Tranquility in May

Hello Blue Fern friends!

I'm up on the blog today to share with you my creations for May. I had other projects planned for this post but this collection was too beautiful for me to put down. As usual, I like to play with light and dark background papers and this post is no different.

For my first project, I based it on the May sketch challenge although it didn't make it in time for the sketch reveal a few days ago. Below is the sketch again:

I just had to make a big deal of the blues here because of the boys' t-shirts. It also matches the color scheme of the paper perfectly. Lots of subtle details in the background as I wanted it to merge with the paper itself.

Some details in the close-ups:

Tranquillity flowers. I'm so glad BFS has released coordinating flower packs! No more hunting high and low for blooms that match. 

Altering one of the roses a bit with some watercolor paint to create an ombre effect.

A chippie which I altered by first painting with green watercolor, followed by layering the embossing powders Lilac, Amethyst and with a sprinkle of glitter in Sunshine. 

For my title piece "Blissful", I layered the embossing powders In The Navy, Seven Seas, Cerulean and Breeze.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Tranquility collection - Calm, Calling Cards, Jubilation, Peaceful

chipboard: "Blissful, Jubilation, Patience", "Tranquil Foliage"

embossing powder: In The Navy, Seven Seas, Cerulean, Breeze, Lilac, Amethyst

Glitter: SunshineFlowers: Tranquil Blooms, Tranquil Roses and Lilies 

My second share is a video tutorial, of a layout of the boys at Rockingham Beach. Granted it was close to winter and chilly, we were hoping to make a day trip to Penguin Island just across the shore and check out the wildlife. Unfortunately the ferry trips were all canceled but we had a lot of fun picking up shells and watching the sea birds play in the distance. 

I love how the whole project turned out, although there were a few bits which I thought I could have added more details - some of you may know what I'm talking about when I say I wanted to do something this minute and the next minute I've clean forgotten it! Nevertheless, I'm a sucker for woodgrain patterns and this sheet of Calm (I've used the reverse side for the first layout, that's how much I like it) really got my groove going. 

Some details in the close-ups:

A cute little anchor amidst the waves. Matched with Tranquility flowers. 

More altered blooms, shells and seaweed chippies.

Love how the glitter sparkles in the sunlight, much like seaspray on a summer day.

Lapping waves and foam

The title piece - Fascination. Love the duo-toned effect in the sun!

And here is the start to finish video tutorial. I have noted the feedback from the previous video and slowed things down here so that you don't miss out on the action. Sit back and have fun!

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Tranquility collection - Calm, Jubilation, Peaceful

chipboard: By the Sea, Nautical Set, Seaside Seashells, Seaweed, Serendipity - Fascination
embossing powder: In The Navy, Seven Seas, Cerulean, Bonny Blue, Ebony, Mushroom, Clover, Fern, Verdant
Glitter: Blue Diamond, Carribean, Autumn
Flowers: Tranquil Blooms, Tranquil Roses and Lilies 

May Sketch Challenge

Hello friends.  We hope you stopped by to read all about the May sketch challenge we have for you.    

Each month our sketch designer, Michele Singh, creates a beautiful sketch for us.  We post it on our blog, 

and invite all our readers to use the sketch to create a project.  You have the entire month of May

 to enter your project.  Here's this month's sketch:

Each month several members of our Creative Team use the sketch to give you some ideas and inspiration to get you started.  Here's how 8 of our designers used this month's sketch:

Debbie Burns

Renea Harrison

Nicole Doiron

Wilma Voermans

Pascale Bernard

Maja Nowak

Yuko Tanaka

Marilyn Rivera

Now it is your turn!   Whether you are new to our Sketch Challenge or have participated in the past, we would love for you to grab some Blue Fern products and use the sketch as inspiration for a project.  We will have a prize for one lucky winner (from a random draw), and will feature a few projects from YOU at the end of the month!

We ask that you follow these guidelines:

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, but please make sure your layout resembles the sketch.

2). You can create any 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 chipboard pieces or paper featured in the sketch. 

  You can find a list of stores that carry Blue Fern products  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 May 31, 2016.

An InLinkz Link-up

New Stamps & Chipboard

We have some new items that we haven't yet had a chance to feature on our blog.  So, we thought we would wrap up April with a look our new products.  First up are some gorgeous chipboard pieces designed by one of our chipboard designers, Mina Arutynova.  Each of these new pieces is so elegant and detailed.

Chaise

Braided Gem Frame

Carnival Mask

Dream Catcher

The release of our new collection, Tranquility, was so large, that we didn't have room to feature the 7 new stamps that coordinate with the Tranquility Collection.  These stamps would not only look great with this collection, but would also be perfect for adding some gorgeous texture to any project!

Did you find yourself wanting everything? 
What are your favorites?

April Projects from Maiko

Hello Everyone!

Maiko here with you today to share my April projects.

First, I made this Layout using Beautiful "Autumn Anthology" collection.

"A Wonderful Life"

Blue Fern Studios used:

papers:

Autumn Anthology - Calling Cards

Autumn Anthology - Gazebo

Autumn Anthology - Newsworthy

Autumn Anthology - Penmanship

Chipboard:

Garden Celebration

A Wonderful Life

Township Collage

Embossing Powder :

Mushroom

Sage

Pearl

 Flowers - Courtship Blooms

 This Chipboard is the"Garden Celebration".

First, I applied this by a white acrylic color and colored using paint of

 green, yellow and purple after it.

Next,I applied the Embossing Ink, sprinkled the Embossing Powder and heated it up by a heater.

Finally,I colored around that with brown ink.

close up

This Chipboard is the"Township Collage".

I colored this like"Garden Celebration" .

I chose "A wonderful Life" as the title.

First, I painted it with an acrylic paint, colored it with green and brown paint,

and finally  I covered it in Glossy Accents.

  

These green Flowers are "Courtship Blooms".

so cute!

I also used the Beautiful  Courtship Lane collection for the second work.

"Heart"

Blue Fern Studios used:

papers:

Courtship Lane - Bourbon Ave

Courtship Lane - Calling Cards

Courtship Lane - Town Gossip

Chipboard:

Blue Fern Bits

Doily Bunting

Bohemian Flowers

Happy, Heart, Love

Pearl

Cotton Candy

Stamp - Weathered Doilies

This Chipboard is "Doily Bunting".

I colored this with "Cotton Candy"and "pearl" embossing powders.

These Flower Chipboards are "Bohemian Flowers".

I colored this with "Pearl" embossing powder and Pink Ink.

I chose "Heart" as the title.

First, I painted it with an acrylic paint, colored it with pink ink,

and finally  I covered it in Glossy Accents.

My last creation today is...

"grateful for You"

I used 

Blue Fern Studios used:

papers:

Serendipity - Imagination

Serendipity - Calling Cards

Chipboard:

Timeless Floral Corner

Grateful For You

Embossing Powder:

Ginger

Oatmeal

Flowers:

Courtship Blooms

My background paper is "Imagination" and it is from the Serendipity collection.

This chipboard is the "Timeless Floral Corner".

 This Chipboard is "Persian Ornament"

I colored this with "Ginger","Oatmeal" embossing powders and some brown Inks

These mini brown Flowers are the "Courtship Blooms".

I love these Flowers.

This is simply painted with an acrylic paint ,block and some blown inks.

That is all from me today.

Thank you for visiting!