August 2026 - Challenge #2 Let's Get (a little) Messy!

 Our inspiration kit this month also had some spritz spray and some fabric trim, among other items that could be considered mixed media! 

Here is a reminder what our inspiration kit had in it!

Your challenge for Let's get (a little) Messy is to use some wet media (think spritz, splatters, inks, paste) and some fabric (trim, lace, ribbon, fabric square) on your layout! I always love some messy play with some of my layouts each  month -- you don't have to get super messy -- just a little messy will do! 

Guest Designer Sarah R

For For my layout I used one of the Vicki Boutin titles in my kit as a mask spraying Distress Spritz - this means I can use the cardboard title on another layout.

I’ve used the papers, a few odds and ends from ephemera and pompom trim that I put in my kit, which co-ordinate with the colours in the photo of my granddaughter.

Master Forger Amanda

I had a lot of fun creating this layout of my youngest and myself at the zoo at the butterfly garden.  The 49&Market paper from Nature's Haven was perfect to use on this along with some of the embellishments from the kit.  Since the challenge was to get a little messy, I used my heart stencil and Festive Berry Oxide and then some cream paste through a different stencil to add some texture. 

 The white flowers that I added is a fabric trim meant for sewing.  Lastly, I added some Nuevo drops to add some more mixed media and some glossy texture to the page. 

Here is the page all completed together, I love how the extra blends well with what was on the pattern paper, but adds additional texture and interest to the page! 

My process can be seen here: https://youtu.be/9vnrs26H0UE

Master Forger Briana

I started with texture paste and a Vicki Boutin stencil. This is actually my favorite stencil, and I've only used it a couple of times! I love polka dots, and this stencil is full of overlapping circles, so I'm not sure why I don't use it more often.

After adding the texture paste, I bordered the stenciled area with yellow pom-pom trim. I love the texture and little bit of whimsy it adds to the page.

Next came the experimenting. I took my regular watercolors and painted over the texture paste, hoping to mimic the colors of a sunset. I wasn't sure exactly how the watercolor would react with the texture paste, but I really liked the soft, imperfect effect it created.

I also pulled out some Vicki Boutin fiber paper, which was something I had never used before. I added it along the bottom of the page and painted over it with blue watercolor, hoping to give it the look of water. I love how the texture of the fiber paper adds another dimension to the page.

And since I was already playing with paint, I painted some clouds across the top of the page. Between the clouds, sunset colors, and blue “water,” the mixed media helped create a little beach scene around the photos.

The photos are of my husband and me on our Florida vacation in 2025. I used a clear “Sun & Sand” sticker for the title, which seemed like the perfect finishing touch.

I'm also getting to the point where I'm running out of embellishments from my August Counterfeit Kit, so instead of reaching for another collection, I stamped my own florals. I added sequins to the centers of the flowers for a little sparkle.

And then I stopped.

There was already quite a bit happening on this page between the texture paste, stencil, watercolor, fiber paper, painted clouds, pom-pom trim, stamped flowers and sequins. I didn't want to keep adding just for the sake of adding. The mixed media had already created so much texture and interest that I felt the page didn't need much more.  I definitely got a little messy with this one—and I had fun doing it!

My Process Video:  https://youtu.be/mbVsD2mx8EY

Master Forger Shala

Shala met the challenge by adding some splatter in multiple colors on the background paper, and added some ribbon up the sides!

Here's what we have coming up this month:

• 22nd - Challenge #3: Let's Get Sketchy
• 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

We'd love to see what you create! Share your projects in the Counterfeit Kit Community on Facebook or tag us on Instagram @counterfeitkitchallenge.  #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcAugust2026

I can't wait to see what you come up with - I hope you will play along with your stash! 

Happy Scrapping!  XO Amanda Bass