Totally Techniques Stampin' Up! International Demo Blog Hop

Bokeh Technique using Stampin' Up! Beautiful Day

Welcome to our monthly Totally Techniques Demonstrator Blog Hop. We're sharing the Bokeh Technique this month which is really simple.  All you need is to create a WOW background and possibly add some images like my Stampin' Up! Beautiful Day butterfly and you are half way there. The finishing touch and the Bokeh part is to add dreamy circles like bubbles in the air. 

To do this I used a self made stencil using circle punches of different sizes and I punched holes in a piece of vellum.  If you are careful you can use thinner window sheet, but need to try it in one corner with an old punch first as the sheet may be more than your punches can handle.   Once your back ground is dry you can add the bokeh.  My background  was created on water colour paper by first stamping and heat embossing the butterfly with silver embossing powder. I covered this to then shield it from the water i added with an aqua painter brush and then sprinkled Prussian Blue Brusho Crystals on and allowed them to spread through the water.  I left some with very little water so as to create to speckled effect in the top left hand corner.  You can remove excess water with a piece of kitchen towel and add more if required.   To add the bokeh you then need to use a sponge and add white craft ink using the stencil you have made. Add little as you can always add more, but you can't take it off .  Overlap circles and sizes to create the effect. 

I've mounted my artwork onto Lemon Lime Twist card and also a piece of silver foil card. The sentiment is from Another Wonderful Year which is another new set. It comes as one long sentiment so I just stamped the 'Just a Friendly' part in Blueberry Bushel on a narrow strip of whisper white then also stamped the last word of the stamp in Lemon Lime Twist and punched it out with a 1" circle and added it to the end of the original strip.  You can also then add rhinestones or some of the new Stampin' Up! self adhesive sequins and ribbons to enhance your design.  

You're off next to Shannean's beautiful blog down under in Australia.  Have fun.  

Zoe x

Stampin' Up! Alaska Incentive Trip Blog Hop January 2018

Stampin' Up! has it's biggest promotion of the year every new year and this one is just the same with some fabulous free gifts available to party hosts, demonstrators, shoppers and also anyone who chooses to join and enjoy the benefits of being part of a big family of crazy crafters.  Everyone can earn points on their purchases and for helping others get the most out of being part of the team and some save their points to achieve the amazing annual incentive trip.   Many of us join together each month to share our projects with you our fabulous blog readers.  This is January 2018's blog hop of Stampin' Up! Alaska incentive trip achiever's.  Welcome and enjoy the tour!

I'm sharing a funky card using one of the free sets I mentioned which is in the Saleabration booklet from Stampin' Up! . The stamp set is called Epic Celebrations. When I first saw it I knew I had to have it as it could have been designed for Charlie my guitar playing, trainer loving, music and internet surfing teenage son.  It's perfect really for boys of all ages, but so so perfect for Charlie.

I've also used the new to Stampin' Up! Brusho Crystals to create a fun background on glossy card.  I've then stamped the guitars onto a piece of window sheet and coloured them in with my Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.  They work on acetate and dry fairly quickly, but be sure the ink is dry before you use the sheet.  I also stamped and coloured in a pair of 'converse' style trainers and a headset with the Stampin' Blends and then fussy cut them out with Stampin' Snips.    To complete the card I used a stapler to attach the splattered background to the window sheet then stampin dimensionals to adhere this layer to a real red matt layer and night of navy card base.   You can see all the free gifts on offer in my Stampin' Up! shop.

If you like the idea of discounted craft products and possibly a free cruise in somewhere exciting like Alaska then please do contact me for more details if you are from the UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands or Austria.

contact me at zoetant@live.co.uk 

Now it's time to visit the other blogs for more spring and saleabration catalogues.  You are here with Zoe Tant in the UK, but you can visit the others by clicking down the list below. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Zoe x