Blue Fern Studios

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

My first projects for Blue Fern Studios - Karolina Czajkowska

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be here today with my first projects for Blue Fern Studios.

Such an honor and a pleasure to be able to be a part of this fantastic team!

First, let me introduce myself. It's the most difficult moment, because I'm not really good in talking about myself. My name is Karolina Czajkowska and I live in Poland in one of the biggest city Łódź. I'm 26 and I'm an architect. I finished my study 1,5 year ago.

I started my scrapbooking adventure 4 years ago and definitely it was a love at the first sight ;)

Scrapbooking is a huge part of my life, and it is more than a hobby by now. I can't imagine my day without scrapping and I am very sad when life and obligations do not allow me to go to my crafty space. One year ago I started to lead classes in Poland and abroad and I do love it! I think I'm mixed media girl. I'm pretty sure that this is the best way for me to find myself and my own style. And what my style is?

I still don't know, but defenitely it's not a clean&simple style ;)

You can find me on:

*my blog*

*facebook*

*pinterest*

*youtube*

I created 2 layouts and a winter canvas to share with you today:

Layout "Delightful love"

My first layout is very soft and girly, I think. In the picture you can see two little ladies - my goddaugters. They are so cute, aren't they?

This page based on paper from the Love Story collection. I started my work of covering the entire background under my composition with using clear gesso. Then I made a composition using papers from Déjà Vu collection and of course I added some chipboard pieces.

I chose three chipboards - this one which you can see in the background its's a smaller piece of the Quatrefoil panel. First I used it like a stencil and then I covered it using mists and water paints in pink, lavender and warm beige colors.

I covered two smaller chipboards, a frame with "Love" inscription and "Delightful", using two embossing powders - very soft Cotton Candy and more contrasty Mystic Plum.

In the next step I added some flowers and embellishments of course, to make my projects and a composition richer. Then I added some color mists with paintbrush around my composition. Finally I decided to stamp a background a little bit.

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Papers: Love Story collection - The Grand Ball, Déjà Vu collection - Petites Cartes and La Plume

Chipboard: Quatrefoil Panel, The optimist word set, Memory frames

Embossing Powders: Cotton Candy, Mystic Plum

Stamps: Essential Texture

Layout "Happy Way"

My second layout is defenitely more colorful with a lot of my favourite turquoise. I like to treat layouts a little bit like art journal pages - I mean: telling some story, capturing thoughts and feelings, not only pictures and memories.

I really like to create layouts on the dark background - this makes the colors "explode". This time I chose a beautiful paper in the deep navy blue color from the Sanctuary collection. I love a pattern of this paper. I prepared a photo and then I knew which colors I had to use. I have combined papers from two different collections - Ombre Dreams and Frolic and when I decided where my composition will be, I covered this area with gesso. I also used a modeling paste and stencils. In the next step I reached for a stamp with text and a pearl embossing powder. I wanted to connect it to the pattern from a basic paper.

On my layout you can find two chipboard pieces - the smallest circle from Beaded Strings set and beautiful Ironworks medley. Both of them I covered with a lot of different embossing powders to make a colorful embellishments, matching to my vision of this project. Then I added some light turquoise paint on all gaps.

After adding flowers and color mists around my composition, I stamped again using two stamps sets - this time with a black ink.

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Papers: Sanctuary collection: Bountiful, Frolic collection - Petits Moments and Friendship, Ombre Dreams collection - Dream Cards

Chipboard: Beaded strings, Ironworks medley

Embossing Powders: Garnet, Heavenly, Fern, Azure, Mystic Plum, Iris, Honey,

Glitter: Caribbean

Stamps: Essential Texture, Halftone

"Winter time"

My third project, which I would like to share with you today is a winter canvas. I know that Christmas time is gone, but we still have winter and maybe it's not my favourite season, but I really like winter projects!

In the background you can see old book pages. I really like this vintage effect. The next layer is a little piece from the Mini rings panel. I sprayed it with a dark brown mist and arranged it in such a way as to stick out from both sides of my composition. Next I built a very dimensional composition with papers from three different collections Déjà Vu, Autumn Anthology, Paisley & Vine and chipboard frame.

On the close-ups you can see all shades of my frame. First I covered frame with gesso and next I mixed gesso with a blue pigment and with using sponge I started to dabbed on blue accents.

I also added some stamps.

Smaller flakes I covered with white acrylic ink to make a very shiny surface. Then I added some translucent glitter. As a result, my project is more sparkling.

In the background you can also find some stamps and little black dots.

And finally a deer - this handsome gentelman would be a main point of my canvas. First I treated a chipboard with white gesso and then I distressed the edges.

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Papers: Déjà Vu collection - La Plume, Autumn Anthology collection - Mercantile, Paisley & Vine collection - Vineland

Chipboard: Winter Deer, Snowflake frame, Shabby flakes, Mini rings panel

Stamps: Essential Texture

I hope I have inspired you today. See you next time :)

Hugs,

Karolina

Monday, January 18, 2016

Two Inspirational Canvases- By Keren Tamir

Hi Everyone,

Its Keren here and I'm really happy to be back once again on the Blue Fern Studios Design Team for another year.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity and I'm looking forward to creating alongside many talented designers.

Here is a little bit about myself:

My name is Keren Tamir, I live in Canada and I’ve been scrapbooking for 13 years.

I love to create and experiment with many different mediums and techniques. My style is always evolving and that’s one of the things I love about this art.

One of the main reasons I started scrapbooking was to preserve memories and photos for my children. However, over the past couple of years, I’ve diverted myself into the mixed media world and love combining them both together. I’ve developed my own mixed media style, which I love sharing with my students. I love to create and I’m passionate about what I do and that’s why I love to teach techniques of mixed media and art.

I’m delighted to join Blue Fern Studios Design team for a third year. To see more of my art please visit my blog at: http://kerentamir.blogspot.ca

I hope you enjoy my creations!!

<<<<<>>>>>

I've created two 6x12 canvases today.

Both used the Ombré Dreams- Ginger's dream for the background. I cut the paper in half and used each half for one of the canvases.

Here is my first project:

"Dream"

The flowers petals are made out of canvas and were first sprayed with Imagine Ink Winter green, then shaded with other greens and yellows.

The centre was created by layering one radiant burst chipboard, one bohemian flower chipboard and one paper flower.

The stem was created using the Arching leaves chipboard which were painted in lime green acrylic paint and then stamped with the textured circles stamp. I also used the brick pattern from the Essencial textures stamp aroung the edges.

Finally I used the Dream chipboard for the title.

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

My Second Canvas today is titled:

"Love"

For this canvas I used the Shabby brick bits and the daisies collage chipboard pieces. They were painted with lime green and teal acrylic paints.

I cut out a couple of pieces from the Ombré Dreams- Dream cards paper as a background for the Daisies collage.

Then I painted the Love chipboard title in black and added it over the centre piece.

I used the Textured Circles stamp to create some music note's pattern in the background.

I also used the Imagine Ink winter green spray toad some colour drips under the main image.

Thank you so much for visiting the Blue Fern Studios blog,

Have a wonderful day!!

Keren

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Debbie's January Layouts

Hi everyone, Debbie here with you today!

I'm thrilled to be continuing on designing for Blue Fern Studios.

Such an honor and pleasure to be able to work with fabulous products.
Here's a little bit about me . . .

I live in Maryland, about an hour from our nation's capitol and have two grown children and one furbaby.

By day I am an assistant project manager for a General Contractor specializing in commercial build outs. I love to spend my free time in my scrapbook room creating away and when weather permits you can find me outside tending to my flower gardens. I love to incorporate mixed media with my shabby chic style.

You can visit my blog Love Life's Little Pleasures here.

Today I have two projects to share with you, using the new paper collections Blush and Timeless. My first layout features Timeless, a beautiful vintage collection. I've used the Maconnerie (both sides) and Calling Cards papers to highlight a vintage photo of my Mom. Lots of stamping on the background using the Arcadia Texture stamp along with some masking and lots of paint splatters.

Lots of layering beneath my photo primarily using the Calling Cards. I embossed the Floral Wreath Chipboard with Mystic Plum embossing powder, and then embossed again using the Arcaidia Texture Stamp and Ebony Embossing Powder. I cut the wreath into a few pieces and placed the pieces around the photo.

For my title I used Blooming Beauty and embossed it with a mixture of Mystic Plum and Garnet Embossing Powders, and then lightly inked it.

Blue Fern Studios Products

Paper

Timeless: Maconnerie, Calling Cards

Chipboard

Floral Wreath

Blooming Beauty

Embossing Powders

Mystic Plum

Garnet

Ebony

Stamp

Arcadia Texture

My next layout features the Blush Collection. Perfect for those special pictures of loved ones. Here I've used a picture of my niece.

For my background I used the Celebration paper and added lots of layering under the picture with the Fondness and Calling Cards papers. Love the soft pastel colors and details in the Blush papers! I added some masking on the background, paint splatters and misting with the Imagine Ink Mists in Cotton Candy and Sky Blue.

My title chipboard piece, Sweet On You was embossed with the Oatmeal embossing powder and then I randomly applied some pink paint. Underneath the photo I used the Leafy Rings chipboard which I also embossed with the Oatmeal embossing powder.

A Jeweled Trinket chipboard piece hangs below my flower cluster, embossed with Oatmeal embossing powder and lightly applied pink paint.

Blue Fern Studios Products
Paper
Blush - Celebration, Fondness, Calling Cards

Chipboard
Jeweled Trinkets
Sweet On You
Leafy Rings

Embossing Powder
Oatmeal

I hope I have inspired you with my layouts. The two new paper collections Timeless and Blush are gorgeous as are the new chipboard pieces, stamps and embossing powders. I look forward to this designing this year and working with Blue Fern Studios!

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Saturday, January 16, 2016

January Inspiration by Maja Nowak

Hello there, Blue Fern Studios Fans :) I'm so excited to be sharing my first post as a DT member!

My name is Maja Nowak (Oliwiaen in the Internet), I live in Poland with my university-sweetheart husband and our two sons. I started scrapbooking in 2008 and, although I have always been crafting (drawing, painting, cross-stiching and decoupage), scrapbooking seems to have taken my whole heart (and time!).

My style is mostly romantic and shabby chic. But being a mom of two growing up boys who are almost always present in my layouts, I sometimes create something more modern too :-) You can see my work on my blog (where you will find links to my Scrapbook.com and Pinterest galleries too).

I love Blue Fern Studios products: thick papers with beautiful designs, varied chipboard pieces and most gorgeous vintage stamp images! I'm really happy to be working with such quality products. So let me show you what I used them for in my first projects :)

I have created three layouts for January. You might have noticed the first one, as it was presented among fantastic samples by my DT friends with our January sketch challenge reveal :) I went for my favourite teal tones combined with golden and white accents to scrapbook a photo of my darling elder son:

I like to follow a sketch as closely as possible, and so I did for our challenge too. For the background I layered papers from the Paisley&Vine collection and added some elements I cut out from the Frolic collection:

Among other embellishments I used this cute chipboard arrow that I covered with 14 Karat embossing powder - I'm simply in love with this one, the best golden metallic/glittery golden ep I've ever used! Forgive me if I use it in every project of mine ;)

In my title piece I first covered the chipboard with Oatmeal ep and then sprinkled some 14 Karat here and there to get this effect:

I hope you'd join in the fun and share your interpretations of the sketch too :)

Dream Big:
Papers: Paisley & Vine: Nature, Deja Vu: Atelier, Frolic: Dans Le Jardin, Calling Cards
Chipboard: The Optimist Word Set, Directions
Embossing powder: Karat, Oatmeal

My second project is a layout that was inspired by... the piece of chipboard I used for my title: We're All Mad Here ;) I reminded me of the Alice in Wonderland style and I immediately thought the Blush collection and of those crazy photos of my sons and their cousins :) Together they resulted in a funny whimsical page that I had a true fun making!

For the background I used the Charmed paper, then I cut out the flowery frame from the Fondness sheet and layered it on top.

I also cut the key image from the Key To My Heart paper and added it below my photos:

And then I used scraps of those papers to mat my photos and to stamp some images onto :) I stamped two balloon images, decorated them with liquid pearls, glitter and flowers and mounted on 3D dots:

As for the title piece, I decorated it with embossing powders and did that in stages: I first covered each word separately with embossing ink reinker (of course, you can use an embossing pen that I don't have ;)) and heat-embossed it with a different colour ep before going on to the next word:

We're All Mad Here:
Papers: Blush: Fondness, Charmed, Key to My Heart, Reminisce
Chipboard: We're All Made Here, Directions
Embossing powder: Buttercup, Karat, Petal, Fern
Stamps: Flight & Flair, Journey, Photography, Deja Vu

And finally the third layout I made using the beautiful Timeless collection: you should have seen me choosing the papers! I couldn't decide for ages, they're all so beautiful :) In the end I decided on gray tones and here's the result, with my shiny boys in the photo ;)

I distressed the edges of the Artistique and Papillons papers and layered them together. Then I added some stamping in the background:

I cut out some tags from the Keepsakes sheet and matted my photo.

I covered the title chipboard piece with the 14 Karat ep (told you, I love it!)...

...while for the "industrial" pieces from the Cogs&Gears and Working Parts sets I used a custom mixture of the Poinsettia, Cerulean, Icicle and Ebony powders. I took a pinch of each (a really tiny amount, together they gave me enough to emboss all the parts and still more than a half was left for future use. If you wish to mix several powders, I'd recommend taking small amounts and as you add more colours, emboss on some spare scrap of paper to check the result.) I mixed the powders well on a scrap of paper and after embossing my pieces I got this really natural rusty-patined but still metallic shiny look of old metal pieces.

I also added a real vintage watchface and a key charm to my page. Then I tucked in a couple of mini roses here and there - I think they go well with all those "masculine" elements ;)

You Shine:
Papers: Timeless: Artistique, Papillons, Keepsakes
Chipboard: Working Parts, The Optimist Word Set, Cogs & Gears
Embossing powder: 14 Karat, Poinsettia, Cerulean, Icicle, Ebony.
Stamps: Deja Vu, Essential Textures.

Thank you so much for visiting the Blue Fern Studios blog today - see you later!

Maja