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 

August 2026 - Challenge #1 - Summer Adventure

 

Our inspiration kit this month had a lot of summer vibes with the colors and the embellishments -- let's lean into that for our first challenge: Summer Adventure!

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

Your challenge for Summer Adventure  is to Capture a road trip, camping trip, zoo visit, or local outing (like picking berries!) and add a map or brochure, ticket or another type of memorabilia to your layout as an interactive element (tag, flip, pocket etc.) Have fun creating - and don't forget to share!

Guest Designer: Sarah

Sarah chose a local family outing to document for this challenge. She used a Scrap a Sketch, Sketch for inspiration for her layout (Sketch 214.)

Her brochure is tucked into a large pocket the is framed perfection by the yellow patten paper, and she even added a tab to be able to pull out the brochure to look at.

This is also a mock pocket that adds some excellent texture with the stitching, the acrylic summer word, the button and paperclip.

Master Forger Brandi Jo

I chose zoo photos! A great adventure for the summer-time

Master Forger Vikki

This challenge was the perfect opportunity to document a play I just recently went to.  I turned the whole page into a pocket in order to keep the playbill with the pictures.  I also created a small pocket to hold the ticket.  I can also include additional journaling.  The title, Sweet Summer, was cut out from the Cricut, a forgery of the inspiration kit.  I do have a few more photos from this night, so I will have a second page.

Master Forger Laurie 

This month's kit was perfect for the title page documenting our visit to Niagara Falls. I let the colorful map become the focal point of the layout. The oversized "Life is Good!" title echoed the fun feeling of the trip. Pulling together elements from throughout the kit created a fun, happy design that captured the memories of our trip.

Here's what we have coming up this month:

• 18th - Challenge #2: Let's get a little Messy
• 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 

August 2026 - Mini Kits and Project Reveal

 Hello friends! 

You have had a few days to take a look at the kits that the Master Forgers have put together - and hopefully had some time to put one together yourself -- but not to fear - if you don't have the time to play with a full kit this month -- put together a mini! 

Here are the photos of our inspiration for August:

Let's take a look at what Master Forger Tara, and Master Forger Christine came up with for their Mini kits!

Master Forger Tara

I think that this might be my smallest mini kit yet.  I only pulled four sheets of patterned paper and two packs of ephemera plus three alphas!!  Here's the photo of my kit:

 

 For my first layout, I knew that I wanted to use my pink swirl patterned paper.  It reminds me of ice cream and summer!  I also knew that I was going to stitch on it!!!  Here's the finished layout:

 

 

My second layout is fairly simple.  It's also only a one photo layout but I used a 4x6.  Here's the finished layout:

 

My final layout uses scraps from the previous two plus a little more ephemera and the scripty font.  I consider a kit bashed when I use all of my paper.  I managed to do that and the rest of the ephemera will go back into the original Hip Kit Club kit.  The alphas will go back into my rainbow ordered thickers as well. 

 

 I did create a process video for this kit and layouts and you can view that HERE!!! 

Master Forger Christine

I went true "mini" on this one, pulling just 3 full pattern paper sheets (one of which was a tag sheet), a paper scrap, a leftover sticker sheet, some puffy stickers, black letter stickers, and little ephemera.  I was also proud to have found yellow pom pom in my stash!

For my mini, I was inspired by the lemon elements and the tags in the inspiration kit.  And as I mentioned, I made sure to pull some black letter stickers and a similar sticker sheet to the inspo.

I had such fun with this kit and got 3 layouts out of it!  (I did end up having to pull a couple of solid cardstock from my stash - white, yellow, and aqua.)

This is the first layout where I used that piece of white cardstock. To make my supplies go a little farther, I gutted the center of the pink diagonal plaid paper to use on another project, but it still made a great frame around the page. I also made sure to include the citrus paper I'd pulled because I couldn't resist pairing it with the "Main Squeeze" puffy sticker for this sweet photo of my hubby and me. The layered tags, twine, and scattered hearts add just the right amount of playful movement, and I love how they keep your eye traveling around the page.

For my second layout, I used the aqua cardstock along with the frame I had gutted from the first layout to get the citrus paper. I even repurposed the square I had cut out of the first layout's frame by trimming it into two banners, which let me show off both the A and B sides of that pretty patterned paper. I love finding ways to stretch my supplies and get every bit of a paper into a project!

I also pulled in several stickers from the sticker sheet, including the dragonfly, frog, and snail. Those little critters were the perfect embellishments since they're such a common sight during our rainy season. The photos capture a pair of ducks that decided to make themselves at home in the temporary "ponds" that formed around our property after all the rain. Sometimes the best memories come from the unexpected visitors!

My final layout uses the full sheet of yellow cardstock along with the leftover aqua cardstock from the previous layout, so nothing went to waste! Since I had already used all of the full-size patterned papers, this was the perfect opportunity to dive into the tag sheet I had included in my kit. The four tags became the foundation of the design, giving me lots of places to mix and match the remaining patterns.

I finished the page with the large "Beautiful" ephemera title, a few stickers, and some butterflies to tie everything together. (And can you spot the little pom pom detail under her photo?). This was such a sweet way to document a favorite photo of my baby, Cleo, sitting in the window. With the butterflies floating around her, it almost looks like she's watching them flutter just outside. Sometimes the simplest photos tell the sweetest stories.

All I had left of my mini kit was two tags, a partial sheet of puffies and stickers.  I so enjoyed using this inspiration kit this month!

If you want to watch me create these layouts.  Check out my process video here.

Here's what we have coming up this month:

• 12th - Challenge #1: Summer Adventure
• 18th - Challenge #2: Let's get a little Messy
• 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