March Sketch Challenge

Really? Could it be March already?  Well, that's what the calendar says so that means our sketch designer, Michele Singh, has a brand new sketch for you! 

 I love the beautiful chipboard frame (Keepsake Frame) on this month's sketch, but as you will see below, you don't HAVE to use a frame on your layout.  Our Creative Team interpreted the sketch in several different ways.  

Keren Tamir used a frame from our Ever After Frame Set

Zaneta Glowa used layers of beautiful Love Story paper under her photo, instead of using a frame. 

Yuko Tanaka rotated the sketch and used our Boston Lattice chipboard piece behind her photos.

Melinda Thompson used paper from the Sanctuary collection for her layout and she also chose to layer paper under her photo.

 The 4-piece Memory Frames Set is very popular and is what Karita Vainio used for her sketch layout.

We have many chipboard pieces that can used as a frame.  Kim Price framed her photo with the Roman Clock and added some Blue Fern flourishes. 

Marie-Josee Hamel's background paper is from Ombre Dreams.
Instead of a frame, she let patterned paper in a contrasting color, frame her photo.  

Blue Fern title

Mini Ring Things chipboard set

What's next? 

One lucky winner, selected by a random draw, will receive a prize package of Blue Fern Studios chipboard!

In addition, we will also select 3 (or more) layouts to feature.

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! 

2). Please note that you can do whatever type of project you please - a layout, card, 

  canvas, altered item- whatever suits your mood and style! 

We would love to see the different ways our sketch can be used.

3.) 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!}

4.) Upload your project using the Inlinkz tool below by midnight EST on March 31, 2015

We look forward to seeing how you use our sketch and Blue Fern products!

An InLinkz Link-up

Some inspiration from Bente

Hi, today it's me Bente here to share my latest projects with you. 

I have used the most recent beautiful paper collection from Blue Fern Studios for my creations.

It's called 'Love Story' and as you can tell for yourself it's really beautiful. I loved combining these stunning patterned papers with a variety of Blue Fern Studios chipboards

 For this page I used the 12x12 Chickenwire panel and cut out a section of it for my page.
I whitewashed the chipboard with some gesso.
I even used a piece of this same panel for one of my cards. I used the smallest size  'Splattered circles' to frame my photo after using a chalk inker to colour it black.

My title is made up of a combination of a die cut word (hello) and a chipboard word, sunshine, from the Optimist Word Set.
To build up some background texture I used the tiny stars of the new stamp set 'Forever' .



Here is m,y second page. I love this pictuer of my daughter and you may have seen it before :-)

I used the Adore,Love,Cherish word set here as well as the Ironwork Arch and one of the smaller birdcages. I inked the arch black and gave the rest a lick of gold paint and then dabbed some white paint on top.



A lot of layering going on here with these gorgeous papers.



I built up the background with several layers of gesso stencils, mists and paints.



To round off this post I have a couple of feminine cards to share.



As I said earlier I used the chicken wire panel for one of the cards. For the other card I picked the lovely Ornate Frame. It's so elegant and easy to use for all kinds of projects.





I hope you can see in this picture my treatment of the frame. I spread some gesso on top with my fingers, then covered it in glue  before finally sprinkling some sparkly  'Art Sugar' on top.
It looks really pretty IRL.



That's all from me today.
Have a great week end with lots of time to be creative.
Hope to see you soon again!

Bente
xx

'Happy' by Marta Lapkowska + VIDEO tutorial

Hello crafty souls :)

It's Marta here with my very first video tutorial just for you.

 

Firstly I would like to say how happy I am joining Blue Fern Studios team. I hope to inspire you with my video tutorials and welcome you in my mixed media world.

I was born and raised in Poland. I am currently living in Ireland and have been for nearly ten years.
I graduated as a Sociologist from Wroclaw University in Poland. I am a proud mum of a beautiful girl Emily. My inner soul is trully a creative person. Since I remember I have loved art, craft, creations and have a passion for innovative techniques.

My craft journey started from making cards for close relatives. Slowly I was trying new things, learning new techniques. After all I fall in love with mixed media and journaling. I adore teaching people and share my knowledge.

I love playing around, experimenting and creating unique pieces.

From cards and tags to layouts, mixed media canvases, journal pages and altered objects.
For the past three years art and craft is my way of living - so far it's the best journey I could have imagined.

If you would like to see more of my works please feel free to visit my blog:
http://artistycrafty.blogspot.ie/

For todays post I created mixed media scrapbooking page 'Happy'.

This beautiful photo shows my friend's Wedding Day.

 Stunning 'Sanctuary' collection was a perfect match to the photo. I used paper called 'Bountiful'. 
I added few different chipboards and stamps.

Used products:

   
   

I used embossing powder to alter the chipboards. 
This is a great way to add dimention to your project.
Few close-ups:

I hope you will enjoy my video and get some inspirations.


 
Happy crafting, Marta xx

Love Story Layouts Yuko

Hi!Friends!!

It's my turn to share　BFS projects!

My favorite collection"Love Story"is very sweet!!!

Very cute &cool taste is parfect!

【sweet】

Magic of the image was aside when I saw this paper.

I tried tailoring photos of daughter in magician！

This hat was cut out after  press theclear stamp.

Small Trump is handmade.

＜Blue Fern Studios Products＞

Love Story  Twenty One/Calling Cards /True Harmony /Concerto

Valentine's Word Set/Eclectic Hearts

【Love】

This paper is very elegant!
I transferred a lot of gesso to give a soft atmosphere.

＜Blue Fern Studios Products＞
Love Story   Sweet Song/The Grand Ball /Calling Cards
Valentine's Word Set/Lace Heart Border

【Lovely】

These chip board is beautiful in a very gorgeous!

The coloring I used shimmerz.

This love story series is really cute and favorite！

＜Blue Fern Studios Products＞

The Grand Ball/Calling Cards/Concerto

Collage Border /Lovely Birds/Grid Pieces

Thank you!

Today It Is All About YOU!

Today we would like to show off some of the beautiful and creative ways all of you use Blue Fern Studios products.  You take our paper, chipboard, and stamps, and use them in ways we never imagined.  So sit back, and enjoy this inspiration from some very talented ladies!

Solange Marques of Brazil used the lovely Correspondence paper from the Sanctuary Collection as the background for her layout.  She chose a photo of herself taken on her birthday.  We won't tell you which one, but her layout might give it away.  What an awesome way to remember this special day, Solange!

We found this layout in the Blue Fern Gallery. It was uploaded by Catherine Giguere.  This paper is the very popular Meadows of Time from the Sanctuary collection.  The grunge she added in the background so perfectly brings attention to the darling photo.  Thanks for showing off our paper so well, Catherine!

Charlotte of the UK did a stunning job with several papers from the Sanctuary Collection, and added a Blue Fern title, as well.  This is vintage at its very best, Connie, and a true showpiece. 

We love the artsy background Joyce Lawrence created on this layout.  She began with a sketch as inspiration and this Blue Fern circle chipboard piece fit right in.  We love the way Joyce uses our chipboard!

Last, but not least, Jackie Clark took a section of our Chunky Heart Panel, which is almost a 12-inch square piece of chipboard, and turned it into a background for this sweet and grungy card.  Don't be intimidated by larger chipboard designs -- they can easily be cut apart and used for numerous projects. She got lots of texture by running it through an embossing folder and distressing it with ink.  What a great look, Jackie!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to leave these ladies some wonderful comments!

Love Story projects by Zanka

Hello!
It's my turn to share some more project which I created in February using BFS elegant Love Story collection. This is just a small share of the wonderful possibilities which this collection can be used for.
For my first project I picked Grand Ball, my absolute favourite paper in the whole collection! I worked both with the front and the back side, and I can't make up my mind-which one do I like more ;)

This  layout's colour scheme was entirely inspired by the colours of the paper pattern.

I have used some plain chipboards which I think match perfectly for the colours here. The branch is randomly dabbed with gesso. The heart is primed with gesso and covered with glossy accents and embossed with a distress powder.
Chipboards used:
Spring Branch, Lace Heart Border, word set Laughter, Happy , Smile, Layering Stems

My second project is also inspired by the base paper colours but as you see, the palette and style are completely different here.

I used Love Story stamp sets 1 & 2 to fill up the background with the stamp collage.
Chipboards: Circle Vine, Mixed Chains. The framed is primed with gesso and painted with crackle paste.

Thank you for spending a moment with me today, have a fantastic creative day!
Zaneta aka Zanka