Simply Cardmaking with Laurel Beard

Influencer, Brand Ambassador, Blogger, Designer, Youtuber

*Video: Altenew 4th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 3 with Giveaways

Today I have created some Bokeh Metallic Spray cards in celebration of Altenew’s 4th Anniversary! I am part of a blog hop today, which means prizes (30 winners to be exact) and lots of inspiration! You should have arrived from Isha’s blog.

I also have a video to go along with these cards. You can watch it here or over on my youtube channel in HD by clicking HERE! If you aren’t a subscriber to my channel, I would love for you to click HERE to subscribe and you then you will be notified of all my new videos.

 

For my first card, I had some extra embossing powder on the background by accident. I love happy accidents. Inside of brushing it away, I left it on and heat embossed it.

It tied in with the heat embossed sentiment just perfectly. And look at all that shine from the metallic sprays……

The second card  really shows off the bokeh look with the metallic sprays. Almost like a galaxy background!

Decided to pair it with the wide washi tape. Who doesn’t love polka dots…

This is an extra card I made with the large background image in the stamp set. 1 stamp and some watercolor..

I used some of the solid circles to fill in some of the circles and the rest I watercolored.

Special Offer for ALL:

FREE U.S. shipping with code HAPPY4TH or $5 OFF international shipping with code ANNIV at checkout. Offer valid from April 3rd until April 8th at 11:59 pm EDT. Not valid on prior purchases. Cannot be combined with other promo codes.

Prizes:

Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 5 lucky winners and one Altenew Academy class to 5 lucky winners. There are also 13 awesome companies/crafty friends who are celebrating with us, and they are offering the following prizes:

Be sure to leave comments by April 15th, 2018 at 11:59 PM EDT for a chance to win! 30 WINNERS will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the blogs listed below and will be announced on the Altenew blog on April 17th, 2018.

Blog Hop Order:

Goodies used:

signature

Comments

  1. Fantastic cards! So much depth and visual texture. It’s fun to see a similar design in dark neutrals and in color. I admit, I LOVE the dark neutrals.

    Reply

  12. Love both of the darker colored bokeh cards. Really dramatic. The Wings of Hope sentiment is wonderful too.

    Reply

  17. I have to try this bokeh technique. Which means I just have to buy Altenew’s Pattern Play Circles. Loved all three of your cards. Beautiful

    Reply

  21. Lovely cards! I love the sentiments on the blue/drops cards. I dont remember seeing those before.. Guess I have to go find them! Happy Anniversary, Altenew.

    Reply

  28. Awesome results! I pinned your video and will use your ideas to make some space cards! I have always loved the Bokeh technique. Thank you for sharing your talents.

    Reply

  34. I like both your cards, but the one with the saying really “says” something real! Does that make sense? LOL

    Reply

  39. The cards are amazing.
    The first has so much depth. You can see yourself
    going back into the depths. The second is so bright and
    colorful. Love both of them.
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  44. Your cards are pretty awesome and I love the backgrounds. How fantastic is it to get a bunch of backgrounds made at once?!

    Reply

  45. Absolutely love this idea. Sometime “playing” turns out some of the prettiest cards. Thanks for the ideas.

    Reply

  49. Beautiful cards and great video. I liked how you created so many backgrounds with the leftover spray. Thanks for sharing…

    Reply

  52. OMG! Another line of Altenew’s many products I just HAVE to have! These are all so great Laurel. (Never mind the fantastic sentiment sets that I L♥VE! …. ENABLER…) LOL

    Reply

  55. Thanks for the video. I enjoyed seeing how you made these cards. I especially like the happy accident. Those are often the best.

    Reply

  56. I love the background of your first card. The accidental embossing powder really made it beautiful.

    Reply

  61. Hi, Your 2 cards are so WOW and OMG, how unique also, the first one, I love the metalliac on it and the embossing that made it such a stunning card. The second card is so bright and colorful, I love the colors you used, that would just brighten some ones day to see that. What a Great post. Thanks.

    Reply

  65. Oh my word!!!! I absolutely love the Bokeh look on your cards….so beautiful…..I have not tried it yet…as it always looks difficult…but your video…makes me want to take a chance..after all, it is only paper right? LOL.
    Thank you for always being so gracious with your time and talent. Hugs

    Reply

  66. Wowowow! I have just become a subscriber. Your work is exceptional. Thanks Altenew for having a birthday and introducing me to you.

    Reply

  70. what can I say ?! your bokeh cards are fan-tas-tic ! those metallic spray are incredible and just seing you adding those dots made my day 🙂 thank you so much ! The results are so beautiful ! And the sentiments are just perfect <3

    Reply

  73. Love the metallic background with the stray gold powder. The bokeh effect is so pretty. Thanks for the helpful video.

    Reply

  75. Love your polka dot cards! Love Altenew’s florals but their geometric stamps are very appealing! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  76. Your bokeh card is so rich looking! I do love the multi-color look as it is just playful and fun. Beautiful cards.

    Reply

  79. I love these backgrounds you created! Those bokeh circles are fabulous. Thanks for sharing your video!!

    Reply

  80. I love watching your videos because you always seem to be having so much fun. Your backgrounds and final cards are so pretty!

    Reply

  83. These are all soooo pretty! Thanks for sharing the technique. I bought the sprays and now I’m going to have to try them out. I love the bokah technique and your colored dots are just as nice.

    Reply

  84. Who would imagine that circles could look this good? I just love your happy accident but the bright vivid colors on the second card make me smile

    Reply

  85. Great cards – interesting techniques and I love the bright, happy colors on the second card.

    Reply

  93. celebrate with bubble Champlain or bubbles in a bath to relax, just love the effect of the bubbles, well done

    Reply

  95. I love bokeh backgrounds! They create such a rich background for diecuts or silhouette stamping, and for sentiments. I have just added to my wish list two MORE products that I have to have: metallic sprays and the circle stamps. We may just have to forego eating for the rest of the year! 🙂

    Reply

  97. I love the bokeh cards. You made making the first cards look so simple. And the multicolor card is stunning. It would be great for masculine or feminine cards just by adjusting the colors.

    Reply

  98. Ok, I do have to say these ‘bubbly’ cards are going to make me buy the products. I absolutely love them.

    Reply

  101. Laurel, your cards are awesome! I love that gorgeous background on the first card! Your second is so bold and colorful…super cute! I can’t wait to watch the video to see how you made them!!

    Reply

  107. Super cool cards Laurel. I love the bokeh backgrounds! The white circles look great! Especially with the background. The touch of gold heat embossing is just perfect.

    Reply

  109. Love all of these cards! Thanks for doing the bokeh technique. I have yet to succeed in doing one that looks good but you’ve inspired me once again! My favorite is the last card with the colorful circles that are heat embossed. It would make a wonderful birthday card! Thanks for sharing. Happy Birthday Altenew!

    Reply

  112. Well I have to say my head was spinning as you were quickly going through your process on the video!!! I love how your “mistakes” or messes or leftover inkings turned out to be stunning cards! Your rock Laurel!!

    Reply

  114. Fun and lovely cards. Mistakes are creative opportunities. Your extra embossing powder completed your card very well.

    Reply

  115. Such a beautiful trio of cards! The first one is my absolute favorite! I love the happy mistake! I think it really sets the card to a higher level of awesomeness! TFS!

    Reply

  116. When I pulled up your post and saw those cards, I knew I had to watch the video. Amazing design. It reminds me of bubbles my grandkids play with when they come over. And I love that you left the gold on the white pigment ink in the background.

    Reply

  127. Love how you have such a unique color pallet! What great sentiments to go along with your beautiful work!

    Reply

  134. Beautiful and different cards – all from the same background. It just shows how versatile stamps can be when given to the right person! I particularly like the muted background cards.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    Reply

  135. Love the Bokeh effect; both cards are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Happy 4th Anniversary to Altenew.

    Reply

  139. Great cards, both of them, but my favorite is the colorful “Hello” card. It makes me think of a bubble machine run amuck. A very happy card. I am really enjoying this blog hop.

    Reply

  146. Laurel, I am such a fan of yours and I’m a gal that loves a polka dot so these cards hit me right where I live! Thank you for sharing!!!

    Reply

  157. I love the dimension you achieved on your cards! I’ve never used Altenew’s sprays but I think I’ll give them a try!

    Reply

  158. Thanks for sharing! these are incredible – especially the first! Have never seen anything like that!

    Reply

  163. Wow, that’s a really cool look! I bought a card kit with some sprays in it and I’ll try this with them!

    Reply

  165. nothing like a happy accident!!! I think the mistake might have been to brush off all the embossing powder. The end result is stunning. I love the more muted colors in the “waste” piece. All three end products are wonderful. Thank you so much for a new technique and another stamp set to add to my wish list (which is way bigger than my budget!)

    Reply

  168. Love the use of gold in the first card and this background technique is so unusual and beautiful – thanks for sharing it with us!

    Reply

  171. Fabulous! I love all the circles and your gorgeous inked backgrounds! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  183. Lovely cards with gorgeous products. Congratulations to my favourite stamp company! I’m so glad I discovered Altenew early on with one of my all-time favourite stamp sets – Vintage Roses. Since then I have been stunned again and again by their beautiful products – especially their layering flowers. Here’s to many more happy years!

    Reply

  184. Wonderful cards. I love how you incorporated your happy accident. It turned out beautifully.

    Reply

  185. You showed us how versatile the Pattern Play stamps can be. The background of the first 2 cards really look like bubbles to me. I like the bright colors of the third card. The embossing adds such great texture to the cards. Thanks

    Reply

  186. Thanks for sharing your lovely cards. I’ve tried bokeh before but used a circle template and sponged white ink through it, so this is a great alternate method of getting a similar result. I particularly liked the ‘mistake’ of the sticking embossing powder and loved the result of the gold highlights on the white circles.

    Reply

  192. Oh my! I love, love, love all these cards. The effect of the way you used the sprays for the background … brilliant! Thank you for the inspiration.

    Reply

  194. Both these cards so fun! I love how the first one turned out, happy accidents are a blessing in the craft room! 🙂

    Reply

  196. Great cards! So many layers to enjoy and savor – love that bokeh effect! Great video as well. Thanks for participating in the blog hop today and Happy 4th Anniversary, Altenew. May you have many many more successful yrs to celebrate in the future!

    Reply

  197. Laurel, super cuteness! Love this bokeh technique with the metallics! Very rich and shiny. Happy 4th Altenew!!!

    Reply

  200. Amazing work! So professional. Thanks for sharing your talents. Happy 4th Birthday Altenew!

    Reply

  201. Wow! I absolutely love the bokeh background! What a great technique! I will definitely be trying that. 🙂

    Reply

  202. Those metallic sprays look so impressive and fun–I think I’m going to have to get a couple colors!

    Reply

  203. It’s amazing how you got two completely different vibes using the same stamp set. I’m drawn to the tranquility of the darker card.

    Reply

  210. Your bokeh cards are beautiful! I especially love the one with your “happy accident!” The sections of gold repeat the gold in the sentiment and looks perfect! Thanks for the video to show how your creations were accomplished!

    Reply

  212. Wow – those are really awesome cards! I am so glad you posted that video – I would never have known how to create that look. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  214. I Love, Love, Love your cards. The background is stunning and then the simplicity of the gorgeous Altenew Circle Stamp set on top of it makes awesome cards. Thank you so much for showing.

    Reply

  215. Fabulous cards! I can’t wait to view your video when I have more time. I need to know how to create that look.

    Reply

  217. All of your cards are great but i especially love the first one you did! Although I was holding my breath the whole time you were using the sprays…a white sweater??? Very brave! Lol! I love how the extra embossing powder added so beautifully to your bokah background! Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply

  218. Your cards are really stunning! I love the details in the background and the colors, thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  225. Now I must admit that I love your first 2 cards but I don’t like the color. For me the dark color is kind of depressing. However, your happy embossing accident is great! I don’t have happy accidents like that so good on you! Maybe some of your happy accident will rub off on me. I love embossing! When I took card making classes many years ago, the first card they told us we would make was embossed. The person who taught the class showed us the card and I said “You do know we have never done this before, right? No way I am going to make a card like that.” Of course it wasn’t as hard as it looked because that is how embossing is. It looks beautiful and it looks like it’s hard to do, but it isn’t. I fell in love with embossing right then and there. You’re embossing is beautiful!
    Your third card is my favorite of the whole bunch! I love colors and I love lots of them. You certainly did that in your last card. Also, you used my favorite color in the whole wide world, yellow. 10 points for you! LOL I love that circle stamp and when I win, I want that stamp for sure!
    Thanks for showing us all your creative cards and for giving us the chance to win something1

    Reply

  227. What a neat way to imitate bokeh! And you were so right to keep the bits of embossing powder; it looks amazing highlighting your various circles/spots. The softer background ends up looking like a really classy marble counter, and I love it. This is not a stamp set I was as familiar with, so I love seeing what you came up with using it. Thanks for sharing and being part of the celebrations!

    Reply

  230. LOVE the bokeh look! I love anything with circles. While these cards use the same stamp set, they look so differernt. Very cool!!

    Reply

  235. Wow! Gorgeous cards! Those first 2 are so different. They’d make some great masculine cards. And that third card is so fun with those glorious colours. Love it!

    Reply

I'd love to hear from you!! Drop me a comment :)

%d bloggers like this: