Counterfeit Kit Challenge July member blog hop

Welcome to the July member blog hop over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge - great to see you again. 

It's a small hop today but chock full of inspiration all the same so make sure you catch everyone. I'm right at the end so if you missed anyone along the way, why not head back to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge to start at the beginning. The full hop list is at the end of this post.

This month, Susanne challenged us with the following prompts...

• Challenge #1: Beach Reading 
• Challenge #2: Cool Waters in Hot Weather
• Challenge #3: Played in the Shade

... and I went with the "Cool Waters in Hot Weather" with this inspiring photo

Even though we encourage you to use this month's kit up with the current challenges, you might know that I often have older kits still hanging around, and am happy to go back and use them up as and when I'm inspired to do so.

My November 2015 kit, Remembrance, was the kit that just kept giving! I made 12 layouts which is an amazing number and then realised that I still had quite some scraps. It was time to kill the kit. I looked at what I had and realised that they matched the colours in the challenge photo but that they were all somewhat muted and softer. But if you look closely you can find blue, teal, aqua, green, yellow, orange and sand! Who would have thought that this pastel focused kit could provide papers that match the tropical photo here!

I made up this layout:

Thanks for dropping by today - don't forget to let me know you were here!

Here's the full hop list in case you missed anyone and there's a new kit and oodles of inspiration coming in just a few days over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. We'd love to see you there :-)

CKCB    http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com

Jemma    http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk

Gretchen    http://www.gretchenhenninger.com/

Tina    http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

Elaine    http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Lisa    http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

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16 loves {July 2016}

Welcome to the next in the series {16 loves} for 2016.

For the last few years, I've been sharing my loves each month - a little bit of everything that has caught my eye or been enjoyed over the last month. So, a new year and new inspiration. I hope you will come back each month to see if there is anything in my list to inspire you. 

To see what's inspired me in the past, click to find all my {13 loves}, my {14 loves}, my {15 loves} and my {16 loves}.

I hope there's something in here to inspire you or maybe just make you smile.

one

My Counterfeit Kit Challenge July kit, Scooped, is one that I just love. I made a layout a few days ago that doesn't look anything like this photo (b-sides) but that's the joy of my kits. I hardly do any scrapbooking without a kit these days!

two

On 29th June, I travelled down to Cologne... THIS never fails to take my breath away. The Cologne Cathedral must be one of the most beautiful anywhere. Love it.

three

The reason I was in Cologne was to meet up with fellow Master Forger, Julene! What a thrill to get to know someone from the opposite corner of the world! We had a fun few hours together while I showed her and her friend around some of the main sights before before we had lunch, including a glass of the infamous Kölsch. So great to meet her.

four

She came bearing gifts. So sweet of her and that bright pink, butterfly printed scarf has my name all over it.

five

I have to get myself a jar of this. Just so delicious - pepper marinated in salt. 

AJ Schaub Spices here

six

There's a discussion going on in the Master Forger FB group about blogging and how it seems to be going out of fashion. For several of us, that seemed sad. I don't get around blogs as much as I'd like to recently and when I do, I tend to binge read and comment, but I do love seeing and reading a bit more in a blog post than over on Instagram (as much as I love IG!). 

S at Snaps and Snippets is one of my favourite stops when I have time, and she never fails to make me smile when I do. 

Snaps and Snippets here

seven

I spent a weekend in the German town of Worms (pronounced Vorms!) and it has an incredible Romanesque St Peter's Cathedral complete with later redesigned Baroque alter and choir. Impressive for such a small town. This is the site of the Edict of Worms - where Luther was declared a heretic. So much history, you could literally feel it when you walked in. 

eight

And the surrounding villages have pretty sights such as this. I'm planning to go down again to drive around to some of the many, many vineyards you can find in the area. 

nine

Another winning collection by Shimelle, Go Now Go. I love travel themed products - which is ironic now that I don't travel as much as I used to! - and this one looks like a great mix of designs, colours and elements. Everyone's going crazy for the puffy heart stickers but I just love the overall look and feel of this. I hope that I'll be able to get my hands on it when it comes out.

Shimelle for American Crafts - Go Now go

ten

This Moonlight collection by Kesi'Art was a no-brainer for me. I just had to order it. I love it. Look at those constellations and moon designs. 

eleven

Not really something that's inspiring me. Rather something that's making me mad. Brexit happened. Unexpected by all. The UK's future is somewhat uncertain. My response? A glass of wine and some time to reflect.

twelve

I have lovely students! At the end of a set of lessons, one group made the trek to the local English shop in Dortmund to pick up some British supplies for me - shortbread, orange marmalade, tea, a copy of OK! and of course, a Union Jack. The gesture touched me greatly.

thirteen

The Scrapbilly kit in July was full of Carta Bella Beach Day products and as soon as I saw the pineapple paper, brad and washi tape, I knew that I had to make this page at last for the Whimsical Musings WM#167 prompt. 

fourteen

I had some fun preparing a batch of flair for something special - and secret - ...

fifteen

... which then found their way into the post and across the miles...

sixteen

As I write this, it's the 15th, which marks my 15th anniversary of moving to Germany. A selfie was called for and the page to mark this milestone will be made. I feel like I've aged a 100 years since I first arrived but I am very much at home here and love it. 

I’d love you to share your own {16 loves} lists with me. Why not link up in the comments below?

{16 loves} is a series that will feature on my blog each 16th of the month

16 loves {June 2016}

Welcome to the next in the series {16 loves} for 2016.

For the last few years, I've been sharing my loves each month - a little bit of everything that has caught my eye or been enjoyed over the last month. So, a new year and new inspiration. I hope you will come back each month to see if there is anything in my list to inspire you. 

To see what's inspired me in the past, click to find all my {13 loves}, my {14 loves}, my {15 loves} and my {16 loves}.

I hope there's something in here to inspire you or maybe just make you smile.

This is late but I was under the weather last month and just never seemed to catch up on myself. Just in time for the new one tomorrow...

one

This is my baby, baby brother at his end of degree art show at Central Saint Martins in London. I was unable to attend, but I was a proud big sister all the same and was happy to receive a few photos from him. 

two

Back in April, we had a Queen Elizabeth II birthday tea party to celebrate her 90th. And so in June, we decided to do it again on the weekend of her official celebrations. These amazing biscuits were given to me by my mum in April and so they came out again this time around. Too gorgeous to eat although they are delicious!

three

And once again, we decorated the table in full British style. Not quite as much as the first tea party in April but fancy all the same.

four

I was inspired by using up dozens of tiny scraps from my May Counterfeit Kit Challenge kit, Sprinkle, for this layout which I particularly love.

five

It's not often that I notice the number on my odometer so imagine my delight when I saw this round number. Now to manage to notice 100,000!

six

FaceTime with family. Got to love how modern technology keeps us connected.

seven

The Scrapabilly June kit featured the much loved Paige Evans Fancy Free collection for Pink Paislee. I was totally inspired by Paige's style and this one in particular came out just as it was in my mind. I'm totally loving the white on white effect of Cameo cut die-cuts.

eight

For my June Counterfeit Kit Challenge kit, Pot Pourri, I finally plucked up the courage to try out the "print & cut" function on my Cameo and realised just how easy it is! I printed off a bunch of designs for my kit (most too big to be honest but it's a learning curve) and hope to incorporate some in future scrapping as well as print and cut more in the future. My use of the Cameo goes in spurts and I need to be more consistent. I am always amazed at the results and how much I love using die-cuts on my pages.

nine

LOAD516 came to an end and while I didn't quite manage a page every single day in the month, I did complete 31 pages in the 31 days overall. I made my usual pile photos and put together this layout which was just what I wanted. It was a great LOAD month - as always :-) 

ten

Sometimes, I decide to take a specifically staged photo for a layout I have in mind. And sometimes, the result is even better than I hoped for. I must remember to use the bokeh effect more often.

eleven

I adore Carpool Karaoke but this has to be my favourite. One to watch and smile.

twelve

We spruced up the balcony with boxes and flowers and all sorts of plants. For this girl with decidedly ungreen fingers, it's quite the challenge. Love the results.

thirteen

And this rose was such a thoughtful gift. Pretty in pink and beautifully scented. Perfect.

fourteen

The Simple Stories Sunshine & Happiness collection (from Scrapabilly here) is great. I treated myself to a few items from it and these enamels were a must-have. Such great summer colours.

fifteen

This piece of paper from the Carta Bella Beach Day collection was featured in the Scrapabilly June kit (available here) and it was so gorgeous, I had to buy a second sheet to hoard keep.

sixteen

Adore this. Do I need to say more? 

I’d love you to share your own {16 loves} lists with me. Why not link up in the comments below?

{16 loves} is a series that will feature on my blog each 16th of the month

July at Simple Scrapper #2

The Simple Scrapper premium membership has a list of July Story Starters which focus on Sunshine. It was so interesting to see all the different directions the Creative Team took with this and strangely enough, sunshine yellow was not the overriding colour used either!

I did include a hint of yellow that I found in my Counterfeit Kit Challenge June kit, Potpourri (lo#1), and found myself just concentrating on the fresh colours I came across in my kit box.

I took the Story Starter prompt to talk about finding sunshine in the rain i.e. finding the positive in the (in my opinion) underestimated month of November and used a three photo sketch from January 2014.

My Silhouette print and cut items that I added into my kit as "forgeries" added a little touch of floral whimsy and some delicate colours which support the papers I layered up behind the photos.

Tissue paper confetti mixed in with enamel dots sprinkle across the page.

To find out more about the many resources and inspiration - including the sketches and story starters I use each month - available to inspire you to create beautiful pages and tell meaningful stories in a supportive, communicative community environment, check out the Simple Scrapper premium membership here.

July at Simple Scrapper #1

Five more beautiful sketches are presented in the Simple Scrapper premium membership this month and I matched one up with a Story Starter from December 2014 - Magic - to record some feelings about wanting more magic moments in the second half of 2016.

I followed the sketch really closely including 6 x 4 and  3 1/2 x 3 1/2 photos, different patterned paper strips and die cut leafy fronds.

I used my Counterfeit Kit Challenge April kit, Bisou (lo#2) for this and added in some vellum which I then cut with my Silhouette.

A few sequins and some ink splats as well as a large title was all this layout needed.

Why not try layering up various paper strips to make your background? I love the mix of patterns that I might not normally have put together but that I found in my kit.

I'll be back with my second Simple Scrapper layout in a day or two so I hope you come back soon.

To find out more about the many resources and inspiration - including the sketches and story starters I use each month - available to inspire you to create beautiful pages and tell meaningful stories in a supportive, communicative community environment, check out the Simple Scrapper premium membership here.

July at Scrapabilly #2

On Monday, I shared my first makes using the Scrapabilly July Kit des Monats so welcome back for part 2.

The July Scrapabilly Kit des Monats is a stunner featuring Beach Day papers and elements by Carta Bella.

Bright, sunshine filled papers perfect for beach, sunshine, garden or even cocktail layouts (see my Whimsical Musings post here) with matching embellishments for adding a little extra to your page. 

There's even a cute matching pineapple washi tape which I decided that I had to have as an add on for the kit,

as well as the collection enamel dots,

and the pack of die-cuts - ideal for layering up or as a journalling spot.

The kit and the full Beach Day range can be found in the Scrapabilly shop here.

I wanted to make the most of the tropical feel to the collection and immediately thought of Hawaii and then the lai photo I had printed out months ago celebrating Elvis's birthday at our Scrapabilly crop back in January 2015. 

I die cut out some tropical flowers and misted them in different colours which I then set against a neutral background along with some brighter paper layers and some fun surfboard stickers. Here I also added in the mini gold letters to my kit to bring a little extra bling to my layout.

I used a mix of gold, yellow, orange and red mists to really bring some extra colour onto the layout.

For my last share for the July kit, I just couldn't cut up this beautiful sunny bokeh paper and just had to use it almost in full as a background. And then I couldn't bear to cover it up too much and designed the whole page around being able to see the sun spots!

Again, the Silhouette came into its own with this super bright title and again, I only stitched along two lines to give the page some dimension.

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope you like what you've seen! Now, head over to the Scrapabilly shop to grab your own kit and while you're there, you can find all the creations of the whole Design Team - including the Schick Schnack Sack and the Pretty Planner Pack teams - in the July gallery here.