Beautiful Bokeh Backgrounds ~ Texture Tuesday

 Bokeh Beauty! Stunning Backgrounds sponging with White Craft Ink 

Ready to make your card backgrounds steal the show? In this video, I’m sharing a gorgeous technique using white craft ink refill and templates to create a soft, dreamy bokeh effect that’s perfect for layering your greetings, sentiments, or focal images. It’s elegant, eye-catching, and totally do-able!

✂️ What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to use white craft ink and templates to achieve a bokeh-style background
✅ Tips to blend softly and build beautiful, glowing layers

Since we made our own DIY Black Memento Ink Pads from the blank Craft White ink pad, we have the extra bottle of white Craft ink refill, so looking for ways to work with it pairs nicely with this Texture technique today!

Grab your blending tools and get ready to add a little extra magic to your next card. 

💬 Question of the Day: Have you ever tried the bokeh technique in cardmaking? Tell me how it went in the comments!

PS Bokeh is pronounced like a bouquet of flowers! who knew?! : D

smiles,

Laurie

Tuesday Textures – Wax Paper Resist for a Background Deluxe! 🎨🕯️

Welcome back to Tuesday Textures, where we explore all the fun ways to add depth and interest to your cards! 

This week’s technique? Wax paper resist—an easy, playful way to create a stunning background using wax paper, ink, and your trusty blending brushes. The result? A textured masterpiece that looks fancy, but is totally beginner-friendly.

Using wax paper as a resist with ink is a fun idea. I've been a demo for 23 years ago, and long before we were using the Cut and Emboss machine, we used this technique to create some fun backgrounds to work with just by crumpling the paper. 

I suppose I've always loved texture techniques! 

Grab your supplies and play! 

smiles,

Laurie 

Blended Background + Stamped Ocean Scene – Inspired by Paper Pumpkin!

 

I love how this card turned out! Creating a fun ocean scene using blending brushes for the background and layering stamps over top for a whimsical, eye-catching result. The twist? We’re ditching the typical blues and using non-traditional colors inspired by a recent Paper Pumpkin kit—because sometimes the best scenes come from unexpected palettes!

✂️ What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to use blending brushes to create soft, dreamy backgrounds
✅ Tips for stamping scenes over ink-blended layers
✅ How Paper Pumpkin can spark creative ideas with color and theme

If you haven’t tried Paper Pumpkin yet—it’s creativity in a box delivered right to your door! Let me help you get set up with a no commitment subscription today! 

smiles,

Laurie

ABC's of Stampin' Techniques T for Trees

 In this episode of the ABC’s of Techniques series, we're turning our focus to T for Trees—because tree stamps are some of the most versatile and beautiful in your collection! From backgrounds to focal points, their natural charm shines through.

An abundance of techniques can be used with tree stamps and leaves. They are a natural  (pun intended) for several classic creative ways to create backgrounds and main panels.

I showcase several cards from this series and my Lives. Like the Babywipe technique with leaves and heat embossed. So fabulous. Getting inky and using trees for silhouettes, yes!

I love creating this little scene and versamarking the entire image to clear emboss over. I've always said, it's no wonder my Versamark pad is not very pristine : /

Trees also are amazing starting point for a Masculine card!

smiles,

Laurie