Happiness and Peace - with Blue Fern Studios

 

Today is Blue Fern Studios day.  I made a layout for my dad and a tag for my husband. 

This first layout is called Happiness Is...

It is a photo I took of my father last summer.  He has his fishing vest on and his fishing hat.  He was walking back from the pond behind his house where he had just taught my son to fish. It was the sweetest moment.  

My dad loves to fish.  Even with his cane in his hand, he can still find a way to cast a line.  He was so happy the day my son called him up and asked if he could learn from the best. He had been waiting for a lifetime to teach someone.  This day finally arrived.

My dad he has taught us wisdom, grace, selflessness and patience and what it means to wait for something you love...

As kids, he took us on family fishing trips with great hope one of us would catch the fishing fever and fall in love with it. He was patient - we weren't. He was a great teacher -we didn't listen. He was encouraging - we'd rather stay home. To his dismay, none of us "got hooked". Four kids, no luck. Like a pond full of potential yet no bites.

Joy of joys, we all had children and Grandpa's hope for a 'lil fishin' buddy was rekindled. As the years passed, not a single grandchild expressed a lick of interest in fishing. Poor Grandpa was settling into the lonely realization that it probably wasn't going to happen.

Last summer, at age 15, my son's first spark of interest flickered. I took my son right to the family expert for advice and tips. Grandpa beamed with pride. He'd been waiting some 25 years for one of his grandchildren to take up fishing. Any grandchild. Someone please just hook a worm would ya

Grandpa went to his barn and started digging out this and that until a sizable pile had been stacked. You should have seen Grandpa's face as he proudly handed over his equipment like a rite of passage.

One treasure was an old fishing vest that fit my son like it was custom made. My dad must have had that 'ol vest for about 50 years or longer.

Dont'cha know fishing vests apparently do not go out of style.

That afternoon, Grandpa and I watched my son ride away on his bike to the fishing pond. The memory of that day will warm my heart for many years to come. Boy on bike wearing the old vest, and Grandpa's fishing pole sticking out of his backpack. I think I saw Grandpa dab away a tear.

Thanks to Grandpa for sharing his beloved equipment with my son.

Soooooooo how did my son do? Well the photo attached shows the joy of his first catch. In time I imagine this fish will get bigger as the fish in stories always do - until they reach epic sizes. But that is OK. Every person needs a fish tale...of course as daddy's little girl, I believe each and every one of my dad's fish stories to be the truth (wink).

Thanks to cell phone photos, my son was able to give Grandpa the best gift ever...a picture of his first catch ever with the assistance of a loving Grandpa.

My father was able to help create a memory that my son will have forever. Truly a great , caring and loving Grandpa and father.

This was created using the Once Upon a Sketch layout created by Nadia Cannizzo.

Natural Sprigs Set - 074639

Good Vibes 074899

Seasonal Wildflowers 074394

In the image above, I used the Natural Sprigs Set and painted them with some crackle paint, added ink to the edges and then micro beads and mossy textures.  I wanted to keep them looking like weeds at the pond. 

In the image below, the Blue Fern Happiness piece from the Good Vibes set was painted with a clear crackle paint and sprinkled with micro beads, then inked with dark chestnut ink.  I also dabbed with some cream colored acrylic paint. 

This image shows the Seasonal Wildflowers chipboard piece - one of my favorite pieces. I painted it with gesso,  and painted the stems with green ink.  I topped with gold seed beads - made it look kind of weed-like. 

Here are some more photos from that day. It warms my heart to have been there!

This is the first fish he caught!  Look at that joy!

This is my dad from  a few years ago.  Look at that fish!  And No......I did not edit it via photoshop. hahaha 

Here is a tag I made called Peace. Being new to the world of tag making, I am having fun with them.  My husband is taking all my tags and attaching them to wine bottle for gifts. 

Here are the chipboard pieces I used on this:

Nifty Tags & Tickets - 074738

Good Vibes 074899

Fancy Birdcage 074677

The Peace chippie from the Good Vibes set was painted with teal paint and accented with gold paint. 

I paired the star from the Nifty Tags & Tickets set with the stand from the birdcages. The star is coated with gold paint and topped with an ornate metal star from my stash - an old piece of jewelry.  

Thanks so very much for stopping by.  Check back often as Blue Fern is adding new designs all the time. 

I also want to remind you about the monthly sketch challenge at Blue Fern ( designed by Michele Singh)

The sketch is amazing. If you don't have a fence punch some borders, use some strips of paper, add some paper rolls.  Come on - get creative and win this amazing Blue Fern prize.

1. You must use at least one piece of Blue Fern Studios chipboard in your entry (any piece of your choosing). If you're wondering where to buy, see the link HERE!

2. Please do not use any other brand of chipboard.

3. Upload your projects using the Inlinkz tool below by midnight EST on May 31st, 2013.

Post them here:

Supplies used:
Happiness Is... Layout:
Blue Fern Studios Good Vibes 074899
Blue Fern Studios  Seasonal Wildflowers 074394
Blue Fern Studios Natural Sprigs Set - 074639
Kaisercraft Pickled Pear Avocado P973/Willow P970
The Crafters Workshop (TCW) Reverse Chicken Wire Template
Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Ink
Art Anthology Colorations Spray - Timeless
Molding paste
Beads
Misc floral picks and berries
Bo Bunny
Flower Soft - Nutmeg
Martha Stewart Micro Beads - gold and teal
Martha Stewart edge punch - spider web
Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mixd Media Inx - Vintage / Mossy
Ranger Glossy accents
Adirondack Acrylic Paint - Sandal
Ranger Tim Holtz Crackle Paint - Antique Linen
Dew Drops - clear acrylic beads
Dry Wall Tape

Peace Tag:
Blue Fern Studios Nifty Tags & Tickets - 074738
Blue Fern Studios Fancy Birdcage 074677
Blue Fern Studios Good Vibes 074899
Lumiere Teal Paint
Gold Doily
Kaissercraft 75Cent Collection - Phrases and Expressions Butterfly paper/ Penny
Metal Star
Martha Stewart microbeads
Viva Inca Gold- Old Gold
Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Blue Fern Sketch for May 2013

Blue Fern Studios has a monthly design challenge designed by the creative amazing Michele Singh.   This is my piece for the month of May.

I wanted to make the image blend into the page so I used my inks and stamps to create the background.

The image is Emile Munier 1892 Mother and Child - part of a private collection, no restrictions found.

Here are the elegant Blue Fern pieces that were used:

Blue Fern Studios Lattice Fence -074998

 Blue Fern Studios Brigitte Butterfly Set 074387

The fence was primed with gesso first, then dabbed with a few inks to make it blend better.

The lovely Brigitte Butterfly was painted with Adirondack acrylic paint then inked and topped with Sitckles in aqua to give it more flight.

Thanks for looking and consider playing along with the challenge - or liking us on Facebook.

Supplies:
Blue Fern Studios Brigitte Butterfly Set 074387
Blue Fern Studios Lattice Fence -074998
Stickles - Aqua
Tim Holtz Ink - Vintage Photo/ Tumbled Glass/ Bundled Sage
Clearsnapo Donna Salazar Mixd Media Inx - Mossy/Verdigris/Vintage/Black/Pewter/Butternut/Leather/Honey
Kaisercraft 75 Cent - Penny
Donna Salazar Stamps: Bubblewrap/Vine
Prima Stamp - 563042 Engraver collection
Gesso
Dry Wall Tape
Gold Embroidery Floss
Adirondack Acrylic paint - Sandal

Playing Dress up - with the Blue Fern Studios

Today I am dressing up some Blue Fern Studios chipboard.

Blue Fern Studios is new to the chipboard world and creating quite a stir indeed.  They are ornate and elegant and unique in design.   You can find them at a number of on-line stores - click here for the store list.

Playing Dress Up

This first layout is just dressing up the gorgeous ornate Blue Fern Sweetheart Dressform.  I painted it with some pale yellow acrylic paint and adorned it with gold tulle.  I wanted to emulate the tulle or georgette dress in the vintage photo ( from Magic Moonlight Free Images).

Sweetheart Dressform Model 074574

I topped the neckline with  Stickles glitter glue in paprika to match my papers. .

Here are some of the simple flowers I made to look like the simple flowers in the patterned paper. 

Our Special Day
This is my next piece featuring a few different pieces of Blue Fern.

I used the Heart Set, which is so elegant and exquisite.  They can easily be tucked into clusters or featured on their own.  They can be layered or stand strong as individual pieces.  

There are the Blue Fern Studios pieces I used:
Heart Set Model: 074417

 Valentine Cupids Model: 074769

I painted my chipboard with gesso to prime them.  They don't need priming, but I wanted them light because I was going to be painting them with a pale pink.  A nice basecoat of  white creates a clean finished look for what I was trying to present.

I then painted the hearts with light pink acrylic.  After they dried, I dabbed here and there with Ranger Clear Rock Candy paint and sprinkled with micro beads while the paint was wet.  I also used some lace to back one of the hearts. 

This beautiful ornate heart has a little white acrylic dabbed here and there to soften a bit. The design is just so striking.   You can see how the gold leaf wax ( Rub N Buff) just adds a little extra elegance to the heart. 

Here is my darling little Cupid of love. He is sitting top one of the Blue Fern Hearts.  This heart has lace on the front of it. 

The Cupid is covered in Stampendous Aged Enamel in Ivory.  It is great stuff and has chunks of gold in it to give a bumpy chunky texture when heated.  

You can  see the generous coating of Rub N Buff on the paper. Both heart and cupid have a little Rub N Buff on them also.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Stop by the Blue Fern Studios Blog or Like us on FaceBook.
Remember to visit your favorite on-line store to purchase some of these gorgeous chippies and start having fun with them.

Supplies:
Playing Dress Up:
Blue Fern Studios Sweetheart Dressform Model 074574
Websters Pages Park Drive - Box Lunch US1970D and My Town US1967D
Donna Salazar Mixd Media Inx - Schoolhouse/ Mossy
EK Success - 5 petal punch 2.5inch
Stickles Paprika

Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge punch 

McGill - Starburst punch


Our Special Day:
Blue Fern Studios Valentine Cupids Model: 074769
Blue Fern Studios Heart Set Model: 074417

Bella d'Adore Damask

Ruby Rock-It Eklectique 200GSM

Stampabilities Le London Script Stamp

Gesso

Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel/ heat gun

Prima Soprano Pink Flowers

Gold foil doily/ laces/ micro beads

Rub N Buff
Ranger Clear Rock Candy paint

Blue Fern Studios April Sketch Challenge

April Flowers
This is a photo I took of my cousin from 2012.  I thought I would pair her up with some Blue Fern Studios   chippies and try painting a pastel watercolor looking background with my Lindy's Stamp Gang mists.

This was created for the brand new sketch challenge at Blue Fern Studios by the gifted Michele Singh
Don't get discouraged if you don't have the Floral clock that is shown in the sketch - substitute it for a punched circle or perhaps some string or stamping in a circle.  Utilize your Blue Fern chippies elsewhere.

Someone asked if I used photoshop to create the whitewash  over processed look.  I did not.  It is very light in person and I actually was afraid I would have to enhance it in photoshop for the internet, but in the end I did not.

     Here are the chipboard products I used: Floral Clock 074684

Garden Daisy (large 074967) and (small 074974)

This is how I created my watercolor look:  

Step 1.  Completely coat your paper or canvas with clear gesso.  The clear canvas acts as a water barrier for the papers so that the mists do not soak into the paper.  

Step 2.  I dipped my paintbrush upouring a little Lindy's onto my nonstick craft mat.  Then dabbed the Lindy's onto the paper lightly.

Step 3.  Dabbed up the excess mist on my paper with a paper towel so  it does not leave a pool or puddle of mist. 

Step 4.  Sprayed water from mist bottle onto the spot where I painted - then dabbed up the water with a paper towel. 

Step 5.  If not happy with results, spray more water or add more mist and follow the steps over again. 

Step 6.  Using a black marker, trace some of the lines around the splotches.  

Step 7.  Rub a little Tim Holtz Scattered Straw ink around the page for blending and softening. 

I painted the chippies with white gesso then added yellow acrylic paint for the flowers and green acrylic paint for the stems.   The yellow was too bright for me so I painted over with white gesso to tone down. 

Thanks so very much for looking. 

So come and play along with the  Blue Fern Studios sketch challenge here and get creative. 

Supplies:

Garden Daisy (large 074967) and (small 074974) 

Floral Clock 074684

Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch

Stampabilities Le London Script Punch

Archival Ink -Jet Black

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst - California Poppy Gold/Ramblin Rose Pink/Heliotrope Purple Plum

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Flat Fabio Caribbean Blue

Claudine Hellmuth - Pastel Yellow/Landscape Green
Prima Wishes and Dreams Stamp by Leeza Gibbons
Tim Holtz Scattered Straw ink