Birthday cards from leftover papers

It's the end of the months, so it's time to use the leftovers from previous projects, made with my October Counterfeit kit.

I made 3 birthday cards from the leftovers, plus some of the embellishments.

I'm really happy that I used most of my kit. The papers I didn't use, are mostly 12x12 and some scraps, but I don't have those small scraps from this kit.

Here're some close-ups on the cards:

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Chess - Scrap The Boys

This is my take on October challenge at Scrap The Boys. Well, one can not resist a sketch by Laura Whitaker, right?

Here's the sketch:

I used my October counterfeit kit, and along with me being happy how this layout turn out, I'm also very happy that I've used my old stash, and my DIY embellishments.

Here're some close-ups on the details:

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Vintage Altered Cans - Scrap Africa Sept 15th reveal

There's a new challenge at Scrap Africa, and this time the theme is Vintage. I deciede to upcycle tin cans, with a vintage/shabby chic look:

Here are some close ups on the details:

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Back 2 School - case file no. 138 at CSI

A new case file at CSI, case file #138:

I used a photo of mine, taken on my 3rd year at the University, studing hard for an exam.

I used Sept. sketch from C'est Magnifique:

My clues to solve the case were:

Scheme - all colors are here.

Evidence - woodgrain (one of the pink papers), grid pattern, damask (stamped in brown on the background, so it can hardly be seen, and on the hidden tag in the envelope), envelope, tape measure, a tag, numbers, buttons, triangles, paint and loops.

Testimony - on a tag, tucked inside the brown envelope, and it reads: "At the end of October 2014, I will return to school :), I'm going to start my Master's degree study at the university, more than 20 years after I graduated my Bachelor's degree :).  I'm about to finish my degree in one calendar year. studying is a little tight - twice a week, while I'm still working full time job, and it's far from home. I'm excited and worried at the same time. September 2014".

All papers are from Fancy Pants (mostly from 'Collecting Moments' collection), and so are the envelopes, flair button, stickers, buttons, cork arrow and the clock die-cut. the flowers are Petaloo's. the flourishes chipboards are from Creative Embellishments, and they're one of my most fav chipboards from this manufacturer, so this page goes for their Sept. challenge. I coated the chipboards with gesso, and painted them with TH distress stain and distress ink, and used Stampendous embossing powder. stamps are American Crafts' and Kaisercraft's. I also used TCW stencil and I colored the modeling paste with LGS magical.

Here are some close-ups on the details:

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My Son, My love

It's Aug 15th, so it means a new sketch at Stuck?!:

And this is my take on Laura's lovely sketch:

I didn't want to make a multi-photos layout, so I used papers for the rectangles and placed my photo on top of them.

I used my Aug Counterfeit Kit for this lo and a StudioFourteen40 flair.

. Here are some close-ups on the details:

Before you leave, heads up! Stuck?! will have Anniversary Celebration on Sept 1st, with more prizes and chances to win. you don't want to miss it, so mark your calendars...

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Home - case file #121 at CSI

Case file #121 is up at CSI, with a beautiful and elegant pelette:

Here's my lo for this challenge:

The photo is of my oldest and me, nearby our 1st home, where he was born. We moved 2 houses since then, and we're about to move again in a few weeks, so this challenge, with it's inspiration was right up my alley. I had so much to write for my boy, so I've created 2 'windows', that one needs to open in order to read (see the close-ups).
I used flair buttons from StudioFourteen40 (Dali set 3; Post mark), and 2 Get Chalked tabs set 1.

I used the sketch from Scrap365:

My clues to solve the case were:

Scheme - all 5 colors are there.
Evidence - architectural accents (the home stamp), flowers, twine, wood.
Testimony - my hidden journaling is spread in two 'windows'. on the upper square, with the stamped home, I documented a journey we've made recently to my old neighborhood, where I was born and raised, and where I came back and gave birth to my boys. On the 2nd 'window', behind the title, I wrote about us, having to move again, and how in spite of changing residence, we kept all our old friends from our old hometown. I ended my journaling: "My dear son, changes can be a stimulus for good things, for renewal, for growth, for new experiences. Changes are a lesson for life to be flexible. I hope that you will always feel that home is where we are together, wherever that may be, whatever house, whatever city. Together, always together. Love you. Mom."
Here are some close-ups on the details:

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Hey You

I have some exciting news to share with you, but my lips are still sealed, so you'll just have to wait :)). Meanwhile, this is my take on case file #117 at CSI.

I really love this palette!

The photo is of my youngest when he was 9 months old. today is his 9th birthday!!

I used April sketch from C'est Magnifique:

All products are from my April counterfeit kit, except the beautiful StudioFourteen40 flairs (Dali set 2 and set 3).

My journaling is about the difficulties I had after giving birth, having PPD, with a baby that is SPD (only I didn't know that at that time). For a while I was not able to really see how cute my baby was :(. Luckily, I got a lot of help from my loving family and I got over it. part of the healing was to give up being in control all the time, just to let things go, and believe everyting will be okay (or even good...).

Here's case file #117 from CSI:

Scheme - I used all colors.

Evidence - circles, metals (flair buttons), flowers, butterflies.

Testimony - is writing about PPD goes for quirks? anyway, for my jouranling (hidden in the evnelope behind the photo) I stamped cs with pattern on the outside and jouranling spots in the inside. I took a photo of it BEFORE I wrote the journaling, as it's very personal, but I can share some of it: "At the begining I took care of you automatically, my heart was not there. I was too depressed, fighting each day to survive. I was feeling you are a bit stranger to me, like I couldn't understand you instinctively, as a mother should. It's so funny, as you're so alike me, and always have been. maybe I was just a stranger to myself at that time. I had to let go of the will to control every single aspect of my life, and when I did, then I was free. free to feel the depth of my love for you."

In making this lo, I was also very inspired by Riikka's inspiration board at Scrap Around The World:

I was inspired by several things from the moodboard - the two quotes, the colors of blue and mint/seafoam, the circles and the cracks. The glasses were also an inspiration, as the glasses we wear influence our perspective.  How fragile we are...

Here are some close-ups on the details:

Thank you for taking the time and visitinb my blog. I appreciate every comment you care to leave me.