The Best of My World

Hello, all! Here I go, trying once again to get this blog up and running. I'm on vacation from work right now, feeling inspired and productive, so here goes. =)

At the beginning of this year, Shimelle started a new monthly feature on her blog which I was really excited about. It's called the Best of Both Worlds kit, and it's a really cool concept. Here is her blog post with video explaining this awesome idea. Here is April's kit and video. Despite really loving the whole kit concept, I haven't been participating at all because I've been trying not to buy any more stuff! Suddenly, this month, I had an idea. Taking some inspiration from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, I decided I would try to counterfeit Shimelle's kit, and then try to make pages based on some of her kit posts throughout the month. I will obviously take my cue from the items in her kit, but I really want to focus on using some of the (many!) items in my stash I haven't even touched. So, here is my version of this month's kit, which, in an attempt to be cheeky, I have named the Best of My World kit. =P

First, the paper. I have more paper in my kit than Shimelle does this month, which just sort of happened since I kept pulling out pieces so I could have a choice of colors. Shimelle always has a cut-apart sheet in her kits so I included the Dear Lizzy sheet that I've been wanting to use for ages. I also pulled out the pieces on the right from my scrap basket, since they also matched and I figured if the goal is to use up stash, I should probably make a dent in those scraps as well. Most of the whole sheets are from Studio Calico kits that I never used (!!!).

It seemed that the key part of Shimelle's kit this month was the 6x6 paper pad, so I actually started my kitting process by choosing this Studio Calico pad that I have NEVER USED (sheesh!) and based everything else on the colors and themes in this pad. There was also a cut-apart transparency sheet in the kit and I had this beautiful transparency sheet hanging on my Clip-it-Up (again, never touched. what is wrong with me?!? =P).

Aaaaaand the embellishments. I may have gone a little crazy with these. One of the things that makes me nervous about using kits is I'm afraid I won't have enough embellies. Shimelle has washi, chipboard pieces, a stamp set, and Thickers, which I have replicated here. (Hers are even woodgrain, and I LOOOVE these woodgrain Thickers. I have two sheets!) She also has a sticker sheet, which I don't have, so I chose these Jenni Bowlin stickers and the turquoise labels from my stash. Whatever doesn't get used from these sheets by the end of the month is being given away. They are also from Studio Calico kits and I'm getting tired of looking at them! The butterfly sticker sheets are just there because, honestly, I can't scrap without these. =P I included the feather wood veneers because I found them sitting on my desk, unopened, when I was looking through my stash. I figured I might as well throw them in and get them used! That little box also has some other little odds and ends that need to get used. Shimelle doesn't include tools in her kits, but I put the Jenni Bowlin pinwheel punch with mine because I just got it and reeeeaally want to try it out!

So, that's my kit! Hopefully I will actually *make* something with it. I may have just made a pretty pile of stash. =P But either way, it was fun making the kit and I'm looking forward to some scrapping. Keep an eye on Shimelle's blog this month for her ideas and tips for using this month's kit!

*~M~*