May Sketch Challenge!

We always love starting off a new month on the right foot, so how about a brand new sketch to get you motivated? We have another beauty for you, designed by our very own Michele Singh:

May Sketch

And of course we have some designer inspiration to help you along the way!

Jelissa Mei

Keren Tamir

Camilla Ekman

Leila Cardoso

Maja Stokk

Yuko Tanaka

Jackie Clark

Evgenia Petzer

Marie-Josee Hamel

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 May 31st, 2014.

We look forward to your entries!

An InLinkz Link-up

A Layout, Handmade Embellishments, & Mini Album Covers!

Good morning, Blue Fern Studios friends!

Erin Blegen here with you today with a little bit of everything :). I'm always looking for ways to show appreciation for crafters of all kinds, and being someone who loves variety in order to keep myself interested creatively, I decided to create three very different examples for you this month. 

To start with, I'd like to share my layout:

"This Makes Me Smile"

What a great photo, right?! I loved it so much, and I wanted to capture it effectively. Inspired by the energy of the background paper, I decided to support the movement of the circular aspect of this base with the "Beaded Strings" chipboard piece. 

I used a map image stamp along with some Prima metallic chalk ink to stamp my primed chipboard. While the ink was still wet, I covered it with clear embossing powder and set with a heat gun. This way, your ink won't smear and the stamped area is given some dimension.

I love how this chipboard piece pulls this whole layout together, acting as a frame for my photos, an anchor for my clusters, and a holding piece for my title. 

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Beaded Strings

Next, I have some handmade layered, dimensional embellishments:

Handmade Embellishments

These are a great way to use up scraps! I gathered up my "Blue Fern Garden" collection paper scraps and ran them through my die cutter using various steel dies. I also primed, painted, and stamped up some favorite chipboard pieces. Along with some stickers and foam adhesive, I began to layer away, creating a cohesive set in 30 minutes or less!

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Blue Fern Garden Paper Collection

Miss Tailor Set

Regal Ornaments

Vintage Keys

Leafy Page Accents

Finally, I have a couple mini album covers:

Mini Album Covers

No mini album is complete without a perfect Blue Fern Studios chipboard accent! For the top album, I've used a title piece that I felt was perfectly balanced for this album's size. It was stamped with ink matching the bird images on the paper and heat treated with clear embossing powder. For the bottom album, the Film Strips piece's linear design, size, and style was well suited for the accompanying papers.

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Memories Captured

Film Strips

Thank-you for checking out my variety of projects today!

Before I go, I have a couple of reminders for you.

Firstly, if you missed the sneak peek of the NEW Blue Fern Studios paper collection, take a look HERE:

GORGEOUS, right?!?!

Secondly, you STILL have time to join in on our April Sketch Challenge! Get those entries in by midnight tonight!!

Take care :)

{2} Different Cards With Patter & A Sketch Layout

Today I wanted to share two very different cards with you. The first is a mixed media card with lots of paint, embossing paste, etc. The second is a simple quick card without any paint or mixed media. So, if you need to create something in a hurry, try the second card. Otherwise, if you want to dabble in some paint and fun, try the first card! Let's have a look.

Today
This card uses lots of paint and mixed media. I used the Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards paper for the sentiment. I also used the Symphony Corners and Mini Ring Things chipboard.

The Symphony Corner chipboard is painted with a layer of gesso then a pink mist. The Mini Ring Things chipboard I cut into individual circles and covered each piece in gesso. Then I placed a few rings on the card.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards

Symphony Corners

Mini Ring Things

Just Because
This card is a more simple card. I used the gorgeous collage image from the Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards paper for the background. I then added some ribbon, flowers, and a flair button for the sentiment. I also added a piece of the Blue Fern Studios Bits of Honey chipboard. I left it raw because I liked that color against the other colors on the card.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards

Bits of Honey

Sweet Max
This is the 8 1/2 x 11 layout I created using the Blue Fern Studios April Sketch Challenge. You still have until midnight EST tomorrow to join in the fun!

To color the Blue Fern Bit heart chipboard, I put down a layer of gesso followed by a blue mist. While it was still wet, I "stamped" a piece of bubble wrap on each piece to get this fun effect.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards
Blue Fern Garden Love Letters
Blue Fern Garden Picnic
Lace Heart Border
Blue Fern Bits

Thanks for stopping by!

Leila's April projects

Hello Ladies

I'm here again to show you more two layouts 12x12'  (they are my passion).

The first one is to travel album of my cousin, on her journey across Europe met some gorgeous places, including Volendam in Amsterdam...

I painted all chippies with acrilic paint and gelatos, them spilled ink on them...

Blue Fern supplies:

- Shabby brick bits

- Directions

The second is one beach page with my children...

Blue Fern supplies:

- Memory frames

- Blooming flourish (2)

- Bohemian flowers

- Doodle flowers

Thanks so much to stopping by!

xoxo

Leila

Something NEW is Coming...!

We have an exclusive SNEAK PEEK for you of what's coming up next for Blue Fern Studios:

Stay TUNED for further details!!

2 layouts and card by Yuko

Hello!Everyone.Yuko here!

The season of a beautiful cherry tree passed Japan.

Many beautiful flowers bloom now.Going out is a season becoming happy from now on!

Today,I introduce 2 layouts and a card.

【Tresure the MOMENT】

The photograph of the dress which took in commemoration of

 2-year-old birthday of my daughter

I wanted to do it this way since I saw a chair of this paper!

A daughter sat down on a chair in just right ! ！！

After the cardboard of the title applying gesso,

 and having colored it in ink, I painted with a glossy accent.

 This paper of  Blue Fern Studios  is  very beautiful !

 It was good to my image.

【TIMELESS Beauty】

This is my most favorite photo  in this SAKURA(cherry tree)season 

.I feel the growth that it has seen a daughter running 

in the spirit of the beautiful cherry trees.

I was cut out from the paper delicate pattern.

Used  distress enbossing powder ( Renger)for this chip board.(Memory Frames)

【BEAUTY】

I used the frame of handmade for this card.

The texture is attached with modeling paste. 

Please visit my blog to see  more details.

Thank you for looking!

Yuko

<Blue Fern studios Products>

habby Brick Bits

Vintage keys

 Treasure the Moment

Flutter Page Dangle

Petite Windows

Memory Frames

Blue Fer Garden  Timeless /parlour /calling cards /singnature

April inspirations with Jelissa

Hi there Blue Fern fans, so happy to be back here to share some creations with you. 

"She Wanted to Fly"

I wanted to make something with the chippies from "Spread Your Wings" so that was how this layout came about. 

I used a piece from Manor Hinges and sprinkled embossing powder in both bronze and turquoise randomly. The turquoise gave a very nice burnished metal effect. 

For the wings, I applied some texture paste using a peacock feather mask which I had used throughout in my background. This was followed by some shimmery paint and I used turquoise glitter on the edges of the feathers for an oomph. For the Page Chains, I did some simple heat embossing. 

Blue Fern products used:

Spread Your Wings

Manor Hinges

Page Chains

My second page is a bright one where I experimented with watercolor paper and distress stains.

"Best of Times"

I altered the chipboard to match the overall colours and mood of the layout.

A frame from the Memory Frame set, which I inked with distress ink and doubled up as a title.

The Shabby Brick bits, which is perfect for background and layering. I patted three different coloured Texturez from Shimmerz on it randomly.

The Berry Stems which I left bare, only to accent the berries with some Texturez.

Blue Fern products used:

Shabby Brick Bits

Berry Stems

Memory Frame Set

My last share is the sketch created for Blue Fern Studios' April challenge, using the Blue Fern Garden collection.

I have a video tutorial as well showing how I put together this page and how I altered the chipboards.

Blue Fern products used:

Blue Fern Garden "In Bloom"

Charmed Page Dangle

Bits of Honey

That's all I have for now. Hope you've enjoyed my work and the video. See you all next month!

love,

Jelissa