Maja's November Layouts

A very good morning to you, Blue Fern Studios friends, welcome to the blog today!

The year is coming to an end, and we think of Christmas more and more, getting ready for the holiday, but before I totally get involved into Christmas projects, let me first share some other things ;-)

This first layout is the one you might have already seen if you visited our November challenge post:

I used the Memoirs collection, and chose a burgundy-golden-brown palette for my layout. I added some stamping on the background paper, matted the photo with postcard images cut out from the Photographic Record sheet. Then I added the largest Roman clock piece embossed with Antique Gold and Black Sand eps:

As the November challenge is all about title pieces, I used the longest title I had to make it really stand out :-) I embossed it with Ruby ep and then accented the word "story" with red glitter:

Finally, I added a couple of flowers and embellies and clock hands embossed with Mushroom:

Each Day Is A Story Worth Telling:
Papers: Memoirs: Autumn Biography, Photographic Record
Chipboard: Roman Clock Set Large, Each Day
Flowers: Attic Charm Glitter Roses, Attic Charm Daisies, Courtship Blooms
Stamps: Journey, Postal Textures
EP: Antique Gold, Black Sand, Mushroom, Ruby


My second layout also features the Memoirs collection, but this time I decided to use a light, subtle colours - yes, I think they fits boy pages too :-)

There are a few bolder black accents, like stamping on the background page and a metal tab under the photo:

Otherwise I kept the delicate tones with the title chipboard embossed with Oatmeal ep and pieces of the Marrakesh Panel that I split into several parts and embossed with the Lilac powder:

Million Dollar Smile:
Papers: Memoirs: Photographic Record, Nature's Novel, Tale of Treasures
Chipboard: Million Dollar Smile, Marrakesh Panel
Flowers: Harvest Lilies, Late Winter Lilies, Courtship Bloom
Stamps: Deja Vu, Photography
EP: Lilac, Oatmeal

Those were my Memoirs layouts, but since I just got my DT box filled with the gorgeous Vintage Christmas 2 papers, I couldn't resist making one more page using our latest release :-) And here it is:

I began by cutting the decorative edge of the Twas the Night sheet and layering it upon the Let It Snow paper.

Then I added some stamping and made the title: I cut the word "Christmas" off the Twas the Night chipboard title and placed it on the Fancy Signage piece. I embossed the latter with Oatmeal and Snow powders and for the title word I mixed the Ruby ep with some red glitter for extra sparkle :-)

I also experimented with the Large Flake piece - I mixed Snow, Sea Mist and Icicle powders to create my cutsom mint tinsel :-) I added Spiritually Speaking words, just like the title embossed with Ruby ep and red glitter:

A little flower cluster including Christmas Blooms and Spring Lilies as well an the ornate Candle Stick piece complete my layout:

Christmas:
Papers: Vintage Christmas 2: Let It Snow, Twas the Night, Holiday Treats, Holiday Cards
Chipboard: 'Twas the Night, Large Flake, Candle Stick, Spiritually Speaking, Fancy Signage
Flowers: Christmas Blooms, Spring Lilies
Stamps: Forever, Ornaments
EP: Oatmeal, 14 Karat, Snow, Ruby+ Red Glitter, Icicle+Snow+Sea Mist

And that is all for today, thank you for visiting and see you later! 

Maja Nowak

Announcing the 2017 Blue Fern Studios Design Team

Wow, we were so impressed by the applications we received for our design team call!  

We looked carefully at each application, visited blogs and online galleries, and were so amazed

 by the artistic work of each one of you who applied.  Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

Making the announcement is exciting, but we know that we must also disappoint many of you, 

and that makes it difficult for us.  More than anything, we wish we could add 

each and every one of you to our team.  Thanks to all of you 

for taking the time to submit your application.  

We would now like to announce the 2017 Blue Fern Design Team:

Annie Samson - Canada

Babi Kind - United States

Catherine Giguere - Canada

Halyna - Ukraine

Kris Berc - United States

Lydia Guijt - United States

Tartine Peluche - Canada

Wendy Scholten - Netherlands

Vera Shelemekh - Russia

Congratulations to each of you!  

We look forward to a wonderful 2017.

Ode to Vintage Christmas 2 … and Babies ~ Sandi's November Inspiration

Hello, hello! 

Sandi Clarkson here with you today sharing my November inspiration for Blue Fern Studios. 

Last weekend my Design Team package arrived with all the gorgeous Vintage Christmas goodies .. paper, chipboard, flowers and more! Vintage Christmas 2 is such a beautiful complement to Vintage Christmas 1. I wasn't really quite ready to scrap Christmas yet but these papers made the prospect irresistible. I just had to dig in! 

 

I decided to create a canvas this time around. I love creating a unique background with my wet mediums, paper and embellishments! So, I gessoed, stenciled, stamped, misted, splattered and even used my gelatoes to build up the background. Then I set about fussy cutting some images from the Vintage Christmas 2 papers … Tree Trim and Let it Snow. I tore some strips of those same papers to layer under my photo. 

Aren't those floral images just gorgeous?!! Michelle Singh designed this collection and did such a beautiful job! After using a medium to adhered the paper to the canvas, I did some random stamping with the Scratched stamp. Love all the texture stamps so much! (Photo is the hubby and I, done for the our church directory. Kind of a quick one but not too bad.) 

Next, I got busy on choosing a chipboard and altering it. In the end, I only used just the Berry Frame which was altered with Ruby and Magenta Embossing Powder. Then dabbed with white gesso, as was everything else for continuing the shabby feel. Note the Christmas Blooms that coordinate with these papers! Couldn't be a better match! 

For my title, I've used a Holiday card that says "All I want for Christmas is you." I don't take for granted that I still have him this year after his battle with cancer last Fall and Winter. 

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

Paper: Vintage Christmas 2 Tree Trim, Let it Snow, Holiday Cards

Chipboard: Berry Frame

Embossing Powder: Ruby, Magenta

Flowers: Christmas Blooms

Mist: Winter Mint, Persimmon

Stamps: Scratched

***

"Each Day" 

When I created this sweet layout, I still had my Memoires paper collection out on my desk and   couldn't wait to use them again along with some new supplies from Blue Fern Studios! These little grandsons have become a favorite subject to scrap this year! Aren't they precious?! 

The title piece is quite large and very dramatic, especially in red! I've embossed it with Golden Bricks Embossing Powder and then stamped it with black ink and the crackle texture stamp. It also got a few dabs of white gesso and ink. 

My other chipboard piece is also on the large side. I've tucked it under my photo layers after embossing it with Army Dust Glitter. Then I did some paper tearing and had fun creating my background. This time I reached for my new Crackle Texture stamp! My blooms are a combination of collections: Memoires Blooms, Late Winter Lilies and some tiny Courtship Blooms. Last but not least, my darling photo of Silas and Samuel. Awww! 

Blue Fern Studios Products Used:

 Paper: Memoires Songbird's Drama, Tale of Treasure, Autumn Biography

 Chipboard: Each Day, Swirled Floral Corners Large

 Embossing Powder: Golden Bricks
Glitter: Army Dust

Flowers: Memoires Blooms, Late Winter Lilies, Courtship Blooms

 Stamps: Crackle Texture

Next month, I'll be back with a couple of Social Media posts in lieu of design work. So, let me take this opportunity to publicly thank Valerie and Leslie for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful Design Team the past 18 months or so. It has been such an honor to create for Blue Fern Studios (as in dream come true) and hopefully to inspire you! Don't forget that I'm watching for you on Social Media, so be sure to tag Blue Fern Studios!

Sandi

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A Trio of November Inspiration by Nicole Doiron

Hello all my dear friends at Blue Fern Studios!

Nicole here today to share with you my November projects.

Let's start with this teal shabby chic layout of my niece Ella with her violin.

I used papers from the Serendipity collection to create a grid pattern collage on my page.  The brick design was made using the Essential Textures stamp and Snow Imagine Ink embossing powder.  

I combined 2 chipboard pieces to create my title, one from the Sweet & Lucky set on which I created an ombre effect with the Sea Mist, Snow and Caribbean powders, and the other from the French Words set covered with Ebony.

Obviously, most of the pretty flowers found on my page are from Blue Fern Studios!  The bigger teal flower with the fuzzy center is from the brand new Memoires Blooms set - it's gorgeous! 

Below you see the very elegant Gatsby Collage that I divided into 2 pieces to slide at either end of my photo.

The chipboard piece that inspired this whole concept is the Courtship Violin that you see peaking out from the bottom corner of the photo of my pretty and gifted niece, Ella!

Blue Fern Studios Products

Patterned Paper: Serendipity (Imagination, Fascination, Chronicle)

Chipboard: Courtship Violin, Gatsby Collage, Sweet & Lucky set, French Words 

Flowers: Memoires Blooms, Spring Lilies, Tranquil Blooms, Courtship Blooms

Stamps: Essential Textures

Imagine Ink: Embossing Powders (Caribbean, Sea Mist, Ebony, Snow)

My 2nd page is as boyish as the first one was feminine.

I started off with some vintage Paisley & Vine papers to go along with this more masculine theme.

The title was taken from the Wish Wonder Dream set which I covered with Blue Sky embossing powder.  I added some fabulous Lightbulbs covered with Sand & Sea.

Again, I divided a longer piece of chipboard into 2 pieces, this time a piece of the Printer's Bits to fit vertically above and below my photo. On this piece is the Ruby embossing powder which I dabbed with a little bit of brighter red acrylic paint.

Some more of the Printer's Bits layered over the Triangle Eclipse covered in Stellar Night and dabbed with brown paint. On the background paper, I stamped the netting design from the Essential Textures stamp set.

You've seen this little cutie before... he is  my friend's son.

Blue Fern Studios Products

Patterned Paper: Paisley & Vine (Whimsy, Pathway)

Chipboard: Wish Wonder Dream set, Triangle Eclipse, Printer's Bits, Lightbulbs

Stamps: Essential Textures

Imagine Ink: Embossing Powders (Ruby, Blue Sky, Stellar Night, Sand & Sea)

Last but certainly not least, I share with you a closer look at my layout

that was part of the November challenge reveal, featuring the latest collection, Memoires.

The November challenge is simply to use a Blue Fern Studios chipboard title on your project, ANY title so hopefully you will play along!

I had the perfect title in my BFS chipboard stash for this Autumn layout... An Autumn Story. 

 I simply covered it with a new favorite shade of Imagine Ink embossing powder called Golden Brick.

On my background, I sprayed different Autumn shades of mists plus used the new Crackled Textures stamps with brown ink and added some stenciling with modeling paste.

After treating it with a mix of Golden Bricks and Chili Powder powders, I cut the Treasured Floral Frame into several pieces to adorn my page with it here and there, combining it with the Fall Foliage set.  On the leaves, I mixed some Chili Powder, Tangerine and Nutmeg.

Another chipboard set that I am totally in love with is the Pretty Pumpkins set and here you see the smaller version. Totally gorgeous!

Finally, here is a closer look at the 'Autumn story' that I chose to document on this layout, a very beautiful shot of a splendid Fall day spent with my man, and framed with beautiful earthy tone flowers, including BFS Tranquil blooms.

Blue Fern Studios Products

Patterned Paper: Memoires (Songbird's Drama, Grand Sequel, Chronicles)

Chipboard: An Autumn Story, Treasured Floral Frame, Pretty Pumpkins, Fall Foliage

Flowers: Tranquil Blooms

Stamps: Crackled Textures

Imagine Ink: Embossing Powders (Golden Bricks, Chili Powder, Tangerine, Nutmeg)

See you back next month for a very special December reveal!

- Nicole

Sketch Challenge Winner!

Hello Blue Fern fans.  Today we are excited to announce the winner of our October Sketch Challenge, and to feature a few layouts from the challenge.  This month our winner is..........

 Entry #4 is from Joanne from Canada.  Congratulations Joanne!  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 sweet layout Joanne created using the sketch.  What a beautiful way to use a chipboard frame.

Each month we love to feature some of the other layouts from the challenge, because we get to show off the beautiful ways in which you use Blue Fern products.  Here are few from the October challenge:


Jackie Clark's layout begins with an awesome photo, and builds from there.  Her use of the paper from the Sanctuary Collection, various pieces of chipboard, and awesome texture combine for a stunning look! 

Mabel Sim has created the next layout.  She said she had limited supplies, but feels that might have let her creativity run wild.  We sure agree with that.  The watercolor she added to paper completely changes the look, and gives it such a dreamy look. 

Our third feature this month is from Pam Ellis.  There are so many things to love about this soft, gorgeous layout.  The paper is from the Attic Charm Collection, and she has altered the chipboard pieces with various colors of embossing powder.  What a perfect layout for these adorable photos.

Thanks so much to all who entered our sketch challenge.  You just keep amazing us!

Our November challenge has been posted.  You can find a link in the sidebar.  We sure hope you will join us.

Memoires with Jelissa

Hello friends! 

Today is my turn on the Blue Fern blog and I'm excited to be showing you a couple of projects I've created with the beautiful new collection by Michele!

This collection had me digging up old photos from the attic. My first layout is one of my folks when they were on their honeymoon.

Keeping the background really toned down because of the details in the paper that I wanted to show.

Close-ups:

Mesh bits chipboard which I had altered with Clover and Grassy Knoll embossing powders.I also fussy cut an element from Calling Cards which made a lovely addition to this floral cluster.

Another cluster with the other half of the Mesh Bits chipboard, layered over another fussy cut from Calling Cards and a bit of the Cuckoo Clock chipboard.

The Cuckoo Clock chipboard which I painted with copper metallic paint and added a couple of shiny bits on.

My title piece which I altered with Copper, 14 Karat and Antique Gold EP.

Blue Fern Studios products used:
paper: Memoires - Chronicles, Nature's Novel, Songbird Drama, Calling Cards

chipboard: Cuckoo Clock, Mesh Bits, Everlasting Love

embossing powder: 14 Karat, Antique Gold, Copper, Clover, Grassy Knoll

stamp: crackled textures

My second project is a video tutorial which I had created with also papers from the Memoires collection. This features a photo of my dad and me on a holiday trip.

A fair bit more details in the background as the paper was suitable for some playing around with. I also deliberately chose the Daisy Collage chipboard to match the paper because of the brick motif.

The clock piece from Cuckoo Clock chipboard, of which the main clock was used in the first layout. I also used Late Winter Lilies throughout the layout because they added so much softness to the page.

Sparkly antique feel created for the Ever After Frame.

Daisy Collage tucked between the paper layers.

More of the Daiy Collage.

You can view the creative process in this video:



Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Memoires - Tale of Treasures, Nature's Novel, Autumn Biography
chipboard: Cuckoo Clock, Daisy Collage, Ever After Frame set

EP: Copper

Glitter: Dijon, Autumn, Burnt Copper, Fool's Gold

flowers: Late Winter Lilies