Repeat Impressions Project of the Week-Distress Bokeh

Hello!  It is my turn to bring you the Repeat Impressions Project of the Week and I chose to do the Distress Bokeh technique for you.

Bokeh is a photography term and is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas. However, bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.

I wanted to try this technique using Distress Inks and a White Pigment ink.  I gathered some supplies:

I gathered some of my favorite Repeat Impression Stamps, a variety of Distress Inks/Daubers, White Pigment Ink, a stencil with holes (you could make your own using dies) and some white cardstock.

First, I added the ink to the cardstock.  I wasn't too worried about getting a perfect blend as I will be covering most of it in the next step.

Next, I used the White Pigment ink and stencil to add random dots all over the backgrounds.  You can use a sponge or a dauber, but I preferred to just use my finger for this part.  I covered most of the purple background but went a bit less with the dots on my yellow background.  After all of the larger dots were added, I used a finger dauber to add the smaller white dots which represent the brighter bits of light showing through the blurred backgrounds.

I stamped the Repeat Impressions Large Snowflake #8917 and Snowflake Cluster #8805 in various shades of purple.  I know, you are thinking snowflakes, isn't it Spring?  These snowflake stamps are some of my favorites and this background just called out for them :) Plus, it actually snowed a bit a little higher up today and that is a good thing for us here in California right now.

Here are my finished cards:

I stamped the Repeat Impressions Large Dragonfly #4401-O  and Happy Everything #3104-

F in black ink and finished it off the card with some Diamond Stickles and enamel dots.

 I stamped the snowflakes in a variety of purple inks from my stash and added the Snowmen Fall #4601-H sentiment, stamped in black.  For a finishing touch on this one, I added a punched snowflake and some enamel dots.

I hope you will give this technique a try, it is quite fun and very easy to make several at one time.

RI What If Wednesday: Color Challenge

Hey, hey and happy Wednesday!  This week the What If Wednesday takes a different path and we are trying something new.  This week on The House That Stamps Built blog, Wendy has asked us to create a card or project using the following color scheme:

I don't know about you, but I LOVE a color challenge!

Of course, these colors scream winter to me!  Winter means beautiful snowflakes will fall (just not too much of the white stuff, okay?)

I created my card by stamping the snowflakes from the Repeat Impressions Snowflake Cluster #8805 in several different colors of blue ink.  This is a great way to use all of those ink pads that we had to have, right?  

Next I embossed the RI Single Flake #8912-I with silver embossing powder and added it to the card front.  For some finishing touches I added some twine that has a tiny silver thread and some silver embellies to the top left and lower right corners of the card.

Be sure to check out each of the Rock Star's blogs this week and see all of their awesome creations.

Cheri 

Joy 

Deonna 

Karen  

Patti J

Melissa (you are here)

We would love to have you play along with Cheri's challenge as well, head on over toThe House That Stamps Built for all of the details.  Wendy will be giving away an awesome prize to one lucky person who plays along :)

Don't forget, if you are itching to do a little Repeat Impressions' shopping, you will find a 10% off discount code in my right sidebar.  Don't forget to use it! You will be glad that you did!

Winter Wonderland

Happy Friday morning y'all!

We are getting some much needed rain here in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range and that means snow in the hills when the temps drop!

This is what I imagine Yosemite National Park is looking like today, snow capped and beautiful!

I wish you could see all of the glitter on this card, it is so pretty in person.  

Here are the fun Crafter's Companion products used:

CC Art Kure—Half Dome 

SN Premium White Cardstock

CC Embossalicious Christmas Elegance 6 x 6 Folder

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

I also used the following:

Black cardstock, Echo Park Snowflake dies, Silver cording, Elizabeth Craft Designs Warm Diamond Glitter, and a black gem.

Magical Star

 Whew, Thanksgiving is behind us and recovery has begun!  

Today I am sharing a card that could be a Winter or Christmas themed card.

Crafter's Companion products used:

Crafter's Companion Moonbeam Meadow Magical Star

Spectrum Noir Premium White Cardstock

Crafter's Companion Shimmering Cardstock Coastal Pearl

Crafter's Companion Shimmering Cardstock Sky Blue

Embossalicious Christmas Elegance 6 x 6

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Spectrum Noir Markers:  BT2, BT4, CR2, CT4, GB1, GT1, IG1, TB2, TB3

Half Dome Memories

What can I say, I love this stamp so much!  With Yosemite National Park nearly in my back yard, it is easy to see why I love this image so much.  

You can find this image and a few other Yosemite images at Crafter's Companion.

I so wished you could see the sparkle on the trees from the green glitter glue.  This card is so pretty, I just love the way it turned out.  I used this sentiment because I thought it was perfect with the majestic image of Half Dome.

You could easily add a Christmas or Winter sentiment and a little snow here and there too and get a completely different look.

Here are the Crafter's Companion products used:

Crafter's Companion Art Kure-Half Dome
Crafter's Companion Sentimentals-Verses
Spectrum Noir Premium White Cardstock

Memento Olive Grove Ink
Embossilicious Lattice 6 x 6 Folder
Lime Green Stickles

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a great weekend!

Winter Wonderland hop with Tombow and Stampendous

“Welcome to the TombowUSA and Stampendous! Winter Wonderland hop!
If you have come from Pam Hornschu's awesome blog then you are on the right track, if not- you can start the hop over at the Stampendous Blog!

This hop will be a 3-day hop beginning today!

Hope you are ready to see some winter-ful projects using both TombowUSA and Stampendous products.”

First up, I created a card using these adorable penguins from Stampendous.

I stamped the Stampendous Bundled Penguins #RS-Q206 in black ink and watercolored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens  in a variety of aquas and grays with a touch of orange :)  To add some shimmer to the card, I added some Clear Wink of Stella over the penguins and their hats/scarves.  I used Stampendous Shaved Ice for the snow at the penguins feet and around the sentiment.  I used Tombow Xtreme, Foam Tabs and Mono Multi to adhere the layers and embellies.

For my next card, I used some of the fun Stampendous embossing powder and a sentiment stamp.

I stamped the Retro Script Merry Christmas #RS-G093 in black ink onto die cut label and edged it with some Stampendous Spoonful of Snow embossing powder.  I also edged the blue print panel of the card with the same embossing powder.  I used Tombow Xtreme, Foam Tabs and Mono Multi to adhere the layers of the card together.  I finished off this card with a beautiful bow.

How about a prize pack?

The Prize includes:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens, 10 Set Bright

Stampendous! Jumbo Cling Rubber Top Hat Snowman

Rules:

“In order to be entered to win this amazing prize, please comment on all the design team projects (be sure we have a way to contact you) as well as like BOTH TombowUSA & Stampendous! on Facebook!  If you don't have Facebook, be sure to let us know in the comments :)

We will be announcing our winner on Monday November 24^th at 3:30 PM EST.”

Here is a list of all of the blogs on the hop today, be sure to check them out!

Stampendous Blog
Tenia Nelson
Kristine Reynolds
Debbie Fisher
Amy Hurley-Purdie
Pam Hornschu
Melissa Cash
Tombow Blog

Thanks for stopping by!  Now, I am going to send you back to the Tombow blog :)

RI Designers Choice Challenge Photo Inspiration

Hey Y'all! 

It is What If Wednesday on The House That Stamps Built blog and this week Repeat Rockstar, Geri has challenged the team to create a card based on the inspiration photo below:

I was immediately drawn to the green in the photo as green is my favorite color, next my eye went to the glitter on the ornament (who doesn't love a little glitter?)

I chose to create a fun card that could be used for either a Winter or Christmas themed card.  

I stamped the Repeat Impressions Large Pine #2719-K several times using the following inks:  Memento Northern Pine, Olive Grove and Pistachio.  I started with the darkest green and stamped the image at different heights using first and second generation stamping.  I repeated this process with the other two green inks.  I embossed the top portion of the image panel with a snowfall embossing folder and then added the panel to a gold panel and then a white card base.  I added a gold star to the sky, some Crystal glitter glue to the front of the focal tree and some gold cording with a bow to finish off the card.  I love this and will be adding the Repeat Impressions Here's to the Blessings #430-J sentiment to the inside and this will be my Christmas card for this year.  

Be sure to stop by each of the Rock Star's blogs to check out their take on Geri's awesome photo inspiration challenge.

Cheri 

Joy 

Deonna 

Karen  

Geri

Patti J

Melissa (you are here)

We would love to have you play along with us this week.  You could win a fabulous prize!  You can find all of the details on The House That Stamps Built blog.

Need these stamps?

Be sure to use this coupon code to save 10% off of your Repeat Impressions purchase.

Christmas Wishes

Happy Monday!  I hope this finds you getting off to good start for the week.

Today I am sharing a fun card that could be used for Christmas or Winter depending on the sentiment you might choose to use on the inside.

Below is a list of all of the Crafter's Companion products used:

CC Mulberry Wood Christmas Wishes set
SN Premium White Cardstock
SN Markers:  BG1, BG4, BG6, CG1, CG2, CG4, CR8, CR11, GB4, GB7, GB9, GB10, IG1, IG4
Embossalicious Christmas Elegance 6 x 6 Folder
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Have a great day!

RI POTW: Acetate Snowflake Card

Hello, hello, hello!

Hey there, Melissa here to share my Project of the Week on The House That Stamps Built blog.  This week I have chosen to create a Clear (Acetate) card with you.

First up, you will need to gather your supplies. Here is what I am using:

I have gathered some Stazon Opaque White ink, light blue cardstock, a clear card base and some Repeat Impressions snowflake stamps.

Next, I will stamp the Repeat Impressions Snowflakes #8805 in white Stazon ink randomly onto a clear (acetate) card base.

I stamped most of the snowflakes on the outside of the card, but added a few to the inside as well as this will add some depth to the card.

Then I cut four scallop circles from the light blue cardstock.  You will use one on the front of the card, one directly behind it on the inside top flap, one on the inside and another on the very back of the card.  By doing this, you will not be able to see any of the adhesive used to hold these onto the clear card.

Next, I stamped and embossed the Repeat Impressions Snowflake #8917 onto a white circle.  I used a sparkly silver embossing powder.  This layer was added to a silver embossed circle and then to a light blue scallop circle.

After all of the layers are assembled and applied to the card, I added some gems and a little twine to finish off the card.

I hope you will try this technique and create some clear cards for yourself.  They are a ton of fun to make!