Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Bokeh Love

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder post for CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Bokeh.  Nancy is hosting this challenge as her final month at CAS Mix Up!  We will miss you Nancy!


I love the look of this wonderful photographic technique.  For my card above, I started with a very small strip of leftover yupo with alcohol inks that I had in my stash.  It was JUST wide enough to fill the background for the square peek-a-boo window.  I knew I wanted a black silhouette die-cut to place on top, so looked through my dies and found this darling cupid that I received as a gift from a very sweet friend.  Thank you BozenA!  This goes with the bokeh background perfectly and so does this sentiment that I tend to use a lot (love it too!).

To remove colour from the alcohol ink background to create the bokeh design, I started with my alcohol lift pad.  I've had it for a while, but not used and it was already dry.  Apparently that happens so you need to order re-inker for it (which I had).  I added the reinker, but it was still going slowly.  I folded up a paper towel and placed it in a small container and poured in blending solution.  Picked up some of the solution with a finger dauber, dabbed off any excess and then sponged through a circle stencil.  It worked great!!  I will probably use this more than having to buy alcohol ink lift re-inker all the time.  That's just my experience ... you need to decide for yourself..

Here's a close-up of the card ...
Sweet!  Right??!!

Please check out the reminder post on CAS Mix Up challenge blog to see the reminder cards from the rest of our Designers, along with our wonderful Guest Designer, Viv.

Then come play along.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Since I used sponging through a circle stencil to remove colour ... I'm adding this to the CAS Stencil January Challenge - Sponging!







Stamps:  Many Everyday Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Yupo; White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Alcohol inks
Accessories & Tools:  Blending solution, finger dauber, Circle Stencil (AliExpress), Stitched Window die (AliExpress); Cupid die (gift from a friend - unknown)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Bokeh
CAS Stencil January Challenge - Sponging

35 comments:

BożenA said...

Loll, I love this card! The black silhouette of a little angel looks great on this stunning background. I love all the bokeh lights on your background. I am glad that you are! Thank you that you are, Loll.
BożenA <3

Marcia Hill said...

LOVE, LOVE this card Loll!! What a cool idea to use the blending solution to remove the ink through your circle stencil...never would have thought of trying that, but I sure am going to now!! And what perfect colors in your background to add that sweet little cupid silhouette!! Lovely, lovely card my friend!! :0)

Robyn Oliver said...

Just stunning Loll, the black cupid on the white card with that delicious red bokeh background in the window is a real eye catcher, beautiful card

Mac Mable said...

Your card is so pretty Loll. The Bokeh effect looks amazing and the colours are vibrant and love how you achieved the effect with the dauber and solution. What a wonderful die cut from BozenA and it looks stunning in the black. Beautiful card Loll x

Happy Dance said...

This is incredible, Loll, and I'm guessing that your design and technique will be CASEd all through blogland. Perfection. CAS perfection to be exact. I love this card! This is one of those "WOW" cards; it's in my top 5 of your cards. Bev

Liz said...

This is so pretty, Loll. The silhouette looks beautiful against your amazing background. I'll have to try this technique. xx

Charlene said...

I love this card, very eye catching. I am going to have to search for that cupid die - it is so perfect! Thanks again for sharing your talents!

Bobby said...

So sweet, Loll. I'm glad you told me about the alcohol lift but I tried mine and it didn't lift anything. Must be its dry and I don't have the re-inker. That sounds like a pain. One more thing I shouldn't have gotten. :(

Christine Alexander said...

Love that colour combo with the pinks and black Loll, the cherub really pops against the pink. I haven't tried my AI Lift ink in a long time, so good to know about the blending solution :)

Nstiz said...

I sure do love your background technique as well as the bold color with the silhouette. Thank you too for the information on the Lift ink. I too have a pad that is not used I and feared it too dried out and did not want to invest in more reinker if not necessary and wondered if copic blender solution or alcohol would do that same.

Viv said...

Never used AI's for Bokeh - but now I am going to try!
Stunning card Loll. x

Jeanne said...

Your bokeh is beautiful. Neat way to achieve it, too. That cupid is a perfect addition! Terrific work, Loll!

Karen Dunbrook said...

such a precious card, love the intense colour!
xx Karen

Maria said...

Oh, so pretty, Loll! Love the darling sweet silhouette against the beautiful background!!

hellerlittle said...

I love your little angel/cupid card !!!
It´s so colorful with out a lot of colors ... amazing
CU hellerlittle

Cindy H. said...

Simply gorgeous! Love everything about it! Thank you for the tips, I mean to try them :)

Jo said...

This black cupid silhouette sitting on the aperture is perfect for that totally incredible AI BG. What a great idea to use the alcohol lift ink. I love how you achieved the white nuances. The black sentiment couldn't have been better chosen. Another beauty! xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

A wonderful idea and a wonderful result, Love the red and the silhouette.
Faith
x

Barb Ghig said...

Great idea to use your blending solution to create the circles, Loll! Your little cupid is perfect with your beautiful Bokeh background and peek-a-boo window...I really love this card!

nancy littrell said...

OMG, Loll...I Love the rich colors on your bokeh background and how you used alcohol ink lift for your bokeh circles. TFS your tips also. Your sweet cupid silhouette die cut is the perfect image for your beautiful background. TFS my friend and for your kind words. I will miss being on the DT, but will definitely be playing often. Also looking forward to having fun learning new stencil techniques on your awesome new CAS Stencil Card Challenge and getting to play with another creative and friendly DT:-) Love and Hugs..Nancy

Brenda said...

Wow Loll, this is a beautiful Valentine or love card! I just thought you used your white ink on the beautiful background, imagine my surprise when I read that you didn't! Yes, I think alcohol works just as good as the other alcohol lifting product-but never have I used the alcohol lifting products. I just know that alcohol is cheap as dirt so why use anything else?! Then there is that fabulous image die cut you used, omgosh, I love it! Never saw a little cupid like that sitting with a heart in his little hand. Totally crushing on that sweet gift! Hugs, Brenda

Christina said...

The card is utterly adorable! (but the links all go to the watercolor challenge!)

kiwimeskreations said...

Sweet - this is exquisite Loll - absolutely perfect
Blessings
Maxine

Linda said...

This is just adorable Loll .... I love the little cupid. What a great way of creating the bokeh effect too, I need to try that one xx

baileyrosy.com said...

The effect of the bokeh background with the silhouette is just stunning and amazing contrast that works beautifully.

Marie

Brenda in IN said...

Fantastic bokeh and a beautiful Valentine card. Thank you for sharing the tip about the Lift pad. I haven't opened mine so I'd better check it before it dries out. What a sweet silhouette that is and how nice BozenA sent it.

Julia Aston said...

The Bokeh on the red alcohol ink is wonderful Loll! and your cupid looks like she is blowing the bubbles off her hand! (then I saw the heart!) xx

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Keep It Sweet and Simple said...

This is so beautiful and eye-catching.
Love how your silhouette really pops against that rich, red background.

Bonnie said...

I haven't opened my AI Lifter yet. It's probably dry too. But you found a great way to get around it. Your Bokeh background with the rich red is beautiful and the little angel blowing a kiss is perfect with it!

Trina P. said...

Oops... I guess my lift pad is dry too. ☹️ Brava 👏 for finding a clever solution to it... and thank you for sharin it with us. Your card is so lovely and sweet, Loll. Bold beautiful colours. xx

hellerlittle said...

thanks a bunch for this inspiration !!!
I cased your card and be part in both challenges also

Hugs from Germany hellerlittle

maybe you would look ???
https://hellerlittles-blog.blogspot.com/2019/01/619-bokeh.html

Anita in France said...

Rich and magical, Loll ... the depth in the bokeh behind that sweet silhouette is awesome! Hugs, Anita :)

Pat said...

This is such a sweet image Loll and the black is such a wonderful contrast to the deep pink with the beautiful bokeh and I adore that stitched window die which shows it off perfectly. x

Papercraft Boutique said...

This is simply stunning, Loll! I LOVE the intense and lovely alcohol ink Bokeh background with the pretty cupid die-cut silhouette! The color contrast is wonderful and the way you arranged the cupid (sitting on the window sill) makes him look so adorable. I have the same problem with my AI Lift pad. Thanks so much for sharing your solution!
Hideko xx