May Fab 5

Let's give a little love to some of our Mr. Linky linkers (Did that phrase make any sense at all?).  There is a lot of awesome talent floating around our blog this month!  Need some inspiration?  Check them out!

Laura

Stephanie

Maggie

Lisa H.

Sandra

I don't know about you, but I need to go a create something now!  Really awesome projects, ladies!


And this month we are saying goodbye to DT member Julie.  Thanks for all of your hard work and inspiration!

May Member Blog Hop!

We have a great Hop lined up for you today!  Our challenge for this hop was a Masking Challenge (make your own, use one you have, use a mask technique).

I think masking is my new love.  The masks are so cute...the designs so current...they are nice and flat and collectable  storable.  No, I would never collect them and not use them.  How can you think such a thing?

Uhem.  Let's stop focusing on me and get hopping.

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

Dawn http://www.dawnsscrapbookcottage.blogspot.com/

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

Maggie http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr/

Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com

Julie H http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au

Molly http://www.42shadesofpink.com/index.html

Lisa H http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Candace http://usthreebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

Sherrie http://sherriesmuddlepuddle.blogspot.ca/

Get Ready to Get Digi with it!

In June we will be getting DIGI with it with our sponsor Little Blue Button Stamps!  Get ready for another great kit to counterfeit and an extra fun BLOG HOP!

If you are a traditional paper scrapper (like I am), come to the DIGI side with us!  Digital images are so great to use for traditional paper crafting!  I love to print things out to use on my pages and cards.

Our own Angela is a Digital Scrapbooker and is sharing some great tutorials to help get you started!

Digital Stamp Basics:
Printing Digis in MS Word
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/printing-digis-in-ms-word.html
Printing Digis in MS Works
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/printing-digis-in-ms-works.html
Colouring Printed Digital Stamps
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/colouring-printed-digital-images.html
Paper Piecing
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/paper-piecing.html

Fancy Techniques using digital stamps and free software:
Concertina Card
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/concertina-card.html
Combining Digital Images
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/combining-digital-stamps.html
Faux Layering using digital cameos
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/faux-layering-with-digital-cameos.html
Recolouring a digi stamp
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/recolouring-digi-stamp-in-dsa.html
Split Negative Technique with Digital Silhouettes
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/split-negative-technique-with-digital.html

More Advanced:
Building a Scene for a Card using the full version of Craft Artist (or it's predecessor DSA )
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/building-scene-for-card-using-dsa.html
digitally colouring in a digital stamp using photo editing software
http://toucanscraps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/digital-colouring-with-photoplus.html

Inspired?... you will be!

This month, I'd like to highlight some gorgeous layouts I've pinned.

I see so many beautiful, inspiring designs that my board could be overflowing so I have to be really careful to pin just those layouts that really jump out for one reason or another.

So here are my top picks from the last weeks:-

Maggie Holmes at Studio Calico (here)

I've been noticing a lot of circles around and I love this mix of sizes and colours, especially combined with the stars here. Personally, I love everything Maggie Holmes creates so it was difficult to chose just one!

Adrienne Alvis at Chic Tags (here)

More stars here along with a lot of cute layering using tags and interesting elements.

Heathyr Hintz at Basic Grey (here)

Something clean and simple. Bright colours, clean design, pretty papers, just lovely.

Jamie Warren at Basic Grey (here)

This has so much to love. I'm inspired by the framing around the edges of the pages with the die cuts and fussy cutting as well as all the dimension created. I will be lifting this soon :-)

Shimelle at Shimelle.com (here)

I love Shimelle's whimsical style and her ability to combine bright colours and papers.

So, what is inspiring you online right now?

Challenge #3: A Little Non Holiday Fun!

Yes, I am just that mean.  It is May...the sun is shining...we are anticipating summer...and I am asking you to....

Challenge #3:  Pull out your holiday paper, people!  We are going to have some non holiday fun!  Use some holiday paper on a non holiday project.  (Be brave...use your most obviously themed piece if you can.)

Let's see what the Design Team came up with for today!

Angela

Julie

Tie a Bow Around Your Finger...

Photo Credit

Design Team Applications are due on May 30th!  We would love to have a very diverse team (international, ethnic and different scrapbook levels), so if you think you shouldn't apply, apply anyway!  LOL

Don't forget to keep posting on Mr. Linky all month for a chance to win a gift certificate from Little Blue Button Stamps!

Challenge #2: Children's Book Challenge

I am a HUGE reader!  Some of my favorites?  The Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, The Hobbit...all old friends and all helpful in leading me towards a degree in English.

Challenge #2: Children's Book Challenge: Get inspired by your favorite Children's Book (theme, cover, style, topic...).

I cannot wait to see what types of readers we have on our Design Team!  Check out their projects and see how they were inspired.

Lisa H

Jennifer

My Halong Bay layout was inspired by The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S.Lewis.

Andrea

Milissa M.

 

Jennifer's Onwards and Upwards Event

Design Team member Jennifer Grace is having a big blog event this weekend, with hourly posts on the theme of 'Onwards and Upwards'. There's all kinds of tutorials, crafts, challenges, a blog hop, and lots and lots of giveaways! Click HERE for the start of the event with more details!

This hour she is revealing a counterfeit kit she's made to match the theme of the weekend. Here's a sneak of it:

You can go HERE to see her full kit. If you're inspired to make an Onwards and Upwards counterfeit kit of your own, then you can link it to her Challenge to be Inspired to be in with a chance to win some Jillibean Soup goodies!

Have fun!

Hey...I can make THAT!

May Tutorials

Welcome to "Hey...I can make THAT!"  A monthly post to help you truly counterfeit many of the components of the current month's kit.  No need to go out and purchase...just use the supplies you already have to create some of the freshest and trendiest products out there.  Here you will find links to our amazing design team members' blogs and/or links to other craft sites on the web showing how to make these amazing products.

Here's a refresher on the Polly! Scrap Kits we are counterfeiting this month.

 

Let's get counterfeiting!

Don't have that cool yellow anchor paper?  Take a look at Angela's take on it:
Master Forger Angela's Anchor Patterned Paper Tutorial (Digital using free software)

Jemma made textured buttons by stamping into thinly rolled air-drying clay as described in a tutorial here - and then coloured the dry buttons with glimmer mists, adding a final layer of darker ink to add definition:

Did you notice the wooden bingo chips by Crate Paper in the add-on kit?  Lynnette created a paper version of these.  Be sure to check out the process here.

And don't get your twine in a tangle if you don't own any of those string tied envelopes.  Just check out these links for your how-to directions.

http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2010/05/pattern-tutorial-string-tied-envelope/

http://honestlydyea.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-button-string-envelope.html

http://www.minieco.co.uk/diy-string-tie-envelopes/

Last, but not least, try your hand at some of the very on-trend chalkboard art out there by following this link:

http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/paper_scissors_and_superh/2012/11/chalkboard-art-meets-stamping.html

It's so addicting that you may just find yourself painting a wall in your house with chalkboard paint!

So, before you run out to buy missing pieces to your kit, take a leap of faith, follow these links and say,

"Hey...I can make THAT!"

Our NSD Winner!

What a day yesterday!  I'm sorry I did not get to this yesterday!  The brakes on our van went out and my son started getting sick (Strep). 

The winner of the $10 Gift Card to Little Blue Button Stamps is:

Drum Roll Please!

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:  Result:2  Powered by RANDOM.ORG

 

Comment #2! 

 

Lesley GMay 3, 2013 at 12:48 AM

I have joined the Blue Button site and had a really good scout around :)

 

Congratulations to Lesley!  Make sure you e-mail me at counterfeitkitchallenge@yahoo.com so I can pass your info along to Olga!

Challenge #1: Masking Challenge

I own Mists...I own Masks...I never use them.  LOL

You know what that means!  Challenge time!

Challenge 1:  Masking Challenge: Make your own or use one you have, but use a masking technique on your project!

Pre-made and DIY Masks

Something Different with Masks and Templates

Make Your Own Brick Mask

Make Your Own Misting Mask with Your Cricut

Here are some great examples from our team!

Guest Designer: Sherrie

Lynnette

Jemma

This challenge is going to be for our end of the month participant BLOG HOP on the 24th!

To be a part of our blog hop:

1.  E-mail us your name/blog address/promise to participate at counterfeitkitchallenge@yahoo.com  BY THE 15th!  (No late requests will be able to join this time due to the work it takes for us to get it put together.)

2.  You will receive  an e-mail from us by the 20th with a list of the hop participants.

3.  You will need to schedule your own blog post showing your project based on this challenge and links to the person after you in the hop.

4.  All Blog Hop posts will need to be scheduled to go live on the 24th at 12:00 A.M. Mountain Standard Time.

NSD Scene of the Crime Blog Hop!

Today I thought it would be fun to visit the Scene of the Crime...the places where the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Masters do all of their mayhem and creating.

I am excited to share my space with you!  I have been blessed with a room all my own for working and creating.  When I started scrapbooking, I had a box of supplies.  That quickly grew into enough "stuff" for a crop bag...then we moved and my husband put up cabinets in our dining area for me...then we moved again and I got a whole closet.  One more move later and I have my own room.  I was supposed to "share", but you know how that goes.  He does use it to do homework.  

My little haven has gotten an upgrade in the last month!  I completely know how lucky I am.  I thank my sweet DH for my room pretty regularly.

So here it is!  My "studio" (I like to call it that...sounds fancy!).

For more photos of each area of my room (you even get to peek in drawers!) head over to MY BLOG (Double Dog Dare You Scrappy Challenges)

Guest Designer: Sherrie  http://sherriesmuddlepuddle.blogspot.ca

Andrea http://snappingmonsters.blogspot.com/

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

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

Jennifer http://www.jennifergracecreates.com 

Julie http://www.hisglorygirl.blogspot.com/

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

Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/

Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com/

Rebecca http://howiburb.blogspot.com/

NSD Inspiration

It is not just another day on the beat.  It is the biggest Case all year.  National Scrapbook Day.  You arrive at your Crime Scene (Aka Scrapbook Space) and look at all of the evidence (Aka kit) in confusion.  There is just so much!  Where do you start?  Well, let me show you my favorite ways to get inspired.

I am SERIOUSLY into Scrapbook Videos.  I follow a lot of the videos on 2 Peas and stalk several people on Youtube.

 Sketches also top my list of inspiration:

Basic Grey Sketch

Creative Scrappers Sketch

Studio Calico Sketch

Studio Calico Sketch

Pink Paislee Sketch

Stuck Sketches

Techno Stamper Sketch

Browsing scrapbook blogs for inspiration is also great for getting some ideas.

Studio Calico Member Gallery

Echo Park Project Gallery

Paper, Scissors and Superheroes

To The Full

Allison Davis

My_Weblog

I hope you get so many beautiful projects done!  I hope you will share them all with me.

NSD Crime Lab

Yesterday you were given your case files.  Today we will be heading over to the crime lab to get some ideas for what to do with the evidence.

Challenge Ideas:
Fusion Card Challenge (Hypothesis #1)
Dutch Dare Card Challenges (#213 ABAC Challenge)
Card Makin' Mamas (No Patterned Paper Inspiration)
Case Study Challenge (#137 Interactive Card)


Sketche ideas:

Our Own Jennifer!

Scrappy Sketches Blog

Basic Grey: by Susan Stringfellow

Sketches with a twist

Card Sketch Site

Got Sketch

Project ideas:

Skip to my Lou: Paper Owl Card

Happy National Scrapbooking....weekend!

Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day, but we are starting the party early this weekend to give you plenty of time to get inspired and play along!  We have 3 fun filled days planned for you, so set out a bowl of food and some water for the kids, get comfy clothes on and get your creative juices flowing!

We have a special sponsor for this weekend!  Welcome to:

 

Little Blue Button Stamps has a shop full of great digital stamps, sentiments and more!  Olga is offering TWO prizes for us!  One for this weekend and the other all month long!

National Scrapbooking Weekend Prize:  $10 gift certificate to the Little Blue Button online store!

How to enter?  You will get one entry for each of the following:
1.  Like them Facebook at Little Blue Button Stamps
2.  Join the Little Blue Button Site (go to their blog and on the right hand side part way down is a button to click to join)
3.  Decide which item in her shop is your favorite

Make a separate comment on THIS post for each of the above to be entered.  I will draw a winner on Monday!

Our second prize is a $20 gift certificate to the Little Blue Button online store!

You will be entered for this prize for each link you post on this month's Mr. Linky!  Your links MUST have to do with either the kits or challenges/projects posted for THIS month in order to count.

So, have you finished your May kit yet?  No?  Well, get started on it!  If you have already finished it then we have some extra inspiration for you!

Melissa, from our DT, introduced me to CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration!  What a great site!  So we are going to get our "Law and Order On" and try some of their challenges!

To play along...pick one (or all) of the case files and create some kits based on them.  Think about trying a page kit or card kit to mix things up a bit!

Inspiration #1: Case File # 67

Inspiration #2: Case File #64

Inspiration #3: Case File #52

Inspiration #4: Case File #37

Inspiration #5: Case File #29

Please head over to The CSI Blog to check out how AWESOME they are!  And give them a shout out on facebook...tell them we sent you!  

Tomorrow we will be heading over to the crime lab to see what we can dig up.  See you then!