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Hello everyone, and welcome back to a new monthly challenge here at House of Cards. I so enjoy seeing all the creations each month, not only from the design team, but also from you, the challenge participants.
This month's challenge is ...
MAY 2015
Technique Challenge: Bokeh Effect
So, what exactly is bokeh? According to Wikipedia:
In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".
I have to admit that I had never heard of bokeh, but now that I know what it is, I am excited to share this fun technique with you. Once you see how easy it is, I think you are going to enjoy it as much as I have.
Sponge at least three colors onto watercolor paper.
Make a stencil by punching three different circle sizes into which card.
Sponge Brilliance Moonlight White ink through stencil, moving stencil around to get depth. Some cirlces will appear in front, while some will appear behind.
Here is a picture of how it starts to look.
Keep stenciling until you like the appearance.
Fold 8-1/2" x 11" yellow card stock in half to make 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card base. Punch right edge with Garden Trellis punch. Cut lilac card stock to 1-1/4" x 11". Fold in half and glue to inside along right edge.
Trim bokeh layer to 4-7/8" x 6-7/8" and edge with Hydrangea ink. Adhere to card front.
Stamp flower bouquet postcard image onto Lilac card stock with VersaFine Onyx Black ink.
(TIP: VersaFine is a fast drying oil-based pigment ink. It works extremely well for finely detailed images, but I use it on brand new stamps, both clear and rubber, because it will stick to the stamp, rather than bead up like water drops on a flower petal, if you know what I mean.)
Color the image with the same archival inks using a cotton swab to apply the ink.
Add Diamond Stickles to the butterfly and flower centers.
Stamp "Thinking of You" onto 1-1/4" x 7" strip of gold vellum with Hydrangea ink. Adhere stamped image to card front over vellum strip.
To finish off the card, stamp some butterflies with Hydrangea ink in upper right open area. The largest butterfly was stamped again onto scrap of lavender card stock and fussy cut out before adhering over stamped image. (See finished photo above)
Supplies used:
90lb water color paper
Card stock: Yellow, Lilac, Gold Metallic, Gold Vellum
Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink: Leaf Green, Dandelion, Hydrangea
Brilliance Ink: Moonlight White
VersaFine Onyx Black ink pad
HOTP 1141-Postcards clear stamp set; HOTP 1085-Heartfelt Greetings clear stamp set
Makeup sponge
Index card
Various sizes of circle punches from (1", 3/4", 1/2")
Diamond Stickles
Here is a fun video tutorial on how to make your own Bokeh background.
Now didn't that look like fun? I hope you enjoyed my card this month and that I have been able to inspire and entice you to play along with us in this month's challenge, which can be seen by clicking here.
Thanks for stopping by, and please come back on Monday for MORE inspiration from this very talented Design Team! We hope you join in the fun, too--please check out our House Rules HERE before linking up! I can't wait to see your creations!
Barbara xo
