We Have a Winner! (and some featured layouts to show you)

I think the entries in our monthly sketch challenge get better and better each month.  Somehow, you seem to come up with such unique ways to use Blue Fern products.  Let's switch it around this month, and show you the 5 layouts we have chosen to feature this month.  Be prepared to be amazed!  Don't forget to read all the way to the end of this post to find out who our winner is this month.

Galachko of Ukraine created this beautiful layout by rotating the sketch.   We love how she used the Blue Fern Layered Iron Bridge!  The background paper is from our Ombré Dreams collections. 

Lizzy of Australia also rotated the March sketch when she created this layout.  The chipboard pieces (which she painted with black gesso) stand out so well against paper from the Montage Collection.

Daria of Russia, has fallen in love with our Sanctuary collection which she has used so well for her sketch layout.  She says she has a problem with it because she doesn't want to cut into it.   

We are so excited to hear that you like it so well!

The simplicity and beautiful fall colors in Joanne's layout really caught our eye.  The paper from the Ombrë Dreams collection and little strip of Blue Fern chipboard are just perfect!

Our last featured layout is this gorgeous layout created by Ludmila.  From the treatment of the Blue Fern chipboard, to the way she created this awesome photo (you can read about it on her blog), there is so much to love about this layout.  The background paper is from the Montage collection.

Now it's time to announce the winner of our March Sketch Challenge.  

Selected by a random draw, the winner is entry #12, which belongs to Babi!!

Babi, you have won a prize package of Blue Fern Chipboard!  

Please send me an e-mail, within the next 7 days, 

at {valerie(at)bluefernstudios(dot)com} to claim your prize.

Here's the beautiful layout Babi created.  Wow, this is beautiful!!  

The Ombré Dreams paper is perfect with this great photo.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our March Sketch Challenge.  We hope to see you back this month.  The April sketch has been posted and you can find a link to it in our left sidebar. 

A New Layout & Two Tags by Kim Price

Hello everyone! It's Kim back again today with a few new projects to share for the Easter weekend - I hope you are all enjoying time spent with family and friends in celebration.

My first project today is a scrapbooking layout featuring Montage patterned papers, Blue Fern chipboard and some of the new Blue Fern stamps.

I started out by creating a splash of color on a plain white sheet of cardstock then when it had dried I began adding layers of fussy cut elements from my Montage papers Bouquet and Fairyland overlapping images to give a multi layered effect. I've then added a paper frame from Calling Cards patterned paper for my photo placement, adding the offcut to the opposite site of my photo for some balance.

I've then gone ahead and chosen one of the Film Strip chipboard pieces, painting it up with a coat of gesso first then a shade of off white paint. After the paint had dried I added some doodling detail using a fine tipped permanent black marker. I've also used some of the images from the new Love Story 2 stamps - the arrow and adore sentiment - for some further detail.

On the opposite side of my layout I've chosen to use the Memories Captured title from the Captured Words set, again using a coat of gesso and off white paint, adding detail with a fine black permanent marker. I just love using the images from Montage to create loads of gorgeous layering, dimension and detail. 

Patterned papers:  Blue Fern Studios Montage collection - Bouquet, Fairlyland, Calling Cards

Blue Fern Chipboard:  All Natural, Film Strip and Captured Words sets

Blue Fern Stamps:  Love Story 2

My last project for April is a set of two tags. My first tag features the reverse side of  Love Story Amazing Heart patterned paper which is a great collation of vintage ephemera images. I've added my patterned paper to some watercolor paper, then a strip of Shabby Brick Bits which have been painted with gesso and detailed using a combination of colored pencils and a fine black marker.

I've then painted a long Blue Fern chipboard leaf element taken from Natural Sprigs Set in light and dark olive green colours, adding further detail using a colored pencil. I'm just loving this technique lately, it's just so effective. 

The final layer is the lower right image from Love Story Concerto patterned paper which features a gorgeous violin illustration along with clusters of coral colored flowers and to this I've added some paper flowers and leaves.

Blue Fern Studios patterned papers:  Love Story Amazing Heart and Concerto

Blue Fern Studios chipboard:  Shabby Brick Bits and Natural Sprigs Set

Blue Fern Studios patterned paper:  Sanctuary Bountiful

Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Spring Iris Stems - small and Ornate Crosses set

My last project for today is a second tag with an Easter theme. I've created some torn layers with Sanctuary Bountiful patterned paper using both the front and reverse side designs tucking in a sheet of gold glittered paper from some sparkle.

To continue the gold theme I've used a glittered gold embossing powder to decorate the small Spring Iris stems and the smaller Ornate Cross shape. I've also gone ahead and heat embossed the larger cross element using fine white embossing enamel for some contrast. I love how the details have really come to life using this technique on the crosses - they look fabulous.

Thank you for calling in to Blue Fern today, I hope you are all having a great Easter and I look forward to being back next month with more Blue Fern projects to share.

Two layouts by Marie-Josée Hamel

Hello all,

Today, I have two layouts to show you.

"Amour" layout

For this layout, I used various papers from the Sanctuary collection.

I framed my photo with the Notebook Frame, which I left bare. I also added the word Love from the French Words set.

"Bonheur" layout

For this layout, I used a white cardstock background and various papers from the Montage collection.

I used the Twiggy Branch under my photo...

... and I heat embossed my title, Bonheur from the French Words set, with black embossing powder.

Mixed media on canvas, video, and two cards from Elena

Hi everyone! 

Elena Morgun here and today I have a mixed media canvas and two cards to share with you.

"Best of times"

Blue Fern chipboard is very dense that's why creating a mixed media project using it gives so much pleasure. One can cover it with water-based paints and not be afraid for damaging this chipboard.
My grandmother with her father are in the photo. Simple love this image!

Here is the canvas:

Some close-ups:

And here is the start to finish video tutorial for this canvas. Enjoy!

Blue Fern Products Used:

Paper

• Sanctuary: Birdsong Melody

Chipboard

• Techno-Scape
• Turkish Panel
• Memory Frames

Also today, I have made two more cards) They are pretty simple, but that is the charm. 

I painted Blue Fern chipboard with Color Bloom spray. I like the way it shines now!

Blue Fern Products Used:

Paper

• Love Story: Amazing Heart
• Montage: Now and Then
• Montage: Bouquet

Chipboard

• Mesh Bits
• Mini Flourishes

That's all from me today.

Have a great week end with lots of time to be creative.

Hope to see you soon again!

Take care,

Elena Morgun

Two New Layouts by Kim Price

Hello everyone, it's Kim here today and I have a couple of new projects to share featuring some of my favourite Blue Fern Studios products.

My first project is a dimensional layout created for a frame to be hung on the wall. I've used patterned papers from Montage - this collection truly takes my breath away every time I create with it - and some stunning chipboard pieces to showcase this photograph of a friend's daughters.

I've used the largest clockface piece from the Large Roman Clock Set which really set the scene for the rest of the layout. I simply gave this piece a coat of gesso then added some color with an off white shade of acrylic paint and added some watercolor in a shade to coordinate with Montage. The final touch was to add some chalk to give it a real vintage feel.

Adding the chipboard clockface to my custom made background I then went ahead and cut out some of the designs from my Montage patterned papers layering them up with some dimensional dots along with a few of the pieces from the Cogs & Gears set and lots of flowers. The two large butterfly images are photographs from my personal collection. Because this piece is intended to be hung on the wall I have chosen not to give it a title but to instead let the project speak for itself.

For my second project today I've created layout featuring the Sanctuary collection. The soft muted colors in Sanctuary remind me so much of time spent with nature and I've used a favorite snapshot of the girls taken when we were on a bushwalk in Australia and came across an unexpected waterfall.

I started out with a torn and tattered sheet of Meadows Of Time patterned paper, layering it over the dark side of Bountiful patterned paper and adding the fussy cut birds image from Birdsong Melody.

I've then give the largest piece from Mesh Bits, two Berry Stems and the "joy" sentiment from the Good Vibes pack a coat of gesso allowing them to thoroughly dry. A touch of watercolor really takes chipboard to a whole new level and I'm really loving how the Berry Stems have turned out using this method.

To help the "joy" sentiment stand out from the rest of my layout I've highlighted each letter using a fine black Sharpie, added some sweet little flower blooms and a scattering of sequins to finish off.

Thanks for calling in today, I hope you have enjoyed my projects for March and I look forward to calling in again next month.

Today we Feature YOU!

We would like to thank all of you who use our products!  You are SO creative.  We see the layouts you create using our products on your blogs and in galleries.  Did you know Blue Fern Studios has a gallery?  We do, and you can find it here.  We hope you will upload your Blue Fern projects there.

This layout by Helena Johansson was created using paper from the Blue Fern Montage collection.  The swirls are our Mini Flourishes (set of 4).  The beautiful colors and texture really caught our eye.

 

Here's a layout created by Mes10doigts of Canada, that was uploaded to our gallery.  She has used the Blue Fern Graduated Circles on her layout that just screams sunshine!

Patti Hamel created this beautiful layout using paper from the Montage Collection.
This represents the best of neutrals!

Former Blue Fern Creative Team member Tiffany began with a blank canvas, layered it with chipboard pieces and paper from the Sanctuary collection, and then applied her magic.  What an incredible final project!

We found this fun, summery layout on Geraldine Pasinati's blog.  We love that she combined these two papers from our Sanctuary collection that mimic the sand and beautiful blue water!

 

The Calling Cards paper from the Sanctuary Collection can be used in so many creative ways.  Take a look at how Maggie used the cards to create a tag album.  Such a sweet treasure!

Thanks ladies!  You inspire all of us.

February Projects by Melinda Thompson

Hello there everyone :)

I am happy to be here today to share with you all my February projects for Blue Fern Studios.

I can't get enough of the Ombre Dreams paper range...such beautiful colours. I have created this layout using Julianna's Dream as well as Dream Cards in my layers.

"Adore"

Kind of had a little fun with this layout.  I used some chipboard from the Chunky Heart Panel which I just cut out bits that I needed, covered them with gesso and then added some crackle paint over the top. Using some of the negative hearts from the panel piece, I added them in random places and sprinkled them with glass beads for a cool effect.

I have also used the word "Adore" for my title from the Adore, Love Cherish pack and a Romantic Page Dangle.

Paper: Ombre Dreams Collection: Julianna's & Dream Cards

Chipboard: Romantic Page Dangle, Chunky Heart Panel, Adore, Electic Heart

My next project is a personal project, something just for me.

I have used papers from the Montage Collection: Invitation and Calling Cards.

"Noted"

I have used a few various pieces of chipboard on this layout.  I have used the Turkish Bits chipboard on the background, the Swirly Doodle layered next to my photo and an Arrow word "Noted" .  In among my flower cluster you will also notice a piece from the nested circle set. All have been primed with gesso first and then lots of different inks and mists to alter them.

Paper: Montage Collection: Invitation & Calling Cards

Chipboard: Swirly Doodle, Nested Circles, Arrow Word, Turkish Bits

Happy Scrapping :)

Melinda 

January Sketch Challenge Winner and Featured Layouts

We are thrilled with the response to the January sketch.  It was our best month ever, so thanks to each of you who played along with us in January.  But don't stop there, the February sketch has already been posted.  You can find a link to it in our right sidebar.

As always, let's start with the winner.  Based on a random draw, the winner this month is ...........#4, which happens to belong to Laura Gilhuly of Canada!!

Congratulations Laura!  You have won a prize package of Blue Fern Chipboard!  

Please send me an e-mail, within the next 7 days, 

at {valerie(at)bluefernstudios(dot)com} to claim your prize.

Here is Laura's layout created using paper from our Sanctuary Collection and chipboard pieces (both the positive and negative) from our Turkish Bits.  We love how she colored the chipboard using mist, paint, and a little gesso.

Sometimes we just don't know when to stop.  So this month, we have even more layouts to feature, which isn't a bad thing!  You guys are just awesome.  Here we go.........

"Twinkle in Your Eyes" by Wendy Scholten

 This layout, with such an adorable photo, immediately caught our eye.  Wendy has used several papers from our beautiful Montage collection, one as the background and some fussy cutting from other papers.  She also used several pieces of Blue Fern Chipboard - the Checker Bits, Bohemian Flowers, Nested Circles, and the word Twinkle from our Winter Titles set.

"Fabulous"by Miki of Japan

Miki also chose paper from our Montage collection for her entry in the January Sketch Challenge.  The title is from one of our very popular sets, the Arrow Words.  We love how this all came together to create a beautifully designed layout.

"Happy" by Marina Timofeeva

Everything about this layout is "Happy".   Marina has used this happy paper with polka-dots from our Sanctuary collection.  The title is from The Optimist Word Set, and the other chipboard is from the Turkish Bits Set. 

"Left-Handed" by Sara K. 

On her blog, Sara says she really wasn't happy with this layout at first, but we love it!  What an adorable photo  - such concentration on that little face.  The Blue Fern chipboard stars, from our Seeing Stars set are the perfect touch. 

"Cherish"by Alena Grinchuk

Layouts don't always go as planned, which was the case with this one.  Alena had something else in mind when she began, but didn't like the photo she had chosen, so she switched to this black and white photo, instead.  The outcome is stunning!  The background paper and fussy cut flowers are from paper in our Montage Collection.

"Sweet Bundle of Joy" by Paulien van den Bosch

Our final choice for the month is this precious layout created using this dark navy paper from the Sanctuary collection.  Love how this came together, Paulien. Your grandson is so super cute!

 Congratulations to our winner and to the creators of our six featured layouts.  

We hope to see all of you again in February!