Happy Bokeh Birthday

Shelly here with wishes for a Happy Bokeh Birthday!

 I have been seeing cards using this Bokeh technique, and you know me- I had to try it!
How to:
1)Spritz watercolor paper with water
2)Apply Distress inks to craft mat. I used Spun Sugar, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters and Dusty Concord.
3) Using a Paint brush or waterbrush, apply the colors to your paper in a random pattern. I applied the colors lightest to darkest.  Dab with paper towel if the paper is too wet or if puddles form- so the colors do not get muddy. The colors will lighten up when they dry.
4)Allow the watercolor paper to dry- or use a heat gun to dry it.
5)Punch out a stencil using paper punches or dies- I used cardstock for my stencil.
6)Using the lightest, mid color and darkest color, sponge on circles of color-again lightest to darkest- try to overlap the colors a touch. I added circles in various sizes, but try to remember that odd numbers are appealing to the eye- so sponge 3-5-7 circles of a particular color.
7) Tap on white ink thru the stencil. I  started with the largest circles and used lighter white on the largest circles and got darker with the white as the circles got smaller. I used watered down Gesso for the smallest circles.  I was also careful to dab on scrap paper to make sure there was no ink lifting onto my dauber that would get my white dye ink pad 'dirty'.
8) Add your stamped design
 * A tip I learned from Michelle Zindorf- to emboss using a color- stamp the color ink onto your stamp, then ink with clear embossing ink. Stamp onto cardstock, add embossing powder, then Viola- I quickly use a paper towel to wipe off the colored ink off my embossing ink- but it may have some staining. So, I have a 'clean' embossing ink pad and a 'dirty' embossing ink pad.

 I colored the cake with Copics Y11, G21, G24, R43, R46 and "0".  I added Stardust Gelly Roll Pen frosting and WInk of STella 025 Pink on the Cherry.

Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:

Distress Ink Pad SPUN SUGAR	Distress Ink Pad TUMBLED GLASS	Distress Ink Pad SHABBY SHUTTERS	Distress Ink Pad WILD HONEY	Distress Ink Pad DUSTY CONCORD	Sweet Treats Clear Stamp Set
Distress Clear Embossing Ink	Royal Ink Spot	Embossing Pal Anti-Static Pouch	Clear EP	Simple Greetings Clear Stamp Set	Copic Sketch Markers
White Dye Ink Pad for Parchment Crafting	Wink of Stella Brush Marker	Gelly Roll Stardust Glitter Pen CLEAR

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Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly