My layouts for April and a video featuring the Courtship Lane Collection by Marie-Eve Bernard

Hello,

This month, I had fun with the beautiful Courtship Lane Collection.  I like the soft look of this collection.  The colours remind me of spring. Spring is not completely arrived here, in Québec.  Hope it's better for you!  Can't wait that spring arrive here too!  The new flowers sets are awesome.  They match perfectly with the papers. 

Selfie

It is not often that I create a layout with a picture of myself.  I'm not really a selfie kind of girl.  I prefer picture of my princesses, but this time, I'm please with the result! 

On my background, I stamp with the Essential Texture Stamp set with embossing ink.  Then I add Ginger Imagine Ink Embossing Powder.  Once heated, I put colours on my paper with watercolours.  Notice, that I prep my paper first with clear gesso.

I put two coats of Ginger Imagine Ink on the Whimsy flourish.  The word Selfie is from the Selfies set.  I put heavy body gesso on it an use the same watercolours colours that I previsouly used on the background.

The littles greens and  browns flowers are from the Courtship Lane Collection Too.

 I cut the Screen panel into pieces.  To alter it, I use several colours of Imagine Ink Embossing powder.  I used Sage, Verdant, Lime and Ginger.  I put a color, i heated it.  Put a little bit of another one and heated it...Use this process, till i'm pleased with the result.

Blue Fern Studios List of Supplies:

Papers

 Courtship Lane Parkway

Courtship Lane Lover's Lane

Chipboards

Whimsy flourish

Selfies

Screen Panel

Imagine Ink Embossing Powder

Sage

Verdant

Lime

Ginger

Stamp set

Essential Textures

Reminisce

I want to remember this precious moment forever:  my girls loved the beach.  Can't wait to go back in Maine for the Summer Vacation. I made a how-to video for this layout. Hope to inspire you with this! Thanks for watching!

  Blue Fern Studios List of Supplies:

Papers

 Courtship Lane West Plaza

Courtship Lane East Plaza

Courtship Lane Calling Cards

Chipboards

Floral Lattice Bits

Serendipity Words 2

Roman Clock set -small

Imagine Ink Embossing Powder

Lilac

Iris

Imagine Ink Embossing Powder

Grapes

Stamp set

Forever

Thank you and hope it inspire you to play with this wonderful collection! See you next month!

Marie-Eve

Sandi's April Inspiration!

 "Brown Eyed Girl"

Hello there, everyone! Sandi here with you today!
I am going back a bit and creating a couple of projects with our Serendipity collection.

It's wonderful mix of rich earth tones and grunge widen it's appeal to more paper crafters.

The background paper on the first project is Chronicle and then I've added torn Glee, Contemplation and Calling Cards.

Hiding on the left is a Butterfly Grid remnant from a previous month. But the main focus here is the Berry Stem embossed with Verdant And Grassy Knoll. You can see a bit of the Brocade Texture stamp which I adore! 

Brown-Eyed Girl was simply inked with brown and then given a dose of random glitter. 

I had fun with the Techno-scape chippy using Ginger Embossing Powder and then sprinkling on Mermaid Glitter! I cut it in half so that it could peek out under my layers. 

Great close-up of the Brocade stamping. 

Blue Fern Studios Products used:

Paper:

Serendipity Glee, Chronicle, Contemplation, Calling Cards

Chipboard:

Butterfly grid remnant, Brown Eyed Girl, Techno-scape, Berry Stem

Stamp:

Brocade Texture

Embossing Powder:

Ginger, Verdant, Grassy Knoll

Glitter:

Mermaid

***

"And so … "

There is nothing I enjoy more than creating a canvas project! It feels so liberating to know that if I mess it up, I can just cover it with gesso and try again. And sometimes, you just get stuck in a rut when you do layouts consistently. So, the other day, I let loose and allowed the inner artist to have some expression.

I started with an 8x8 canvas and decided that I wanted to use this inspirational quote from the Serendipity Calling Cards sheet as my focal point.  I also tore some scraps from the Merriment sheet to place in the center and in the corners.

Before adding my papers, I prepared the background with gesso and then had fun with my Imagine Ink mists, Fern, Cotton Candy and Winter Mint .. drying between colors.  More dimension was created with some stamping utilizing the Brocade Texture, Textures 1 and Photography stamps.  Of course, I did some stenciling and created texture with super heavy gesso. 

The Twilight Garden Frame frames my primary focal point. I first painted it black and then used  Oatmeal, Peacock and 14K Embossing Powders to give it character! Great combination, by the way. I love how rustic it looks! 

Then I added some embellishments that were laying on my desk, some flowers, a junkyard light bulb, ribbon and a couple of stick pins. I fussy cut some of the Merriment butterflies and worked them in as well. 

Of course, I had to use one of my new Courtship Blooms because I adore their size and shape. 

My finishing touch was to apply some mircro-beads with clear gel medium. 

Blue Fern Studios Products used:

Paper: Serendipity Merriment and Calling Cards

Chipboard: Twilight Garden Frame

Stamps: Brocade Texture, Textures 1, Photography

Imagine Ink Mists: Cotton Candy, Fern, Winter Mint

Embossing Powder: Oatmeal, Peacock, 14K       

Flowers: Courtship Lane Blooms

***

Since I felt that I hadn't really got to dig into my Timeless papers, that's where I went next.

"The Perfect Moment"

I prepared my background with gel medium and black gesso pushed through a stencil. Then I  used some gold mist to bring out the yellow tones in the paper. I finished with the Postal Texures stamp to remind myself of my Grandma's faithful correspondence.

The photo of my brother and me with our Grandma Key was taken on her small farm in Indiana. She was such a special lady, always had a kind word, worked hard, raised 10 kids and loved her flower garden. She was so faithful to write me and there was always a mention of how her flowers were doing ... or that she couldn't wait for Winter to be over so that she could get outside. So, I had to pull out my fave BFS chipboard, Ginger's Poppies and put them on her layout!

I prepared the Poppies, as well as the Paisley and Vine Flowers with white gesso, the used gelato for color and went back with my embossing powder in Garnet.  Before I went to heat the powder, I sprinkled in some Pyrite Glitter, just to give the flowers a hint of shine like dewdrops. 

Just a close-up.

Additionally on the Paisley and Vine leaves, I did some stamping with Postal Texture stamps, always a nice touch!

Lastly I added some dimensional flowers and berries and a random key laying on my desk. Nothing is complete these days without some added glitter or microbeads, so I've added some black chunky glitter.

Just a couple of dimensional shots!

Blue Fern Studios Products used:

Paper: Timeless Artistique. Abode and Calling Cards

Chipboard: Ginger's Poppies, Paisley ands Vine Flowers

Stamps: Postal Textures

Embossing Powder: Garnet

Glitter: Pyrite

Thanks for coming by today!

Remember to tag Blue Fern on your social media uploads. 
I'll be back on the 17th with some social media Features! 

It could be yours! 

A Winner and Featured Layouts

It's that happy time of the month.  The time when we get to announce the winner of last month's sketch challenge, and to show you our featured layouts.

Let's get to the winner, first.  Based on a random draw, the winner of our March Sketch Challenge is:

Entry #20, which belongs to Paivi, of Sweden.  Congratulations Paivi!  As the winner, you will receive a package of Blue Fern Studios chipboard.  Please send an e-mail, within the next 7 days, to {valerie(at)bluefernstudios(dot)com} to claim your prize.

Here is the "Fabulous" layout Paivi created using an amazing photo and paper from the Ombre Dreams collection.

Each month we also like to feature some of our favorite layouts from those entered in our sketch challenge.  This month we have five layouts we would like to share with you.  These layouts represent a variety of styles ranging from layered, to artistic, to clean lines.  All are lovely and show the many ways Blue Fern paper and chipboard can be used.  Thanks to these creative women for showcasing Blue Fern products so beautifully!

Mona Eidhammer 

Bev Code

Dashiki

Rachael Pancoast

Kavitha

Thanks to everyone who entered our sketch challenge.  

If you haven't yet entered one of our monthly sketch challenges, we would love to have you join us! 

You can find a link to the April challenge at the top-right of our blog.  

For those of you who are regulars, we love you and hope to see you again this month!

Three April Projects Using Three Different Paper Lines By: Renea Harrison

Hello, and welcome to my April Design Team Reveal!! This month I have 3 different projects that I created using 3 of the newest Blue Fern Studios Paper Lines; Courtship Lane, Timeless and Serendipity. I love creating in different styles and I hope that you are inspired to try out one of the new paper collections and make it your own!!

I love creating beautiful pieces with hints of grunge and shabbiness and the new Blue Fern Courtship Lane Collection along with the April Sketch was perfect for pulling this look off

for this first layout:

I started with a layer of Courtship Lane Royal Street Paper and then added a 2nd layer of Courtship Lane Royal Street Paper that I heavily distressed and inked. 

I added a layer of Timeless Lace for softness, 

 then took a Ruth's Doily Chipboard piece, painted it with gesso and script stamped it with clear embossing ink, coated it with Imagine Ink Ebony Embossing Powder tapped off the excess and heat set it to get a gorgeous raised script to match my book theme.

For the floral layer, I added a large fabric flower, and then layered in some of the new Blue Fern Courtship Lane Roses, some mulberry paper leaves, feathers and a resin swirl.

I then did some tearing at the top of my layout and took a Blue Fern Chipboard Peek A Boo, gave it the same technique treatment as the Doily, tucked it behind the tear and then sewed up the tear with some embroidery thread and tied a bow.

I added drips and splatters of gesso and glitter glass randomly to my layout for lots of visual interest.

I added some more of the Courtship Lane Roses, leaves and feathers to the top corner of the photo,

and added a Silver Pocket Watch that I filled with different beads and Glitter Glass for some really YUMMY Texture.

To finish up my layout, I took a Blue Fern Serendipity 1 Word-Contemplation and heat embossed it with the Ebony Embossing Powder, and then added on a set of my handcrafted Sweet Dreams Lavender Butterflies.

Blue Fern Studios Supply List:

Paper:
Courtship Lane-Plaza

Courtship Lane-Royal Street

Chipboard:
Ruth's Doily
Peek A Boo

Serendipity Words 1 (Contemplation)

Flowers:
Courtship Roses

Imagine Ink:

Ebony

I just love the new Blue Fern Studios Serendipity Collection!! The papers are perfect for my "edgy" meets beautiful style, and provided the perfect venue for me to create this natural, grungy pocket journal:

I started with a pocket journal base that I sew together using upcycled manilla folders. I then layered on a piece of the Blue Fern Serendipity Glee Paper that I cut to fit my design

I cut a strip of canvas and 2 tone spray stained it and then threaded a metal safety pin into the top of it, added a little bird cabochon to match my theme and adhered the piece down the side of the journal.

I took some Blue Fern Chicken Wire Panel Chipboard pieces that I cut out from the panel, and gave them a "rusty" look by heat embossing them with Imagine Ink Nutmeg Embossing Powder, and tucked them into my design.

Next, came a piece of torn, 2 tone spray stained, corrugated board, topped with spray stained cheesecloth, and different flowers and little bird's nest.

I then took a Blue Fern Frill Heart Chipboard Piece, and I heat embossed the edges with Imagine Ink Peacock Embossing Powder. For the center I coated it with Shard Glitter Glass and then shot it with some of the spray stain that I used on the other pieces. I then created a little, multiple layer heart with leftover Serendipity Paper Pieces, and added a little flower.

I added another spray stained piece of canvas and cut out the word "Beauty" from the Serendipity Calling Cards Paper, and added it to it. The Chasing Butterflies are some of my handcrafted Butterflies that I love to add to my projects for added dimension.

The pockets of the Journal Base contain tags and pieces that I created from the Blue Fern Serendipity Glee, Imagination, and Calling Cards Papers. They include:

2 Oversized Tags topped with hand dyed seam binding bows and cabochons
2-Large tags topped with spray stained canvas pieces

2 - Calling Card Pieces that open up book style
and 

this large piece that I created by taking a Blue Fern Swan Gate Chipboard Piece, and lining it with Serendipity Paper to create a tag. I added a Dream Metal Key and hand dyed seam binding hanger. 

To get the rusted look on the gate, I first heat embossed it with Imagine Ink Peacock Embossing Powder, and then randomly dabbed it with clear embossing ink and sprinkled those spots with Imagine Ink Nutmeg Embossing Powder to get that YUMMY, aged look.

Here is the back side of the jounal that was finished out in Serendipity Imagination Paper.

Blue Fern Studios Supply List:

Paper:
Serendipity-Imagination

Serendipity-Glee

Serendipity-Calling Cards

Chipboard:
Chicken Wire Panel
Frilly Hearts
Swan Gate

Imagine Ink:
Embossing Powder-Peacock

Embossing Powder Nutmeg

And for my 3rd and final project, the Blue Fern Studios Timeless Collection with it's grungy, darker more Vintage look papers inspired me to create the following masculine layout of my son, Draven. I just used the papers in a way that omitted or covered up the more feminine floral designs to leave me with designs that worked perfectly for that no flower, all edginess of masculinity.

I started with a a layer of Timeless Main Street Paper, and then tore and layered in corrugated board pieces that I two tone misted and Timeless Papillons and Artistique Papers.

I did some edge curling on some of the paper and then inked them to match the corrugated board colors.

Next, I added in Blue Fern Roman Clock Chipboard (small).

I then took some Blue Fern Cogs And Gears Chipboard pieces, and heat embossed them with Imagine Ink Honey and Ebony Embossing Powders, and layered them onto the clock pieces.

I also used Blue Fern Frolic Mesh Chipboard that I cut into pieces and colored with a distress marker and tucked into random places throughout the layout. I added various metal pieces to round out the finishing touches for the layout. 

Here you can see all the dimension and textures that the layers of papers and chipboard created.

I know a lot of you tell me that masculine work is a real challenge for you, but the Blue Fern papers and quality chipboard really do make it easy to pull a gorgeous masculine piece off!! Thank you so much for checking out my April work, and I hope you have fun creating!! Hugs~Renea

Blue Fern Studios Supply List:
Paper:
Timeless-Papillons

Timeless-Main Street
Timeless-Artistique

Chipboard:

Roman Clocks Small

Cogs & Gears
Frolic Mesh

Imagine Ink:
Embossing Powder-Honey
Embossing Powder-Ebony