Monday, March 10, 2014

Jackie's March Creations and Multi-Colour Embossing

Hi there! Jackie with you here today to share my March Blue Fern Studios layouts. This month I've been having a lot of fun playing with the thick, sumptuous Blue Fern Garden papers. What a fantastic accompaniment to Blue Fern Studios chippies!



I started with the Love Letters paper for my background. I wanted to add some additional details with mists and inks while preserving the lattice pattern on the paper, so I began by covering the lattice with gel medium on a paintbrush. Once dry, this allowed me to wipe away any misplaced mist.


I painted some of the grid pattern with blue mists and splattered some gold and brown mist around to further emphasize the white of the grid.


I wanted the "Natural Beauty" title from the All Natural set to have a curve to it. Because the chipboard is nice and pliable I was able to do so easily; I started by adhering the N with a bead of hot glue, then added the curve, adhering as I went. A nice easy way to add movement to your layout and to further integrate your chippy into your cluster.


For the Shabby Brick Bits, I started by inking them a dark brown, but decided it was too strong for the layout, and added some Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder, which is very iridescent. To tone down the green I inked over it with some brown. Don't be afraid to keep playing with your chippies until you are absolutely happy with them - they can take it!

Blue Fern Studios Products Used

Blue Fern Garden Paper:
- Love Letters (2 sheets)

Chipboard:
- Shabby Brick Bits
- All Natural Set


When the Design Team first received our Blue Fern Garden papers, we were all reluctant to add media to the papers - not because they couldn't withstand them, but because they are so gorgeous we were loathe to cover them up. I have since gotten over my fear, but you will notice on most of my projects with these gorgeous papers I have everything strategically placed so that you can still see the beautiful background detail.

For this next layout, I loaded on the wet media and water, layering the tear strips from the bottom of the papers (have you noticed each paper has a pretty little banner printed on the tear strip?) with squares and grids I had cut from the Love Letters paper on another project. Because of the thickness of the Blue Fern Garden papers, they withstand media better than most other papers I have worked with. To combat the slight warping, I gripped the background paper in between my hands after it was dry, and ran it fairly aggressively over the edge of the counter to smooth it out, leaving me with a layout that lays nearly flat at the end of the day. I love that this paper can take that kind of abuse!



Because this picture of my middle son was taken at the stable where he took horseback riding, the "Charmed" dangle from the Charmed Page Dangles set, with its upward facing horseshoe, was perfect.


I wanted the dangle to stand out from the background and for the details to stand out rather than just colouring it in a single colour. I started by painting the whole thing with a sparkly dark brown paint, then added my embossing powders for dramatic effect.


Using several different colours of embossing powder on the same piece is easier than you might think if you just have the right tools. My embossing ink comes in a dauber rather than an ink pad, so it was simply a matter of unscrewing the cap and painting it on with a paintbrush. I embossed each colour separately to avoid mixing the colours. Doesn't it make the word Charmed pop?


The Bits of Honey pieces were heat embossed with the same gold embossing powder I used on the dangle, but to roughen them up I stamped them with a texture stamp while the embossing powder was still hot. 



Blue Fern Studios Products Used

Blue Fern Garden Papers:
In Bloom
Love Letters
Calling Cards
& the tear strips from each sheet of the collection

Blue Fern Studios Chipboard:
Bits of Honey
Charmed Page Dangles




Sunday, March 9, 2014

Remember

Hi it's Valerie Serfozo today with a layout to share with you.  I have used a photo of my son and nephew on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale when they were children.  I began this layout with the Signature paper from the Blue Fern Garden paper collection


After building the background with texture paste, Distress Ink, Gelatos, and stamping, I want to add even more dimension using Blue Fern chipboard.  I love to add some green to all my flower clusters, and there are many pieces of chipboard that are perfect for this.  Here I used the Tweet Friends piece for the greenery.  I first painted the chipboard with green ink, and then applied glitter.


I really love the Checker Bits because they can be tucked in just about anywhere on a layout.   I primed this piece with gesso, painted it, then stamped on it.  I wanted it to be 'less than perfect', so I smeared the ink a little.  Then I tucked this piece behind the photo.  I also painted a piece from the Directions set and used it on my layout.


Who doesn't have problems when it comes to titles for their layouts?  I love chipboard pieces that can solve that.  After covering this chipboard frame from the Memory Frames with embossing powder, I tucked it under the photo to serve as the title of the layout.


Although it probably doesn't look like the Heart Borders were used on this layout, they were.  Don't forget about the little pieces that you punch out of the chipboard.  They are great little gems to add to your layouts.  These little pieces were heat embossed like the frame.


Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what Jackie has to created!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Our Website

Technology is great!! - until it doesn't work properly.  Our website is down right now, and we apologize for any inconvenience it has caused.  Our website has been maliciously attacked and we are busy working on a fix.  We hope to have things up and running soon.  Thanks for your patience.

March inspiration from Camilla

Hi all! This month I have a layout and a card to show you. For both projects I have used the new Blue Fern Garden papers and some fabulous BFS chipboards.

First my layout... The paper from the Blue Fern Garden collection is a beautiful piece of art. I have just added some mist and some texture paste here and there. The Jeweled Page Dangles and the Manor Hinges chipboards are painted in white and the misted on using a mask.




For my card I used another paper from the Blue Fern Garden collection. I added some texture paste on a mask and decorated with some flowers. The BFS Romantic Page Dangles chipboard is raw.




I hope you enjoyed my projects! Keep coming back to see more inspiration from the design team.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

February Sketch Challenge Winners!

We had another great batch of entries last month for our monthly sketch challenge, and now it's time to reveal our winner and features!

As a reminder, here is the chipboard prize pack that was up for grabs:


And our randomly drawn winner, as selected by Random.org...


BIG congrats to Twila Young!!!
Twila, please email me {erin@bluefernstudios.com} within 7 days to claim your prize!

Now, on to our Top 3 Features!

Ayumi Morimoto

Debby L

 Kathleen White

Congrats, girls! Your projects were all so beautiful, it is never easy to narrow down our selections.

Join us this month for our March Sketch Challenge- we'll see you there!

Monday, March 3, 2014

2 layouts and a BEFORE and AFTER from Lisa

 Hi there!! Lisa here with 3 projects to share with you.
This first layout I fussy cut a piece of the lattice in the Blue Fern Garden paper and used pop dots under it to give it depth. I also inked the edges slightly. The title word Heaven Sent is from the Spiritually Speaking set. I scanned a portion of the paper with the butterfly image so that I could make a file of the butterflies to match. I fussy cut them, finger painted them with Rock Candy Stickles and placed them randomly around the page.


I chose to use the  Bordeaux Layered Frame without the base as I wanted an airy and lacy look. I will save the base for another time. I used white acrylic paint for the base. i  then painted a piece of plastic bag using 2 colors and layed it on the chipboard paint side down while the paint was still wet, then peeled it off of the chipboard for a variegated look.


I used the same paint technique for the Veranda Bird Cages and "hung" them from the lattice.


 I wanted to create a fun layout for the photo of my daughter in law who dressed like Barbie last year. I fussy cut the photo. Lots of Barbie Pink.


Chunky Heart Panel



I decided to do something a little different for this post. I did a layout that I was completely satisfied with. I started to pull out Blue Fern Studios Chip board and thought I could just add to my already completed layout. And that is what I did. Just by adding a few pieces  using an additional color, it changed the whole layout. Now I love it even better. So if you think you love your layouts and projects now, try adding a few pieces of Blue Fern Studios chip board. You will be amazed at the difference!! 

                                         BEFORE                                         AFTER
to frame my photo. I used a metallic rub for the base and an acrylic glaze for the top detailed layer.


I used the same acrylic glaze for the   Lace Heart Border  which I cut down and only used 2 hearts from the strip.


And once again I used the same acrylic glaze for my  Love Always chipboard. I did not base coat the chip board this time, just 2 coats of the glaze left a beautiful richness to the color over the chipboard.


Thanks for the visit today. I hope you check out Blue Fern Studios Blog to see all of the beautiful inspiring creations by our design team. They constantly amaze me with the use of each and every piece.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

March Sketch Challenge!

Good morning, Blue Fern Studios fans!

After a short month in February, it's no surprise that March has come so soon :)
And the turning of the page on the calendar means it's time to reveal our latest sketch! 


And if you need a little help, we've got some great samples from our amazing design team! This month, they all feature papers from our Blue Fern Garden Collection- just look at all the different ways it can be used!

Joyce Lawrence

Camilla Ekman

Maja Stokk

Jelissa Mei

Yuko Tanaka

Kelly Foster

Jackie Clark

Leila Cardoso

And we have a brand NEW batch of goodies for you too- including some of our NEWEST designs, hot off the press! Take a look at what one lucky randomly drawn winning participant will win from this month's sketch challenge:


In addition to our prize winner, we will also select a Top 3 to feature in our winner post!
 
We have just a few simple rules to follow if you would like to participate in our sketch challenge:
1.) Feel free to interpret the sketch as you please by means of taking it as-is or flipping/turning/mirroring it to suit your needs! **Please note that you can do whatever type of project you please- a layout, card, tag, canvas, altered item- whatever suits your mood and style! We would love to see the different ways our sketch can be used.**

2.) You must use at least one piece of Blue Fern Studios chipboard OR use Blue Fern Studios paper on your project. Please note that you do not need to use the pieces featured in the sketch- use whatever suits your fancy! You can find the store nearest you HERE. {Do not use any other brand of chipboard on your project please!}

3.) Upload your project using the Inlinkz tool below by midnight EST on March 30th, 2014.
We look forward to your entries!