Sunday, April 12, 2026

April 2026 Challenge #1 Birds.

 Here is our first challenge for this month. 

                                                    Firstly, let me remind you of our kit

Life Crafted FLEA MARKET FINDINGS 6" x 8" Pattern Paper – Citrus Twist Kits


You may have noticed one of these papers features birds. They remind me of the old bluebird of happiness brooches we used to own.


Anyway, your challenge is to make a layout using birds. It can be real birds or perhaps lovebirds or songbirds or use one of these words:

  • Birdbath
  • Birdbrain
  • Birdhouse
  • Birdsong
  • Birdwatcher
  • Birdcage
  • Birdfeed
  • Birdie
  • Yellowbird

When looking through my blog I found these.






Our Master Forgers have created these examples to inspire you.

Master Forger Ryann chose her favorite human to make her layout - a layout about Lovebirds.  This was taken at her wedding and is one of her favorite photos because it captures so well the truth of the love she feels for her husband!   She used this "wintery" type bird paper for her kit and chose it for the November wedding event.

Master Forger Tara created a layout about the eaglets she's been watching online as their parents, Jackie and Shadow have nurtured their second clutch of eggs this season.  They are sweet little babies!!  

 
Here are some close-up shots of her layout!  



Master Forger Amanda created a fast layout using 49&Market Birdsong paper, washi tape and a few gems that documents the Finches and Starlings migrating through during spring. It always feels like Spring when the birds have started to return! 


And a couple of close-ups! 





Coming up this month we also have

  • April 18th - Challenge #2
  • April 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
  • April 28th - April Sneak Peek (FB Community & Instagram)
  • April 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

Don't forget to share your creations on our Facebook Community Page .  We love to see what you have done. You can also tag us on Instagram.


                                                                           Julene


 

Monday, April 6, 2026

April 2026 Mini kits & project reveal.

 Sometimes you don't have time to make a big kit but still want to join in the fun. Let me remind you of our kit before showing you what our mini kitter has done.



                                  Our mini kit is from:                               

Vikki

When I started creating my mini kit for this month, it was HUGE!  Definitely not a mini kit.  I tend to pick out a lot of embellishment packs or sticker sheets that I might be able to use and then really pare down to just a few from a pack.  I do try to have photos in mind while I'm putting together any kit that I create. I do pull more alphas than I will likely need, only because I like to have options.





For my first layout, I made a 12x12 page about my dogs, of course.  Because I usually always take photos of my dogs, I try to put some sort of dog ephemera in my kits.

  


For my second layout, I made a page that will fit into a Citrus Twist Life Crafted album.  The page measures approximately 4 1/4 x 8 1/4.  I am going to use this album for favorite photos of my honey and me.  Unfortunately, my photo printer decided to give me issues while I was doing this page, so I will have to print the photo when I have more patience.


I still have some papers left in my mini kit, so I'll be making some more layouts throughout the month.




I was really excited to see a 6x8 paper collection as our inspiration.  The coolest part, I even had a paper pad that was a fairly good match for it.   The 2023 Fancy Pants collection "Unique".  I found a geometric print, a bird print, a dark blue on blue and another blue print.  From my stash I found a woodgrain and a black and white floral.  Luckily, I still had some embellishments from my Unique selection, plus a little stash in the way of chipboard pieces from 49&Market.


I was able to get 2, 12x12 layouts from my selection.  Just perfect for a mini kit :-)

My first layout I went with the black and white floral as a background.  Then I cut 3 of the patterns into vertical strips.  I started with this design because I knew I could use the cut-offs on the next layout.
I put the vertical strips a little off center to add interest and added some embellishment clusters in a diagonal.  The photo is a really old one of my Daddy holding me and my sister.  


So because I had documented that photo of my dad, my sister and I, my next layout is a companion to this one of a more recent photo of the 3 of us.  I don't have many like these - so if this post does anything, it's to encourage you to TAKE THE PICTURES.  I wish I had more of the three of us.

But back to the layout.

This one was quick and easy too.  I simply layered my two remaining full 6x8 pages plus two of the off-cuts from the first layout as a vertical base.  Then I took the one gold tone on tone off cut, cut it in half and layered it horizontally behind the photo, which I mounted on white cardstock.  Just a few embellishments on this one.  

Quick, easy, and just what a mini kit calls for!



Here's what is coming up.

  • April 12th - Challenge #1
  • April18th - Challenge #2
  • April 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
  • April 28th - April Sneak Peek (FB Community & Instagram)
  • April 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

We love to see what you are doing so don't forget to add your work to our facebook group and tag us in Instagram.


Julene


Saturday, April 4, 2026

April 2026 - Forgeries on the Fourth

 


 We often forge our own items for our kits when we can't find anything like the original.

Here is our inspiration kit.





Guest designer Diana has created these forgeries

Stamping white paper with floral pattern
(I must admit I had the same idea!)


                                                      

                                          Stamping and fussy cutting then painting flowers



                                                                 Master Forger Julene
I used my trusty big flower stamp to create a floral paper by dabbing on inkpad, then quickly stamping randomly. I like that ink is darker on some parts and not others, it adds to the overall effect.



Master Forger Misty
Misty turned to ideas she has used before. She created faux puffy stickers using Nuvo Drops style products. She also created faux chipboard by punching and stacking shapes.




Master Forger Laurie

I created some phrase tickets using a rectangle die, a circle punch and some phrase stamps.  You could just cut a rectangle using a paper cutter if you don’t have dies. For the flair I punched circles and stamped in them. For the cute little bunnies, once again I used stamps and fussy cut them. It’s so easy to make your own embellishments and fun!



These are all fabulous ideas. Now it is your turn, will you make something or perhaps try one of these ideas.

Here's what is coming up for the rest of the month.

  • April 6th Mini kit ideas
  • April 12th Challenge #1
  • April 18th Challenge #2
  • April 22nd Challenge #3 Let's get sketchy
  • April 28th May sneak peek.
  • April 30th Baby use those scraps.

That's all for now.



Thursday, April 2, 2026

April 2026 Just the gist of it.

 This is to help those who have never curated a kit of their own or searching for more help putting a kit together.



I look closely at the papers first then try to match them with mine. Sometimes there is something that you don't have anything like it!

In this month's kit I have no woodgrain but looked closely at what i did have and came up with 2 Kraft papers. They have tiny neutral patterns on them but will do the job.

I also write a list for example birds, flowers, branches, wire pattern, chains. I then look at the embellishments and add to my list.

 
These circles have cow, sherbet, lemon, milk bottle, coffee, flower, star. Then go looking for those in your embellishments. OR use your stamps to create something.
The enamel dots might inspire your choices of embellishments. For example, pale pink washi to go with the blues and black and white in the kit.
I then other things that will match eg washi tapes, ribbons, buttons, chipboards.

(Hint: if you start early, you might find more over the next few days)

There is no hard and fast rule and if you look at the master forgers you'll see we are all different.

Enjoy making up your kits this month.


                                                                   Master Forger Julene

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

April 2026- Inspiration kit and social media hop.

 

Welcome to another month at CKC.  Our kit for April is Life Crafted FLEA MARKET FINDINGS 6" x 8" Pattern Paper – Citrus Twist Kits  I've chosen it because it made me think of spring and Easter. There are fresh blues, gorgeous florals, plus golds and yellows.










The embellishments are light on for this kit but you can choose items that co-ordinate I am sure.









I would like to introduce you to Diana who is our Guest Designer for this month.





Here is a little bit about her.



This is exciting for me. I have never been asked to do anything like this before. 

I love CKC because it challenges me to use my stash in so many new ways. I am so glad I found this community! 

I have been a paper crafter for most of my life and I started making layouts 35 years ago. I am a wife (for 46 yrs.) My hubby and I are quite a pair. He is "ducks" and I am "squirrels"...makes for a fun and interesting life. I am mom to 2 adults children (and their partners) and Nana to 7 grandchildren, ranging in age from 7 yrs - 20 yrs old. These people are my life and most often the subject of my layouts. A few of the grandkids even craft with me.

I have a full time job at an industrial laundry. We supply our regional hospitals and care facilities. When I am not at work, I enjoy my aquafit and gym classes. I love making food art for my family, for every holiday. I love being outdoors. I enjoy photography. I love viewing and making visual art. Lately I'm loving mixed media. And of course, I love spending time with my family 

Fun fact about my layouts: I hate making titles because too often I feel like they end up ruining the whole design. I hope you all enjoy the month of April at CKC.


Here is Diana's kit for April.














She has also made a couple of forgeries for the fourth.


Make sure you check out our Social Media Hop:



Here's what we have in store for this month. 

  • April 2nd Just the gist of it.
  • April 4th Forgeries on the Fourth
  • April 6th Mini kit ideas
  • April 12th Challenge #1
  • April 18th Challenge #2
  • April 22nd Challenge #3 Let's get sketchy
  • April 28th May sneak peek.
  • April 30th Baby use those scraps.



We love to see what you are working on so don't forget to show us on our Facebook community page. (2) counterfeit kit community - Search Results | Facebook


Enjoy your time with us this month.

Julene