Always Remember with Made With Love

Happy Sunday friends!

How are you doing on this long holiday weekend? I am taking in a lot of lovely smells of rendang from my neighbourhood as our Malay friends here celebrate their festival, at the same time the two younger ones as they have both chosen to fall sick at the same time. But nothing to make myself feel better than to share about some lovely products I've been using recently!

I got a HUGE wooden thickboard tag from Stampers Anonymous in my DT kit for Made With Love some time back, but had completely forgotten to use it. Well, I found it again while packing up my room and thought it will be perfect for a nice shabby project. 

And what speaks shabby and grunge more than Blue Fern Studios' Artisan collection of papers? I'm using Happy Accident here, and instead of the usual cut and paste, I've done gel transfer for the background. It's lovely how the designs seem to blend and fuse into the thickboard itself. You can see here for a tutorial of the gel transfer background technique. Then I took some Tim Holtz Ideology tissue paper and added it for some relief and details.

More details in the close-ups:

In my kit was the Prima Marketing Artisan Powder (designed by Frank Garcia, one of my favourite scrapbookers). It's a pretty amazing thing and I've used it 3 ways here - dusting it as a pigment on my flowers and fabric trim, using it as a distress color on the edges of my tag and mixing it with gel as a tinted medium I can use over my stencil. 

I like to use chipboards in my projects and here is no exception. The wildflower chipboard was first colored with Peacock Feathers distress paint, followed by Shabby Shutters and some dabs of Dina Wakely's acrylic paint in Elephant. Then was a layer of crackle paste from Prima and lastly, a watered down layer of the acrylic paint in Medieval to bring out the cracks. The mushroom chipboard showed the exact same colors except without the crackle.

For my title, I used Dina Wakely's acrylic paint in Gilt to cover the entire piece. What I like about this paint is its rich colors and how easy it is to work with. The small bottles come with a handy fine-tip applicator so you don't end up over dispensing too much paint and waste that good stuff. 

A little bit more of some metal bits I've painted over with Prima's acrylic paint in Patina. 

And that's all I have for you today. Enjoy your day ahead!

Family with Made With Love

Hello friends! What a wet Monday in May! It's supposed to be all bright and hot and sunny in Singapore now but the weather's been so funny. Well, can't complain because I love cool weather.

In fact, that was what we had on our trip to Melbourne last spring - albeit too cold for comfort. But oh, so many wonderful memories and today, I've finally scrapped our family photo from that trip for my DT project for Made With Love.

Family photos go on display on the counter by the main door, so it has to be something really sturdy. I used an IKEA photo frame as a base, and the rest of the supplies are from the awesome kit that Aida packed for me. And the kit has all my favourite Blue Fern Studio goodies! Although I have left their DT after 3 wonderful years, BFS products always get my mojo going - and the best is they are available from Made With Love - in Singapore!

For the picture frame, I prepped it with Dina Wakely's white gesso followed by grit paste from Ranger's. This added to the beach/ocean feel that I wanted to create in the project.

More details in the close-ups:

The background paper is from their new series of amazing background papers, aptly called Artisan Collection and this particular set is named Happy Accident. Happy days indeed because papers like these are perfect for lots of mixed media background work with their neutral tones and subtle details. For my project, I had a very simple stencil to match the splatter patterns on the paper, painted over with Distress Stain in Antiqued Bronze to give a nice shimmer.

I had a little anchor from Blue Fern Studios which I painted over with Copper metallic paint from Prima's mixed media range of products, and dabbed over with their Patina paint to create a distressed and weathered look. For the chipboard leaves, I first painted over with Prima's metallic watercolor palette before going over Distress Paints in Shabby Shutter and Distress Crayon in Peeled Paint, giving me a very dimensional but well-blended effect.

This chipboard from Blue Fern Studios had a lot of work done on it as well. The bits with shells had first script stamped embossed with dark blue embossing powder, followed by painting over with Prima's Opl Magic paint in blue/gold. The seaweeds were painted the same way as the other leaves chipboards, but for the flowers I had used Distress Crayon in Spun Sugar, and the chain bits with Copper metallic and patina paints. Phew, that's a lot of painting and mixing around different stuff!

I also tucked in a lot of ephemera from Kaisercraft (these pretty die cuts are just right for layering, accenting and filling out your projects) as well as some hessian I found in my kit. Fabric is a wonderful material for layering and adding a special bit of texture. 

Another seashell bit chipboard that I altered with liquid pearls. This dimensional paint is so useful - I can use it to create pearls (duh, that's pretty obvious) but it is also wonderful to use as a shimmery paint with 3D effects like these. Pearl-fect for a shiny seashell!

I rarely use Thickers but the set that came in the kit was just so me - lightly distressed with a wonderful texture of rough glitter bits. It was just right for my title.

Filling in the gaps in the project with these cute little pebbles, also from Prima Marketing.

And that's all I have for today! You can find the list of supplies I used for this project below, and they can all be found at Made With Love.

Supplies used:

paper: Blue Fern Studios - Happy Accident

flowers: Prima Marketing Inc

Distress Crayon, Stain, Perfect Pearls: Rangers

acrylic paints: Prima Marketing Inc

chipboards: Blue Fern Studios

die cuts: Kaisercraft

alpha-stickers: American Crafts

Memoires with Blue Fern Studios

Hello friends! 

Today is my turn on the Blue Fern blog and I'm excited to be showing you a couple of projects I've created with the beautiful new collection by Michele!

This collection had me digging up old photos from the attic. My first layout is one of my folks when they were on their honeymoon.

Keeping the background really toned down because of the details in the paper that I wanted to show.

Close-ups:

Mesh bits chipboard which I had altered with Clover and Grassy Knoll embossing powders.I also fussy cut an element from Calling Cards which made a lovely addition to this floral cluster.

Another cluster with the other half of the Mesh Bits chipboard, layered over another fussy cut from Calling Cards and a bit of the Cuckoo Clock chipboard.

The Cuckoo Clock chipboard which I painted with copper metallic paint and added a couple of shiny bits on.

My title piece which I altered with Copper, 14 Karat and Antique Gold EP.

My second project is a video tutorial which I had created with also papers from the Memoires collection. This features a photo of my dad and me on a holiday trip.

A fair bit more details in the background as the paper was suitable for some playing around with. I also deliberately chose the Daisy Collage chipboard to match the paper because of the brick motif.

The clock piece from Cuckoo Clock chipboard, of which the main clock was used in the first layout. I also used Late Winter Lilies throughout the layout because they added so much softness to the page.

Sparkly antique feel created for the Ever After Frame.

Daisy Collage tucked between the paper layers.

More of the Daiy Collage.

You can view the creative process in this video:

Hello friends, how have you been? 

July has been very exciting and now that August is here, I'm looking to better times ahead! Today I'm so glad to be sharing with you two creations using the fabulous new collection Seaside Cottages. This set of papers speak right to my heart and to say it was love at first sight is a great understatement. Michele has outdone herself yet again with this gorgeous beach-themed collection filled with soft colours and stunning images.

My first layout is of my eldest having some fun with his feet in the sand. Woodgrain is really my thing and I had to use it for the background. Seeing that the paper is so full of details, I toned down my background work and used to it accent the colors on the page. 

Details in the close-ups:

An anchor from part of the Seaside Flourish chippie which I had embossed with Copper EP from Imagine Ink and painted some turquoise acrylic paint over for a tarnished look. The petals were sprinkled with Dusty Pink glitter.

Layer, layer, layer! That's what you do when you have so many pretty papers at hand! Here, I built up lots of dimension with scraps from Calling Cards, Voyage and Splendour. 

Using a Calling Card sentiment as my title. The little stars on the flourish chipboard were also given a nice coat of Sunshine glitter.

My second share is a mixed media canvas and I had used so many fun stuff on it! The starfish and shells that you see are actually from a potpourri set and they smell amazing!

This is the Seashell Frame which I had a lot of fun altering with EP and duo-toned acrylic paint.

A little sailboat from Nautical Set. Check out the background - it's one of the patterned papers from Seaside collection and I didn't have to do much to make it look so grungy and vintage all at the same time!

Who doesn't love a dolphin? I have one here with some seaweed chippies. Check out the Seaside Lilies that come as part of the coordinating flowers - they are so perfectly distressed that I didn't have to fiddle with them at all. 

Mr Octopus saying hi.

I seem to have a thing for anchors again! This one is embossed and wrapped with a piece of twine.

A title piece from Calling Cards, matched by the Seaside Roses.

And here is the video of how I put everything together. Sit back and enjoy!

July Inspiration with Blue Fern Studios

Hello friends,

how have you been? Half the year has been gone and summer is now upon us! It has been such a great and fulfilling year so far and I'm really thankful for all the people that have come into my life.

For my blog post today on Blue Fern Studios, I have two projects to share with you using some of my favourite past collections.

First is a shadow box display which I intend as a gift to a dear friend. I've done something different this time in that, I went without my usual mixed media background but instead, focused on the Blue Fern papers and chipboards. I've been meaning to do this but couldn't find the right project to start off. The shadow box I found in my LSS was just perfect!

Here is the piece, created using Autumn Anthology papers:

I'm particularly drawn to this collection because of the beautiful shade of cobalt blue mixed with coral Michele used in the papers. If you know me by now, blue is one of my favourite colors and I can't use enough of it. It's a good thing I have two boys that I can use the color for! There are also plenty of images that I can fussy cut out from this collection and you can see that I wasted no time in doing just that.

Some details in the close-ups:

 

Love this hot air balloon! A little tea cup basket does remind me of the spinning tea cup ride at amusement parks in my childhood. I've dabbed some Sticklers on for a nice glittery effect.

Chained Bits and Berry Stems chipboard which I had altered with Imagine Ink embossing powders.
For Berry Stems, I first painted with some shimmery watercolors before using Grassy Knoll EP randomly. For Chained Bits, I first used Auburn EP, followed by Mushroom and Buttercup EP before topping it off with Copper Glitter.

Using the Marseille Frame here, which fit the display perfectly. I first covered it with copper metallic paint before brushing on clear crackle paint for extra texture.

A Flutter Page Dangle which I had snipped up. I first colored it with Gelato, then stamped and embossed with Cotton Candy and Watermelon EPs.

A flower which I altered with glitter in Sunshine and Dusty Pink.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Autumn Anthology - Le Ballon, Balcony, Calling Cards

chipboard: Marseille Frame, Berry Stems, Chained Bits, Flutter Page Dangle
Imagine Ink: embossing powders - Grassy Knoll, Auburn, Mushroom, Buttercup, Cotton Candy, Watermelon
glitter - Copper, Sunshine, Dusty Pink

My second project is a layout using the Frolic collection. It matches the theme of my eldest playing in the grass field. The bits of yellow and blue really brings out the mood of feeling the sun on my face on a cloudless day. 

Details in the close-ups:

A subtitle from Calling Cards. 

Whimsy Flourish which I had altered.

My title piece, altered with embossing powders and glitter.

Fussy cutting here

Looped Frames which I had altered with embossing powders and glitter.

And here is the start to finish video:

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Frolic - Veranda, Calling Cards, Dans le Jardin

chipboard: Looped Frames, Whimsy Flourish, Glee

flowers: Tranquility Blooms

Imagine Ink: embossing powder - Seven Seas, In the Navy, Cerulean, Bonny Blue, Buttercup, Snow

glitter - Sunshine, Gulf Coast

There are also two new happenings on the blog this month!

Firstly, we have a new activity for all you wonderful people to take part in. Instead of our monthly challenge, we are starting a new giveaway where YOU tell us what you would like to see in our new designs. They can be word phrases or one single word. The winning entry will have a pack of Blue Fern goodies delivered to their door step! More details here.

Secondly, BFS is releasing a new paper collection and I'm super, super excited about this one because it's my first love - the sea!

Check out Seaside Cottages:

I'm going giddy just thinking of all the photos I'm going to scrap, the mini-albums, the canvases.... This has to be my new favourite!

For the full reveal, as well as co-ordinating flowers, chipboards and mediums, visit our blog!

Attic Charm with Blue Fern Studios

Hello friends!

Today I'm popping in to share my June creations for Blue Fern Studios, featuring another beautiful collection from Michelle Singh - Attic Charm! The papers are decked in so many gorgeous subtle details and pretty colors, not to mention reminders of the good ole days that I went to dig out old photos of my parents for the two projects I've made.

First is a layout of a photo of my folks when they were dating back in '73.

When I saw the b/w photo, I had tried to imagine what it would have looked like in color and all that came to mind was the blue sky. So I had built most of the layout around the color and chose the paper "Haberdashery" as my background paper.

More details in the close-ups:

Some bits of the Looped Frame chipboard here. I had stamped with Romantic Accents stamp and heat embossed with Imagine Ink Ebony EP before painting over with duo-toned acrylic paint.

Fussy cut flowers for layering, and subtitles from Calling Cards.

A heat-embossed image with Ebony EP using one of the Bourbon Street stamps. Love the details here!

Another view of the floral cluster.

My title piece "Always and Forever" which I had painted with Perfect Pearls.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Attic Charm - Haberdashery, Calling Cards, Generation, Mercantile, Sachet

chipboard: Looped Frames, Always and Forever

stamps: Bourbon Street, Romantic Accents

Embossing powder: Ebony

My second project is a video tutorial and I've repurposed an IKEA photo frame for the project. My parents don't have a lot of their photos on display so I hope they will find a good place to put this up.

The Dangles Border chipboard was a fun piece to use because it resembles lace. I had also die cut out a clock from the "Sachet" paper. One fabulous thing about Blue Fern's papers (and my students keep reminding me too) is that they are thicker than most other brands of patterned paper out there. This means that if you have delicate die cut designs, the paper is very unlikely to tear and can take the weight of any other mediums you might want to add.

Other details in the close-ups:

Attic Charm daisies are the perfect addition.

Layering Stems - one of my favourites! Seen together with Attic Charm daisies and glitter roses.

The die cut clock with lots of details in the background.

Altered Dangles Border with a bit of sparkle.

Lots of fussy cut details again.

And here is the start to finish video for this project. Sit back and enjoy!

Blue Fern Studios products used:

paper: Attic Charm - Generation, Sachet, Calling Cards, Attire

chipboard: Dangles Border, Layering Stems

Stamps: Romantic Accents set

Embossing powder: 14 Karat, Clover, Verdant