The origin of the word ‘bokeh’ is the Japanese word ‘boke’, meaning ‘blur’ or ‘haze’. It is a popular technique in photography and is a term used to describe the soft out-of-focus flare that creates spots of coloured lights around the focal point of the picture.

Anything that photographers can achieve with a camera lens and light, we crafters can create with inks and stamps! I love using this technique to create clean and simple cards and distinctive designs which draw your eye to the sentiment or focal point without overpowering it. It is also a very forgiving technique as the soft-focus effect doesn’t require absolute precision, which is always a bonus when we want to enjoy our crafting.

The key ingredient in achieving a bokeh effect on your designs is using a white pigment ink to layer over the background colour. The opacity of the white ink mutes the other colours and softens any lines or patchy areas. For this feature I have used a variety of different mediums to create backgrounds for these cards using watercolours, Distress Oxides Ink and Distress Ink blends. They all worked equally well.

Of course the other important element for creating the bokeh effect is a method for adding circles of different sizes. You can do this with either stamps or stencils depending on what you have in your stash. For some of these cards I made my own stencil by die-cutting different-sized circles from a piece of acetate. It’s best to use acetate so that you can see through the stencil to position it easier. It also pays to leave a bit of space between each die-cut circle on your stencil so that you don’t accidentally rub ink where it’s not wanted. But be generous; create lots of circles of various sizes, and overlap them on your design as this creates the distinctive bokeh look.

Create different types of Bokeh Effects!

The bokeh technique works perfectly for masculine and feminine designs and all sorts of occasions – I hope you have fun with it!

1

Use an ink-blending tool to create a background on white cardstock using different shades of Distress Oxides Ink.  Allow the colours to overlap and create a soft, layered effect, covering the whole of the panel

2

While the inked background is drying, die-cut circles from a sheet of acetate to create a stencil.  Keep them widely spaced to make it easier to work the ink through

3

Blend shades of Distress Oxide Ink through the acetate stencil to create circles of different sizes. Pick up ink from a white pigment inkpad with a sponge dauber and blend circles over the top of the background to create a bokeh effect

Be awesome - a colourful birthday card great for teens and young adults
This card uses the boke-effect to play with light and shadow and create a balloon like finish, perfect for any birthday celebration.
Stamping1 min read04 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 13.5cm-square card blank
  • White & dark blue cardstock
  • Altenew Birthday Bash stamp set
  • Concord & 9th Triple Step Hooray stamp set
  • Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Cracked Pistachio & Faded Jeans Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink
  • Unicorn White Hero Arts pigment inkpad
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Colouring pencils
  • Ink-blending tool
  • Sponge daubers
  • Circle nesting dies
  • Manual die-cutting machine
Have an awesome birthday - a stylish bokeh effect card in pastel colours
Create your own stencil from acetate and ink through it to create this amazing bokeh effect background. Stamp a bold sentiment in the centre to finish.
Stamping1 min read04 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 13.5cm-square card blank
  • White & dark blue cardstock
  • Altenew Birthday Bash stamp set
  • Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Cracked Pistachio & Faded Jeans Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink
  • Unicorn White Hero Arts pigment inkpad
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Sponge daubers
  • Circle nesting dies
  • Manual die-cutting machine
'It’s Your Day' Blue Watercolour Stamped Card
Stamping1 min read04 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white A6 card blank
  • watercolour cardstock
  • mint, purple & dark blue cardstock
  • Altenew Birthday Bash stamp set
  • Concord & 9th Triple-Step Hooray stamp set
  • Pthalo Green, Ultramarine Blue & Violet Ken Oliver Colour Burst powder
  • Dusty Concord & Faded Jeans Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink
  • white Pébéo acrylic paint
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • water spritzer
  • sponge daubers
  • acetate
  • Sizzix Thinlits Peacock Feather die set
  • circle nesting dies
  • manual die-cutting machine
Wish upon a star - a delightful and contemporary any-occasion card
Learn how to create this stunning bokeh effect card using stamps, stencils, and lots of different but complementary shades of ink.
Stamping1 min read04 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 5x7 card blank
  • White cardstock
  • Lawn Fawn Let’s Bokeh Stamp Set
  • Uniko Big and Bold Wish stamp set
  • VersaMark inkpad
  • Platinum Ranger embossing powder
  • Heat tool
  • Altenew Glacier Caves, Shades of Purple & Sea Shore Mini Ink Cube sets
  • Acetate
  • Sponge daubers
  • Hobbycraft Ombre Pastels Washi tape
  • Creative Dies Nesting Star die set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • 3D foam tape
Lucky stars- blue palette one-layer card
Blotted and blended blue 'out-of-focus' stary one-layer card
Stamping1 min read04 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White A6 card blank
  • Watercolour cardstock
  • My Favorite Things Count the Stars stamp set
  • Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Salty Ocean & Faded Jeans Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Dusty Concord & Faded Jeans Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Oxide Ink
  • Unicorn White Hero Arts pigment inkpad
  • VersaMark inkpad
  • Opaque Bright White WOW! embossing powder
  • Heat tool
  • Acetate
  • Hobbycraft Ombre Pastels Washi tape