Out of the Mire

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

050120 Archi-scraps May Challenge

Use brown and cream with ecru lace

The latest Archi-scraps inspiration is the exotic Dar Al-Hajar in Wadi Dhar outside of Sana'a, Yemen. It looks like an elaborately decorated chocolate cake!

I can't help but think of heritage layouts when I think of this colour scheme, and I happened to have the perfect photo at hand.

This is my father in-law & his sister. The early death of their mother resulted in the five brothers & sisters being separated. Being reunited really cemented the bond between these two for life. I'm planning to have him dictate his story when are able to see them again.

It's your turn to be inspired and share on the Linky at Archi-scraps!

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, April 18, 2020

041820 CKC April Challenge #2

CKC Challenge #2 - And I Quote

This is a journalling challenge. Use the sentiments from the stamp sets included in the inspiration kits as a starting point for your story. I've attached the stamp sets, so you don't need to head off and find them! - Master Forger Clair

I have had many days of late where it has been difficult to find my creative mojo. It's not for lack of projects to do & stories to tell but my heart has been elsewhere. I've had a tidy up in the studio & that revived my enthusiasm a bit.

The phrase that jumped out at me was "so this happened" (for obvious reasons.) I had included a lot of phrases in my kit geared toward documenting this epic time in history that we are all experiencing. This b-side of the 2018 PinkFresh Studios/Indigo Hills 2 "Valley" navy paper seemed perfect for the subject, with its grungy vibe with splatters & splashes of black.

I stamped some of the new vocabulary of the times onto the background.

Fussy-cutting that teeny weeny globe with a virus? Totally worth it!

Stamping brings a whole new avenue of creative expression

The grands live only 5 miles away but a quick drive-by at a safe distance is as good as it gets these days...

Don't forget to get back to the CKC blog for:

April 24th: Clair will be showcasing one of the community who's caught her eye this month
April 30th: We'll be offering another installment in our Killing Kits Series to help you find ways to use up all of your kit.

We always love to see your work, so please share your kits and projects with us. You can use our Monthly Link-up page, post them in our Facebook Community, or share them on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcapril2020).

Hope this post finds you & yours well & safe. This, too, shall pass.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, April 12, 2020

041220 CKC April Challenge #1

Not sure what scraplifting is? LINK HERE

Challenge #1: Scraplift!

This is a scraplift challenge. Choose any layout from Master Forger Clair's 'Scrap' Pinterest Board to scraplift. Please let us know which layout you chose and a little bit of info about how you adapt it (if you do) to suit your own stash.taste. Here's the link.

I chose this Felicity Jane layout to lift:

And this is how I modified it - I flipped it on its head & moved the title:

Keep in mind that my floral element is oversized. I had some crepe paper in my kit so that made sense plus I had a little play with some wet media on my background.

This is a story that I have scrapped with all the details, so this was just to showcase that cute photo!

I love how that One Canoe Two paper looks fussy-cut <3

We always love to see your work, so please share your kits and projects with us.

You can use our Monthly Link-up page, post them in our Facebook Community, or share them on Instagram (we are @counterfeitkitchallenge or tag us using #counterfeitkitchallenge and #ckcapril2020).

Stay well

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, April 4, 2020

040420 CKC Forgery on the Fourth

My April CKC forgery is the pretty grey floral medallion paper in the upper right corner.

My original plan to use the medallions from last month's forgery on a piece of stitched grey cardstock. As I searched my stash for the rest of my kit, I ran across the perfect BasicGrey paper.

So cute!

I can't say it enough times, that making your ovn version of the hottest products is extremely satisfying! Tap into this alternate channel of creativity & be sure to avail yourself of our CKC archived tutorials.

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

April 6th: We'll reveal a couple of mini-kits and projects, in case you're a little limited for time this month and would prefer a more petite kit.
April 12th & 18th: We'll give you two challenges to help you use the kit you've made.
April 24th: I'll be showcasing one of the CKC community who's caught my eye this month
April 30th: We'll be offering another instalment in our Killing Kits Series to help you find ways to use up all of your kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

040120 CKC April Kit Reveal

Sad but true, but shared creativity can be a marvelous virtual interaction in these isolated times. I can't imagine a more cheerful & delightful group to share it with than Counterfeit Kit Challenge!

First let's welcome our April Guest Designer, Mel Davis (includes direct link to her IG account). Make sure to visit & take a look at her lovely work.

Such a lovely soft springtime palette for our inspiration kit this month from Master Forger Clair.

Cocoa Daisy Orchard Park March 2020 Memory Keeping Sticker Kit

I took my inspiration from this detailed shot of the Traveler's notebook kit papers plus this sweet sticker set from Pebbles:

Take a look at The Good Life.

My papers:

2012 Echo Park/This & That "Swirls", 2016 BasicGrey/Saturday Morning "Sleep In", 2018 Pinkfresh Studios/Indigo Hills 2 "Valley", 2017 Pinkfresh Studios/Let Your Heart Decide "Whim", Webster's Pages/Brandin O'Neill "Tickled", 2019 AC Amy Tangerine/Picnic in the Park "Aloha Leilani", 2018 One Canoe Two/Saturday Afternoon "Afternoon Roses", 2009 BasicGrey/Nook & Pantry "Dishes" (modified).

A little closer peek:

I especially love the watercolor effect throughout the inspiration kit & may be using that this month to enhance my projects. (I might have done a little GPVRT - global pandemic virtual retail therapy - at https://www.shimmerzpaints.com/ They had a 40% off sale)

Not to make light of what is happening, you understand. I am documenting it, and that may be the main focus of utilizing this kit in April. Accordingly I've included a lot of phrases that I feel may be appropriate & useful, plus I'll be printing free Covid-19 printables as I go. I will share those links in the CKC FaceBook Community.

Now go check out the rest of the MASTERfully creative goodness from our Design Team!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

Guest Designer Mel - https://www.instagram.com/meldavis.nz/

Cindy - http://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

Julene - http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/

Leslie - http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/

GO HERE NEXT Lisa - http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/

Lori - https://loriannie670.blogspot.com/

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

Tina - http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Tracey - https://3obsessions.blogspot.com/

Laura - https://www.instagram.com/mrsp_scrapsandtea/

Be sure to check back all month long for great features & challenges, and who knows? You may be highlighted in our April Follower Showcase!

2nd April- Just the Gist of It

4th April- Forgeries on the Fourth

6th April- Mini Kit and Project Reveal - Clair and Shannon

12th April- Challenge #1

18th April - Challenge #2

24th April - Follower Showcase

29th April - May Sneak Peek

30th April - Killing the Kit

Thanks so much for stopping by! We can't wait to see your kits and projects this month.

Stay well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

040120 April Archi-scraps Challenge

Be inspired by Ancient Egypt: pyramid shapes, hieroglyphics, camels, etc.

I wanted to have a little fun with the April Archi-scraps challenge.
I finally settled on making my own hieroglyphics background paper - easy-peasy!

I used the BoBunny Adventure icons stamp set as a full sheet stamp, temporarily adhered to a sturdy plexiglass case. I off-stamped the fresh ink & used a second generation stamp for that faded & uneven effect to simulate the worn appearance of real life hieroglyphics.

Love how it came out!

Bonus? A little stash-busting done by using 2013 October Afternoon Apple Cider "Corn Maze" paper as a base, 2012 Glitz Design (remember them?!?) Fabulous paper, 2012 Amy Tangerine Goodness Thickers, and 2017 Simple Stories Cabin Fever sticker sheet. I used an entire swath of word stickers under the photos, plus some more for those cute clusters and the I <3 Camping banner.

Give this challenge a whirl! You don't have to have photos from Egypt to translate the inspiration onto your project. This could even be the time for llamas to show up (just call them camels - I won't tell, lol) Don't forget to link up over at Archi-scraps! We love to give a round of virtual applause.


Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, March 26, 2020

032620 All About Me album

Stacy Julian CLASS CLOSED

SO EXCITED to be able to take this year-long class with the legendary Stacy Julian! Twenty projects in 2020 - sounds impossible, but not when you're getting great advice that can apply to anything you need/want to accomplish in any genre. Great news for this disorganized procrastinator :D

Although we are all pursuing our own particular projects, this February All About Me mini-book was the only assignment for everyone. It provided a great snapshot into our lives right now. How ironic that only days later life would become so different... but that's another project.

I used a Close to My Heart/Story by Stacy kit that I randomly won from Persnickety Prints, which included the PP t-shirt in my photo at the end of the album.

My introduction page is one of my Artist Trading Cards (ATC).

I heard someone call the 60-80 years, "The Fourth Quarter" & I liked that thought. I added a photo of my aging hand, which is beginning to have spots & knobby knuckles.

Still amazing to me that I can get an answer to just about every question from this gadget! My phone, my camera, my connection to so many that I love to keep up with, my source of crafty inspiration, my encyclopedia & reference library, my answering service, my social center, my diary, etc...