{inter}National Scrapbook Day - Saturday 4th May 2019

I'm thrilled to be here for {inter}National Scrapbook Day representing the Counterfeit Kit Challenge in collaboration with Bash Your Scrapbook Stash! What fun. 

 It's also a private Facebook Community and its focus is most definitely using up your beloved scrapbook stash and being part of a warm, welcoming, happy, sharing community. 

That sounds familiar! Don't we always say that about The Counterfeit Kit Challenge community?!?

We thought it was a perfect complement to CKC and are excited to be joining them today to share the scrapbook stash love.

The Bash Your Scrapbook Stash group presents monthly and weekly challenges of a different nature to encourage their members to use their stash with specific items, techniques or tools to create scrapbook layouts, projects, cards, tags or even embellishments.

A short time ago today, our darling MF Leslie was on FB Live in the BYSS community presenting an extra, exclusive, just-for-iNDS-at-BYSS kit and a sketch challenge. If you head over to the community, you can find the replay and see what she has to say about kit making and her take on the kit. 

But of course, we wanted to share the kit and our own creations with you here on our own blog too as our own {inter}National Scrapbook Day celebrations!

We picked out the June 2018 Studio Calico kit, "Expedition" and hope that you love it as much as we do! It's got some constellations (who might love that I wonder?!?), some travel items, a bunch of pretties and some lovely colours so what's not to love?

Studio Calico describe it as "Set out on an adventure – the world is yours to explore! You’ll have everything you need to record your travels when you return home. We’ve combined bright colors, organic elements, and an outdoorsy, vintage vibe for a look that will have you dreaming of your next “Expedition"". 

That sounds like my kind of kit and the consensus among the team was that it was a winner!

Studio Calico June 2018 kit Expedition

But that's not all! We also have an EXCLUSIVE {inter}National Scrapbook Day sketch for you today, created by our wonderful  MF Susan. It's got so much to love with the full page design, the space for lots of journalling, the showcase photo and the oodles of room for interpretation.  

Sketch credit: Master Forger Susan

This is the original page she made from which she made the sketch so I'm super curious to see the different interpretations on this design:

The ladies over at Bash Your Scrapbook Stash will also be offering two exclusive to their membership challenges so if you want more more more, then I recommend you head over there and join in the stash bashing activities!

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I decided to make a small (for me kit) with just four sheets of paper and a handful of embellishments but I very much took my inspiration from the Studio Calico kit.

Of course, if you know me you'll know that I was totally taken with the constellation paper and decided that was all I needed as a starting point for my own. 

I picked out an Echo Park star paper hiding in my "stars" collection(!) and selected a Crate Paper stripe that seemed to pick out the green from the constellation paper, a Crate Paper "Good Vibes sheet with geometric lines which I thought could match up with the map paper in the original kit and then a surprising choice of an orange and pink October Afternoon paper. It just reminded me of the yellow pattern in the Studio Calico kit! I know you might find it odd but I like the contrast. There is also a "forgery" sheet of paper which includes the same quote as the inspiration kit. Result!

The alphabet and sticker sheets from BasicGrey Aurora , some word stickers from Pinkfresh Studio, a Sutdio Calico stamp set, a sprinkle of veneer stars and sequins and a whole pile of printed labels finished off the kit. 

I know the mix of papers may not seem an automatic fit, but I've already made one page and love how they combined! 

I was really happy to use some older products including some very precious BasicGrey supplies (sob sob sob!)

There are two forgeries in her kit - the quote paper and the labels which were totally quick and easy to make.

I started off by finding a font which reminded me of the loopy font on the Studio Calico paper. I started off trying to design this in MS Word and quickly changed to Photoshop elements. I knew that I needed to cut the 12x12 paper down and the choice was to make it shorter or narrower. I decided to use the full width for the quote and sacrifice the length a little. So I trimmed the original patterned paper (again, a precious BasicGrey basic) down to 8.5" long. On PS Elements I wrote out the quote in the same format as the original and then moved the lines around until they were overlapping in the same way. Turning the text down the page means that I would be able to print it out onto my patterned paper. I think it's pretty close to the original and am excited to use.

The second forgery - the pile of labels - were fussy cut from sheets downloaded from the internet and printed out on heavy duty printer paper. That's a whole bunch of labels which will be so useful on this and many other kits.

She used the download on Kaitlin Staffer's blog here http://kaitlinsheaffer.com - go to the downloads page for a full array of fabulous labels in different colours. There are also may different downloads on Pinterest - just search for "printable labels" and be astounded at the results!

I haven't used Susan's wonderful sketch but you never know, I might get around to it later today or even over the scrappy weekend!

However, I made this relatively simple page, inspired by that wonderful piece of constellation paper which triggered a long-forgotten memory! 

I decided to use this 12x12 white cardstock that I cut out with my Cameo a loooooong time ago and thought the fun stripe behind it was such a great look. That way, all those colours wouldn't clash and I could bring together all my papers in a harmonious way!

See - that hint of pink and orange paper works so well as a contrast!

I had no photo at all of the original memory that the constellation paper triggered so I just used a photo from last week and then started my journalling from today and how that memory had just appeared!

I think this post is now long enough so I hope you were inspired by our extra kit today. Join in the fun over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog and FB community and the Bash Your Scrapbook Stash FB community. Make sure you say hello and share your takes!

(Inter)National Scrapbook Day Colour Inspiration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog

Welcome to the (Inter)National Scrapbook Day Event courtesy of the Counterfeit Kit Challenge!

We have been having a weekend full of colour inspiration and challenges and I kicked off today's posts with a colour inspiration post (here) using a mood collection from A Creative Mint. Look at this lovely selection of items and colours, perfect as we head through spring and look forward to summer. 

I especially love all the whites with the splash of green contrast along with the softer peach and greys. And of course, the burst of raspberry really spoke to me!

You can find the source of this photo along with the other inpsiration shots at A Creative Mint (here)

I created a mini page kit (enough for two pages) using the colours that spoke to me from the mood board.

If you've come from the original Counterfeit Kit Challenge post (here), you'll have seen that I created two pages using my products. Well, I had enough left over to have a go at a third layout as well.

This was an effect I had seen in a 2Peas video by Wilna last year and was determined to give it a try. I love how these glitter dipped feathers turned out and you will no doubt see these again on another layout.

 

If you came here direct and have not yet checked out the celebrations over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog (here), I suggest you head over there directly! You should start at the first post from Saturday morning (here) and work your way through all the challenges and inspiration posts. For EACH of the 5 challenges, there are sponsored prizes to be won (open until 16th May) and there's a grand prize too! It's worth checking out, I can promise you!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge May kit reveal blog hop

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge May kit reveal blog hop.

Hopefully, you’ve arrived here via Lesley’s blog and have seen her wonderful kit creation – she never fails to delight. If you’ve landed here direct, then you might want to head back to the start of the blog hop at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog (here) so that you don’t miss any of the fun today.

This month's inspiration kit/s are courtesy of Paper Camelia and there are three to choose from.

The main kit (here):

 The add-on kit (here)

And the Every Day Life add-on kit (here)

I really liked the strong designs on the papers, the map elements, the yellows and softer tones and generally the mix of items, although I quickly realised that there were only a few items from the kits in my stash. I actually only have the BasicGrey Spice Market letters and the Studio Calico wood effect enamels. So, once again, I decided to go with the basic designs on the papers along with the feel of the kit and the general colours, although mine turned out much more red and far less pink - yes, surprising I know! And rather than concentrating on one of the three options, I looked at them all as a whole and just sort of combined elements and designs.

I picked out large spots, stripes, chevrons and map papers as well as a sheet of gold foil which really brings my collection of items up to date. I've included My Mind's Eye, Crate Paper, Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico, Echo Park and Simple Stories. Some of these are really old!

Then I matched up the types of embellishments such as the enamels (Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye), veneers (Studio Calico), paper clips (Prima, Habitat), flairs (2 Peas), die cuts (Pink Paisley, Crate Paper, BasicGrey), cameras and arrows, and some pockets by Simple Stories

I also tried to match up the Every Day Life kit by adding in some 3x4 and 6x4 cards by My Mind's Eye as well as throwing in some extra little die cuts by BasicGrey's Hipster where the colours seemed to match.

A few final items such as a few washi tapes (MT, October Afternoon, My Mind's Eye, Theresa Collins), label stickers (Jillibean Soup), sticker die cuts (My Mind's Eye), some travel themed brads (Simple Stories) and Thickers.

Even though there's only a few travel themed items, Direction seemed to be a good choice for a name and as always, I reserve the right to add in whatever takes my fancy as the month goes on :-) Cardstock, mists and additional die-cuts (if I get my Silhouette out) are considered free items.

Of course, all the papers I've selected are double sided, so there's always a lot more color combinations in my kits than first meets the eye so I think it will prove very versatile.

I currently have this as well as 5 unfinished kits on my shelf. Watch this space through May as LOAD kicks off - I expect that at least three of these will be killed as we get scrapping every day :-)

Thanks for dropping by. Make sure you leave me a comment to let me know you were here and what you’ll be doing for (Inter)National Scrapbook Day this coming weekend. We hope you’ll be joining in on our fun - there's a whole weekend full of inspiration, challenges and prizes.

Next on the hop is Leslie and her blue box is bound to be full of wonder, and here is the full blog hop list in case you get lost along the way.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge: http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.de

Bethany:  http://inspiredscrapper-bethany.blogspot.com

Guest Designer:  Laura  http://beadsbuttonsandbirds.blogspot.co.uk

Angela:  http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk/

Jemma:  http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com/

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

Lesley G.:  http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk

Lisa H.:  http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/ You are here

Leslie:  http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com Go here next

Millisa:  http://millermall.blogspot.com/

Stephanie:  http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

(Inter)National Scrapbook Day - reminder

Just popping in today to remind you that it's National Scrapbook Day on Saturday (3rd May). These days, we like to consider it International Scrapbook Day as it's celebrated all around the world and even "Day" is a little misleading as there are many weekend events!

The Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog will be hosting a two-day colour inspired event starting at 8am (MST) on Saturday with posts going live every two hours. There will be a mix of inspiration and challenges and all the team are involved. Best of all, each of the 5 challenges have been sponsored meaning prizes!

There is also a Grand Prize draw too so you won't want to miss out. All the challenges will be open until 16th May giving you loads of time to join in on the fun at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge as well as checking out what else is going on in the scrappy world.

See you there! I'm excited to share my colour inspiration :-)

Crime of the Scene Blog Hop

Happy {Inter}National Scrapbook Day {Weekend}!

Don't you just love that we have our very own holiday?!?!

And hopefully you are here because of the Master Forger Blog Hop from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge where we have been celebrating this special day with a CSI theme.

(If you are here direct, why not pop back to the beginning of the hop here. If you are coming to me from Julie, you are heading in the right direction, so enjoy the rest of the hop.)

I haven't played along yet but it looks like a whole lot of fun. So if you want to join in and be in with a chance to enter for the prize draw, courtesy of Little Blue Button Stamps, then you need to head over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog and check out the posts from over the weekend (starting here).

So, how do we fit into theme then? By showing you the scene of the crime, of course! Where we plot and plan our scrapbooking crimes. Our scrap spaces, LOL.

I am so very lucky to have a whole room to myself and all my products that are multiplying far too quickly. It's a nice room at the front of the house and I have big plans. So what I am showing you is not how it's going to be forever. Everything is going to be moved around and I am busy collecting ideas. What you see is how I unpacked it 6 months ago. I unpacked and stashed as a priority and now I'm coming up with plans for how to make it work even better. But having tidied it up for these photos today, I can see just how much potential it has and how lucky I am.

So, here it is! I have cut off the side bit of the room which is where my computer is and piles of papers and mess. Not really nice to look at and part of what will change when I move the room around.  True to so many scrapbookers around the world, I use the Ikea Expedit shelves for the bulk of my storage (here left) and love that the cubicles are perfect for scrapbook papers.

Photo boxes are along the very top, books and papers next down and then eye level and below is where I keep my go to products. I am constantly evolving the ideas of what baskets or boxes to keep my stuff in so it is a bit of a mish-mash with lots of non-matching items. A bit of a work in progress.

The horizontal paper storage in the middle there is where I lovingly store and stroke my BG collection. That needs some work as I struggle to find the papers I know I have. Several cubicles are filled with non-scrapbook stuff and I will be resorting and restoring all my items when I go through my redesign. I have a lot less scrapbook stash than it looks like in this photo - honest!

This is where I stand and scrap. I try to keep it clear and clean but I did tidy it up properly for the photo ;-) Several of the drawers here have scrap stash too. Stamps, inks, punches, themed product. See those clear plastic boxes? That will be where all my layouts are sitting, waiting to be put into albums. I haven't put a layout in an album for about three years and all the old post-bound albums got chucked when we moved. That means about 400-500 layouts waiting to be put into new homes. I think they are safe in these boxes for the meantime, but they need to find another place to live as they take up way too much space here.

I keep some of my most recent purchases in the basket to the left of my table which reminds me to use them. But I have to say that most of my scrapping these days comes directly from my Counterfeit kit each month (I currently have 6 kits on the go which is about 2 too many. Watch this space for LOAD productivity which should use up some of those kits.

I got this in the sale one day and love it right next to me where I scrap. All my glues, foam dots etc are in the bottom basket which is perfect. I love having lots of pretty stuff right at hand so newer stuff goes into that second basket and twines and other bits go into the top.

However, as much as I like the photos above where I have tidied up, this photo is really how it is when I'm scrapping. It's usually in the evening, I have my lights on and the music or podcasts are playing on the computer in the background. It's cosy and I'm happy pottering and playing with pretty product.

And just because at the scene of the crime and it's not unusual to hear a confession or two, I feel the need to share some recent purchases. First off is this super cute Ikea trolley that is really popular among our community right now (mine's wobbly so I need to take it apart and try again!). Something I had to have but am not really sure how I will use it long term. And that top basket? It's full of some new stuff. A lot of new stuff. A huge amount of huge stuff to be honest. I'm leaving it there to remind me to use it up and inspire me to be creative.

What do you think? Can you offer me advice on how to optimise my space and make it pretty but functional at the same time. What colour scheme do you think I should use?

Share your ideas (you never know, I might reward the most inspiring idea or suggestion!) and then carry on hopping to check out the rest of the gang (next stop of the ever delightful Lynette) and hear their confessions!

Did you listen to the Paperclipping Round Table this week? Noelle confessed to loving peeking into people's homes when their front doors are open on Halloween night. This hop reminds me of that. I know scrappers just love to see other scrappers creative spaces. I can't wait to see what the others have and to gather some more ideas!

Here's the full list in case you get lot along the way

Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog: http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.de/
Bethany  http://inspiredscrapper-bethany.blogspot.com/

Guest Designer: Sherrie http://sherriesmuddlepuddle.blogspot.ca

Andrea http://snappingmonsters.blogspot.com/

Angela http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk/

Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com/

Jennifer http://www.jennifergracecreates.com

Julie http://www.hisglorygirl.blogspot.com/

Lisa H. http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/

Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/

Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com/

Rebecca http://howiburb.blogspot.com/