October 2026 - Mini Kits and Project Reveal

Let's face it, we don't  always have time or the inclination to create a full kit, and that's okay. That's the great thing about creating your own kit  Make it work for you. Here's where a mini kit comes in. We have two Master Forger's that will show you how, what's in their mini kit and what they created.. First let's take a look at our inspiration kit:

 

Master Forger Christine 

For October’s Counterfeit Kit Challenge, the inspiration kit is Simple Stories Pumpkins and Plaid, and I decided to pull my Mini Kit from a collection I was already planning to use all month: Vicki Boutin’s Curiosities in Willow Grove. The colors, florals, leaves and generally cozy fall feeling seemed like a pretty good match for the inspiration kit, so I went digging through the collection and pulled together a little kit of my own. No shopping required, which is always a win around here.

A-sides

B-sides

Ephemera and Titles

Layout #1

My first layout features Brooke and Seth in Wisconsin. I loved using the colorful autumn papers and those big leafy patterns to create a page that feels very fall without being all pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. I followed a sketch from a month-long hop (well mostly!).  I decided to use the floral ephemera pieces on this layout in a visual triangle.

Layout #2

Next up is Seth on a hike. (sorry about the glare!) This collection was perfect for these photos with all the leaves and earthy colors. I used the large leaf paper as the background and added plenty of ephemera leaves around the photos.  Unfortunately, some of my chipboard titles were victims of a feline attack.  So I went back to the collection and found a couple of good title pieces that fit this layout better.  

I especially love the little “Fresh Air” title. Because apparently if you go hiking, you must document that you got fresh air. It's basically scrapbook law.

Layout #3

The final layout is me and Brooke at a wedding in October 2026. I went a little more layered and collage-y with this one, using several of the softer papers behind the photo and adding the mushrooms and little word strips.

I really like that the same kit worked for three completely different stories: a trip to Wisconsin, a hike and a wedding.

And Then There Was Almost Nothing Left

This is probably my favorite part of the whole challenge.  After finishing all three layouts, I had three tiny 1½-inch square scraps left.

That's it.

Three little squares.

I'm calling that a successful Mini Kit.

I love the Counterfeit Kit Challenge because it gives me a reason to shop my own stash and actually use the pretty paper instead of lovingly moving it from one storage container to another. And this month, Curiosities in Willow Grove definitely earned its keep.

 

Master Forger Brandi 

I am definitely in the season of life where I'm spending more time making memories than documenting! So creating a mini kit for some October crafting was exactly what my schedule needed! October is by far my favorite month seasonally and I loved this kit! I decided to lean into the mini-concept and did not pull any 12x12 papers. I grabbed a few partially used 6x6 pads and a bunch of Fall-themed embellishments and loose ephemera to pull together my kit! 

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I was able to create two layouts using my kit so far! I decided to play along with Days 4 and 5 of the current round of 30 Days of Sketches - and these sketches just happened to be created by two of our Master Forgers, Tara & Amanda! Both my layouts are 8x8 - for a 2025 weekly favorites album! 

Layout 1 

       

Layout 2 

Here's what's coming up: 

• 12th - Challenge #1: Fall Color
• 18th - Challenge #2: Plaid About You
• 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 #ckcoctober2026

 Until next time!

Master Forger Laurie 

September 2026 - Mini Kits and Project Reveal

For the ones that don't like big huge kits but want to play along we are here to help :) 

 Here is a reminder what our inspiration kit looks like!

Our Mini kit curators this month are Master Forger Christine and Master Forger Vikki

 

Master Forger Christine

 

When I signed up for the Mini Kit for this month's Counterfeit Kit Challenge, I knew I wanted to keep things simple. Then I saw the inspiration kit and immediately noticed the travel theme. That sent me digging through my stash, and I remembered this Echo Park collection that had been sitting around waiting for the right photos.

 The collection is Echo Park's Born to Travel, which originally came from a June 2025 ScrapRoom kit. It wasn't an exact match to the inspiration kit, but it had the same general feeling—travel, adventure, bright colors, airplanes, maps, luggage and all the fun little details that make a travel collection fun to work with.

And, honestly, since it was already in my stash, it seemed like a pretty good excuse to finally use it!

Once I decided on the collection, I went looking for photos to match it. I landed on pictures from a 2011 trip to England. These photos have been waiting for a scrapbook home for a long time, so this challenge gave me the perfect reason to get them out of the photo box.

I ended up creating three layouts from the kit.

The first layout focuses on our visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. I loved the larger "Adventure Awaits" piece from the collection, so I built the layout around it and used the plaid paper as a big grounding element. The little windmill, clouds and travel embellishments helped reinforce the whole adventure theme without making the page feel too busy.

 

The second layout is all about the journey. I used the colorful travel-themed patterned paper behind the photos and added the large "Trip of a Lifetime" embellishment as the focal point. The little airplane, Big Ben, hot air balloon and travel pieces were just too perfect not to use.

And then there was the third layout, which might be my favorite of the three. I used the orange camera paper as the background and paired it with the green patterned paper behind the photos. The large stack of luggage across the bottom made a great embellishment cluster and really helped tell the story of getting ready to head off on an adventure.

And Then There Was... What's Left?  After completing three layouts, I took another look at my kit.  Let's just say I was pretty successful at using it up. 

What remains is basically some stickers and two 4x6 cut-apart pieces.

 

 

Master Forger Vikki  

 Here's my mini kit for the month. I didn't really have any travel photos ready to scrapbook, so I tried to stay with the colors of the inspiration kit.  I created a neutral kit that could be used for anything.

For my first project, I made a 12x12 layout using the cutest hot air balloon paper.  I cut the paper into 1/2 inch strips and spaced them just a tad apart on the background paper.

I used a few different papers from my kit to mat the photos and to layer behind the photos.

For my second 12x12 layout, I stamped several images of flowers in various colors.  I then fussy cut them out and they turned out to be a great forgery.  I made a flower wreath around the photo, alternating the flowers with a circle die.  I really love how this turned out.  With all that fussy cutting, it was definitely a labor of love.

 

• 12th - Challenge #1: Ready, Set, Explore!
• 18th - Challenge #2: Travels Documented
• 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 #ckcSeptember2026

Happy Scrapping! Tina

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 

July 2026 - Last Challenge - Baby, Use Those Scraps!

 Can you believe we're already at the end of July?

We've spent the month creating with our counterfeit kits, and hopefully we've made a nice dent in our supplies. That means it's time for one of my favorite challenges: Baby, Use Those Scraps!

One last time, a reminder of our inspo kit!

If you're anything like me, you've accumulated a healthy pile of leftover paper strips, partial die cuts, sticker sheets with just a few pieces remaining, and odds and ends that seem too good to throw away. Today's challenge is all about putting those leftovers to work.

The music theme of our Crescendo kit reminds me that even the smallest notes contribute to the overall song. In the same way, those little scraps can come together to create something beautiful on a layout.

So dig into those leftovers, challenge yourself to use what remains from your July kit, and see how much mileage you can get from supplies that might otherwise end up back in a drawer.

Let's take a look at how our team used their scraps this month!

Master Forger Amanda

I had quite a bit to choose from for scraps today! I decided to use the left over pattern paper I made from Forgeries on the Fourth, and some of the smaller strips left over to put this layout together! I also decided to get a little messy and I used some Lunar pastes, and some spritz to add some glitz to this page! 

The green is from the same paste that looks crreamy on the page, except it is smeared into to lined of the textured black cardstock! I even took a fan brush with the spritx and brushed even more sparkle across the page (it looks pinkish in the photon)

I have a process video available on my channel to check out how I came up with this -- and I show all the scraps I had left over 

Master Forger Christine

After I completed most of my layouts, I had just 1 full sheet, a half sheet, this circle cutout piece, and some tiny strips I had cut from another full sheet. Because the half sheet already had a collage look going for it, I fully embraced the "junk journal" style and just went for it.  I did have to get into my stash for the title(s) but I really love how this turned out.  It is unique and really different from my normal style.

But I had JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE!

I mean, look, I still had scraps enough to make a card!

So placing the 3 music papers as little blocks to hold the three diagonal stripe pieces made into banners, I was then able to put the little embellishments.  And voila!  I used literally EVERY SCRAP of this month's kit!

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 #ckcjuly2026

Life moves Fast.  Scrap the moments that matter.

Love, Christine | ScrappingHarden