A Couple of Things

There are a couple of things that I wanted to share today, just in case you missed them.

The first item is to let you know that Blue Fern Studios is having a design team call.  If you have every wanted to be a part of this amazing team, now is the time to submit your application.  You can find all the details HERE.  The deadline to submit your application is November 10th. 

The second is to share an opportunity to reach out to others this Christmas.  It's the Caring Hearts Card Drive.  If you make cards, this is a perfect opportunity to bring a little joy to others this Christmas.  You can find all the details HERE.  They are collecting hand-made Christmas or holiday cards that will be mailed to those in nursing homes.  I can't think of a better way to use all those paper-crafting supplies!  I hope you will send along some cards.  As an incentive, there are lots of prizes to be awarded to those who participate.  

That's all for today.  I hope your week is off to a good start!

~~~Valerie

New at Blue Fern Studios -Vintage Christmas

As we get closer to the end of the year, Blue Fern Studios has some awesome chipboard and paper that will be perfect for your holiday/winter layouts and projects.  First up is the beautiful Vintage Christmas paper.  I'll show you just a few sheets of this collection.  You can see all of it HERE on the Blue Fern blog.  I will (for sure) be using this paper for my Christmas cards this year!

Don't you just love these fresh, vibrant colors?

I'll be back in a few days to show you some of the new chipboard pieces for winter and Christmas.

˜˜˜Valerie

Blue Fern August Sketch Challenge

Each month Blue Fern Studios hosts a sketch challenge and shares some layouts from the awesomely talented Creative Team.  Here's this month's sketch:

I really like this month's sketch created by Michele Singh.  There are so many possibilities.  Head over to the Blue Fern blog where you can see how the Creative Team has used the sketch.  So much inspiration!

Waiting for some Inspiration to come my way

I must admit.....I have been in a slump when it comes to creating layouts.  It has been something that I have loved for 15 years, and for some reason, I am just not feeling the passion right now.  I haven't given up creating, though.  I am enjoying my art journals and making cards.  Lots of cards.  Lots of art journaling. 

At first I felt bad about it (but not for very long).  I look at it as relief from monotony.  I go through stages, and I imagine most of you do, too.  What gets you inspired?  What does it take to get your fired up?  For me, one thing that really helps is something NEW!!   

That's why I am looking forward to the new collection from Blue Fern Studios.  The colors are fresh, and the designs are an interesting look back.  Take a look.  I think you will agree.  This image just doesn't convey the true beauty of the paper.  You can see a closer look at each sheet of paper in THIS blog post.  There are also coordinating chipboard pieces and a lovely set of stamps.

What helps when you just don't feel creative?  Do you fret over it, or just go with the flow and wait for inspiration and creativity to return?  I'm pretty sure you will see a layout from me once I get my hands on this paper collection!

New Blue Fern Studios

Excuse me while I take a few minutes to blow off the cob webs, and tidy up the place a little. 

 Sometimes my blog doesn't quite make it to the top of my to-to-list. 

Now that things are cleaned up, I want to let you know what's been going on at Blue Fern Studios.   We have a new paper collection and have added clear stamps.  The paper is "Love Story"and it's a stunning collection.  I love the colors, but of course, anything with some pink in it makes me very happy.  But it's not just a pink collection.  There are also beautiful shades of red, peach, green, black, and ivory.  It's very classy and elegant.  Here's a look at the entire collection:

I just recently received it and couldn't wait to create a layout.  This is my niece, Callie, and it seemed the perfect photo to use!  She is such a sweet little girl.

Blue Fern Products Used:

Love Story Collection: Twenty-one

Love Story Collection: The Grand Ball

Love Story Collection: Calling Cards

Love Story Stamps: Set Two

Chipboard: Angel (from Baby Words set), Hexagon Bits

Other:

Prima Stencil #569471

Prima Wire Thread - white

Prima Mist - Storm Cloud

Seam Binding

Ranger Texture Paste

Doily

Pumice Stone Distress Ink

Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder

Prima, Petaloo and KaiserCraft flowers

That's all for today.  Hope yours is a great one!

˜˜˜Valerie

Merry Christmas!

Blue Fern Studios Announces the 2015 Creative Team

I am very excited to continue in my role as Creative Team Coordinator for Blue Fern Studios in 2015.  Patter Cross will return as the Assistant Coordinator. 

I will have the privilege working with an amazingly talented group of women from all over the world.  Some of them I have worked with before, and I'm looking forward to being inspired by a few designers I have not worked with in the past.  It's an awesome group.  Here they are:

 Angelica Franssen

USA

  Bente Fagerberg

  Sweden

 Einat Kessler 

 Video Educator

Israel

 Elena Morgun

Design Team & Video Educator

Ukraine

 Galina Sazonova

 Russia

 Jelissa Mei

Returning Video Educator

 Singapore

 Karita Vainio

Finland

 Keren Tamir

Returning Designer

 Canada

 Kim Price

 Australia

 Marie Josee Hamel

Returning Designer

 Canada

Melinda Thompson

 Australia
 

Ulrika Blomfelt

  Sweden

Yuko Tanaka

Returning Designer

Japan

Zaneta Glowa

 Sweden

Blue Fern has a lot in store for 2015 and I am so excited to be a part of it!

˜˜˜Valerie

Happy Memories

"Happy Memories" is the perfect title for my final layout as part of the Cést Magnifique Kits design team.  I will always have happy memories of my time spent there with Leslie and the other awesome designers, as well as the members.  But the time has come for me to move on.  I am excited that I will have more time to play with paint and my art journal.  

I created this layout using the July Kit from Cést Magnifique.  This is my sweet niece, Makenzie, at the playground - going up the sliding board.  Why go down the slide?  That's boring!  The paper in the July Kit is the Ombré Dreams collection from Blue Fern Studios.  I love the beautiful mixture of colors!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!   

~Valerie

July Kit from C'est Magnifique Kits

Hi all.  C'est Magnifique released it's July kit today, "Sweet Summer Dreams".  

It's a beautiful kit filled with awesome colors.  Here's a look at it:

And here is one of my design team projects, using the beautiful Ombré Dreams Collection from Blue Fern Studios.  It can be purchases here in the store. I love this paper because it's perfect for creating your own backgrounds.  I have used both the main kit and the Magnifique Mixed Media Kit to create this layout.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~ Valerie

Happy Place

I was adding some layouts to my "stack" and realized that I had not yet shared this one.  My "stack" is the pile of layouts that need to find their way to albums, but that hasn't happened for quite a while.  

This sweet little dreamer is my nephew, Keegan, when he was just a few weeks old.  Doesn't he look like he is in a happy place?  I created this layout with the June Kit (sold out) from Cést Magnifique Kits.  This paper from KaiserCraft was just what I needed to go with his little hat! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Valerie

Nature

When my husband and I get away for a weekend in the country, he loves to watch birds, and photograph them.  

Isn't this a beautiful woodpecker?  

I created this layout using the upcoming July kit from C'est Magnfique Kits.  

The featured paper will be the Ombré Dreams collection from Blue Fern Studios.

The July Magnifique Mixed Media Kit  can now be purchased in the Store. 

 

Two add-ons are also available - the Flower Add-on and the Embellishment Add-on:

 

I can't wait to show more of the kit later this month.

~Valerie

Blue Fern Studios Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone.  Blue Fern Studios has posted the June Sketch Challenge on their blog.   As always, it's an awesome sketch created by Michele Singh, exclusively for Blue Fern Studios. 

All the details can be found HERE on the Blue Fern Studios blog, along with 12 stunning examples from our design team! 

~Valerie