may not have had the push to follow through completion.

As for the design, I couldn't picture a list of 100 song titles on a 12x12 paper.  I wasn't quite sure how photos (and did I even have anything appropriate?) would fit onto the page.  A mini book may be the better way to go and that's when I noticed my August kit, "Office Max" and all of the Simple Stories project life style cards sitting around.  The little cards (and I had lots of them) are the perfect size for a list of 10.  I rummaged through and found ones that didn't have a complete graphic over them and then used the coordinating sticker sheet to make a few extra that would have room for a list.  The ones with graphics made good filler pages and the foundation for a front and back cover.  Hole punched and ringed and here you have a mini book detailing my top 100 songs.

Front Cover

                      

Recent Faves and Classics

Filler pages

Childhood and Middle School

Christmas & Church and High School

College and Early Marriage

Early Kids

Summer Songs

I altered the "Keep Calm" and "Do Something" cards to match my music themed book.

Back Cover

Are you up for a list of your Top 100?  You can see here that it IS possible if you break it up into smaller bites.  Or, simply scrap your top 1.  Check out Cathy's prompt here as the celebration over at Whimsical Musings continues for a few more weeks.  Lisa has some great prizes up for grabs and you have the opportunity to document some cool facts about your life.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge September Reveal Blog Hop

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge (CKC) Blog Hop.  Each month my fellow Master Forgers and I use a past offering from an on-trend kit club to assemble a fabulous array of supplies using our very own stash.  Then we share the inspiration with you to get your creative juices flowing.  If you've arrived here directly, you should start over at the CKC blog and then hop on through the list.  A copy of the hop list is also available at the bottom of this post.  Leave us some love along the way and we will be sure to do the same for you when you post your creations.  And each month we feature a guest designer, so if we see you active on our Mr. Linky gallery, we may just ask YOU!  A warm welcome to this month's guest designer, Isbaha!

So, now onto MY kit for September!

Summer has been fun...crazy, non-stop fun.  So much fun that at times (really, just now at the end) it didn't seem like much fun anymore.  I think that means it is time to re-charge and re-group.  The kids will be back to school in a few days (which brings on a whole other set of busy-ness), but I will have a chance to tend to things around the house, and perhaps even get in some scrapping during the day.  I am looking forward to that very much.

This brings me to my September kit which was inspired by Citrus Twist's July Add-on called, "Adventure". (Note:  This was one of many kits from which we had to choose.  Be sure to scroll down to JULY.  Check out all the options here.)   

Here's the one I chose:

I definitely feel like I've had more than my share of adventures this summer, so I focused

on the gorgeous turquoise featured in this kit and created a calming and peaceful collection.  Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and enjoy the serenity of my September Counterfeit Kit...

Spa Retreat

Let's head over to the towel bar first to see the foundation of the kit:

A cut-a-part sheet from the Pier Collection by Crate Paper and some serene and tranquil patterns will be sure to relieve the stress.  I didn't want to fret too much when assembling this kit, so I left out solid cardstock.  I'll pull those pieces as needed.  Ahhhhh...I'm feeling more relaxed already!

Let's check out the embellishments over by the candlelight.  

Some sparkly flourishes and puffy chipboard clouds set the mood.  Just behind the glass carafe is a 6x6 paper pad by Crate Paper that is also featured in the inspiration.  And what says "peaceful" better than a delicate and lacy butterfly?

Washi tape, in a variety of soothing colors and patterns, hangs out on the mosaic soap pump.  Hoping to finally use that acetate piece tucked behind those turquoise metallic Thickers.  The pattern and frosty feel of the plastic almost has a shower curtain feel.

Some very old, but very perfect My Minds Eye flocked chipboard letters will give a softness to my titles, as well as those delicate paper fern leaves.  Not as easy to see all the way to the far left, there's a sticker sheet filled with Zen-like words to get your "ommmm" on!  

You'll notice an Eiffel Tower image in the inspiration kit.  While I'm not looking for an adventure this month, I had to throw in the Eiffel Tower images I had in my stash.  Dreaming about a day in Paris while soaking in a bubble bath sure sounds relaxing to me...and no stressful airport security checks!

And here we are back to the beginning!  How might you be inspired by the many kits available to us this month to counterfeit?  Remember, you can try to match piece by piece or even just be inspired by one color and make it your own.  Be sure to post your creations over on Mr. Linky here so we can leave you some love.   The most important thing to remember is this:  There's no right or wrong way to create a Counterfeit Kit...and that right there makes this challenge blog completely STRESS-FREE!  (insert sigh of relief here!)

And no need to stress about where to go next...you will visit Millisa's inspiring blog here.

Guest Designer: Isbaha http://isbahashome.blogspot.fr
Angela http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk/
Dawn http://dawnsscrapbookcottage.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/   VISIT MILLISA NEXT!
Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

Lots of summer fun...little scrappy time

It's THAT time of year.  It's the time for memory making.  Summer fun.  Camps.  Trips.  Swimming. Beaches.  Not so much time for scrapping.  Sometimes that makes me cranky, but I try to keep it in perspective and enjoy the non-stop fun while it is here.  I managed to get up early today and sneak down to my scraproom.  I created this layout using my August Counterfeit Kit, "Office Max".

I took this photo of my hubby last weekend during our getaway to Maine.  Our hotel had this cozy firepit with a roaring fire.  The kids allowed us to sit still for a few minutes to enjoy.

I just adore this photo of my hubby and the relaxed feeling it evokes.  Started me thinking how well suited we are for one another.  And with a kit filled with office-type supplies, the title, "You're my type"  works perfectly.  I strategically placed that typewriter ribbon refill to cover "writer" leaving behind, "Know your Type".  Yeah, I think I know mine and he's the one for me.

Did you notice the "home keys" across the bottom?  Just another nod to the keyboard, along with the wood veneer typewriter.

This one was fun to complete and I'm glad I had the chance to get it out of my head and onto paper.  

Thanks for stopping by!

CKC Challenge #1 - Let's geocache!

Well, hello there.  Thanks for popping in to see the first layout from my August kit, "Office Max".  Challenge #1 over at Counterfeit Kit is to create a layout using the idea of geocaching.   A few years ago, I would have had no idea what this was all about, but my sister clued me in.  She and her family geocache quite often and enjoy the challenge of finding a hidden treasure out in the world using coordinates.  To translate this to scrapbooking, the idea is to include hidden elements within your page.  I struggled with which direction to go with this, but found some inspiration from this Heidi Swapp video here.  Heidi to the rescue!  This was just what I needed to jumpstart my creating.  Here is my layout:

If you look closely, you can see where some things may be hidden on my page.  Yes, that tab will lead you someplace else.  Go ahead...you can peek!

There's my son and his signature smolder that he keeps making for the camera!

Let's see who we find on the other side...

Ahhh...it's my little beach bunny!

And here's the complete layout opened to reveal all the cuties inside...

My husband, the mechanical engineer, paid me more compliments on this one than I ever remember as he  was super impressed with my page with "moving parts"!  It's also a great design when wanting to include many photos on a page.

Hope this inspires you to take part in our challenge.  Be sure to show us your creation on the August Mr. Linky.  Happy Scrappy Geocaching!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge August Kit Reveal Blog Hop

Here we are again.  A new month and a new inspiration kit.  If you've arrived directly, you will want to start over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog site here, so that you can visit each one of our master forgers' blogs.  If you've arrived via Leslie's blog, then you are on the right track.  No worries if you are completely lost as there's the full list of Master Forgers at the bottom of this post.  This month's kit comes from the monthly kit club, Scrapbooking from the Inside Out, and is called "Confidence".  Take a look:



When I first saw the kit, I immediately recognized those Simple Stories papers as ones I just recently purchased.  Really!  I bought them BEFORE we got the information about the kit!  I always feel a little guilty when I actually have some of the pieces in a kit as it doesn't feel like true counterfeiting!  Silly, I know, because there's still a ton I don't own and there's still plenty of opportunities for interpretation and counterfeiting.

I took the cork cue and decided my kit would have an office supply store type feel.  So grab a cart and come peruse the aisles of my "big box" store and see all the essentials of...

OFFICE MAX

Here is everything you will need to keep your scrapbook pages running smoothly.

Let's take a look down the paper aisle:

Above we have some of the same Simple Stories papers (yellow chevrons, seafoam hexagons and Project Life-style cards) that were also in the inspiration kit, as well as a piece from the 9 to 5 collection by October Afternoon.  Some graph paper by Basic Grey and the retro typewriters by Studio Calico.

More graph paper (for crunching the numbers!) by October Afternoon, a Basic Grey ticket paper (which will be great for cutting apart) and a Miss Lizzy camera stamp.

I followed the lead of the inspiration kit for the solid cardstock.  While solid colors are not my "go-to", I have been including them each month and using them.  Yay for chiseling away at my stash!  Again, the 9 to 5 collection is a perfect fit for my themed kit.  Those label stickers will be great for layering or adding a quick spot of journaling.

Here in the "desk drawer", you will find lots of little finishing touches.  Basic Grey chipboard arrows, pens, pencils and push pins.  Manilla tags for altering, name and memo tags, stencils, a notebook punch, some Smash paper clips with flags, wood veneer cameras and photo paper (aka polaroids!)  You'll even find replacement ribbon for your old school typewriter courtesy of the October Afternoon 9 to 5 miscellany pack!

In the other desk organizer, we have tape...washi tape, that is, an Amy Tan date stamp, some metal rimmed tags, and wood veneer typewriters.  Oh and my Tiny Tim stapler is hidden in there.  I even had the Basic Grey chipboard record from the inspiration kit.  While not an office supply, I had to throw that one in, too!

Fresh out of the printer we have an old school Dymo label maker, a hole punch with some Tim Holtz circle reinforcers, and circular tie string closures by K and Company.  And Hey!  Don't forget about the chipboard speech bubble by Basic Grey!

 

Now that's enough chatter 'round the watercooler!  It's time to get scrapping and create some layouts with these supplies!

Here's the blog hop line-up:

Guest Designer: Heidi http://handmade-heidi.blogspot.co.uk  WELCOME HEIDI!
>> Angela http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk/
>> Dawn http://dawnsscrapbookcottage.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 HERE NEXT!
>> Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

CKC Members Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Members Blog Hop.  Each month we have so many talented and inspiring scrappers joining in on the counterfeiting fun that it's great to have a place to showcase them.  Sit back, relax and enjoy this blog-gallery tour including Master Forgers and the amazing CKC participants.

This month Challenge #1 was hardly a challenge at all!  We were to be inspired by one of our Master Forgers.  Actually, the true challenge was in trying to narrow down all of the wonderful choices!  After much perusing and hemming and hawing, I decided on Master Forger Dawn's mini book she had created about her husband as seen here.  I love all the little bits and pieces she added and this was a perfect way to use up some of those end-of-the-kit scraps.  Here is my creation:

While I didn't create a mini book, I translated those tags into a 12x12 layout.  It's fun to a have many little canvases to create vignettes.  This little shop in the shore community of Ocean City, New Jersey is a favorite of mine.  The owner carries a unique mix of antiques, shabby chic furniture and well-chosen new items that fit that beachy feel.  I like to say it's "Country Living" meets "Coastal Living".  In each one of my "vignettes" I tried to include embellies that evoke the feel of the shop:  pom-pom fringe, well-worn denim, lace doilies, a wood veneer ship in a bottle and of course, gingham, for the Gingham Whale!

Thank you, Dawn for your creativity and inspiration!  Remember, if you are ever stuck in a rut or don't feel you've got your scrappy mojo, be SHORE (hehehe!) to check out the blogs of your Master Forgers and the faithful followers of the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.  

Now go hop along and be inspired!  Your next stop is Milissa.

Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk
Heidi http://handmade-heidi.blogspot.co.uk
Lesley G http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk
Chipper http://hotfudgesundaewithacherryontop.blogspot.com
Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com
Maggie http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr
Ashley http://paperforpeoplellc.blogspot.com
Kate http://kateblue.blogspot.com
Lynette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com YOU ARE HERE!
Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com GO HERE NEXT!
Elaine http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk
Dawn http://www.dawnsscrapbookcottage.blogspot.com
Lisa H http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Knock-off Thickers

Hi there.  Thanks for stopping by to see how I made my knock-off Thickers.  You know, the ones in the July Kit that are black with white pen scribbles?  I just so happened to have the original in my stash, but you can be sure the day is going to come when I'm missing an "e" or a "t" and this technique just might save the day.

I simply found some raw chipboard letters I've had forever and painted them black.  You could even paint over some chipboard letters you aren't so fond of anymore.  How's THAT for stash busting!

Then I used my white gel pen to add the scribbles.

And there you have it.  Hello...my little lovelies!

Next, we have my version of those Glitz Bits and Pieces cards.   Here is the original:

And here is my version:

Exact?  No, but close enough for me.  They have the same look and feel and it only took a few minutes to put these together.  Be sure to keep your eyes and mind open to counterfeiting opportunities out there.  It's so much fun to pull it off!

Thanks so much for stopping by!