February Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop !

We are so glad to have you hop along with all the participants and enjoy all the inspiration we have for you from the counterfeit kits we made this past month.

You should have arrived here from Denise's Blog . If you missed the beginning of the hop, please go back to Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog to start so you don't miss any of the projects.

This Blog Hop is specifically to showcase the Scraps of Darkness Sketch Challenge using our Counterfeit Challenge Kit we put together based on Scraps of Darkenss February Kit.

Here is my Sketch Challenge Layout

My February Kit was focused on Pink, Red, Gray, Cream and Black colors and

was inspired by Echo Parks new Be Mine paper line.

I cut out part of the Be Mine journal sheet for the heart just like in the Sketch Challenge since I happened to have the same pieces. I added various color of beautiful sparkly Prima flowers and a jeweled Jenni Bowlin Stick pen to finish off the cluster of embellishments on the bottom left of layout.  At the top left of the layout is a mirrored Bird from Heidi Swapp and Making Memories glittered chipboard swirls.

In the top right of my layout, I added the Faux Teresa Collins Blingage that I made for my kit.

And again,  cut out some of the Echo Park journal cards and layered together

 for this cluster of embellishments.

In the bottom right of my layout you will see a piece of Echo Park journaling strip that I stamped in red,

 then used one of the Faux Frames that I made for my kit.  Then I layered a small strip of Maya Roads gorgeous pink rose trim to complete the look.  I couldn't resist cutting from the bottom of the

Echo Park Be Mine paper strip the paper line emblem that normally would have been tossed

except it matched my layout theme too much to toss!   

 

I'd love it if you left a comment so I know you stopped by. Now head on over to Missues Wookie's Blog for more inspiration !

Welcome to Angela's 50th Birthday Blog Hop

A friend and fellow Cricut crafter, Angela, is celebrating her 50th Birthday this weekend.  She asked some of us to join her "My Fabulous 50 Blog Hop" by creating a Birthday themed project to help make her big day even more special.  Stop by the blogs listed below and see the fun Birthday themed projects everyone created.  There is even some Blog Candy along the way, including here. 

If you jumped into the middle of the blog hop, be sure and go back to the start at Angela's blog http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ so you don't miss any birthday project inspirations. 

Happy Blog Hopping !!!

Angela - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/   start of blog hop
Dawn - http://scrappyrn-scrappyrn.blogspot.com/
Janice - http://www.cricutconfessions.com/
Normea - http://mmdezigns.blogspot.com/
Nancy - http://lanancyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Michelle - http://paperaffair.blogspot.com/
Barb - http://craftinginparadise.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://www.debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE
Marcia - http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/
Veronica - http://www.iteachscraps.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Monique - http://mixonthememories.blogspot.com/  end of blog hop

There is one thing I am always needing when a birthday rolls around and that is a gift bag for the honoree.  I decided to make an extra special Birthday Gift Bag and Tag since it is Angela's 50th Birthday. 

All the designs for this project were created using the Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge.  The big birthday cake on the bag was cut at 7 inches, the yellow cake base cardstock was embossed with the Cuttlebug, and I added some yummy frosting using Martha Stewart chunky white glitter. I even used foam dots to pop-up the birthday word.

I made a matching mini birthday card as a tag using the cake card shape on the Birthday Bash cartridge cut at 5 inches.  I added some "paper sprinkles" to the icing and highlighted them with stickles. 

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY DEAR ANGELA !  Hope you enjoy all the birthday projects posted in your honor.

LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CUTE MINI BIRTHDAY STAMP PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY GREETING.  Then hop on over to the next stop on the Blog Hop to see what Marcia has created at http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/ .

BTW - I am participating in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop on Monday, February 28th so be sure and stop back in to check out all the cool projects we are making for that Blog Hop too!

We HEART Our BIG Dawg!

I have a granddog...yes, you read that right. I gladly claim this adorable big 200 lb Mastiff named Winston as my granddog.  My daughter Crystal is his doggy momma.  He really is a gentle giant and loves to be petted and give kisses back.  He even looks hurt when you tell him he is not allowed to sit in your lap. I truly believe he only thinks he is as big as his head so he doesn't understand when you don't enjoy him laying on you :)

We took these pictures last year when he was visiting.  He is such a happy dog that I just had to show him off in a layout.

 I used my Cricut to cut out the title, the hearts, circles and paw prints.  The scallop trim was made with a Fiskars punch.  I am going to enter this in the Cricut Circle Blog Weekly contest that is about pet projects with your Cricut.

Add On Kit Yumminess !

Hi All - Sorry for the delay in posting my Add On Kit for the February Counterfeit Kit Challenege. It's been a rough week at our house.  To make a long story short...dad in hospital with collapsed lung (he's okay now, thank goodness), my car had to go to the auto repair shop unexpectedly (it's back finally) and then our refrigerator decided to up and die too (shopped for 2 days, got new one delivered today so back in business).  To say the least, with everything going on, I just plum forgot to do the Add On Kit Post.

So without further delay....
The Scraps Of Darkness Add On Kit

While their Add On Kit was lovely....it just didn't seem to have enough goodies in it for me !  LOL  So,
as I dug through my stash I just kept finding more and more perfect goodies for my Add On Kit.

 As you can see, I added a few more yummy Valentines themed items to my kit...more bling,Jenni Bowlin  buttons and chipboard pieces, vintage style Valentine Stickers, a few more luscious sets of Prima Flowers, adorable Maya Road Wood Bingo pieces plus some fabulous Maya Road flower trims in creme, pink and red and some lace.  For my paints in my kit I added the Tattered Angels Bubble Gum Glimmer Mist and Luminaire Magenta paint. 

Now in the original Add On Kit, there were some Teresa Collins Blingage Frames in silver...unfortunately I didn't have any of those yet :(   So I had to find a way to make some of my own frames to use.
Here is how I got sort of the same affect....

First, I unearthed some Tim Holtz Grungeboard element shapes that had frames on them and selected a few to use.

I then layered them on a paper towel and misted them with water slightly just to soften them up a little.

Then I placed the grungeboard pieces in a Tim Holtz Damask embossing folder and embossed with my Cuttlebug. The slight misting of them helps make the embossing show up in it better.  Tip I learned from Tim!

Once again I used some of my Ranger Dabber paint in Silver and covered both the front and back sides of the now embossed grungeboard.  And now I have some decorative frames to use in my February Counterfeit Challenge Kit.  I will probably use some rhinestone brads when I attach to my project.

Stay tuned for a few projects I am making with my February Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

February Challenge Time !

I am so thrilled to be participating in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for February.  The ladies over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog have picked out an inspiring kit from Scraps Of Darkness Kit Club for us to "lift" for February challenge.

Here is Scraps of Darkness Kit Main Kit

And here is my Main Kit pulled together from my stash

As you can see, I went with a less dark look...I like a brighter happier look in my scrappy projects generally. I used pale pink, red, white, black and grey in my kit.

Many of the papers are from Echo Park's Be Mine Collection and papers from both Jenni Bowlin and Teresa Collins.  

Now I came pretty close to having many similar items to the main kit with the exception of Teresa Collins Blingage.  Not because I don't want them...I just haven't been able to get my hands on them yet :)  And also some mirrored pieces that were in the inspiration kit.

As part of the challenge, we are encouraged to re-purpose, re-create or just plain make up a similar embellishment from our existing stash without buying the exact same item.  I love a good challenge and really wanted some Blingage so here is how I created my own.

I started out by finding a Fleur de Les chipboard piece in the a pack of 7Gypsies CB.  This pack has so many great shapes in it but the image I needed was the perfect size for the project.  I then covered the front and the back of the chipboard with Ranger's Black Paint Dabber.  So easy to do.

Then I punched a tiny hole in bottom of the chipoard, attached a black jewel with a jump ring.

Then to give it that final touch of Blingage...I added Black Distress Stickles on top of the chipboard.

And waaaalaaaaah........My very own "Faux" Teresa Collins Blingage !

I then needed to add some mirrored pieces to my kit but didn't have any in my stash. So I again made some "faux" embellies.

I had these Tim Holtz glass fragment pieces so I decided to see if those could be changed to look like mirrors.

I then covered the backs of glass fragments with a Ranger Silver Paint Dauber. I did two coats and dried with my heat gun. Then I covered the silver paint with a lite coating of Glossy Accents just to make sure the paint didn't flake off.

And the results....really cute, inexpensive mirror pieces that I made myself !   I am showing them here next to an actual Heidi Swapp mirrored bird that I am adding to my kit too so you can see how great they look.

Check back tomorrow to see the Add On Kit I pulled together to go with the main kit and the fun  embellishments I made out of items in my stash.   This is so stinkin' fun making up these Counterfeit Kits !!