December 2024 CKC!

 Welcome December and a new month here at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge!

If you've been here a while, you'll know that we like to shake things up for the festive month because we are all busy getting ready for the main event and have a To Do list from here to forever!

But we hope that among all the great stuff you have planned for December, you'd also like to carve out a little creative time for yourself. You might be recording your December in a daily way, you might still want to create some scrapbook pages, or perhaps you'd just like to play with some pretty paper. 

So, moving away from our normal monthly kit, we'd like to offer you something low-key, peaceful, and fun to just keep the creative juices flowing - and hope that you will be inspired to play along.

Don't worry! The New Year will welcome back the Team for our usual program of more
inspiration kits, challenges and projects. 

But in the meantime, please join us for CKC's December Challenge Game!

Instructions for play:

Print out the document that will be posted in the Facebook Community Group.  We have created a Challenge A Day for you to play with.  The idea is that you have all of the Challenges up front, and you can do them IN ANY ORDER you wish!  Additionally, you do NOT have to do a "Christmas" layout for any of these - these are just prompts to inspire you with the photos and stash you have.  There are a few that are Christmas-focused, but if you do not celebrate, feel free to skip those or do something else!  Also, you are ABSOLUTELY allowed to combine several challenges together!  

If you'd like, cross off the numbered "ornament" that corresponds to that day's challenge to keep track of what you have done.  The printable doc will be linked in the Facebook group.  There are also albums for each day's challenge that you can add your layouts into.  It'll be a great way for all of us to check out each album and see all of the inspiration!!!

Your Master Forgers will be putting some examples on the Facebook group to help inspire you further!

Merry Christmas to all, and may your days be full of joy, peace, beautiful memories, and more photos to scrapbook!

Make Every Day a Day Worth Scrapbooking, and Remember to Sparkle!  ~ Ryann

November 2024 Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps

 Hello! Master Forger Vikki here with our final challenge for the month of November.   We always like to finish out the month with the Scraps Challenge.  Use the scraps you've accumulated this month on your project.  You'd be amazed at how far your scraps can take you.

                 Let's take one last look at our inspiration kit, which is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

Here are the projects from our Master Forgers.

Master Forger Misty 

I'm sharing how to create your own punched border strips, no specialty border punches needed!

Confession #1: I have barely touched my kit this month so I did not have a lot of scraps to work with. I made sure to utilize both the A and B sides of paper to make things go farther. Plus I did cut some extra strips. My tip: when cutting pattern papers try to cut things in a way that you save a 12x12 strip to use as borders.

Confession #2: I've never done this before so you get to see my thought process as I create this idea!

Notice the various strips of pattern papers on the lower half of the page? They were the scraps I started with for this project.

I used just ordinary punches to create "border punches". It did take some alignment marks to get even spacing. But the spacing is all up to you? Want the images closer together, then do more math. I just kept it really simple!

For the 1" circle punch I marked the back of my paper every 2 inches. That way I knew there would never be any overlapping of the shapes.

For the star I punched out the shape I thought I would use and measured it. It comfortably fit within a 3/4 inch space. Thus I marked the back of my paper every 3/4 inches, starting from the center so my border would be even.

I did play with other spacing just to try it out. I liked the tight, yet not overlapping space.

Master Forger Vikki

I didn't get to play with my kit as much as I would have liked this month, but I had a couple of large paper scraps plus what was left of my forgeries.  With this page I also finished off a sticker sheet of pumpkins.  It's always a good feeling to use something up.

I can't wait to see what you create with your scraps of the November kit.  Be sure to post them on the Facebook group.

Thank you so much for joining me on my first month hosting the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog.  It's been loads of fun!  I especially want to thank our Guest Designer Tamra Hunt for sharing her talents with us this month.  Many thanks to our Master Forgers for all of their hard work. Be sure to come back tomorrow when Master Forger Ryann kicks off December with the daily challenges.

 

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)

November 2024 Follower Showcase

 Hello! Master Forger Vikki here and it's time for our Follower Showcase.  Selecting one person from our amazingly talented group is incredibly hard.  

                   Let's take a look at our inspiration kit, which is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

Our featured follower for the month of November is ...... Lisa Cuneo Scrapbooking.

"I've been following the Counterfeit Kit Facebook group for a while now.  I always admire what the master forgers and members create, so I decided to dive in this month and create a kit!  The colors of this month's inspiration kit drew me in because I felt like I could use the with a variety of photos, and I have!  Creating this kit had me looking at some old supplies in new ways, and it's been fun to see what I could put together."

Here's a look at Lisa's kit and some of her projects for the month.  I just love her style.

There's a lot of goodness in the kit she put together.

I love the placement of the photos in this layout.  The tags make great embellishments.  Her journaling is placed on strips of paper, which is a nice design element. 

Here is a close-up of her layout.

   

   

Her second project is another two-page layout.  Look at those beautiful autumn colors in the papers she chose.  I love the filmstrip and banner on her page.

  

Here is a close-up of her page.  The grid paper is where she will write her journaling.

                                                           

 Lisa also created this beautiful card with her kit.

I hope you like Lisa's projects as much as I did.  Be sure to check out her YouTube channel, which you can find HERE.

I hope you'll stick around.  We still have a couple of more things scheduled for this month.

• 28th November - December Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community)
• 30th November - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)

November 2024 Challenge #3 Let's Get Sketchy

 Hello! Master Forger Vikki here with the third challenge of the month, our sketch challenge. Let's take a look at our inspiration kit, which is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

Here is the sketch I created for this month's challenge.  It's sure to get you into the fall mood.  Remember, a sketch is just a jumping off point.  You don't have to follow it exactly.  Turn one of the photos into a journal card or additional ephemera.  Do what works for you and the photos you have.

Let's take a look at how our  Master Forgers took on this challenge.

Master Forger Brandi

Too many photos for a single page sketch? Stretch it out! I took Vikki's design and stretched it across a two-page layout by adding a second block of photos! Instead of aligning the photos in the center on each page, I opted to shift them to the center of the layout for a more cohesive look. 

Master Forger Laurie

Since our inspiration kit this month had some star, pumpkin and autumnal leaf papers, I used papers similar to create a ghostly Halloween layout. I didn't have 4 photos so I made a spooky night scene on the other space instead in place of a photo.

Master Forger Vikki

I also didn't have four photos for this layout, so I framed a 3x4 pocket card that came with the inspiration kit. I used pumpkins as embellishments to tie in those in the photos. I added images of the characters into the embellishment clusters.  This was a fun layout to create and came together quickly with the help of the sketch.

 Now, let's see what we have lined up for the rest of this month:

• 24th November - Follower Showcase 
• 28th November - December Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community)
• 30th November - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)

November 2024 Challenge #2 (Favorite Thanksgiving/Fall Memory)

Hello! Master Forger Vikki here and it's time for the second challenge of the month. Let's take a look at our inspiration kit, which is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

This challenge is to create a layout or project documenting your favorite Thanksgiving or Fall memory.  This can be something from the past or present.  Show how you love spending time with family or a simple pleasure like enjoying the leaves changing colors. Let's take a look at how our  Master Forgers took on this challenge.

Master Forger Tara created a layout featuring mostly items from the Inspiration Kit using an older photo of her son playing with pumpkin guts while her family was carving pumpkins one year.  It's a precious memory and a GREAT photo showcasing her son's personality. There's a process video if you'd like to watch it HERE. 

 

Master Forger Christine

My favorite fall memory now has to be my daughter's wedding.  The weather was stunning, the leaves were turning and we were so blessed to have family members come.  And now, we have an even bigger family with the addition of my new son-in-law and his family.  

I cheated a bit and used a zipper that I didn't originally have in my kit, but had been laying on my desk for some time.  It was such a sense of accomplishment to finally get it on a page!

Master Forger Cindy

Created a layout using page kit #5 from her counterfeit kit. My new fall memory is creating projects with the grandkids. I really need to start taking pictures of the supplies. I brought the supplies to Derek for Thanksgiving (it required a separate box). In this photo he is showing Mom and Dad how he made and decorated a pop-up turkey.

 Now, let's see what we have lined up for the rest of this month:

• 22nd November - Challenge #3 Sketch Challenge
• 24th November - Follower Showcase 
• 28th November - December Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community)
• 30th November - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)

November 2024 Challenge #1 (Thankful)

Hello, hello!  Master Forger Vikki here with the first challenge of the month.  Let's take a look at our inspiration kit, which is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

This challenge is all about being thankful.  Create a layout or project about something you are thankful for.  This is the perfect time of year to count our blessings.  You can document family, friends or even your favorite seasonal coffee blend.  Let's take a look at how our guest designer and Master Forgers took on the challenge.

Guest Designer Tamra

Thankful pages are a favourite of mine.  I picked this picture of my daughter as she came home for a long visit in October.  It was the first time in 5 years that she was home for Thanksgiving.  I chose to do a multimedia page using acrylic paint and modeling paste.  My journaling genie had a little row of leaves and pumpkins at the bottom.  I also forged the number from the inspiration kit.

Master Forger Ryann is still working on her album from when she and her husband were dating two years ago.  She has been hearing the words to a Bible verse resonate in her ears lately, and felt that this would be the perfect time to document how she feels her husband reflects that verse, and how thankful she is for him.  She used several of the pumpkins that she forged earlier in the month for this layout - despite the fact that they didn't really turn out the way she had envisioned they would.  

Master Forger JoJo

I have a lot to be thankful for, but I chose my favorite subject to scrap and the most thing that I am thankful for, is my 5 beautiful grand kids .I am definitely blessed. My layout came together fairly quickly after I chose the photo and papers.

Master Forger Vikki

Adult friendships are sometimes hard to maintain, let alone build from scratch.  I chose to document a great friendship that I have.  The photo was taken in October, so this kit was perfect to use.  I mixed the fonts to make for an interesting title and framed the photo with three simple embellishments.  A sprinkle of enamel dots completed this layout.

Now, let's see what we have lined up for the rest of this month:

• 18th November - Challenge #2
• 22nd November - Challenge #3 Sketch Challenge
• 24th November - Follower Showcase 
• 28th November - December Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community)
• 30th November - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)

November 2024 Mini Kit and Project Reveal

 Howdy, Howdy!  Master Forger Vikki here again and today we are talking about mini kits.  Are you short on scrappy time this month or do you just need to scrap a few photos?  Maybe you are a beginner scrapbooker? Then a mini kit may be for you.  A mini kit offers simplicity. It's perfect for beginners or those with limited time. It's also portable and budget friendly, allowing you to create a kit without have overwhelming choices. Two of our Master Forgers are going to show you how they build a mini kit and how they use them. 

As a reminder, our inspiration kit for the month is Goldenrod by Traci Reed Designs.

Master Forger Julene

This is a long project. First starting with my mini kit 6 sheets of paper plus embellishments.

I didn't give it a name.

I used 4 paper bags from a chemist (drug store)

I covered both sides of the 4 bags with patterned paper.

and the other sides

Next, I folded each bag in half. I arranged them so there were alternate open and closed ends.

Stack them together. With the folds exactly even use a hole poker to make 4 holes or more.

I decided to stitch through with a darning needle and twine.

You now have a little book to decorate.

Here's my front cover.

  and my pages

The back cover is plain and the same patterned paper as the front. Here are my tags for the end pockets

I have left some pages blank for my daughter to add extra photos or extra journaling.

It took ages, days in fact!

My original instructions for paper bag albums are here.

Julene By Design: A paper bag mini album

Master Forger Tina

I'm known for my bigger kits so when I do a mini kit its got the same similarities.

I stayed with in the color scheme of the kit but went more in the direction of the plaids. I like choices in my kits so a few alphas that I'm trying to use up. I even found some Fall flair to play with in my stash for the kit. 11 full sheets of paper and some scraps too.

  

Made a double page layout using 2 full sheets of paper and 2 scraps a few embellishments too.

  

A walk one day in September 2023 along 445 by my apartment complex love to see nature when I can especially in the Fall as Winter is right around the corner.

 

One of the neighbor's Halloween display was so cool during that same walk.

Now, let's see what we have lined up for the rest of this month:

• 12th November -  Challenge #1
• 18th November - Challenge #2
• 22nd November - Challenge #3 Sketch Challenge
• 24th November - Follower Showcase 
• 28th November - December Sneak Peek (on Instagram and the Facebook Community)
• 30th November - Challenge #4 Baby, Use Those Scraps Challenge

Show us what you've got!  We love our followers! Make sure that you come hang out with us on the Facebook Community Group.  You can also catch us on Instagram by tagging #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcnovember2024.

Until next time, happy creating!

Vikki :)