July 2026 - Forgeries on the Fourth

 

Happy Fourth of July to our friends in the United States, and happy crafting day to everyone else!

One of my favorite Counterfeit Kit traditions is Forgeries on the Fourth. This is our opportunity to take a closer look at the inspiration kit and recreate some of its elements using supplies we already have on hand.

The Crescendo kit includes lots of fun music-inspired details, layered embellishments, and energetic design elements. Rather than purchasing something new, I challenged myself to look through my stash and see what I could recreate.

One of the things I love most about scrapbooking is that creativity often flourishes when we work with what we already own. A little ingenuity, a few punches, stamps, dies, scraps, or even some fussy cutting can often give us the look we're after.

Today I'm sharing my forgery and hopefully it inspires you to take a second look at the supplies already sitting on your shelves.

Now to be completely honest, my forgery is a bit off center.  Here's what I mean by that.  I noticed the darker paper in the original kit had music notes all over it.  So, I pulled my darker paper and initially thought to just use my VersaMark to put little music notes all over the paper.

Well, that turned out to be harder than it looked!  I had a hard time seeing the little notes on the pattern of the paper I selected.  So I decided to pivot and go ahead and add embossing powder.  I chose Seafoam White.

So, in the end, I do have a darker piece of paper with music notes all over it - but they are white!

Master Forger Tara

I created some forgeries using my Cameo. Here's the screenshot of my computer screen.  The musical cut files aren't an exact match but work for my personal kit.

 Here's my completed forgeries:

For the banners, I didn't use a music note patterned paper.  I couldn't find one so I pulled this black and white print from a Maggie Holmes collection.  I cut out three of each banner so I could stack them and make them appear to be chipboard.  I like to do this the most with titles on my Cameo.

 The other two items are cutfiles. The heart is one I TRIED to make as similar as the one in the inspo kit, but it was an epic fail.  I will use it anyway.  The second one is just a cutfile that I purchased somewhere.  Here they are:

 

Master Forger Amanda

Two things out of the kit caught my attention for forgeries this month - that green bird wearing headphones, and the chevron like paper with the purples, blues, red and oranges. 

I used a stencil to make a background inspired by the chevron like paper.  I had a spellbinders stencil called Dynamic Backgrounds, and used the distress oxides in Festive Berries, Crackling Campfire, Villainous Potion, and Prize Ribbon. 

To make the birds, I used two different stamp-sets, and couldn't just stop at one bird!  I drew the headphone for this green bird - I am sure you can tell - but I love how he turned out! 

 I spent some time coloring each of the birds, fussy-cut some out, and stamped a whole pile extra to color at a later date!

Here's what we have coming up this month:

• 6th - Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• 12th - Challenge #1: Summer Soundtrack
• 18th - Challenge #2: Turn Up the Volume
• 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 #ckcjuly2026

Life moves Fast.  Scrap the moments that matter.

Love, Christine | ScrappingHarden

September 2025 - Forgeries on the Fourth

Welcome back!  Today our Master Forgers are going to show you how you can take products from the inspiration kit and create your own version, using supplies from your stash and some imagination.

First, let's look at the inspiration kit, Life Captured by Simple Stories, with some of its ephemera.

Are you seeing the possibilities?  Are you thinking of what you can make using your own stash?

 

Now let's see what the Master Forgers created this month.

Master Forger Misty

I'm up with a few fun and easy ideas. 

First, let's make some of those mini message boards! I cut black cardstock to 2x3 inches. The kraft cardstock is 2.25x3.25 inches. Using a ruler (or a strip of cardstock as a guide), I drew lines on the black to mimic the message board grooves. More hand writing and I had my messages.

Did you know that you can color over white gel pen? That makes it so that you can add color on top of dark cardstock! That is how I made the little hearts.

The sheet of images I created on sticker paper. I used ink daubers to put down layers of ink. Then I used my favorite Pentel Fude Touch pen to write the days of the week instead of the months of the year. I filled in the rest of the sheet with stamped images.

Master Forger Julene

 I have used this idea before, but the camera paper appeared in the kit again.

I used my camera stamp to create the paper.

I left it white, but could easily use a blue wash over it if I wanted blue background.

As you can see, I made matching journal cards with the same stamp. I drew on the tiny hearts.

Here's the one I created a few years ago with inked sections over the cameras.

And a similar idea I saw on Pinterest with made cameras. 

Master Forger Amanda

I wanted to try a couple things out this month too! I have a lot of stamps that have birds on them, but used one specific stamp from a magazine that I have had forever to make a few embellishments to use.

First I had a piece of packaging and I stamped this bird image on it, and then colored it with one of my distress oxides.   

Then I made these stamped images with some banner ephemera to make these. Using scraps or branding strips would be great for these too! 

 

I was also inspired by the month ephemera and used my oxides with the packaging technique and a Dylusions calendar stamp set to make these:

                       Be sure to check back in with us. There's a lot more coming up this month:

• September 6th - Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• September 12th - Challenge #1
• September 18th - Challenge #2
• September 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• September 28th - October Sneak Peek (FB Community & Instagram)
• September 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps
  

We always love to see what you are working on!   We often choose our Guest Designers by looking at the work you show us.  Share your projects on our Facebook Community Group and be sure to tag us on Instagram at #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcseptember2025. 

Happy Scrapping!

Master Forger Vikki

June 2025 - Forgeries on the Fourth

 

  Welcome back!  Today, the Master Forgers and I are going to share our counterfeited kit items.  Let me remind you of our inspiration kit:

NJFB "Intrinsic" Limitless Kit

 

 Our Guest Designer has a special forgery for you this month.  She's created a cutfile that you can download for free if you are a member of the FaceBook Community Group.  Details will be on the group today.  After June is over, the cutfile will be available for sale in her shop. 

Here's the photo of the cutfile from the inspiration kit.  If you are interested in grabbing this free cutfile from Some Assemblage Required, please go to the group and see today's scheduled post!  If you are new to this blog and haven't joined yet, the link is at the end of this post.  Make sure you answer the membership questions and agree to the group's rules.  

Here's a photo of MK's cutfile-available for free on the FaceBook Group 

To receive this cutfile, you must be a member of the CKCB FaceBook Community Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master Forger Jody really loved the stars in the add-on kits.  I agree-they ARE quite fun.

 

 

These are great little textural accents for any layout.

Jody found a piece of burlap paper and used her trusty Silhouette to cut out stars. 

Here is the final layout!

 Master Forger Tara

I loved the acrylic word "Roam" and the mushroom die cut so I checked out my Silhouette Design Studio library and found a font to create a similar "Roam" word and a cutfile of mushrooms (cutfile #416534) that is also similar to the one in the kit.  Here's a screenshot of my Silhouette Design Studio workspace prior to cutting out the designs:

 I will be using one of the sheets of the "rusty" patterned paper for the Roam and will be stacking the three to create a title piece from paper similar to the acrylic in the kit. Remember, forgeries can be close and not exact.  Here's my completed cutfiles:

 

 

 

You may wonder why I cut three of the word.  It's because I stacked them to create the illusion of an acrylic title piece.  I also did the same with my mushroom cutfile. 

 

Master Forger Julene 

I wiped over an offcut of clock paper with a used teabag to age it ready to use this month.

Master Forger Misty

 

Misty was excited by multiple items again this month. She ended up making three forgeries.  She recreated the metal charms using shrink plastic and metallic pigment ink.

The stars sure were popular with the team this month!
Misty made hers out of felt instead of corduroy. 

 

She loved many of the mushroom images and combined ideas to make mushroom postage stamps (as well as a slew of others). Not an exact forgery, but a lovely idea anyway.

 

And a look at everything all together.

 

 

 Here's what we have in store for you this month:

• June 6th - Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• June 12th - Challenge #1
• June 18th - Challenge #2
• June 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• June 24th - Follower Showcase
• June 28th - July Sneak Peek
• June 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

We love to see what you are working on!  Drop in your projects to our Facebook Community Group and of course tag us on Instagram at #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcjune2025 

 

Master Forger Tara

 

 

April 2025 - Forgeries on the Fourth

 

Every month, our team shares ideas they had to make their own supplies, inspired by our monthly kit! Let's see what they've come up with for April! But first, let's take another look at our inspiration kit.

lil' man by Bella Gypsy Designs

Master Forger Laurie

 

Here are a few forgeries I made this month. These were so easy to replicate. For the gear embellishments I used a 1-1/2" punch for a circle. I used some very old Close To My Heart wood paper. Yes, wood! It is actual wood. I then cut some gears using metal dies and glued them together. For the hearts I just used a heart punch, then I cut some in half and glued together. The flowers I punched using an old Stampin' Up punch and use silver brads for the centers. I hope you try your hand and making some and if you do make sure you share on out Facebook group. We love to see what you create!

 
Master Forger Misty

Luckily I was running late this month. Why? Because I got to see Laurie's forgeries before I was able to make mine. I was going to do much the same as hers. Instead I turned to other ideas. One of them is outside of the box for sure!

For the cork arrows I die cut thin cork sheets. Then I stenciled over them with white pigment ink. I knew this one would work as I've done it before.

The wire was trickier and I'm not 100% happy. But hey, I tried new things! I wrapped the wire around various items to get it to take on shapes. I like the heart and the geotag best.

For my final forgery I wanted to try something that I've never done before. I was pretty sure it would work based on other experiences. And, it did! Yes! I made paint splatter stickers! I literally dribbled cheap acrylic paint on a nonstick surface. I let it dry (it took a veeerrrry long time). Then I was able to peel them off the surface. A little glue applied to the back and I have my own NO-FEAR paint embellishments. I have a video up on all of these if you want to know more.

Stop by the blog all month long for even more fun! 

• 6th April - Mini Kit and Project Reveal 
• 12th April - Challenge #1 
• 18th April - Challenge #2
• 22nd April - Challenge #3 Sketch Challenge
• 24th April - Follower Showcase 
• 26th April - April Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community) 
• 30th April - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

We love to see what you are working on!  Drop in your projects to our Facebook Community Group and of course tag us on Instagram at #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcapril2025

"that amazing moment when someone asks "where did you buy that?" and you can say "I MADE IT!"  

Happy scrapping! 

~ Brandi ~