Hello Stamplings!
Happy Tuesday! Yesterday we honored our service men and women with Memorial Day and on the 28th of every month we post our Group of Seven Cardmakers, so I decided to wait and post today.
This month the Go7 played with an older technique called "Bokeh," (pronounced "bouquet") which is a photographic technique adapted for card-making. Basically you make a background and then add a layer of circles by sponging or blending through a stencil.
My Results
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| Linking to Rudolph Days |
I made my backgrounds by smooching watercolor paper with either watercolor pens which were scribbled and spritzed, or Brushos/Lindy's powders spritzed with water. To make the Bokeh bubbles, I used a stencil, a Color Box white ink pad, and one of my blending brushes. For the Christmas card, I made it more Christmassy by also stenciling stars and letting the boys add a bit of schplatter.
It's a fun and easy technique to zhuzh up your backgrounds, but you might find your results vary. For instance, over time my circles on card two sort of evaporated. I'm not sure if it was because of the bumpy paper on that one or the lighter background.
You can find a video link and more information on the main Group of Seven blog. You will also be treated to the sensational examples of the technique by the Group and a link for you to add your own result if you play along with us! Mwah!
And if you are playing along with my I.D.E.A.S. schedule (see side bar), this is week four of May, so the brief is "Anything Goes!" My Bokeh cards work for that and so will anything you make!
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You haven't seen Miss Nellie for a while, so she is joining in the fun today! One day last week I came out of the bathroom and I couldn't find her in any of her usual perching places. Perplexed, I took a step towards the front room and saw this! Should she be in the movies, or what?!
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BTW, about my devil's-food-cake-naming story in the last post? Some of you didn't notice that I confessed at the end of the post that it was all made up in my head. It's simply not true and I hope you didn't tell too many people. That's how rumors get started.
BTW, about my devil's-food-cake-naming story in the last post? Some of you didn't notice that I confessed at the end of the post that it was all made up in my head. It's simply not true and I hope you didn't tell too many people. That's how rumors get started.
You gotta love me!đŸ˜‡
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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*
As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower!
*life is too short
Love Bokeh technique but use it rarely, thanks for the reminder! Beautiful cards, and the Christmas one particularly catches my eyes,the stars with the circles on the bold background look great!!
ReplyDeleteNellie for President! Perhaps the world might be better :D LOL (She looks like a very important person waiting for a very important meeting!)
Have you both a lovely week!
Not used this technique in ages Darnell, might have to have a play! I think the 2nd background is not showing the circles quite so much because the paper is more absorbent, but the effect is still pretty. Did you perhaps press publish earlier in your post writing? Thought I was going doolally! :)
ReplyDeleteAs usual, fabulous cards Darnell, and I am glad the boys could help you :)
ReplyDeleteMiss nellie is certainly a 'poser' - that is a gorgeous photo.
Blessings
Maxine
THese bokeh cards are striking and just beautiful with the wonderful colors you added along with the white stenciled elements! I haven't tried that technique in so long but it's fun to do. I love those stitched frames in the 2nd card, they're beautiful! Miss Nellie looks adorable too. Have a great week ahead and keep smiling!
ReplyDeleteI know bokeh from photography, but hadn't realized it was a technique for cardmaking as well. All three of your cards are just lovely! Your color choices are wonderful. Although it's hard to choose a favorite, I'm going with the stars and circles on the Christmas card. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteI will admit - i believed your story:):)
Lovely, lovely bokeh makes Darnell. Now "bouquet" always makes me smile because of a well loved tv comedy here in the UK Keeping Up Appearances...google it!! Hyacinth is a wonderful character!! xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous cards and backgrounds Darnell! Cute picture of Miss Nellie. The rumor is spreading in Missouri!
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty. I love the look of the backgrounds with bokeh. Nellie looks so innocent perched on the sofa. Is it ok for her to be on it or did she sneak in when no one was looking?
ReplyDeleteYour cards and of course, Miss Nellie, are all gorgeous, Darnell xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhen it looks like polka dots it's a win for me! These are all fabulous Darnell. I don't know who's ornerier... you and your stories or Nellie and her antics!
ReplyDeleteLove that you added shapes other than circles to your last card. Wonderful set of lovely cards.
ReplyDeleteI love all three beautiful cards Darnell, and the added sentiment on the strip across the card looks great on the first and some pretty added sequins too, and then the wonderful stitched frames in that bright pink and white on the white background, and the light and bright sky with softer less obvious bits of bokeh, and finished perfectly with the added balloons and white on black banner sentiment. The finally the Christmas card works brilliantly with the circles and the stars and love the blue and purple in the background, and the white die cut sentiment really stands out over the top. Thank you for adding my two cards to your I.D.E.A.S Pinterest Board too, and that is a lovely photo of the sweet Nellie so perfectly posing..lol. x
ReplyDeleteLove the cards, great bokeh technique and design on each. Miss Nellie should be in films, she certainly knows how to pose. As for the Devil's cake story, I'm afraid I was taken in, that'll teach me to read EVERY word. x
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that technique used again. I shall look forward to visiting the others. Love your cards. you must be testing how accurately we read your posts with your little jokes. sometimes time is a challenge and posts only get skimmed! We should know your little tricks by now though xx
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful bokeh backgrounds, Darnell! The second is subtle, but the bokeh circles make a difference and the result is lovely. Your third is a totally fabulous celestial background with the colors, stars, and splatters in cahoots with the bokeh to make a very merry Christmas card! Yep, I'm one who didn't notice your disclaimer on the Devil's Food story. I should know you better by now, sheesh.
ReplyDeleteFabulous backgrounds- really effective.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining me at the Rudolph Days Challenge.
Helen x
I didn't realize it's pronounced Bouquet??!! I guess I never heard anyone say it??!! Three lovely samples sis - each so different - I know what you mean with them sometimes fading away into the sunset - Miss Nellie sure did strike a pose - this would also work for a furniture catalogue!! Perfect framing in that fern!! (your room is lovely as well!! I have to go check out your devils food cake story now...... Julia xx
ReplyDeleteJust back to say - that I had actually read that post on the Devil's food cake and commented!! - but it was totally gone from my memory bank - I guess I've made too many withdrawals from that bank....... Julia xx
ReplyDeletePshaw! I love the world according to Darnell! Your devil's food explanation was truly plausible! Love, love, love your bokeh backgrounds, especially with the addition of stars for Christmas! Miss Nellie definitely should be in the movies! And she sure knows how to pose for those elegant shots!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bokeh examples, Darnell - love them all but especially the Christmas one with the stars! Awww Nellie - what a cutie!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards Darnell, you created some dreamy bokeh background and the addition of the start for the Christmas one was ingenious.
ReplyDeleteI must say Princess Nellie looks so regal sitting on Her couch :)
I believe I tried this technique once, long ago, but I should probably give it another go. I like the idea of using some Brushos for the backgrounds first, and then adding the circles of white. Your Christmas card looks great, so I may have to CASE it.
ReplyDeleteAll three cards are great, Darnell, but oh be still my beating heart - I am in love with the third card! Shades of blue and purple plus stars plus white splatter - fabulous!! I may have to CASE (or even totally copy) it!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant cards and I love this technique. Miss Nellie is definitely a STAR!!
ReplyDeleteThree super cards using the Bokeh technique, Darnell.
ReplyDeleteLiz xx
Adding stars to the Christmas card was a brilliant idea, Darnell. The other bokeh cards are terrific too. Miss Nellie indeed is a cutie and worthy of any celebrity status.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the bokeh technique and haven't used it in ions, so thank you! Your cards are lovely, each and every one. It's such an interesting technique yet adds so much.
ReplyDeleteNellie is totally rocking the Star status!
Fabulous Bokeh cards Dolly!! I love the backgrounds you've created and so creative to add star bokeh to your Christmas card. I love the subtle look of the second card. I'm thinking it's the paper you used that just absorbed more of the ink, but either way, it is a beautiful and dreamy background. LOVE the photo of Nellie. Looks like she's checking out her reflection in the mirror and she's saying "I'm ready for my close-up!". :) Love, Lolly
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Absolutely stunning cards Darnell great backgrounds and what a fabulous Christmas card you entered into Rudolph Day challenge good luck xx
ReplyDeletePlaying along this week ... a little late. :) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Dolly...So much fun seeing your Bokeh cards this week....so beautiful and colorful:-) Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy
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