My Very First Bokeh in Cardmaking

Good Morning to all my followers, viewers and friends,
It's day 82 of our calendar year and it's Monday.  We have only a few more days left to celebrate National Craft Month (March).  If you haven't been creative, it's time to pull something out whether old or new and join in during these last few days.  Yes, go forward!  I did!
I would like to share with you a card which uses the technique called bokeh (boh-kay).  It is usually equated or seen with photography.  If you take pictures like I do, it is the blur produced in the out-of focus parts of an image or the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light. This is an interesting technique that I have been wanting to try and I am so glad that I finally did.
Supplies I used:
watercolor paper; water and paint brush; gelatos; sponge dauber; circle mask punched from clear plastic; white ink;
Technique:

 Adhere painters tape around edges of watercolor paper and brush paper with water using a paintbrush

I'm using gelatos with water to cover my paper

I started with cotton candy (it looks blue) and applied it randomly on the watercolor paper  

I then applied lemon (yellow) and red cherry (red).  I used the heat gun to dry my paper...(just couldn't wait for it to air dry but it is recommended)

 After the drying, I used the masks of circles that I had prepared and placed it over the card and pounced on the white ink with a sponge dauber.  I moved the template around and covered more areas.

 Here is  what it looks like after the above step.








Remove the painters tape and let this air dry.









This is  the finished card (my very first bokeh)..  what a great technique to give your background an interesting look to highlight your focal image.  I like it.  This is easy to create and can be varied in many ways to get just the look you are after.

Thanks for visiting with me today.  If you have questions about anything you did not understand, please leave a comment and I'll get back with you.

Sending you a hug and LOVE

Lois 

Serving You Tulips and Punches

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,
We made it to Friday with the busyness of the week and the allergy havoc.  Outside today at my house doesn't look or feel like the first day of spring.  It is okay!  Somewhere in the world it is not raining and feeling cold.  The sunshine is beaming down on you and you're probably skipping along enjoying the view.  Maybe some of you will have a chance to visit a botanical garden this weekend or go and buy some plants to start that spring-time garden.  I'm serving you tulips today.  Yes, those flowers that pop up along with the daffodils during this time of the year. I've even picked out a color for you.  How about lavender?  If you don't like that color just go with the flow today.  During this season, I'm quite sure I'll get you another color.  Think spring! Think tulips! Think being served!
Tulip Card:
I started with a white card base at 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches.  I matted the base with a deep purple piece of cardstock cut 1/8 inch smaller than the base.  On top of the purple, another green polka-dot piece of patterned paper, 3 by 5 1/4 inches was added. The last mat (white cardstock) was cut at 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches and punched with the Martha Stewart punch. Previously, I used the EK flower punch to cut six petals in various shades of lavender.  To make the tulips: use the edge of the desk or a pencil to make the petals curve (at least the two that appear on top). Glue these two pieces together, then glue to the third piece which we shall call the base. Die cut flower stem to use under the tulip. Adhere your tulips to the white mat. Cut a strip of cardstock to resemble ribbon and adhere this around the mat.  Cut two small butterflies and attached them to to the ribbon strip.  Here is another easy card for your viewing:

Punches used with card

May use this for Easter or for a birthday.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

What Do You Really Like About Spring?

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,

One more day before Friday and then we will be headed to fun and excitement for the weekend.  On yesterday I titled my post, “SPRING…good, Allergies…BAD”.  Spring is good and there are many things that you and I love about this time of the year.  When winter is over and it stops releasing its icy grip, we all begin to remember why we like spring and or summer so much.  There is nothing like sunny mornings, lighter evenings and the thought of summer to cheer us all up. We also think about warmer temperatures, spring flowers, opening up windows, cleaning and sprucing up the house and garden. We cannot forget those blossoms that are beautiful; (even though they cause havoc for me), the cherry, pear, and plum as well as spring flowers; forsythia, hyacinths, daffodils and tulips.

I would love to get a comment from everyone who reads this post.  Please let me know or answer this question:  “What do you like about spring?”

Today’s share is a Happy Easter card.  The supplies used are: beige and brown Bazzill cardstock; patterned paper from Colorbok Sunset glow; Martha Stewart dogwood stickers; computer generated sentiment; Spellbinders Opulent Oval die; faux rhinestones; hand drawn bird; prima flower

Technique: Cut card base 4 ¼ by 5 1/2; brown mat is cut 1/8” less than base and the patterned paper is cut 1/8” less than brown mat.  Dogwood sticker was place on patterned paper and the hand drawn bird was placed on the sticker (backed with pop-up). Place prima flower on the tail of the bird. The opulent ovals die was used to cut out the generated sentiment.  4 faux rhinestones were placed around the sentiment.  Here you have another Clean and Simple Card.

Send your comment letting me know what you like about spring.  Enjoyed having you view today.  Come back again.

Sending you a hug and Love

Lois