August 2025 - Mini Kit and Project Reveal

 Hello again! Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the beautiful weather and activities that summer has to offer, but you still want to scrap? The solution to that is to create a mini kit. By limiting supplies of coordinating papers, embellishments, and colors, you eliminate the decision making process and can jump right into creating one or two scrapbook layouts in no time. You can even take your mini kit on vacation with you. Let's take another look at our inspiration kit.

 

Remember earlier I said I was on mini kit duty this month? Here's my kit in its entirety.

Master Forger Laurie 

 You'll notice I don't have very many embellishments. Yes, I know it's a mini kit. I plan to make most of my embellishments using stamps and metal dies from my stash.

Here are some of the tools I'll be using to make my embellishments.

 

 My Projects 

 

Now, let see what Master Forger Misty has come up with. 

I went with a very specific story and built my kit around that story. Let's take a look at the kit first.

Pattern Papers. Notice I have three papers from the inspo kit!

I added in a few embellishments, including my forgery on the fourth makes (pickup truck and windmill).

I needed some essential tools and some alpha stickers specific to my story. As you'll see later these are glittery alphas which may not be the first pick based on the vintage inspiration!

So, below, you can start to see my grand plan. I have a base layout with two panels that will pull out from behind the notches. Each panel has two flip-outs. This is going to allow me a total of 11 photos on a single page layout.

To assemble the layout I will need lots of foam tape to create channels for the pullouts. (Don't worry about the upside down paper, no one will see that! LOL)

I will apply plain cardstock over the foam tape to create the channels for the pull outs.

With my structure in place I can get to assembling and decorating. Here is a look at how it all works together.

And one close look at those alphas. I used silver glitter and black glitter to match my title: "Diamonds in the rough". This tells the story of successes amidst plenty of failures! I used the "d" and "r" to head each pull out for continuity.

I hope you are inspired to tell the good along with the bad in life, perhaps even side by side!

 

 

Now, let's see what's ahead for the rest of the month.

• August 12th - Challenge #1
• August 18th - Challenge #2
• August 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• August 24th - Follower Showcase
• August 28th - August Sneak Peek
• August 30th - Baby Use Those Scrap

We'd love to see your kit! Please share in our Facebook Community Group or tag us on Instagram using #ckcaugust2025 #counterfeitkitchallenge

 

Remember if you'd like to be chosen as our Follower of the Month, share your kits and projects. Stayed tuned for more inspiration, and happy scrapping!

 

August 2025 - Forgeries on the Fourth

 

Welcome back! Can you believe it's the Fourth of August already? That means it's time for Misty and some of our other Master Forgers to share the forgeries they have created using our inspiration kit for this month. Here's a reminder of that kit.

 

First up is Master Forger Misty.

I was inspired by the windmill and the truck icons. Check out my versions.

 The truck I created by altering an existing cutfile from the Cricut Library. I modified it using the Cricut software. I wanted to create smooth curves for the fenders to cut as individual pieces.
(Tutorial available on my YouTube channel.)

I did not have a cutfile for the windmill so I created this one using nesting circle dies and my paper trimmer. When you see an image just as simple shapes, it can make recreation easier.

(Windmill how-to on my channel.)

 

Master forger Julene

 

I used the front cover of a 6x6 paper pad plus some scraps I had to create 6 journal cards. 

I discovered some wood veneer cherries I had so added those on the cards.

 

Master Forger Amanda 

 I was inspired by all the plaid paper in the kit this month so I decided to make my own. I used the new mini distress oxides in festive berries, peeled paint, mustard seed and prize ribbon through a Pinkfresh Studio stencil called slimline plaid.  I only wanted to put the plaid on a little more than half of the page, and then went messy with a bunch of water, packaging technique, and spritzing and water droplets! 

You can see my process here.

Master Forger Tina is up next.

I was inspired by all those fun diecuts in the kit that I had to create some of my own. I was so glad that I grabbed this stamp and diecut set when it came out from CTMH. So a bit of stamping then some diecutting and whola! some fast ephemera made.

Used just about all the stamps in this set

The finished diecuts ready to go on my layouts

Now they are ready to be used however I want to use them

 Now, let's see what's ahead for the rest of the month.

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

We'd love to see your kit! Please share in our Facebook Community Group or tag us on Instagram using #ckcaugust2025 #counterfeitkitchallenge

 

Remember if you'd like to be chosen as our Follower of the Month, share your kits and projects. Stayed tuned for more inspiration, and happy scrapping! 

 

 Master Forger Laurie

 

August 2025 - Just the Gist!

 Master Forger Laurie here, Since I'm your hostess for this month I got to choose our inspiration kit. As a reminder, here is the kit I chose.

  

When it comes to creating a counterfeit kit based on an inspiration kit, sometimes it feels effortless, but other times it can be daunting. This month's kit, Farmhouse Summer by Carta Bella is beautiful. It's full of charming florals, cozy ginghams, plaids and farmhouse elements like barn doors, windmills, and watering cans. The color palette features soft blues, sage greens, warm reds and buttery yellows.

 But replicating it with what I had in my stash proved to be trickier than expected. Instead of trying to duplicate every paper and embellishment exactly, I focused on capturing the mood and feel of the inspiration kit.The cozy, homey blend of rustic textures, classic patterns, and pops of color became my guide.

Looking through my stash, I started with some staple patterns. The woodgrain I chose mimics the texture of the barn. The ginghams I added give the farmhouse a tablecloth vibe, and the polka dot patterns offer a playful touch. I didn't have florals in the same style so I included a bold, colorful floral print. A leafy green pattern ties in the outdoorsy feel of a farm. The windmill ledger paper captures the rural charm.

Since I'm on mini kit duty this month, I'm just sharing the papers I chose, I'll share my entire kit on the 6th.

Counterfeiting a kit can sometimes be difficult, but when you let go of the need for a perfect match and instead go for the mood and feel of the inspiration kit , it all comes together. I hope you've found this helpful in creating your kit. 

 Now, let's see what's ahead for the rest of the month.

• August 4th Forgeries on the Fourth
• August 6th Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• August 12th - Challenge #1
• August 18th - Challenge #2
• August 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• August 24th - Follower Showcase
• August 28th - August Sneak Peek
• August 30th - Baby Use Those Scrap

We'd love to see your kit! Please share in our Facebook Community Group or tag us on Instagram using #ckcaugust2025 #counterfeitkitchallenge

 

Remember if you'd like to be chosen as our Follower of the Month, share your kits and projects. Stayed tuned for more inspiration, and happy kit making! 

 

Master Forger Laurie

 

August 2025 - Inspiration Kit Reveal and Social Media Hop!!!

 Welcome to August, our new Counterfeit Kit is here: It's the first of the month, and you know what that means....time to dive into a brand new Counterfeit Kit Challenge! Whether you're a long time participant or just discovering us, we are thrilled to have you join us as we kick off another inspiring month of creativity, inspiration, and kit creating.

For this month's inspiration kit, I have chosen Farmhouse Summer by Carta Bella, which captures the heart of country living with a homey palette and timeless design motifs. It's the perfect blend of rustic charm and fresh summer energy. 

Here are a few more photos of this collection.

 

As always, your challenge is to counterfeit or recreate this kit using your own supplies.

 

Now, I'd like to introduce you to our Guest Designer, Nadine Michelle from Paper Route Scrapbooking. 

 

Hi! I am Nadine, and I am honoured to be a guest designer for the Counterfeit Kit Community. I have been scrapbooking for over 25 years now, and I love how this creative outlet helps me to focus on all of the best parts of my life. I’ve been married for 28 years, have three grown children, and two amazing grandchildren. I enjoy sharing my love of scrapbooking on my YouTube channel “Paper Route Scrapbooking” as well as by teaching at my local scrapbook store. Happy Scrapping Friends!

Here is Nadine's Kit 

 

Wow! Great kit Nadine!

Be sure to check out the Social Media Hop below. Let's see what the other Master Forger's created from their stash!

1st- Counterfeit Kit Challenge Reveal and Hop:  

• Counterfeit Kit Challenge -https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

• Guest Designer - Nadine - https://www.youtube.com/@paperroutescrapbooking4007

• Brandi - https://www.instagram.com/scrappy.boymama/

• Christine - https://www.youtube.com/@ScrappingHarden

• Cindy - https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

• JoJo- https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions/

• Julene - https://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/

• Ryann - https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookjoey/

• Tara - https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com/

• Tina - https://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

         Vikki https://www.instagram.com/memoriesandmomentsscrapbooking/

• Amanda -https://youtube.com/@amandacreates1980?si=j3Ed1pSbf7Wm3D

Here's  what's coming up for the rest of the month:

• August 1st Counterfeit kit reveal and blog hop
• August 2nd Just the Gist of It 
• August 4th Forgeries on the Fourth
• August 6th Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• August 12th - Challenge #1
• August 18th - Challenge #2
• August 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• August 24th - Follower Showcase
• August 28th - August Sneak Peek
• August 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

Want to play along? We'd love to see your kit! Please share in our Facebook Community Group or tag us on Instagram using #ckcaugust2025 #counterfeitkitchallenge

 

 Remember if you'd like to be chosen as our Follower of the Month, share your kits and projects.

 

Stayed tuned for more inspiration, and happy kit making! 

 

 M

Master Forger Laurie 

July 2025 Challenge #4 - Use Those Scraps!

It's the last day of the month and we have one more challenge for you, but first allow me to remind you of our Inspiration Kit:

 Our final challenge of the month is to use your scraps from your kit!!!  

Master Forger Tara used scraps to back a Cutfile.  

For the process video for this completed layout click, here. 

Master Forger Amanda

Master Forger Amanda had lots of scraps to use this month, so she decided to make a whole bunch of banners with dies to use on a layout. 

Click here for the process video.

That's all for this month and thank you for joining in the fun.

Julene

July 2025 Followers showcase

 Hi again. I've been looking at all your fabulous kits and pages. It is hard to choose just one!

Here's the original kit

For this month's person I have chosen Diana Vanderleest

Here's her kit

And her wonderful layouts!

She even came up with the banner idea from my chalkboard inclusion.

Congratulations Diana. 

Pop back to see a preview of next month's kit on 28th and what we do with our scraps on 30th July.

That's all for now! 

                                                                            Julene