Blue Fern Studios Giveaway: Blue Fern Gardens Paper Collection

GIVEAWAY: Blue Fern Garden {Our NEW Paper Collection!}

Today is a very exciting day, because we finally get to reveal to you {in its entirety} our BRAND NEW paper collection:

 Blue Fern Garden

AND we're giving some away- how would you LOVE to win this one for yourself? First take a look at these gorgeous papers, and then scroll down to see how you can make it your OWN!

Are you in love yet? I know we are!

Now, for your chance to WIN:

-You can gain {one} entry by simply entering using the Inlinkz tool on the Blue Fern Studios blog. 

-Gain a {second} entry by sharing this giveaway on your blog {in a blog post}; simply enter the link to that post using the Inlinkz tool on the Blue Fern Studios blog.

-Please be sure you are following us!

-We'd love to see this shared on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Why? By getting the word out there, we get more entries- but what does that mean for you? 

*~*Every time we reach an additional 50 entries, we will give away ANOTHER paper collection! Therefore, if we get 50 entries, we give away 1 collection. 100 entries, we give away 2, and so on...The more you share, the better your chances of snagging one of these collections for yourself!*~*

So enter, share, and cross your fingers! This giveaway runs through January 20th, 2014 at midnight {Central Time}. The lucky winner{s} will be chosen by random draw shortly thereafter.

Good luck!

Flying Unicorn January Kit Reveal - Part 4

The January kit of the month includes a whole stack of fantastic thick, one-sided Prima Art Journaling Paper by Jodie Lee. Most of the papers are brightly coloured, but the following layout is based off of one of the more subdued sheets, taken in a completely grungy direction.

This picture of me was taken at the brunch the day after our wedding, 10 1/2 years ago. When my 2 1/2 year old, Colby, saw the picture, he asked if it was me, and when I said it was, asked "but where's Colby?" LOL.

Lots of layering going on here. I started by stencilling with the 13 Arts Gesso, and when that was dry misted with grey and black mists. I then applied the mesh drywall tape and the tissue tape and finally added stamping to fill in the blank spots. A touch of silver and grey Gelatos randomly on the edges finished off the background.

Layered paper strips are a great way to use up little cut-off strips of other papers. To blend these cut-offs from the Vintage Vanity papers in the Small Art Big Passion kit I simply painted on some watered-down grey Gelato.

The white Prima Tatianna flowers from the Mixed Passion kit are perfect for customizing - I sprayed this one with gold and green and grey to get it to blend perfectly with the layout. Likewise the white flowers pictured below.

Left over Venice Lace from the Small Art Big Passion kit provided a perfect dark contrast to avoid the layout being too washed out.

Thanks for stopping in!

Flying Unicorn January Kit Reveal - Part 3

Have you heard about the changes to the Flying Unicorn kit of the month? We have revamped our add-ons to give you more of what you want, including more mixed media products. Our monthly Mixed Art Kit comes complete with everything you need to complete some mixed media projects, including a canvas, and can be used either as a standalone kit or in conjunction with the coordinating main kit. The Mixed Art Kit will always include a canvas; this month's canvas is a 10x10 board-mounted primed canvas (which means you do not need to use gesso or another sealer on the canvas before starting your project).

This month's Mixed Art Kit includes several media from 13 Arts, including their to-die-for gesso - this stuff is so thick it withstands Dairy Queen's Blizzard test - turn the tub upside down and the gesso will stay where it is. Amazing stuff for stencilling, and as you can see from the photos below, great at holding peaks. I scraped it through the Prima Bubbles 12x12 stencil, then used the sponge from the kit to ponce over top of it to create the texture. I want a 10 gallon tub of this stuff beside my crafting table. Once everything was dry I applied my mist layer.

The pink dots are made using one of the 3 colors of 13 Arts Watercolor Paint included in the Mixed Art Kit - love this paint and can't wait to add more colors to my collection. Like the gesso, it has lots of body, making it more sturdy than many watercolor paints; it is also opaque.

A couple finishing touches, including layered paper strips, lace, a Vintage Vanity numeral, adhesive mesh, flowers and canvas strings.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flying Unicorn January Kit Reveal - Part 2

There are some exciting changes to the Flying Unicorn Kit of the Month starting this month, but one staple remains unchanged, something that sets Flying Unicorn kits apart, and that is the inclusion of an off-the-page project in every kit. This month the kit includes a fantastic mixed media Finnabair art journal from Prima. Included in the Mixed Art add-on are Lindy's Stamp Gang mists and 13 Arts Gesso, and the Small Art, Big Passion add-on features Prima Vintage Vanity papers by Finnabair and Flying Unicorn laces and Adornments. I paired these with some Luminarte Silks, now available in the Flying Unicorn Store to create my art journal cover.

I coloured the outside edges of the journal with gold Silks, and added masking to the top using the 13 Arts gesso and Clearscraps mask over Primary Elements in Coral Berry. I then layered torn strips of Vintage Vanity papers for my background and started misting!

The Flying Unicorn Metal Adornments were painted with Silks; I also added touches to the clear resin pieces to help blend them.

I love the look of the black Venise lace in the kit, but it was too bold for my project. To achieve the sumptuous look below, I started by roughly covering it with gesso, and once that was dry I dabbed on Silks in Emperor's Gold and Vavoom Red.

To create my butterfly I cut apart the petal of one of the metal flowers for wings and layered one of the other metal pieces overtop.

I hope you've gotten your kit - if not, hurry over to the Flying Unicorn Store, they won't last long!

Supplies Used:

From the kit:

- Prima Art Journal

- ClearScraps Stencil: Shattered Glass

- 13 Arts Gesso

- Lindy's Stamp Gang Grab A Guy Gold

- Prima Vintage Vanity papers

- Flying Unicorn Black Venice Lace

- Flying Unicorn Metal Adornments

- Prima Candy Gums Berry

From my stash:

- Luminarte Silks: Emperor's Gold, Vavoom Red, Ginger Peach

- Luminarte Primary Elements: Coral Berry

- Gel Medium

- Prima 12x12 Checker Stencil

- Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo

- Viva Pearl Pen: Sunny Yellow

- Prima Lightbulb

Flying Unicorn January Kit Reveal - Part 1

Happy New Year! I hope that 2014 is off to a good start for you, and wish you peace, love, happiness and health this year. 2014 is sure starting off with a bang for me - Evan, the boys and I are skiing up at the mountain with some of our family for Christmas break, and almost as soon as we get home I will be turning around and leaving again for Los Angeles to attend Prima Art Venture and CHA. I can't wait to reconnect with old friends, meet some more online friends in person, play with new Prima goodies and see what new releases will be coming out soon. Then all my boys, my sister, and hopefully my brother-in-law will be joining me for several days in Disneyland to celebrate my 35th birthday. It's going to be a whirlwind of a month.

Have you had a chance to check out the new format for the Flying Unicorn Kit of the Month? If not, here's a short recap:

The Main Kit remains unchanged, including the awesome Off-The-Page project. But the Add-Ons have been completely redesigned to give you more of what you want now.

The Mixed Art Add-On ($24.99) is a mixed media lover's dream which can be enjoyed on its own or as a complement to the main kit. It includes a canvas and a mix of inks, mists, trinkets, gesso, modelling paste, crackle, etc.

The Mixed Passion Add-On ($24.99) is a mixture of embellishments to complement the main kit, Mixed Art Add-On and Small Art, Big Passion kit. It includes 3-4 packs of flowers, as well as resins, chipboard, trinkets, adornments, lace, trims, etc.

Small Art, Big Passion kit ($19.99) is a mini kit that can be used on its own for cards, tags and ATCs or as a complement to the main kit. It includes 6x6 or A4 papers, lace, trinkets, cardstock and various embellies.

I get all 4, and let me tell you, my 4" deep shipping box was packed to bursting!

On to my first project with the new kit. When the CT received the kit we all had the same question - who was the manufacturer of these gorgeous papers? As it turns out, it is a Prima limited release of Jodie Lee Art Journal papers (click here for a view of each piece of patterned paper), each with a multi-layered background that will get your creative juices pumping.

Young At Art

I took this picture of my kids' and nieces' and nephew's hands after doing some art journalling with them up at the family's summer cabin. We set up a large folding table out on the deck in the sun and let them get messy, and we had great fun!

These thick, sumptuous papers are perfect for distressing, and because of their weight stand up really well to media. I started by stencilling the background using the Prima Butterflies stencil and the amazing 13 Arts Gesso (this stuff is THICK!), then sprayed over it with the Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays from the Mixed Art add-on.

I added some stamping for extra visual interest.

Stencilling with Shimmerz Dazzlerz in Lemon Drop (now back in stock at the Flying Unicorn Store) behind my cluster; I used the 13 Arts Water Paints (love these, they are thick and opaque) on the die cut leaves.

The "art" in my title is one of the chippies from the kit painted with Shimmerz Dimensionz and a touch of gesso.

More touches of 13 Arts paint on corrugated cardboard.

Grab your kit and add-ons while you can - once they're gone, they're gone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

From the kit and add-ons:

- Prima Jodie Lee Art Journal papers

- 13 Arts Paints: Matte Coral, Matte Lemon, Matte Pink

- 13 Arts Gesso

- Kaisercraft stamp

- Maya Road words

- Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays: Wild Honeysuckle Coral, Maidenhair Fern Green 

- Petaloo and Prima flowers

From my stash:

- Shimmerz Dimensionz Blue Lagoon

- Prima Butterfly 12x12 Stencil

- Shimmerz Dazzlerz Lemon Drop

- Crafter's Workshop Mini Art Is Stencil

- Prima Doily Stamp

- Prima Divine Alphas

- La La Land Dies: Creepy Vines and Large Flourish

- Prima Wooden Birds

- Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad

- Dylusions White Linen spray
- Dylusions Stencil
- Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powder: Scotch Broom Yellow

Flying Unicorn January Kit of the Month Release

We are so excited to share and to reveal to you the changes in our Kit of the Month!

We begin with out MAIN KIT and the INCLUDED off the page project :

Not many changes to the main kit. You will get the latest and the greatest in the main kitto get your creative mojo flowing and we will always include an off the page project ( OTP) that will inspire and sometimes challenge your inspiration- but always creative fun !

We will no longer give names to our monthly kits - they mean nothing. What matters is Your Passion .Your Art !

Welcome to the Mixed Art! Our new add on kit will always come with a canvas and a variety mediums, mists, tools that compliment that main kit.

Our Mixed Passion add on kit if filled with flowers, ribbons, trinkets and more. Jam packed with embellishments that compliment the main kit.

Small Art. Big Passion is exactly what this new add on kit is filled with. Papers that are on a smaller scale that will compliment the main kit and embellishments that are scaled to compliment the main kit or to entice you to create cards, tags, atc's and so much more !

The Flying Unicorn Creative Team fell in love with the changes that we have done - and it shows! Look at the incredible inspired projects:

Our educational creativeness will remain in full force in 2014! Join Erica this month for our BAP (Build a Page) project and Lynne as she shares some awesome techniques on our You Tube Channel.

January's YOUR ART. YOUR PASSION. IS NOW AVAILABLE! Like the years past - Art should be a passion and not an obligation - so there are no sign ups for our kits and once they are gone they are gone!

Blue Fern Studios January Sketch Challenge

Happy New Year! Not only is it a new year, but it's the beginning of a new month, and that means a new sketch challenge at Blue Fern Studios. I have always loved playing along with the Blue Fern sketches, and am delighted to get to do so as a member of the 2014 Design Team!

Here is this month's sketch from the incredibly talented Michele Singh.

Although you do not have to use the specific Blue Fern chippies used in the sketch, I LOVE the Winter Page Dangles and couldn't wait to use them on this layout.

This is a picture of my two youngest cuties. I don't know what it is about ski gear, but these two have been obsessed with putting it on ever since they could stand. Brennan, our middle son, has been skiing for a year now, and Colby, at 2.5, can't wait to get started and regularly steals his brothers' helmets and goggles. I foresee a lot of tears this year as his brothers suit up for ski lessons and he's still too young to go (though we do plan on getting him out on the bunny hill on a leash). The "Photo Op" words from the Picture Perfect set were perfect for this photo - I don't have many of these two together.

Because the colours of the photo are so neutral, I wanted to add color to the layout and began by smearing yellow acrylic paint across the background, then added some stencilling and stamping to tone it down a little bit.

I painted each of the dangles in gesso, then added a couple of shades of the same colour to each one for some depth, and finished them off with Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel - I love how in addition to the dominant colour it also contains gold or silver and black, adding more dimension to the piece. A little touch of gesso on my finger finished the coloured bits off.

I left the chain parts of the dangles white so that the shapes would stand out, and made sure to assemble my cluster so that the shapes could still be seen - why cover up those cool little details?

I mounted my photo on a piece of the Tattered Diamond Bits, which I treated simply with gesso and some blue paint.

A closeup of some of the background details.

Blue Fern Studios Chipboard Pieces Used:

Winter Dangles

Picture Perfect

Tattered Diamond Bits

Thank you for stopping by! Check out the Blue Fern Studios blog for details on entering the Sketch Challenge and to see the beautiful chippies up for grabs.