Heartfelt Sentiments: CTMH Technique Blog Hop

Friday, January 15, 2016

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Bokeh Stamping

In our Technique Blog Hop this month, we are featuring the Bokeh Technique. Have you heard of it? It is a fun technique associated with photography. Search it on Google (or other search engine) and check out the images you will find, like the one used in this image above. I think it's just beautiful! There is a way to recreate it with inks so nine of us have gathered to showcase the technique on our artwork.

If you are coming from Helen's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants below, if you were to get lost along the way.

Realizing you will see some videos and tutorials during the hop (you can also search for them on YouTube), I am just going to get started, showing you the card I created with this technique.

I did choose to keep my card simple, not wanting to take away from the technique. I struggled with adding more but settled on these sentiments from the January Stamp of the Month, "Beloved Bouquet", and a few Enamel & Glitter Duos Blue Dots. I cannot wait to see what the other ladies did with theirs!

I used three shades of blue ink - Crystal Blue, Sapphire and Pacifica. This is the second time I have tried the technique and have found that I enjoy applying the ink, with a Sponge Dauber (rather than a sponge because I am able to control it better - and do not get my hands messy). I prefer to do so in a circular manner and started with the lightest color first. You can see where I applied some of the Crystal Blue ink in a triangular fashion over my White Daisy cardstock.

Then I applied Sapphire ink, filling in some of the space but allowing for my last color, Pacifica. The photo I took of the last step ended up blurry and I did not realize that before finishing my card. I chose to have my colors lighter than I could have and will apply more ink on the next creation I made with this technique.

You should allow the ink to completely dry, and it does not take long, so you do not end up applying blue color to your White Daisy Ink Pad. If you do not own this ink pad...GET IT! It is fabulous and is fun to stamp as designed or to use for techniques such as this! On this scratch sheet of cardstock, I cut circles of various sizes. (Tip: I would suggest cutting them more towards the middle of the paper so you do not have to be too careful to apply ink off the edge of the cut.) You just apply White Daisy ink, allowing it to dry in between layers, if you would. Doing so makes for a brighter white and you vary the brightness on the background. Too cool, right?!

So let me know if you have ever tried this technique or plan on doing so on a creation in the very near future! What colors will you use?! I would love to know your thoughts! And then...head on over to Catherine's Blog where I am sure she will wow you! Thank you for stopping by and happy hoppin'!

Make It From Your Heart!