Bokeh Technique

bo·keh

bōˈkā/

noun

the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens

Pretty, right?!!!

I had several people ask me how to do the Bokeh technique.  The way I do it is very simple, but it does take practice.

You will need:
The ink of your choice (preferably colors that would look good when blended)

I used the following groupings of inks:
Lagoon, Glacier, and Smoothie
Lagoon, Pear, and Smoothie
Pixie, Glacier, and Pear
Pacifica (all by itself)



White Daisy ink

Sponge daubers or round sponge (cute it up like a pie to get lots of uses) will work also
 or  

Circle template of varying sizes of circles
.
Using my Cricut Expression and CTMH's Art Philosophy to cut circles of different sizes.  I just used a plain piece of white daisy cardstock to cut the circles.  The best way to do the template is to use Cricut Craft Room and you can use that to randomly place the circles.

Now that you have the tools needed to do the Bokeh technique you are ready to start!

1.  Take any size white daisy cardstock (I suggest starting with a 4.25x5.5" card base until you get good at it)

2.  Using a sponge dauber choose a color and ink up your sponge or dauber.  I start in one corner and go in circles and skip around.  You can always go back and fill in empty spaces.  When your white cardstock is full of the colors you chose you are ready to use the circle template.

3.  Place your circle template on your now colorful white cardstock.  Using another sponge dauber or piece of the pie sponge ink it up using the white daisy ink and color in the circles however you see fit.  You can rearrange the template to get more circles on your card.  Also, you don't have to re-ink for every circle.  Some will look "closer" and others "farther away" depending on the amount of white ink used.

4.  Voila!  Now you can decorate your project.

A few things you need to know...

Your fingers WILL be messy

It will take practice

You will be addicted

Here are some examples of the cards I have made.

1.

2.

3.

This one is my favorite!

4.

I only used Pacifica for this card. 

If you have any questions let me know!!  Watch my facebook page for a contest coming very very very soon!

Hostess Exclusives Stamp Set Blog Hop

  

Welcome to another Heartfelt Sentiments blog hop!  If you are coming from Marianne's blog you are on the right path!  We are hi-lighting the Hostess Exclusive stamp sets.  When you host a party (online or home gathering) you can choose discounted stamp sets with your hostess rewards.  It is a fabulous deal!  I chose Paper Birds (C1613).  With your hostess rewards you can get this stamp set for only $8!  I am loving this stamp set.  It is precious.

So, I wanted to try my hand at the Bokeh technique.  This technique is seen everywhere these days.  I love the look of it, so I decided to see what all the fuss is about.  Well, I get it.  It wasn't hard at all to do.  I did a youtube.com search and found some CTMH consultants that posted how-to videos.  I haven't perfected my technique yet, but it is fun and addicting.  

If you would like to host a party to have the opportunity to get this stamp set (and some of the others that are hi-lighted in this blog hop), contact me and I will get you set up!  Now you can hop on over to Debi's blog.  Before you do, will you take a second and leave me a little comment?  Thanks!  

CTMH Paper Focus Blog Hop--Jackson

Welcome to this month's paper focus blog hop.  If you are coming from Melissa Robinson's blog you are on the right track.  This month our focus is on Jackson.  This paper pack is in the latest edition of Seasonal Expressions.  I love the fact that we have a masculine paper pack that isn't "baby" and could be used for several events.  My favorite part of this new pack is the PML cards!  They are awesome.  I used one of the cards for the sentiment on the card I made.  I love the color combo in this paper pack too.  So pretty!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  Now hop on over to Aggie's blog!

Chalk It Up: Last Day of School 2014

I'm anxious for school to be out for the summer.  My grandmother would tell me to stop wishing my life away.  During our Easter/Spring break I was able to scrapbook one rainy afternoon.  It was one of my only days that we were not running around doing a million things.  I still have a nice stack of pictures from 2014 that need to be scrapped.  When I saw the pictures I ended up using for this layout, it made me long for summer break!  Only about 6 more weeks and I'll have a new Last Day of School layout to do!

Close up of my title

My goal is to always get as many pics on a layout as possible.  In this layout I used Chalk it up paper pack, complements, and accessories.  I also used the curlicue stamp set from the Artfully Sent Cricut cartidge.

Typed Note-April Stamp of the Month

April's Stamp of the Month is Typed Note.  If you spend only $50 you will qualify to buy this stamp set for only $5!

For my card below I used Blossom paper pack from the Seasonal Expression 2.  I also used the stripe embossing folder and coral reef sequins (fave!)

Seasonal Expression 2 New Product Blog Hop

Thanks for hopping through our New Product Blog Hop featuring products from the brand new Seasonal Expressions 2.  If you are coming from Melissa Robinson's blog you are on the right track.  This new Seasonal Expressions is chock full of cute and exciting new products.  You can take a look inside on my website by clicking on the image below.

 

My favorite thing in the new expressions is the Blossom Workshop on the Go.  I think it is a great value!  You get the materials to make 15 cards and you have accessories and a small amount of paper left over.  You actually  have quite a bit of the accessories left over.  That always makes me happy!  This is how the kit comes (well, minus the pre-made cards...that is where YOU come in!)

These are the cards I made.  I love them.  

They were fun to make too.

Here are all 15 cards.  

Now hop on over to Aggie's blog.  Thanks for stopping by and if you have a second leave 

me a comment.  

Heartfelt Sentiments Paper Focus Blog Hop: Blossom

Welcome to this month's Heartfelt Sentiments CTMH Paper Focus Blog Hop.  If you are coming from Melissa Robinson's blog you are hopping right along.  The latest edition of Seasonal Expressions made it's debut on Wednesday.  If you would like to see it you can click here.  Our paper focus is Blossom, which is one of the paper packs in the new Seasonal Expressions.  It is very happy and springy.

  Isn't it gorgeous?!  I love the color combo.  

My card was made using Friendship Wreath (M1055) mini stamp and the brand new Oceanside sequins (z3041).  I also used the quatrefoil embossing folder (z1926).  I got my inspiration from Liz Johnson. 

Thanks for looking!  Now you can hop on over to Marianne's blog.  Hope you have a fabulous and blessed Easter!