Designer Favorites ~ Blue Fern Studios

Hi, everybody! 

Hope you had a great holiday. 

Thanks so much for dropping by. 

Today over on the Blue Fern Studios blog, we are having a Designer Favorite post. Each designer was asked to choose their favorite BFS DT project for 2016. It was soooo hard for everyone to choose! 

But this is the one that I ultimately chose, using the Serendipity paper collection and loads of Blue Fern chipboard. Its a fun and funky, grunge type photo of my youngest daughter thus the "theme" of the layout. I had a ball altering chipboard and creating my background. Just one of those very satisfying creative kind of days. 

And …  this was my sweet second favorite using the Blush collection. This is my cutie pie niece Lexi. Such a doll. I mean, seriously  … how do you choose? I adore this one and so wanted to frame it and keep it. But I crumbled and gave it as a gift to her momma. Figured I could always re-do it, right? 

So, anyway .. did I choose the right one? 

You decide! 

Thanks for coming by and cheers to a wonderfully creative New Year! 

Scraps of Elegance Design Team Announcement!

I'm so excited to finally announce that I'll be creating for the Scraps Of Elegance Design Team in 2017! 

I've been holding on to this secret for what seems like forever! 

Here's a link to the blogpost, so that you can see all the amazingly talent people I'll be designing alongside:

RIGHT HERE! 

Thanks to Melinda Kelly for having me! 

Here's to a creative New Year! 

Blue Fern Studios Newest Collection ~ Heartland

Our hearts are aflutter with the announcement of our new collection, Heartland.  This 10 page double-sided collection has all the excitement, emotion and mystery associated with love.   The colors are a striking palette of blue, yellow, pink, and green, in a range gorgeous shades.  The details include all the beauty you have come to expect from Blue Fern Studios and designer, Michele Singh.  

 

 

We also have 2 flower collections that will perfectly compliment the Heartland collection!

Heartland Roses and Blooms

Heartland Blossoms

Chipboard?  Of course we have chipboard, stamps, embossing powder, and glitter, but we are saving that for another day.  Be sure to check back!

Each Day ~ Blue Fern Studios

Back today with Design Team project #2 for Blue Fern Studios. 

Let's jump right in! 

"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

That's it for today!
Thanks for coming by!

Blue Fern Studios 2017 Design Team announcement!

As Social Media Director for Blue Fern Studios, I am so excited about today's announcement of our 2017 team! 

I look forward to working with each of them. 

Here is a recap of this morning's blogpost! 

"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."

Christmas Vintage 2 Canvas ~ Blue Fern Studios

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

I'll be back next week to share my second November project for Blue Fern!
Thanks for coming by! I surely appreciate every visit!

Sandi

Yesterday ~ Blue Fern Studios Sketch Sample!

Hello, hello!

My latest project was based on this month's Blue Fern Studios Sketch by Michele Singh. You can find the October Challenge HERE.  We hope you'll find time to play along! 

This is my Design Team sample: 

"Yesterday"

I've been waiting to scrap this sweet photo since last November. As a Designer I am always working ahead, so I was using Christmas paper by the time I got the photo. This is sweet granddaughter Zoe with a pumpkin almost half as big as her! 

I dug back for an old favorite of mine, the Ombre Collection, specifically Leslie's Dream and Shannon's Dream. I took this opportunity to use the French Ironwork chipboard to anchor my design. I doubled my photos and nested then on some Calling Card, Shannon's Dream, cheesecloth and flowers! 

The Seasonal Wildflowers are a favorite of my as well, especially for outdoor scenes. Tp add color I've used a combination of Lime and Sage Embossing Powder. 

The French Ironwork is a majestic piece that I could used over and over. There are so many ways you could alter this for your designs. Here I've inked the piece and then added Nutmeg, 14 Karat and Chili Powder. The Yesterday title was treated the same. 

My Attic Charm flowers seemed a perfect match for my little pumpkin patch, so I used the Glitter Roses and Attic Charm Daisies to complete my design. I added a few simple textural pieces such as cheese cloth and seam binding. To draw the eye to the center of the page, I use Persimmon Imagine Ink Mist around the central design to blend everything together and then to splatter on the page. 

Just a dab of gesso and I'm done with this one! 

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Paper: Ombre Dreams Leslies Dreams, Shannon's Dreams and Calaling Cards

Chipboard: French Ironwork, Seasonal Wildflowers, Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday

Embossing Powder: Nutmeg, 14 Karat and Chili Powder

Stamps: Halftone

Flowers: Attic Charm Glitter Roses, Daisies

Mist: Persimmon

I think that wraps up October for me. 

You'll be seeing me here next month with some more Memoires creations, our newest paper collection! 

Thanks for coming by! 

Sandi

More Blue Fern Inspiration!

Hello, everybody!
I'm back today sharing another  October Blue Fern Studios creation.
This time using the near and dear to my heart Serendipity paper collection.

"Reminisce"

Serendipity is the collection that just keeps on giving for me! I have used almost all I have and am saving my tiniest scraps because it is so cherished! This time another engagement photo with a sunburst which captures the joy between these two lovebirds! 

I did some texture work on the Merriment paper and then starting preparing my chipboard pieces. First the Rose Collage and then the Destiny Collage. This time, I decided to colorize with gelatoes after priming my chipboard with white gesso. Then I kicked the pieces up a notch by adding some random Auburn Embossing Powder. The Reminisce title piece from Serendipity Words 2 is simply inked and then dabbed with white gesso. 

For flowers, I've used a combination of Tranquil Roses, Memoires Blooms and Late Winter Lilies. Layers were built with torn pieces of the Fascination paper and corrugated cardboard. 

 The Calling Cards that come with each paper collection are perfect for layering and as seen here, for using as a subtitle or title phrase. I've tucked in a bridal pearl spray from my stash and added a few art stones to my design. Of course, everything was dabbed with gesso to blend. 

The Destiny Collage piece is a knockout on its own but the Auburn Embossing Powder is perfect for providing warmth to the page. 

Just a close up of both the right corner of my design.  

And finally a good close-up of the chipboard pieces themselves. 

Blue Fern Products used:

Paper: Serendipity Merriment, Fascination and Calling Cards

Chipboard: Rose Collage, Destiny Collage, Serendipity Words 2

Embossing Powder: Auburn

Flowers: Tranquil Roses, Memoires Blooms and Late Winter Lilies

That's all for today. 

I'll be back in a few days with one last October project for Blue Fern. 

Thanks for coming by! 

Sandi

October Blue Fern Studios Inspiration!

Hello, hello!
Sandi here with you today sharing the first of my October creations.
I've used 3 different paper collections but one thing remains the same: awesome Blue Fern Studios chipboard!

I received the new Memoires paper collection just a few days ago along with a new batch of chipboard, flowers, stamps, embossing powder and glitter. I love taking time to admire everything and start formulating ideas for projects.

"True Story"

The Memoires paper are my new favorite … they are kind of a blend of the "Serendipity" feel paired with the warm colors of our "Autumn Anthology" papers. So hard to decide where to start because each one is so beautiful! 

The base layer is Twilight Fable layered with some torn Nature's Novel and Calling Cards for my photo layers. I did some mixed media work and then stamped randomly with the Crackle Textures stamp. Behind my photo you'll find the Persian Ornament chipboard piece which was embossed with the new Mocha Embossing Powder. It sure does shine! I treated the title piece from True Story, Big Drama the same way. I wanted the colors to mimic the papers, so stayed in that color family.  

The Spring in Paris chipboard piece is divine! I chose Black Sand embossing powder for that one as well as for the border piece, Mina's Border. I thought is would work well for architectural pieces. Here you can see some of our new flowers, Memoires Blooms. So yummy! 

My border is only attached in one spot since it is layered over the Persian Ornament piece, so it looks a little crooked although it's not. It's just dangling a bit. See how much shine you get with Mocha Embossing Powder, wow!

I'm dying over all the new stamps I received this time! Some of them have been available for a few months but my previous DT order went in before their release. I love stamps that have textural effects and have used this one around the edges of the paper and then randomly thoughout the design. 

A really good look at the Persian Ornament chipboard! 

Another sweet Memories Bloom off to the side. 

I finished with some black ink splatters. 

Now I can't wait to create my next Memoires project! 

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Paper: Memoires Twilight Fable, Nature's Novel, Calling Cards

Chipboard: Persian Ornament, Spring in Paris, Mina's Border, True Story, Big Drama set

Stamps: Crackle Textures

Embossing Powder: Mocha, Black Sand

Flowers: Memoires Blooms

I think that wraps up for today.  

I have 2 more fun Blue Fern Studios layouts to share for October! 

Thanks for coming by! 

Sandi

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Blue Fern Studios Design Team Call

 It's time for us to start looking ahead to 2017, and we are searching for some talented designers and video educators to be a part of our Creative Team!   Blue Fern Studios is continuing to grow and we need paper-crafters of all styles to help showcase our beautiful, high quality patterned paper, chipboard, stamps, embossing powder and glitter.   This call is open to all countries.  


To Apply:

Please email the following information to apply@bluefernstudios.com. Be sure to include "Design Team Application" in your subject. Application deadline is October 31, 2016 at Midnight US EST.

Full Name

E-Mail Address

Country

Link to your Blog

Link to your YouTube Channel (if you create videos)

List of Current Design Teams (and terms)

Please let us know if you design for any Stores (brick & mortar, or online)
 
Links to any Current Online Galleries

Three projects that best showcase your style, preferably using Blue Fern chipboard and patterned paper.  If you do not have access to Blue Fern products,  please use products with a similar style.  When viewing your photographs we will be looking for sharp focus, good lighting, and accurate illustration of color.  

Please resize all images to 650 pixels.

If selected, successful applicants will create (3) projects per month (choice of a combination of layouts, mixed media, altered items, or cards) and will be compensated with a generous selection of Blue Fern Studios products. New additions to our team will be notified once the selection is complete.  The 2017 Creative Team and Video Educators will officially be announced November 15, 2016 on the Blue Fern Studios blog.

We look forward to reviewing your applications, and wish you all the best of luck!

Blue Fern Studios October Challenge!

This month we are doing a sketch challenge at Blue Fern Studios! We hope that you will find the time to play along! This is a great one! For some DT examples, please visit out blog: http://bluefernstudios.blogspot.com/…/october-challenge.html

 

Can't wait to see what you create!   

Remember Moments ~ Blue Fern Studios

Hey there Blue Fern Studios fans! 

Thanks so much for coming by the blog today. 

This is project #3 for September … 

"Remember Moments"

This "Mermaid" paper has become the signature paper from the Seaside Cottage collection and I love it! My original intent was to use it for an old photo of my dad but that will have to come another time …. once I get more of these papers. However, I was itching to scrap this brother and sister photo taken near a beach. Photo credit to the Souza's photographer, name unknown. 

Since everyone has already used this paper, I decided to "go big or go home" and used the large title "Remember Moments." Otherwise, it's actually a quite simple page. Under my photo I've used the Crossing the Lines chipboard. Both of these large pieces were inked and treated with some old rusting powders. 

Seaside Gala and Calling Cards papers were torn and tucked under my photo and on top of the chipboard. Cheesecloth was used as a base. I'm loving how versatile the Blue Fern Studios lilies are. 

A close-up of the title and also a view of some of the random stamping. 

The stenciling is light but yet ties the theme together. Now this layout is headed to the sister who is missing her brother while he's away on the mission field. 

Blue Fern Studios Products used:

Paper: Seaside Cottage Mermaid, Gala, Calling Cards
Chipboard: Remember Moments, Crossing the Lines
Flowers: Dark Tropic, Late Winter and Seaside Lilies, Courtship blooms
Stamp: Widgets

See you soon!
Sandi

Fall Memories ~ Blue Fern Studios DT work ~

Hello, hello! 

Thanks so much for coming by today. 

I'm here today sharing the second of my September DT creations for Blue Fern Studios.

It is always fun to play with my Blue Fern Studios projects! 

First up:

"Fall Memories"

My granddaughter KK loves her horses! She recently sent a few photos that I'm sure she's hoping to see on some scrapbook pages! LOL I pulled out one of my favorite collections … Autumn Anthology because I knew it would work perfectly with her blue checked shirt and her horse's coat. Because I had a wide section of blue background using the Robin paper, I was able to do some simple stenciling without covering up any pretty images. The Mercantile paper is an absolute fave of mine and I've torn it into strips. It's a busy design but the colors and images are wonderful. 

I have a lot of layers of chipboard going here and it's hard to photograph because they are semi-covered with the photo layer. But I used the Mini Ring Things as a bottom left layer and also around the edges of the page. These were inked and embossed with Ginger and given a smidgen bit of Burnt Copper Glitter for shine. The next layer, other than the paper was the Flourish Medley piece which was cut in half to lengthen it. It was embossed with Ebony Embossing Powder as well as Ginger, topped off with bits of the Burnt Copper Glitter. The Collage Frame was treated the same and is directly beneath my matted photo. 

I wanted to share just a closer view of the frame and flourish pieces. They look divine in real life! 

For flowers, I combined some of the Tranquil Blooms with our Seaside Lilies. A Calling Card serves as my title. 

I'm hooked on these side views because depth, layers and texture are "my thing!"

Blue Fern Studios Products used:

Paper: Autumn Anthology Newsworthy, Mercantile, Robin, Calling Cards
Chipboard: Mini Ring Things, Collage Frame, Flouirsh Medley
Embossing Powder: Ginger, Ebony
Glitter: Burnt Copper Glitter
Flowers: Tranquil Blooms, Seaside Lilies
Stamp: Halftone

See you next week with #3!

Sandi