July 2025 Mini Kits

 I'm back again to look at the idea of making a mini kit.  First a reminder of this month's kit.

Noel Mignon Balboa.

It's mid-summer there in USA and some of you will be heading out on holidays. If you don't have time for a full kit maybe you could do a mini kit.

It can be as small as you like. Traditionally with CKC it used to be 2 or 3 papers and some embellishments that go with it. Enough to create a page or two, or some kind of mini project.  As an example, I found this from an old mini kit of mine. I chose black papers plus a bright floral and a neutral. (You can do similar from your kit) Use the recipe one dark,one light, one colourful.

Next, I found a few embellishments to match

Pack them in a 12x12 bag and there's your mini kit! It can be taken away with you and made during your vacation.

 For example, the above produced 2 layouts.

Enjoy your kit. Make it work for you.

Master forger Tara 

I created a mini kit-well, a not-so-mini-kit for most of you, but for me, it's definitely a mini version of what I normally curate each month!  I always start with paper and so I went through my stash of papers and chose a bright Basic Grey collection.  I had three pieces of patterned paper and a set of stickers in my stash.  Then, I found papers from other Basic Grey collections that went with it and a few from other manufacturers.  My next step was to add alphas and phrases.  I really didn't add any other embellishments because I made a couple of forgeries, which you can view on the July 4th FoF blog post.  Here's my full kit with a couple of close-up photos as well:

 

 

Here's the first layout that I created with my mini kit:

 

 I used two sheets of my patterned paper and tore the edges to create a patterned border on the left hand side.  The text pattern is the B side of the polka dotted paper.  I cut a few stars out of the icon patterned paper, using both the A and B sides to cut them.  I cut my title with my cameo and did some stenciling on my kraft background.  I used a journaling block and a phrase from the sticker sheet.  

 

My second layout I used my tag forgery embellishment as a base for my title.  I used some of the papers from my first layout to create this one as well.  I had five sheets of the polka dot paper in my kit because it seemed like a versatile paper with the text on the back so, I used the text as my base paper.

 

 

 My third layout I used a sketch from Janet that she created for the March 30 Days of Sketches With Christy's Beautiful Life, Series 17. It was perfect for these folders of my oldest son wearing an old (CLEAN) cloth diaper as a Batman cape.  

 

I used lots of cardstock to create the splats with my Cameo!!  I backed my white cardstock background with the star paper from my kit.  I used one of the yellow frame stickers from my sticker set as a frame on my larger photo and matted all three photos onto one black mat.  

 

  

Here's what we have left for you for the month of July.  Please come back and check these upcoming posts out!  

 

July 12th - Challenge #1 

July 18th - Challenge #2 One,two,three

July 22nd - Challenge #3 Scraplift

July 24th - Follower Showcase

July 28th - July Sneak Peek

July 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

 

July Forgeries on the Fourth

 

 Welcome back! Today our Master Forgers are giving you some ideas to create your own elements for the kit by using items from our inspiration kit to counterfeit embellishments and/or papers to use with your own kits.  Let me remind you of our inspiration kit.

 

Let's see what our Master Forgers have come up with.

Master Forger Tara found a few things to counterfeit this month from our Inspiration Kit!  

 

She found that she could make this tag embellishment using her Cameo and a shipping tag.

 

This shows the cutfile she already owned in her Silhouette Design Studio library!

 

Here's the design opened up on her software.

Here's the finished tag embellishment:

 

 

She also decided to create her own poloroid frame with her Cameo.  

 

 

She opened a cutfile of a polaroid and then created the word in her design software.

 

Then, she rotated the word in the design software and welded it to the frame.

 

 

Master Forger Misty
She is here with three forgeries for you. She is really pleased with the faux hat pins idea! These actually are better than the originals since they containless bulk and less pointy danger! These were made with twist ties (stripped of their paper) and enamel dots. Easy!

                                                                     Master Forger Julene

I made 5 altered paint chips to add to layouts this month.

                               Choose a contrasting coloured flower to make it stand out.

The finished cards 

Pop back to see what is happening for the rest of this month.

Master Forger Laurie

 

Looks like Master Forger Tara and I had the same ideas this month. To make the tag I used an already made one. I cut a piece of patterned paper and used an XOXO punch, glued both to the tag and then machine stitched through the center. For the frame I cut a piece of card stock 3x4, then cut a piece of white card stock using a square die. I applied puffy letters to the side. The white card stock is 2-1/2" x2-1/2".

For the last embellishment I used a scallop die and 2 smaller circle dies. The center is a large brad. I used a white gel pen to make hash marks around the edge of the black circle.

 

                                                        GUEST DESIGNER KATE

Kate also made the Xoxo tag.

 July 6th - Mini Kit and Project Reveal

• July 12th - Challenge #1 
• July 18th - Challenge #2 One,two,three
• July 22nd - Challenge #3 Scraplift
• July 24th - Follower Showcase
• July 28th - July Sneak Peek  (FaceBook Community Group)
• July 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 

July 2025 Just the Gist

 Still wondering how to get started? Let's break down the kit. Remember it's a flashback month here it is:

Bright is the first word that came to my mind, 

The predominant colours appear to be the bright aqua, crimson pink, black and then a smattering of other brighter colours. Start with that.

 Look at your older papers that might match in some way. polka dots, butterflies, chevrons, triangles. Use the papers that give you nightmares! The big florals or bright overloads. Do you have anything left from the chalkboard era? If you have a white pen you can forge those black papers.  I see frames, both big and small, both square and ovals. There are also speech bubbles and strip journaling boxes. Find those if you have any.  The word "Happy" appears several times.

This was a fun kit to compile back in 2014 and was again this time. 

Enjoy your kit making. Here's what we have coming up for you this month:

• July 4th - Forgeries on the Fourth 
• July 6th - Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• July 12th - Challenge #1 
• July 18th - Challenge #2 One,two,three
• July 22nd - Challenge #3 Scraplift
• July 24th - Follower Showcase
• July 28th - July Sneak Peek  (FaceBook Community Group)
• July 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 #ckcjuly2025

                                                                      

Julene

July 2025 Inspiration Kit and Social Media Hop

 Hello, it's Julene and this month I thought we could try something different.

FLASHBACK MONTH

Instead of choosing a current kit to scrapbook I've gone back into the archives and chosen July 2014's kit to look at again. The kit was from Noel Mignon and named Balboa.

As you can see it is bright with a tropical Carribean flavour. Perfect for those summer photos.

IDEAS

How we approached it back in July 2014 and how YOU forge it now could be different. 

Maybe it's time to go through your old papers.

1) Here's my blog post from that month to help you. You have my permission to use it however it helps you.  Chalkboard scrapbooking items were popular, do you still have any?

2) Another member of our CKC team back then was Lynette who made this kit

The Sassy Scrapper: Counterfeit Kit Challenge July Kit Reveal Blog Hop

3) This month's guest designer is Katherine Boddy Blue who has been around since those days.

I'm Kate Blue, your guest designer for July! When I saw the Noel Mignon Balboa kit, the first thing that caught my eye was the mix of bright bold colors with a splash of black. The second things were the prints- hearts, butterflies and polka dots. So that's where I started my kit, I was determined to use vintage paper stash as much as possible. I then kept my embellishments add-on kit somewhat small (for me anyway) focusing on butterflies, cards, frames, sparkly bits and lots of various alphas. And there you have my July kit; hope I'll inspire you as the month goes by!

Welcome back Kate!

www.instagram.com/kraftyqueenkat

I thought you might like to see Kate's kit.

 

It's very colorful, I'm sure you will agree.

Now here's the blog hop or social media hop so you can check out our kits.

• Counterfeit Kit Challenge - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
• Guest Designer - www.instagram.com/kraftyqueenkat
• Christine - https://www.youtube.com/@ScrappingHarden
• Cindy - Cindy's Creations
• Julene - https://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/
• Laurie - https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookingbits/
• Misty - https://craftysoup.com/
• Ryann - https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookjoey/
• Tina - Tina's Scrap Corner
• Brandi - https://www.instagram.com/scrappy.boymama/
• Jo Jo- https://www.instagram.com/scrappyconfessions

Here's the program for the month:

• July 1st Counterfeit kit reveal and blog hop
• July 4th Forgeries on the Fourth
• July 6th Mini Kit and Project Reveal
• July12th - Challenge #1
• July 18th - Challenge #2
• July 22nd - Challenge #3 Let’s Get Sketchy
• July 24th - Follower Showcase
• July 28th - August Sneak Peek
• July 30th - Baby Use Those Scraps

That's all for now. Enjoy making and using your kits.

                                                                         

Julene

June 2025 - Challenge #4 - Use Those Scraps

 How is it already the end of the month? June just flew by and it's time to share our final challenge with you for our June kits!  Let me remind you of the inspiration kit:

NJFB "Intrinsic" Limitless Kit

 

 

 Our final challenge each month is always to challenge you in new ways to use your scraps from your wonderful creations this month!  You could create another layout! You could create a card or even a mini album.  Let's see what our Master Forgers created for you this month! 

Master Forger Tara

I actually have been using my scraps up as I go this month so all I had left was a partial sheet of the rainbow paper and the rusty background!!!  I fussy cut some of the rainbows out of the rainbow patterned paper and then tore off a border of it to use the B side (black with white dots) as a border along the top of the layout.  I used a stencil to add some grunge to the kraft cardstock that I used as a base for this layout.  I added in some leafy bits that i cut from other scraps.  

Master Forger Jody

Used up 3 strips of paper from her June kit. Scraps are not always small but can be substantial in size for a fun background.  

 

 Master Forger Misty
 She didn't have many scraps this time. But... she made efficient use of small scraps. She used them to back the cutfile that MK offered to the group (find it in the files section of our Facebook group). She also punched out stars to go with the cutfile for cohesive embellishing.

Well, the month of June is over but make sure you check back tomorrow for the July Inspiration Kit Reveal and Social Media Hop.  July is being hostessed by Master Forger Vikki!

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