Totally Techniques - Bokeh

Welcome to our Totally techniques Design Team blog hop - this month we are sharing the Bokeh technique. Originally a photography style, this technique has transitioned nicely to the paper crafting world.

Perhaps you have just visited with Zoe Tant, I always love Zoe's projects and this month is brilliant!

This is my project:

I have used Rooted in Nature as my stamp set and this is not necessarily the first set you would reach for and neither are the colours but I wanted to try something a little different and the leaves in this set are stunning.

The base card is Basic Black and mounted with a square of Blackberry Bliss, then mounted both inside and out with a square of Whisper White card.  I stamped the lone tall tree in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink then masked out the area using post it notes.

Using sponge daubers (because I wanted concentrated colour) I used the following inks from top to bottom: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Real Red, Lovely Lipstick, Rich Razzleberry and Blackberry Bliss.

I chose to do the "bokeh" technique in the traditional way with a stencil made from a piece of Thick Whisper White card punched with the 3/4", the 1" and the 11/4" Circle Punches. I then applied Whisper White Craft Ink with a dauber. In truth I didn't wait long enough for the inks to dry so the colour came through the white a little but I don't mind the effect.

I wanted to add a completely unrelated colour to contrast with the strong colours in the card. I stamped the largest leaf from the Rooted in Nature set in Blackberry Bliss on a piece of Highland Heather card stock and fussy cut and distressed the leaf, ultimately folding it down the centre vein.I adhered it with a dimensional. The I used the three sizes of Basic Black Faceted Dots as a bit of bling. The sentiment is from the same stamp set but I inked it so that the first word wouldn't appear.

Blackberry Bliss is an unusual colour to choose for a project such as this but I love how the dark colours frame the images and make the silhouetted tree all the more dramatic.

I hope you took some inspiration from my project today, the technique is an easy one which works with both subtle and darker toned colours. Enjoy!

Don't leave us just yet, next up we have Barbar Meyer who always blows me away with her beautiful projects and creativity

   

Until next time, stay happy,
Shanni xx

Order of the July Blog Hop

1. Annette Elias (The Netherlands) 

2. Kelly Acheson (USA) 

3. Zoe Tant (UK) 

4. Shannean Moncrieff (Australia) 

5. Barbara Meyer (Austria) 

6. Lynsay Mahon (Canada) 

7. Nadine Weiner (Germany) 

8. Satomi Wellard (Japan) 

9. Marine Wiplier (France)

Thinking Outside the Box - Suitcases

Welcome back to another Thinking Outside the Box Design Team blog hop. This month we are doing suitcases:

I hope you have loved the projects so far if you are joining us from the incredible Barb Stewart, her project was amazing.  I love how differently people interpret our brief. this is my project:

I didn't want to do a suitcase. I converted it to a box that would be practical for other occasions. So I have made a box that closes like a suitcase but poses a different purpose.

These are the products and materials that you will need:

Rooted In Nature Stamp Set
Sahara Sand Card Stock
Whisper White Card Stock
Wood Textures Designer Series Paper
Cajun Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
Copper Metallic Thread
Leaves Trinkets
Pearl Rhinestones

The box is really simple and is actually just two boxes held together with two punched tags (as hinges).

So you start with two rectangle  pieces of card stock measuring 21cm x 16.5 cm. score each side at 2cm and 4cm then cut the voids as follows:

Next we need to cut the DSP to adhere to the project as follows:

Wood Textures DSP 2 x 12.5cm x 8cm pieces, 4  pieces that are 12.5cm x 1.5cm and 8 pieces of 8cm x 1.5cm.

Punch 2 x Everyday Label punched pieces

I also cut a piece 30cm x 5cm and scored it down the centre portrait and folded and adhered it in halves length wise. I inserted it in the constructed boxed base. I trimmed off the corners closest to the rear of the box at a 45 degree angle so that box lid closed smoothly.

Doubling up the sides of each box before you hinge them together means that the box is extra sturdy.

The difficult part is placing the hinges neatly.

I decorated the box with the Wood Textures DSP. I stamped the leaves and timber images from the Rooted in Nature stamp set and fussy cut them. They are stamped in the rock and roll technique using Soft Suede and Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede. The timber is stamped in Crumb Cake.

The leaves are highlighted in Clear Wink of Stella to give them extra pop.

You will see that I added Copper Metallic Thread as tousing behind the leaves.

I hope you have found some inspiration in this project. Don't leave us just yet, take a look at my friend Tanja Kolar's project.

 

Until next time, stay sparkly.
Shanni xx

Order of Blog Hop for June 

1. Shannean Moncrieff ( Australia) 

2. Tanja Kolar (Germany) 

3. Yoshiko Endo ( Japan) 

4. Annette Elias (Netherlands) 

5. Dena Rekow (USA) 

6. Sharlene Meyer (New Zealand) 

7. Beate Wacker (Austria) 

8. Aude Barbara (France) 

9. Barb Stewart (Canada)

Fancy Folds - Bend Fold Cards

 

Hello and welcome to another blog hop with the Fancy Folds Design Team. This month we are making Bend Fold cards also known as Bendi Cards. . . this is fun fold and really easy to make.

You have possibly just been at Satomi's blog - she has a beautiful project this month so I am sure you are feeling inspired.

This is my project:

I followed Frenchie's simple YouTube Tutorial but instead of using framelits to cut my bendi part I simply cut straight lines at two different heights to keep my card relatively clean and simple.

Shock reverberates around the world because I have made another square card lol. I used the following materials for my 6"x 6"whisper white card:

Rooted in Nature Stamp Set
Nature's Poem Designer Series Paper
Thick Whisper White Card Stock
Cajun Craze Card Stock
Copper Foil Card
Cajun Craze Classic Stamp Pad
Soft Suede Classic Stamp Pad
Blushing Bride Classic Stamp Pad
Copper Metallic Thread
Clear Wink of Stella

The base card is Whisper White, mounted with a square of Copper Foil Card, I then mounted a further square of Whisper White with the larger rectangle on the left cut at the same time (so that there are no need to use adhesive). I added the longer, narrower bend feature by adhering it behind the Whisper White but in front of the Copper Foil so that it appears to be part of the card front proper. The white front is then mounted with a square of Cajun Craze Card and the Nature's Poem DSP. I love the paper with the Cajun Craze, Mint Macaron and Petal Pink leaves printed on it.

You will see that the left hand flap feature is mounted with a rectangle of the striped Nature's Powem DSP - this page contains the same colours as the leaves print and some additional tones, including the Soft Suede fine lines. The front panel is mounted with a rectangle of Cajun Craze and Whisper White.

The additional and dimensionalised leaves are stamped in the rock and roll technique using Soft Suede and Cajun Craze Classic Stamp Pads. I then fussy cut the leaves - there is a matching framelit die but I wanted to avoid the white edge around the stamped image. I then gave the stamped leaves depth by rolling them over my bone folder. I like the subtle contrast in colours and wanted them to look like true autumnal leaves.

I love the sentiments in the Rooted in Nature stamp set. To break up the colour a little I stamped the smaller leaf from the set in Blushing Bride on the front panel. I used this colour despite it not being in the DSP so that it would pop and look a little brighter. The sentiment is stamped in Cajun Craze and the two leaves are stamped in the same manner as those on the background of the card.

Here you can see the bend - it's quite dramatic and I plan to give the card over made up but to show the recipient how it folds down flat. I toused the Copper Metallic Thread and placed it around and behind the leaf on the second bend feature to add some texture, to pop the Cajun Craze and to marry in with the Copper Foil mount.

I added Clear Wink of Stella to the stamped leaves to give them some added appeal and to contribute to the autumn tones.

I loved how the autumn colours complement the pink on the front panel and tie in with the DSP.

I hope you like the card and have found some inspiration in the use of this set with the Bend Fold. The fold technique is really easy but makes a huge impact. I think its great for all occasions and potentially would be easy to make in a class.

Don't leave us yet because my friend Tanja has a beautiful project to share, I recommend you take the time to check out her card because it is amazing!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by,
Shanni xx

Order of the June Blog Hop

1.Gina Connor (UK) 

2.Satomi Wellard (Japan) 

3.Shannean Moncrieff (Australia) 

4.Tanja Kolar (Germany) 

5.Aude Barbara (France) 

6.Miranda Mols (Netherland) 

7.Connie Stewart (USA)