Bokeh Technique - 3 Ways

I've totally fallen in love with the Bokeh Technique.  It's popping up everywhere so I had to join the fun.  First of all, a definition.  Bokeh  BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as BOH-kə.  The term comes from the Japanese word boke, which means "blur" or "haze."

These backgrounds can be done with dye, pigment, and distress inks, and also watercolor.  I've made 3 cards doing the Bokeh background in 3 different ways.  Now let's get started!

Make a Template

Punch 4 different size circles from any kind of transparency sheet.  Approximately 1 3/4" circle, 1 1/4", 1", and ½".

Leaf  Card - Bokeh Background with Distress Inks

1.  With sponges layer and blend ink over the white panel with Distress Inks:  Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmelade, and Pine Needles.
2.   With the white ink, start with the largest circle on your template and work down in size, going from lighter to darker shade of white, using a sponge dauber to randomly pounce/rub the ink in the circle.  Lay it aside for a bit.  
2.  From the larger white panel, die cut the biggest leaf die from the package of Large Leaves #2 (Cheerylynn Designs).
3.  Attach the leaf panel over the Bokeh background, layer onto green panel, & mount on card base at the upper left.
4.  Embellish with 3 Dew Drops vertically on the lower right side of the mounted panels.
5.  Stamp sentiment at bottom right and on the inside.

Bokeh Background – Pink & White

1.  Emboss small cream panel with QuicKutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder.
2.  Start the Bokeh background applying white pigment or dye ink using the circles template.
3.  Nest, make a few circles using Memories Baby Pink dye ink and then a few more circles using Memories Blush dye ink (or whatever you have that is similar).
4.   Layer Bokeh panel onto the light pink panel, and then onto the card base.
5.  Glue on the Bluebells die cut (Spellbinders Die D-Lites Blue Bells and Lily of the Valley).
6.  Finish with a pink bow.








Birds Card - this one is a very simple style of Bokeh.

1.  Make Bokeh background using only white pigment or dye ink.
2.  Wrap twine around background panel and tie double knot.
3.  Trim branch die cut (Memory Box Grand Oak Tree)  to fit and glue on.4.  Glue 2 red birds (CheeryLynn Designs Birds of Earth and Sky) onto the branch and 1 red bird to inside of card.
5.  Stamp and punch sentiment; layer the 3 label punches and glue at twine knot.
6.  Attach panel to card base using dimensional tape.

Well that's it!  Hope you find these instructions helpful.  Let me know if you have a question.

Blessings,
Annie

Cats and Christmas Card - a Sweet Combination

Anyone that knows me, knows that cats are an important part of my life.  When I hold KoKo's sweet little warm body to my chest and listen to the soft purring and feel the little rubbing against my neck,  I know that I am holding a precious gift that the Lord has put in my care.  A little gift that quiets my mind and brings on relaxation, and gives me unrestrained love.  I think KoKo must have learned those things from God!

So when I saw a card on the Kittie Kraft blog with a cat on it, I knew that I had to make one also.  This is my version:

 

 

I couldn't resist placing a little cat peeking from behind the wall of the staircase.  So adorable!  Because of all the little pieces, it does take a good bit of time to assemble it all.  But it is well worth the effort and just plain fun!  Following are some directions that should make it easier for you if you decide to take it on. 

 

Enjoy - and blessings to you,

Annie

 





Staircase & Christmas Tree Card

Card Base:  10” x 5”  (makes a 5x5 square card)
Panel:  2 ¾ “ x 5”
Decorative Paper:  2 pieces  5” x 5” and 5 ¼” x 2 7/8”

1.  Glue tops of little Christmas stockings and wheels on train set.  Set aside.

2.  Trace around the inside of the die cut window onto decorative wallpaper.  Cut it out so that no pencil marks show and no wallpaper shows when the window is placed over it.

3.  Using a finger dauber make a sky effect on the small white panel and attach it behind the cutout in the wallpaper.

4.  Adhere the wallpaper to the card base. 

5.  Trim and adhere the baseboard to the bottom of the wall.  Set aside.

6.  On the decorative paper staircase die cut, trim off the banister.  Adhere it to the white staircase die cut, leaving a small amount of white showing at each step.  Trim away excess wallpaper and mount to card base wall.

7.  Attach the two smaller trees to the back of the window frame and then mount over the window opening.

8.  On the large tree, cut off about half of the trunk and mount it to the staircase panel.

9.  Glue the star onto the treetop. 

10.  Trim and glue on the baseboard at the bottom of the staircase panel.

11.  Add light string trim to the tree.

12. Add stockings to windowsill.

13. Use finger dauber to color the cats’ ears and tail.  Glue one on the windowsill and one peeking from behind the staircase.

14.  Add flowers and leaves on banister and one at the corner of the window, lower right side.

15.  Use black ink to stamp the gift image onto white cardstock.  Color with color pencils, cut out, and glue under the tree.

16.  Add Crystal Stickles to the center of each flower and onto the top of the stockings.

17.  Add Pink Stickles to the tree lights and the star.

Memory Box Dies:  Classic Staircase, Festive Lights, Tiny Stockings, Train Set

Impression Obsession Dies:  Fir Trees, Window with Shutter
Cheery Lynn Designs Die:  City Girl Edger

Celebrating Thanksgiving!

Hi Card Makers,

Do you love Thanksgiving as much as I do?  I remember to be thankful all through the year, but in November it's especially fun because I get to make Thanksgiving cards and send them out.  Actually I started making these particular cards in October so I would have them ready for my card class.  I have several more designs I want to try and time is flying by!



Ribbon Leaf Card
This card idea came from Pinterest, although mine looks a little different as I used an embossing folder and leaf die that I had on hand.  So don't be concerned if you don't have exactly what I used.  Happily, you can use whatever you have and it will still look great, including the ink pad colors!  For a different effect, you could use Washi tape or strips of several colors of card stock.

Craft Card Base:  8 1/2 x 5 1/2", top folded
Craft Panel:  5 1/4 x 4"
Various colors and widths of Ribbon
Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Dots
Cheery Lynn Designs Die - Large Leaves #2
Fresco Chalk Ink Pad - Tuscan Earth
Brilliance Ink Pad - Moonlight White

Die cut the leaf in the lower right side of the panel.  Emboss, then lightly sponge with Moonlight White.  Distress edges with Tuscan Earth.

Turn panel over and run a tape runner around the leaf cutout.  Lay pieces of ribbon across the cutout, alternating colors and widths.  About 1" from the top of the panel, adhere the ends of a piece of red ribbon to the backside of the panel.  Adhere the panel to the card base.

Make a small tag and stamp with a sentiment.  Punch a 1/8" hole at the top of the tag and tie it to the left center of the red ribbon with Bakers Twine.  Make a red ribbon bow and use a glue dot to glue the bow onto the ribbon.  Stamp a sentiment inside.

Apple Wreath Card
Here is a card using the Apple Wreath stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I stamped it once on green card stock and then stamped the apple section onto red card stock.  Both the wreath and the apples were hi-lighted with color pencils and then cut out.  The wreath is layered onto the polka dot panel but I used mounting tape for the apples.  This card is also a top folded card, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

The  cute little pumpkin on this card is stamped, colored, cut out, and then mounted over the ribbon and embossed background which has been distressed with a light grade of sandpaper.  I really like the writing of the Happy Thanksgiving stamp.

Pumpkin - PSX Stamps

Happy Thanksgiving - Rubber Soul

Tim Holtz Alterations Embossing Folder - Thanksgiving Background 





I was not successful in getting the background to show on the white panel on this card.  I used the Tim Holtz Alterations Hardwood Embossing Folder.  I wish you could see how great it looks.  If you have one of your own, then you know what I'm talking about it.  The leaf stamp is one of my favorites in my leaves collection.  It was made by The Rubbernecker Stamp Co.  I love how the red stands out on the white background.  I used dimensionals to make the leaf stand out even more. 

Among the many things I'm thankful for, I'm thankful for those of you who take the time to look at my blog and I'm thankful to be able to share with you.  Thanksgiving Day is only a couple of weeks away.  Remember this line from an old hymn, "Count your blessings, name them one by one . . . .)  I pray that your day is special and full of blessings.

Annie