CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh Stamping

CTMH Bokeh Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh Stamping

Welcome to the first monthly CTMH Technique Blog Hop in 2016! This is my first time joining this technique team. For this month hop, we are sharing projects that we created using bokeh tehcnique. You should arrive from Michelle’s blog. This blog hop starts from Melissa’s blog.

You probably are already familiar with this technique. Bokeh is actually a photography term which means the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image that produced by a camera lens. The word bokeh is actually from Japanese – boke – that means blur or haze (source Wikipedia). In cardmaking or other papercrafting area, this term is used to create a blury/hazy background out of dots.

Join us today for the January CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh Stamping --> http://wp.me/p1DmW0-2a0 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

There are lots of tutorials you can find on YouTube and Pinterest. But today, I am sharing 3 ways you can create the bokeh background.

First step is to prepare the watercolored background. Cut the Watercolor Paper in sizes you desire and wet them with some clear water and add colors on them using watercolor brush that I picked up from the inkpad lids or you can also use watercolor paint. The color combo for my background is Pomegranate, Honey, Saffron, Ruby and Poppy. You have to make sure the watercolor background is completely dry before the sponging with White Daisy Pigment Ink. I used my Craft Heater to speedy-dry my backgrounds 😉

First way is using stencil. I punched the clear plastic packaging/acetate with circle punches in different sizes. You also can diecut them using circle dies or if you have Cricut or Silhouette will work well too. Or if you happen to have circle stencil, you can use it, too. I made my stencil from clear plastic acetatr packaging, also you can use cardstock.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

Using washi tape to hold the stencil on my card so it won’t move around when I sponge the White Daisy Pigment ink. Them I started sponging the White Daisy Pigment Ink on the circles randomly and it is okay to overlap those circles.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

Here’s the card I made with this background:

January CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Boleh Stamping: Thank You Card --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

The second way is you can use any circle stamps, even the backside of the circle-textures stamps. I picked some circle stamps in different sizes from the stamp sets I have: Perfect Fit – Halloween, Dizzy Circles, Oodles of Doodles.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

I stamped them randomly and also overlapping each other using White Daisy Pigment Ink.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

Here’s the finished card. I love those big circles mix with small and medium sizes.

January CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Bokeh Stamping: Congrats Card --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

And the third way is using waterdrops directly on the watercolored background using aqua waterbrush and dab it using paper towel.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

As you can see on the finished card, I added some circles using White Pigment Ink and dab randomly with sponge dauber to give more “hazy/blurry” look on it. I like how it turned out 🙂

January CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Bokeh Stamping: Best Wishes Card --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8308 #ctmh #ctmhthincuts #ctmhnewyear #closetomyheart #ctmhspringwishes #handmadecard #cardmaking #watercoloring #bokehtechnique #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

After stamping and sponging with the White Pigment Ink, I always dry it with Craft Heater so they won’t smear when I do the next stamping because pigment ink dries slowly.

For the embellishments and sentiments on these cards I use the new Spring Wishes Stamp Set and Spring Wishes Thin Cuts. I stamped the flowers and leaves using Slate Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad and the sentiments I used Black Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad. Diecutting machine I used is We R Memory Keeper Evolution Advance. I also use Black Cardstock as the mats then I added them on white card bases. Then, I finished my cards using some Sparkle Clear Assortments.

So, those are my cards to share with you today on this blog hop, I hope you like them! Your next hop is Melissa’s blog to see what she had created for you!

Thank You so much for visiting today! Have a fabulous day!

Springtime Wishes: Happy Birthday

Today I would like to share you a new stamp set and matching dies that I use on my project and I absolutely love it! This project I created for a blog hop and 2 challenges.

Welcome to the first Joyful Stars Blog Hop in 2016! Every month I join a group of Close To My Heart consultants sharing a project we make using new/current products. I hope you’ll find the projects we share inspire you to create.

JoyfulStarsBlogHopBadge3_stephanie

This is a monthly blog hop hosted by Joyce Houck’s blog. If you arrived from her blog, the you are on the right track 🙂 But if you are here first, you can either continue blog-hopping to make a loop or you can go back to Joyce’s blog post to see the rest of the list of participants.

Kicking off this blog hop this year, I created a card using one of the new stamp sets and thin cuts. YES you read it correctly. Close To My Heart released new products this month and one of them are  4 new stamp sets with matching thin cuts as in thin dies. They are compatible with all diecutting machines that can cut metal thin dies. For this projects, I used my WRMK Evolution Advanced to cut the pieces.

CTMH Thin Cuts & WRMK Evolution Advanced Diecutting Machine

I used Springtime Wishes stamp set and Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts on both of my card. Here’s my first card:

Happy Birthday | Handmade by Helen Gullett | Blog at --> http://helengullett.com/?p=8315 #ctmh #closetomyheart #springtimewishes #thincuts #ctmhthincuts #diecutting #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #evolutionadvanced

For this card, I picked the color combo from the new Charlotte Paper Packet: Black, Slate, Whisper, Champagne and Sorbet.

I wet a piece of Watercolor Paper with clean water and added some watercolor paint to create the background. Then I dried it with Craft Heater for speedy drying, but you also can let it sit to dry.

On a piece of White Daisy cardstock, I stamped the flowers and leaves using Slate Exclusive Ink Pad, then I added the matching dies on them and run it through my diecutting machine.

Happy Birthday

I added them on the cards using glue dots and 3D foam tape for some dimensions. Then on a strip of Black cardstock, I heat embossed the sentiment from Joyful Birthday stamp set using VersaMark ink pad, Ranger Gold Embossing powder and Craft Heater. Then added on the card using 3D foam tape and finished it with some clear gems.

I hope you like my card today 🙂 Your next stop is Nancy Brown’s blog to see what she has created for you!

Have one fabulous day!

==========================================================================

Today’s challenges:

image

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #217

Simon Says: Something New

1 Sketch, 2 Christmas Cards

Last weekend I went out with my friends to Hobby Lobby and I found this Stampabilitties rubber stamp that has Christmas verse on it for only $3! I love the verse from Luke2:11. This is what Christmas trully means.

Today I am sharing 2 Christmas cards I made using 1 sketch from Mojo Monday 428.

The tags I created using Canson waterolor paper because I painted the backgrounds.

Luke 2:11 , caed by Helen G. http://wp.me/p1DmW0-26m | #cardmaking #handmadecard #christmascard

For the first card I used the old hymnal music sheet for the background paper and the border strip is from CTMH – Sparkle and Shine paper packet. I heat embossed the sentiment using AC Black Glitter Finish Embossing Powder. Then embellished it with twine bow and a glitter holly leaves and red sequins.

I also link this card at Virginia’s View Challenge #21 – All About Glitter.

Luke 2:11 , caed by Helen G. http://wp.me/p1DmW0-26m | #cardmaking #handmadecard #christmascard

This second card I used the same sketch from Mojo Monday 428. On this card, I created that cute bow using WRMK Envelope Punch Board. It is very easy to do that. I followed this tutorial if you want to try 🙂

I watercolored the tag background using Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean Distress Mini Ink Pads and wet them using Aquash Waterbrush. It was fun watching the colors blended and mixed together and how they react with water.

I also enter this card at:

2 cards are done today and I only need 15 more to make for our church friends.

THANK YOU for stopping by today and have a blessed week!

OCC Holiday Style: O Holy Night

I am so excited to be able to learn from talented card makers at Online Card Classes – Holiday Style Class.

OCC- Holiday Style

This is my first card from this week. Julie inspired me with her one layer card. Very simple, yet beautiful.

O Holy Night - OCC Holiday Style | by Helen Gullett #ctmh #onlinecard lasses #holidaystyle #christmascard #handmadecard #cardmaking #stamping

I stamped the pine trees in 3 shades of green: Flexen, Fern, and New England Ivy. The mixed of the colors give the look of layers of pine trees.

I have some catching up to do with the class. I got into the class a bit later because it is a giveaway prize that I won 🙂

I also link my card at Word Art Wednesday – Challenge #209. Next week will be more Christmas cards to share!

Have a fun weekend!

============================================

Supplies:

  • Stamp sets: Frosted (expired, CTMH), O Holy Night (expired, CTMH)
  • Cardstock: The Paper Studio Heavy Weight
  • Ink Pads (CTMH): Flaxen, Fern, New England Ivy, Glacier, Black
  • Others: Studio G Glitter Glue (Hampton Art), Adhesive Runner (Elmer), Paper Trimmer (Fiskar), White Gel Pen (Sakura)

Some Christmas Card Inspirations

Christmas is 6 weeks from today! Can’t you believe it? I started making Christmas cards since last month and hoping they all be ready by first week of December to be sent out.

I found these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations from CTMH Blog:

Check out these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations --> http://blog.closetomyheart.com/2015/11/11/get-ahead-on-your-christmas-cards/ #CTMH #closetomyheart #ctmhcutabove #ctmhwhitepines #cutabove #whitepines #christmascard #holidaycard #handmadecard #cardmaking

Supplies to make 5″ x 7″ Merry Christmas Postcard (Originals: Always Right™):

  • D1657 Holly Jolly Christmas
  • B1483 Season’s Greetings
  • X7200B White Pines Paper Packet
  • 1385 White Daisy Cardstock
  • Z2650 Fern Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
  • Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad
  • Z2012 Sequins Gold Assortment
  • Z3093 Fern Thick Twine
  • Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder
  • Cricut® Shape: Artistry  1 ¾” Shape <0> (p. 10)

Supplies to make the 5″ Christmas Joy Tag:

  • M1126 My Acrylix® This Is Christmas
  • D1664 My Acrylix® Packages, Boxes, & Tags
  • X7200B White Pines Paper Packet
  • Z2116 Cranberry Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
  • Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
  • Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad
  • Z2012 Sequins Gold Assortment
  • Z3093 Fern Thick Twine
  • Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder
  • Cricut® Shapes: Artistry 3″ Icon-2, <Christms> (p. 48) 3″ Shift+Icon-2 <Christms> (p. 48) Art Philosophy 5″ <Tag4> (p. 60)

Check out these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations --> http://blog.closetomyheart.com/2015/11/11/get-ahead-on-your-christmas-cards/ #CTMH #closetomyheart #ctmhcutabove #ctmhwhitepines #cutabove #whitepines #christmascard #holidaycard #handmadecard #cardmaking

Supplies to make the 5 ½” x 4 ¼” Make It Merry Card:

  • D1617 My Acrylix® Make it Merry
  • X7200B White Pines Paper Packet
  • Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad
  • Z3090 Red Enamel Gems
  • Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder

Supplies to make the 4 ¼” x 5 ½” Joy to the World Card:

  • C1628 My Acrylix® Christ is Born
  • X7200B White Pines Paper Packet
  • Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad
  • Z2012 Sequins Gold Assortment
  • Z3093 Fern Thick Twine
  • Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder

Check out these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations --> http://blog.closetomyheart.com/2015/11/11/get-ahead-on-your-christmas-cards/ #CTMH #closetomyheart #ctmhcutabove #ctmhwhitepines #cutabove #whitepines #christmascard #holidaycard #handmadecard #cardmaking

These 3 gorgeous cards are made using the Workshops on the Go® White Pines cardmaking kit (G1099). This kit comes with all the supplies you need to make 15 cards, plus a guide that gives you step-by-step instructions for how to cut, stamp, assemble, and accessorize the three different Christmas card designs.

Supplies come in the kit:
1 – My Acrylix® White Pines Workshop Stamp Set (D-size)
2 – White Pines B&T Duos™ Papers
5 – Cardstock Sheets(2 Fern, 2 White Daisy, 1 Cranberry)
15 – White Daisy Cards & Envelopes
1 – Bitty Sparkles (Z1263)
1 – Fern Thick Twine (Z3093)
1 – Instructional Brochure
Featured Colors: Chocolate, Cranberry, Fern, Colonial White

You will need the basic supplies such as My Acrylix blocks, Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads, Paper Trimmer, Scissors and Adhesive runner to complete this project.

Check out these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations --> http://blog.closetomyheart.com/2015/11/11/get-ahead-on-your-christmas-cards/ #CTMH #closetomyheart #ctmhcutabove #ctmhwhitepines #cutabove #whitepines #christmascard #holidaycard #handmadecard #cardmaking

Check out these gorgeous Christmas Card inspirations --> http://blog.closetomyheart.com/2015/11/11/get-ahead-on-your-christmas-cards/ #CTMH #closetomyheart #ctmhcutabove #ctmhwhitepines #cutabove #whitepines #christmascard #holidaycard #handmadecard #cardmaking

Want to make 10 cards in a jiffy? Cut Above™ card kits: Boughs & Berries and Deck the Halls are the answer.

I made 20 cards in one day with these Cut Above kits! Just perfect for mass production!

With Cut Above™ Card kits, all you have to do is the stamping and assembly! You get to create 10 beautiful cards from each pack, and you end up with a beautiful, handmade result with less work!

You will need the basic stamping tool to complete this cards such as My Acrylix Stamping Blocks, Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Liquid Glass, and Adhesive Runner.

So, you can get ahead with your Christmas card making project now! All supplies listed above can be purchased at my Close To My Heart store.

THANK YOU for shopping!

Which one is your favorite? How about you? Are you making cards or, printing picture cards, or buying them?