Kill That Kit for March

You know our goal is to get more creating done and hold on to less stuff!  So let's work on finishing up our March kit so we can jump into April fresh and ready to make a new one!

Are you ready for my "whatever struck my fancy this month" inspiration?  LET'S GO!

Challenges:
Whimsical Musings Challenge #126
Whimsical Musings Challenge #125
The Paper Girls Challenge: Lucky Charm
Card Challenges Corner: Rain Splashed
One Happy Mama: Right now challenge
Case Study Challenge #183

Sketches:
Scrapbook Challenges Sketch 384
Another Freakin' Scrapbook Challenge
October Afternoon Thursday Sketch


Really Cool Ideas:
Capture the Moment: Make it Monday: 3D Stamp Painting
Mod Paperie (Go ALL OUT on a stellar demential project)


I Love:

Nicole Nowosad


Jennifer Grace (Of Course)

Crate Paper

Paige Evans

March's Fab Five or, um, Six

From beautiful counterfeit kits to amazing projects...you guys did a fabulous job this month!  (So fabulous I couldn't narrow it down...oh, well, my blog.  LOL)

Laura

Tina C.

Gemma

Magda

Dale

Lisa in Texas

March Member's Blog Hop

It is here!  Our end of the month Blog Hop!  We have some great projects to show off to you this month!  Here are the challenges that our hoppers chose from:

1. Challenge #1 Water Color Challenge:  Use a water color technique on your project!
2. Challenge #2 Let's get inspired by Jennifer! - Find something on Jennifer's Blog and create a project based on it.  Please make sure to share a link with your original inspiration.
3. Challenge #3 Background texture  - Add texture to your background 

Here is the list of participants this month, but we seem to be missing someone.  YOU!  I hope to see more of our friends joining in next month!  Let's start with Lisa and see what she has been up to this month...she'll help lead you to the next person on the hop.

Lisa    http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Tina    http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

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

Margie    http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com

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

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

Stephanie    http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.de

Milissa    http://millermall.blogspot.com

Julie    http://jsquaredscrapspot.wordpress.com

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

Cindy    http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

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

Inspired?... You will be!

Welcome to March's inspiration post and this month I'd like to fill your mojo with stars!

I love stars and have really enjoyed the fact that they seems to be everywhere in the scrapbooking world right now. Have you noticed how they really are all over the place?

First, here are a selection of layouts I'd like to share...

Each of them inspire me with their use of constellation paper, vellum stars, dimension, tone on tone as well as negative space, mixed up sizes and colours as well as wonderful use of star borders

Catherine Davis at Studio Calico

Marcy Penner 

Stephanie Bryan for Gossamer Blue

Christine Newman at Lilybee Design

Ashley Horton at Scrapbook.com 

Adrienne Alvis for Chic Tags

And now for some cards...

Card are something I pin very often on my Pinterest board and find myself turning to again and again when I'm short of ideas. These two are perfect examples of simple but stunning cards on a theme - pretty stars!

Liz Armstrong at the Pink Petticoat blog 

Pinterest source here

And how about a little enabling? I know that some of you intrepid Forgers out there could easily rustle up a few of these items yourself with little more than a hot glue gun and some twine but just in case, here are a few items that came up at the Two Peas shop!

Two Peas exclusives here

Two Peas downloadables here 

Studio Calico at Two Peas here

Two Peas Exclusives here

Studio Calico at Two Peas here

And just to finish off today, I looked up "Stars" on Pinterest and found these inspiring images/phrases that will be working their way in one way or another on to a layout or two before long....

Pinterest source here

Pinterest source here

Pinterest source here 

I hope you will be inspired by stars today. If you are, we hope you will share over at Mr Linky!

March Member Blog Hop reminder

This is just a reminder that we are looking for YOU to come and join in on our monthly member blog hop.

This is always a whole lot of fun and a chance for you to show off your amazing creations with your Counterfeit Kits.

So.... if you have created a project using your Counterfeit Kit Challenge kit for any of this month's three challenges and have NOT posted it on your blog before, we would love for you to join in our member blog hop and share your creations

1. Challenge #1 Water Color Challenge:  Use a water color technique on your project!

2. Challenge #2 Let's get inspired by Jennifer! - Find something on Jennifer's Blog and create a project based on it.  Please make sure to share a link with your original inspiration.

3. Challenge #3 Background texture  - Add texture to your background 

We LOVE it when you share so come on, join in on the hop and inspire us all.

Here is how it will work:

Your Blog Hop Project may be from any of the 3 challenges we offer throughout the month.

Your project must be something new, using a Counterfeit Kit Challenge kit, that you have not shown before and only post for the hop.

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 18th!  (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 (Arizona)

Challenge #3: Add texture to your background!

Flat and smooth can be good, but for a project that people want to reach out and touch, a little texture is just what you need.  Layers, embossing, burlap, glitter, veneers…these are all great ways to give a bit of texture to your background!


Here is an example of some great texturizing!  Jennifer made a layout based on the sketch for Scrap365 (You should check them out…great challenges to finish up your kits!)

Jennifer Grace Creates

I love all of the bits Jennifer used to add texture to her layout:

1.  Sequins on the journaling

2.  Glittered ribbon

3.  Puffy star with sequins

4.  Layered paper

5.  Clip heart near photo

6.  Stitching on speech bubble

7.  Decorative edges on some of the papers

8.  Dots and bling

Challenge #3:  Add texture to your background

7 Ways to add texture and dimension to your scrapbook pages

Adding Texture and Dimension to a Layout

Texturing Cards, Tags and Scrapbook Pages

30 Ways to add texture to your art journal pages…

Here are some great examples from our Master Forgers:

Stephanie layered patterned papers (9 total!) to create her page. The mix of patterns and designs, paired with spray mists and 3D foam dots, helped create a textured look for her Hawaii layout.

Look here to see what Leslie chose from her kit 

this month to give texture to her page.

This is the final challenge that can be used for our blog hop…make sure you e-mail us if you would like to participate.  :)

End of the Month Blog Hop!!

I'm SO SORRY!  I totally forgot to talk about this on our reveal post!  Please consider joining our blog hop at the end of the month…it is a lot of fun!!

End of the Month Blog Hop:

On the 24th of each month we offer a blog hop opportunity to all of our followers!  A chance for you to show off a special project made with your counterfeit kit for that month.

Here is how it will work:

Your Blog Hop Project may be from any of the 3 challenges we offer throughout the month.

Your project must be something new that you have not shown before and only post for the hop.

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 18th!  (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 (Arizona)

Challenge #2: Let's get inspired by JENNIFER!

Have you ever had a creative crush on someone?  Sort of stalked their blog because you think everything they do is just PERFECTION?  (If you have NO idea what I am talking about just go ahead and go over to Yahoo and look at the new headers…don't mind me at all.)

I want to share my creative crush with you.  She actually used to be a Design Team member with us (I am very proud of that!) and I follow her blog religiously.  LOL

Recognize her?  It is the amazing Jennifer Grace!!  She is a very gifted scrapbooker, a sweetheart of a person and manages to run really spectacular Events on her blog several times a year.  We love her around here!!

Challenge #2:  In a very non creepy way, let's get inspired by Jennifer!  Find something on Jennifer's Blog and create a project based on it.  Please make sure to share a link with your original inspiration.

I can't wait to share what our current Design Team and Guest Designer have come up with for this one!

Milissa

Lesley G

This challenge is another option for the blog hop at the end of the month!  Don't forget to e-mail us if you want in!

Hey...I can make THAT!

March 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.

This month we have a multitude of choices from the February Cocoa Daisy Kit as seen here.  Are you a traditional scrapbooker?  Do you like to art journal?  Project Life more your thing?  There's a kit for everyone!  And lots of kits mean lots of forgeries going on over at CKC Design Team Central.  Let's see what our lovely Master Forgers have up their sleeve this month.
 
Angela's been rooting around for objects to make marks similar to the Crafter's Workshop Stencil included as an addon for the Cocoa Daisy kits. See what she found on her blog here.

Or how about making your very own dotty stencils using acetate and a hole punch?

Are you running out of Mod-Podge? Angela's art mentor, Cilenia Curtis, shared some tips with her on how to make her own.

DIY Mod Podge
 

Meanwhile, Jemma's been stitching again to create those Studio Calico Stitched Journalling Cards:

How did Angela transfer that magazine cut-out onto her watercolour background to get this arty look?

image transfer technique

Milissa has a trio of quick, easy tutorials for you here and here.

Kudos to our guest designer, Elaine for jumping right in to show us how to make a copycat version of the yellow and raspberry brick inspired paper in the kit.  Check it out on her blog here:

Lesley has some printables for you over on her blog,

she doesn't do stitching!

Leslie tackled a few of the papers

Now, all of these tutorials should keep you busy to complete your kit.  Remember to keep us in mind for your future forging needs.  I've added labels to the post so that you can reference and search for tutorials in the future.  Think of us as your one-stop resource for inspiration AND tutorials!

Challenge #1: Water Color Challenge

Recently I bought some paint sets for the class of preschoolers I teach.  Remember these?

So much fun!  The kids loved mixing colors and seeing how it spread out on their project.

Challenge #1:  Water Color Challenge:  Use a water color technique on your project!

So many ideas out there for this!  Here are just a few!

How to Make a Stay Wet Palette

Stamping with Water Colors

Water Color Tip

Faux Water Color Background

Let's check out what some of the Master Forgers have been working on…

 Julene has been using silky crayons

Go to her blog to discover just what they are.

Angela's been using her watercolour paints to make background washes, and with a home made stencil too. Pop over to her blog and see some of the pages she's been painting up this week.

Lynnette used her watercolors to add subtle drips and blocks of color.  See the whole layout here.

Don't forget…this is one of the challenges that can be used for the end of the month blog hop!  Just don't share it yet and e-mail us that you want in and we will send you the instructions for the hop.  :)

March Mr. Linky

March Counterfeit Kit and Inspiration Blog Hop!

Photo Credit

I am digging this photo.  While they are predicting more snow and freezing temperatures, I am going to pretend I am going around on that Ferris Wheel…care to join me?  I don't mind the cold so much, but I am seriously ready for some SUNSHINE!

In order to distract myself from the Arctic Vortex that will be coming for one last round, let's take a look at this month's kit.

March's Counterfeit Kit:

Coco Daisy has a great kit for February called Color Swatch.  The name alone makes me all happy.

Here is the main kit, but PLEASE take a peek at the site…SO many more choices for you to Counterfeit this month!  (You can find all of the add on choices HERE.)

Give a warm welcome to our Guest Designer for this month:  Elaine!

'Hi.. I'm Elaine... firstly may I say how thrilled I am to have been asked to be your guest designer this month... I hope I won't disappoint! 

I am a busy wife and mother and Part Time Estate Agent in Kent, UK. I have been married to my wonderful husband Mark for 34 years and I have two adult sons who no longer live at home. I also have three dogs who keep me busy and active... and give me lots of opportunities to scrap! I also open my home for bed and breakfast guests on occasion. 

My passion for Scrapbooking has been growing since I began this absorbing hobby three years ago and I can safely say I am addicted. I am also just starting to dabble in art journals. 

In scrapbooking and life in general I am know to be very speedy and I think nothing of creating many layouts in one day if the opportunity arises. My nickname has always been 100mph Elaine.. and I have to say I do understand why.. it's just the way I am! Making LO's has become a way of life for me and you will often find me tucked away in my craft room whiling away the hours while my dear husband is on duty as a Firefighter. 

We are so happy to have Elaine with us this month.  Make sure you stroll around her blog and see her wonderful projects!

I cannot wait to see the kits our team has put together for this month to inspire you!  (And yes, I am always just as surprised as you are…they generally don't give me a sneak peek.)  To do our hop, just click on Elaine's link to see her kit.  She will have a link to the next blog and so on until you get to our Fabulous Stephanie!  Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for my "girls".  :)  We get paid in love around here.

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.de
Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com
Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com
Millisa http://millermall.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

********************************************************************************

Now, how can YOU participate?  Go to the sidebar and use Mr. LINKY to link us to YOUR kit or project using your kit so we can leave you some love!  We will make a brand new Mr. Linky for each month, so get your blog posts linked ASAP!

To make Mr. Linky a little easier for us to use, please type your name and then a description of what you are linking (ie: kit, mini challenge, ect…).

We also have a Flicker group, if you don't have a blog, but would like to share your creativity with us!  CKC Blog Flicker Group

We also have a new twist on our Follower Blog Hop for this year!  I hope you like it!

End of the Month Blog Hop:

On the 24th of each month we offer a blog hop opportunity to all of our followers!  A chance for you to show off a special project made with your counterfeit kit for that month.

Here is how it will work:

Your Blog Hop Project may be from any of the 3 challenges we offer throughout the month.

Your project must be something new that you have not shown before and only post for the hop.

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 18th!  (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 (Arizona)