Bokeh

Hi everyone.  Today we are showcasing an older technique which is a photographic technique adapted for card making.  This involves a background (either sponged, watercoloured or patterned paper) and layering of sponging through a circle stencil to create a very beautiful and unique background.

You can use a stencil with different-sized circles or create your own stencil using a piece of acetate or thin card stock and cutting different-sized circles with either punches or dies.

If you do make Bokeh cards, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

Videos: 

Bokeh made Easy by Dawn for WPlus9 (7:47)

Supplies:

• Colour:  1-3 colours of either watercolour paints, water-soluable inks, etc.
• Watercolour paper, mixed media, bristol (if watercolouring background)
• Regular card stock, mixed media, bristol (if sponging background)
• Different-sized circles stencil   OR   small circle punches or dies with acetate, vellum or thin card stock to create your own stencil
• Small finger dauber
• White Pigment ink

Alternate:

• Alcohol inks
• Yupo
• Alcohol Ink Lift pad   ... OR ... small amount of rubbing alcohol or blending solution applied lightly with sponge dauber

Technique Instructions:

Following the video above ...

• Create a background with sponging or watercolouring 1-3 colours of ink.
• Edited to add:  Use some of the sponged colours to add a few circles randomly over your panel.  This adds more depth to the overall finished look.
• Using a circle stencil, sponge white pigment ink using a small finger dauber.  Sponge circles randomly over your card front, moving stencil as needed.  Vary the sizes of circles and intensity of white ink (smallest circles are usually the brightest white; largest circles and softest white). 
• Make sure to overlap some of the circles as that helps to create depth.
• Finish the Bokeh card front as desired.

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Bokeh Card Samples

Bonnie

Julia

Christine

Darnell

Loll

 

Brenda

 

Susan

 

 

* * * * *

Sharing ...

Michele                                           Robyn                                        Christine

Christine                                           Pat                                        Marcia

Marcia                                           Aimslee                                                     

We'll be back on the 28th of June

with another technique and sample cards.

See you then!

Elegant Writer

Hi everyone.

Today we are focussing on a product that's been around for a long time, but many of us have never heard or tried it.  It's called Elegant Writer (by Speedball) and it is available at some art stores and through on-line shopping at Amazon and other places.

It is a marker that comes in a silver case.  There are other Elegant Writer pens (black case) that are permanent black markers.  These do not have the same qualities as the silver cased pens we are showcasing today.

Run the marker over a line stamp before stamping, or trace over a line image (either stamped or hand-drawn).  It looks like black ink.  But once you add water with a paint brush, the magic happens.  The ink is water soluable, and adding water makes it run.  Blot with a paper towel and you will see shades of pink, blue, purple, gray and green inks.  It's a lot of fun to play with and makes very unique cards.  We hope you'll give it a try.

If you do make cards, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

Videos:  

How to Use the Elegant Writer Pen by Karlyn Holman (23:24) - worth watching the whole video for lots of tips!  Karlyn mentions in another video that the black of the elegant writer comes from combining green and red inks.  This is why you will see both those colours when you add water with lighter versions if you blot with paper towel (turquoise and pink).

Vintage Watercolor Cake by Understand Blue (5:09)

Supplies:

• Watercolour Paper
• Speedball Elegant Writer Pen (extra fine tip - 1.3mm recommended) - make sure you get ones with a silver/gray casing on the pen.  The black casing pens aren't water soluable.
• Amazon Canada
• Amazon USA
• Amazon UK
• Watercolour Paint brushes
• Water Mister
• Tissue or paper towel
• Optional:  Watercolour Paints or Inks for adding colour

Technique Instructions:

Following the video above ...

• Stamp an outline image lightly onto watercolour paper ... or draw your own image in pencil.
• Go over the outline using your extra fine tip Black Elegant Writer (you can use the side of the tip to get finer lines).  A little goes a long way.
• Activate the watercolour lines using a watercolour brush and plain water.  You can either watercolour the background with the Elegant Writer, or you can watercolour the inside of the image.  
• Add some splatters of water if you wish.
• You do not have to activate all the lines of your drawing.
• Blot with a tissue or paper towel to remove excess water or to show more pink, blue, and purple inks.
• Once you have finished, lightly mist with water from high above your drawing.  This will ensure that all the lines have be touched by water, but the light mist will not make the lines run.  Let dry.  It is now permanent.
• You can leave it as is or you can add some splashes of colour using watercolour paints or watersoluble inks.

Tips from Group of Seven:

• If you want to add just a little bit of colour from the elegant writer instead of outlining the image, use a damp brush to pick up colour directly from the Elegant Writer pen.
• Scribble elegant writer ink onto an acrylic block or acetate sheet and pick up the colour with a brush.
• Use the Elegant Writer to go over a line image stamp and then stamp directly onto your water-friendly paper.  If the image is large, use the Elegant Writer on a section at a time so that the ink stays wet enough to stamp.
• Stamp your image using water soluable coloured ink.  Add lines of Elegant Writer.  The colour of the outline will mix with the colours from the EW pen and give you a different look (see Susan's cards as an example)
• There are also coloured Elegant Writer pens that are water soluable ink.  You can see cards made using these pens below (see Darnell's cards as an example)

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy access.

Elegant Writer Card Samples

Julia

Susan

 

  

Loll

Christine

Bonnie

 

 

Darnell

Brenda

 

* * * * *

Sharing ...

Susan B                                           Darnell                                        Hilary

                       Pat                                                    Pat

We'll be back on the 28th of May

with another technique and sample cards.

See you then!

Cover Die Eclipse

Video:   Stamp & Chat with Gina K. - this is a VERY long video.  It is easier to follow the steps below (copied from SplitcoastStampers website).

Supplies:

• Card stock
• Ink
• Large image (or grouping of several smaller images)
• Cover die (or several smaller dies)

Technique Instructions:

Following the video above ...

• Using your Misti, stamp two card fronts with the same large image (or grouping of smaller images).  Background stamps, large florals, etc. work well.
• Using a cover die, cut ONE of the stamped panels.  If desired for texture, cut more blank pieces with this same die and glue them into a stack with the stamped one on top.
• Glue the stamped cover die-cuts onto your second stamped panel, being sure to perfectly line up the stamped patterns.
• Note:  if you don't have any cover dies, use multiple small shape dies to cut the second panel and put them in place.

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy access.

It's a great reference for all of us! :)

Cover Die Eclipse Card Samples

Loll

 

Susan

 

Julia

 

Bonnie

 

Brenda

 

Darnell

Christine

Sharing ...

Robyn                                               JoAnn B                                     Christine

Robyn                                               Bobby                                           Bobby

Pat                                                         Loll                                                  Aimeslee

Robyn                                                                                                       Megan J

We'll be back on the 28th of April

with another technique and sample cards.

See you then!