December 2023 - Sketching Around The Christmas Tree!

 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 Timbuktu.

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, perhaps you'd just like to play with pretty paper. 

So, moving away from our normal kitting routine, we'd like to offer you something gentle, low-key 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 programme of more inspirational kits, challenges and projects. And of course, as we mentioned yesterday (see post here), you'll see some changes which will be very exciting!

But in the meantime, please join us for "Sketching Around The Christmas Tree!"

Starting bright and early tomorrow - 2nd December - we will be all things sketchy over in our FB Counterfeit Kit Challenge community.

We know how you all love our sketch challenges so we thought why not offer sketch inspiration in the lead up to Christmas. On the first day, one Master Forger will post a sketch to inspire you and then on the next day, they will show you their own page or project based on that sketch! 

In total, we will have 12 wonderful sketches taking us all the way through to Christmas Day. 

Take the sketch and interpret it however you like. 

• It's a 12x12 sketch and you are doing a daily December album? 
• Adjust the dimensions down to your format and make it your own. 
• It's a 8.5x11 three small photo sketch and you need space to write your lengthy childhood Christmas memory? 
• Replace the photos with journalling spots. 
• Our Master Forger has created a wintery Christmas page but you are living in the southern hemisphere right in the middle of summer? 
• Use rainbow colours and change the vibe of the page. 
• The sketch is for a scrapbook layout, but you are in the mood for making some last minute Christmas cards? 
• Go for it! Have fun changing the sketch for your creative needs

Remember the golden "rule" round here - YOUR project, YOUR rules! Take our ideas and make something that works for YOU!

Simple, right? Fun, huh? Totally doable, isn't it? 

😉🎄🎅 We thought you'd like it!🎅🎄😉

We'd love it if you'd join in. As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2023 and #ckcsketchingaroundthechristmastree). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

December 2023 - Sketching Around The Christmas Tree

 I'm just dashing in here today to give you a heads up about what we are preparing for you in December!

As you know, we like to shake things up for the festive month and we know that you all have so much happening but a little creativity here and there would be nice.

Our "Sketching Around the Christmas Tree" will offer sketches and interpretations for you to dip into as much or as little as you can/like!

Come on over on 1st December to find out all the info. We will be basing this festive inspiration over in our FB Counterfeit Kit Challenge community so you'll need to come and find us there!

Hope to see you in the community and we can't wait to share our sketches and pages with you all!

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Round Up

Well! We've reached the end of our December challenge and I hope you've enjoyed playing along and seeing where our prompts and inspiration have taken us.

The last layouts of 2022 have been made - or might still be being made, but I have to say that I will not be scrapping anything now until January - and shared. 

You're never to late to join in so if you want to go back to our prompts in January or next December - no problem! Just jump in and be inspired.

It's been a good creative year and we are so very grateful for all of you here, being creative together. We appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for being part of our community.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MF Kate who is stepping down from the team but has promised to keep playing along in the community! Thanks Kate for everything.

There is nothing more for me to say but to hope you had a very Merry Christmas and to wish you a Happy New Year! Here's to another wonderfully inspirational, creative year!

See you back here on 1st January for a new year of kitting! 

Lisa

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #12 - MF Lisa

 There were so many childhood memories to record, it was tricky to pick just one so let's see where the inspiration took me today!

I wanted to use the technique on my page but I was so caught up with all the pretties from the Mix and  Mingle collection by Simple Stories that it kind of went out of my mind. But there are plenty of repeated patterns here with the colours, tags, loops, bows, splats etc so I hope you will forgive me!

Anyway, as you can see, this page is not yet journaled but I know exactly what I want to say, except for a few details that I want to check with my mum when I see her next week. So I thought I would save the story until that it all sorted and I can be sure that I'm writing the real story rather than an embellished one!

However, I'll give you a summary of what the story is all about: When I was really young, I desperately wanted a doll's tea set and asked Father Christmas to bring one. On Christmas morning, there was a letter in my sack telling me that there was a little girl somewhere else in the world who had lost her parents and would be getting no presents. So Father Christmas was taking my doll's tea set to her as I had plenty of other presents. Of course, that made me sad not to get the present but I was very concerned about that other little girl and hoped that she would enjoy playing with the set. Of course, some time later I received a beautiful blue and white china tea set from my grandparents and these are the last two remaining pieces which I treasure very much! I have no idea when they gave it to me or why they needed all the intrigue which are the details I hope to get from my mum - fingers crossed! 

I plan to get that story placed in the area under the tags which might help to cover up some of the smeared ink splats! I'm really hopeless!!!

It was fun to just use up pieces of the collection and not worry about holding onto items or what other things I could be doing with it all. I know that using a set collection isn't exactly what CKC is all about but it's fun to just use up supplies we have no matter how old or new they are so that IS the spirit of CKC! 

Lisa

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #12

 Well, here we are! It's Christmas Eve and time for our last prompt. It's been a wonderful month and I hope you've been as inspired as we have. Let's look at the 12th Day of Christmas and what it has to offer.

 If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #12

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #11 - MF Juliet

 We're almost at the end now but the inspiration keeps on coming!

          MF Juliet didn't necessarily go with a Christmas theme (hey we can take things whatever way we want here at The Counterfeit Kit Challenge) but did go with a piping hot drink she loves, coffee! She and her sweet hubby shared a cup together EVERY morning and each had their favorite cup. (Don't we all???)

Since she can't have a cup with him in person every morning any more, she decided to switch her cup to his cup so he is still part of her morning ritual!  

Vellum has been around since...well, forever if you are in scrapbook world! Vellum can be intimidating but used as a matt it brings a unique and beautiful addition in Juliet's mind. It softens any background but still allows the color to come through. If you have a strong background vellum is a wonderful addition if you just need to 'tone down' an area. It also makes a wonderful journaling medium. Oh, and if you have some punches, by all means punch your heart out with the vellum and you will LOVE what it brings to your project!

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #11

Just a few days to go! How many stories, photos, ideas or pages have you made this month? 

If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #11

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #10 - MF Anna

 There's a whole load of leaping going on at CKC - let's see what MF Anna it up to today!

I was so excited to join the team with this prompt! How fun is it to curl up on the couch and watch a favorite Christmas movie (or 10) each year? My family also likes to watch Elf while decorating the tree so it's like two traditions in one! Today is my son's last day of school before Christmas break, he gets out early at 12pm so I am planning an afternoon of binge watching movies for us!

For this prompt I chose to document my Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies in a two page layout in my 6x8 album.

First, I grabbed the images from a quick Google search for each of my favorite movies, just right-click and save the image to your desktop for quick reference (if you have a Mac, I think it's shift+control+click). 

I pulled the images into a template I created in Canva which ensured that each image would be 2x3 which made it easier to fit all 10 on one 6x8 page. Use whatever photo software you prefer, you can even use Word if it works for you! I printed mine on cardstock because I don't have a way to print photos at home.

Next, I printed them on heavy cardstock using my color laser printer, cropped them to size and even popped some up on foam to make my very favorite movies stand out and the page was done! (These smaller layouts really feel like I'm cheating somehow)

The left hand page is my list page where I will document each movie and a sentence or two about why it's my favorite. 

I've found this challenge to be very helpful to keep me focused this year on how to best document my December stories and I hope you are enjoying it too!

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #10

We are up to double digit presents according to the song so we are coming to the end. I can't imagine receiving so many gifts!

 If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #10

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #9 - MF Leslie

We are all dancing round here but let's see where this prompt took MF Leslie today!

MF Leslie here - so happy that you are joining us for another fun, inspiring seasonal challenge. A few days prior to the Master Forger Design Team receiving the details about the December prompts, I ran across digital photos of this 2004 family outing that was somehow never scrapped! How often does THAT happen? Definitely a God breeze. Not only did the live performance fit the theme but the music angle figures into our family tradition.

 I first searched for a theatre graphic to frame my stage photo & found this from The Graphics Fairy.

Isn't it cute? I added my photo in Photoshop. Next I fussy-cut the nutcracker & the ballet slippers from this 2012 Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet collection. Fussy-cutting makes me so happy! I also used the N card & added a few subtle bling embellishments to each.

I decided what size I needed the audience photo to be & created a Photoshop file that incorporated my journaling in white letters on a black background to blend in with my page. The final touch was a little gold star sequin with a musical note next to my journaling that meets all three criteria for this challenge!

 Be sure to return tomorrow for the Ten Lords A-Leaping prompt!

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #9

 Are you dancing yet?  Let's get right to it today.

 If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #4

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #8 - MF Tina

 Another day and yet more inspiration for you. Let's see where MF Tina has gone today with our milky prompt!

I used both prompts today on my layout, with a story about cookies and the White Alphabet for my title

Christmas seems to start in our house the weekend I make cookies no matter how early we bring in the decorations in the house with thoughts to decorate. This particular year I made 4 different batches of cookies and with in the pictures you can see 2 of the 4. Each year I usually try something new and the cookie with the sprinkles in them are the new one that year.

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #8

 Time seems to be speeding up but there's always time for a little crafting here at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge!

 If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #4

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #7 - MF Cindy

So, let's see where Seven Swans-a-Swimming takes us today with MF Cindy.

We have had many a "White Christmas" and a few brown ones also. I have done a layout with three photos. 

The top one is not a "Christmas" picture, but it includes a "Snowstorm" that happened in May. We were hiking up to 'M' in Missoula, The Second photo if of the guys making an igloo in our backyard in 2000 and the last photo is of the getting ready to snow board and innertube down the Mountains in Montana, using the snowmobiles to get to the perfect spot. 

More details on my blog post here

I have done both the story and Techniques of a "White background" and "White Splatter" on my layout.

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #7

Welcome back again - how are you all? It's just a few days until Christmas now but I hope you are finding a little me-time for a spot of crafty inspiration. Let's get going. 

 

If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #7

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #6 - MF Kate

 New beginnings, hopes and dreams. Let's see what MF Kate has created for us on this theme!

MF Kate used the rule of threes in the form of a tri-level Christmas tree to journal her hopes for the New Year!  She used a self cut tree covered with chipboard die cuts and word stickers to create the visual triangle for her Christmas pajama photo and journaling. 

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #6

 We are at the half-way point. I hope you've been playing along in some creative way and are feeling inspired by our December event!

 If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #6

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #5 - MF Julene

Today, MF Julene is sharing her creation for Five Golden Rings so let's get straight to it!

 Master Forger Julene has used 2 gold doileys and 3 smaller gold circles cut from corrugated card on this layout. There is also white and gold star washi tape and gold rhinestones.

The copper coloured Christmas trees provide a good contrast and the title blends with the colours in the photos.

These memories are precious as this was 8 years ago, so the children have grown up.

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.

Christmas at CKC - 12 Days of Christmas - Challenge #5

If you know the song, this is the crescendo! Personally, I love this line of the song!

If you need a reminder of how our December challenge is organised, check out the blog post at the beginning of the month (here) and now, on to prompt #5

We'd love it if you'd join in. 

As always you can share kits, layouts and projects with us in our Facebook Community, or tag us over on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcdecember2022 and #ckc12daysofchristmas). 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see you playing along with our festive fun this month.