January's Counterfeit Kit Challenge and Paper Issues sketch 2

If you're like me, you’ve probably found yourself scrolling through those gorgeous scrapbook kit club websites, admiring all the beautifully coordinated papers, embellishments, and themes. But deep down, you know you’ve got more supplies than you could ever use in a lifetime. And you’re definitely not alone—I have copious amounts of papers, embellishments, and stamps stashed away in my craft room, just waiting to be used.

That’s where the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog comes in. If you haven’t heard of it, this community is all about helping you make the most of what you already have. Each month, the team challenges you to “counterfeit” a kit from a well-known scrapbook kit club by creating your own kit from your own stash. No need to buy anything new! This is a great way to rediscover old favourites and get your scrapbooking mojo back.

For January, the inspiration kit is Hip Kit's September 2024 "Good Things Ahead". I’ve pulled out papers in shades of blue and touches of peachy/orange, inspired by the denim pockets and soft rainbow hues of the Hip Kit kit. I also included some pocket embellishment stickers to tie in with the kit's theme. It’s amazing how just selecting a few coordinating items helps me see the potential in my supplies and gets me excited to create. Here is my kit:

And to kickstart my January scrapbooking journey, I joined in with the Paper Issues Facebook group’s Day 2 Sketch challenge. I love how sketches can quickly jumpstart a layout when I'm feeling stuck. Sketches are a fantastic tool when you want to scrap quickly and efficiently. They give you a clear direction, so you don’t have to spend ages deciding on layout design. Paired with a counterfeit kit, I find it’s an efficient way to create beautiful pages without overthinking. You can follow the sketch closely or adapt it to suit your photos and style—either way, it helps take the guesswork out of creating.

 Using the sketch, I created a layout featuring a sweet memory from a few years ago—my daughters, Bronte and Paige, having fun together at daycare. In the photo, Bronte is pulling Paige around in a toy wagon. It was such a simple, joyful moment, and I’m so happy to have it documented.

One of the things I love about this layout is the colour combination of peach and blue. These two colours might not be ones you often see paired together, but I think they work so well here. The peach tones add a warmth and softness to the page, while the blue brings a fresh, cool vibe. The combination creates a perfect balance between cute and fun, making it ideal for the playful moment captured in my photo—light-hearted, sweet, and joyful. The peach and blue work together to make the layout pop without overpowering the photo, and it really brings the page to life.