Sweet Stamps- Happy Birthday Bokeh

The challenge at Sweet Stamps for this week is Happy Birthday.

 I have been seeing cards using this Bokeh technique, and you know me- I had to try it!
How to:
1)Spritz watercolor paper with water
2)Apply Distress inks to craft mat. I used Spun Sugar, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters and Dusty Concord.
3) Using a Paint brush or waterbrush, apply the colors to your paper in a random pattern. I applied the colors lightest to darkest.  Dab with paper towel if the paper is too wet or if puddles form- so the colors do not get muddy.
4)Allow watercolor paper to dry- or use a heat gun to dry it.
5)Punch out a stencil using paper punches or dies- I used cardstock for my circles.
6)Using the lightest, mid color and darkest color, sponge on circles of color-again lightest to darkest- try to overlap the colors a touch.
7) Tap on white ink thru the stencil. I  started with the largest circles and used lighter white on the largest circles and got darker with the white as the circles got smaller. I used watered down Gesso for the smallest circles.
8) Add your stamped design
* A tip I learned from Michelle Zindorf- to emboss using a color- stamp the color ink onto your stamp, then ink with clear embossing ink. Stamp onto cardstock, add embossing powder, then Viola- I also make sure I check the dauber before I re-ink into my white pad, so I do not 'dirty' it up. Just swipe it on a paper towel and you will avoid adding ink to your white from the dauber.

Products I used from the Sweet Stamps Store:
Distress Inks HERE
Anti-Static pad HERE
Copic Sketch Markers HERE
Sweet Treats Clear Set HERE
Simple Greetings Clear Set HERE
Clear Detail Embossing Powder HERE
White Dye Ink HERE
Wink of Stella Pink  025 HERE
Stardust Gelly Roll Pen HERE
Royal Shades Die Ink HERE

Our winners are chosen by Random.org- and if you use a Sweet Stamps image, your entry will count x's 2!

Sweet Stamps has a Pintrest board HERE

Sweet Stamps has a Facebook group HERE

Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps challenge- Make your Mark
Creative Card Crew- Birthday with Sentiment
Tip Top Tuesday- Stamps only
Addicted to Stamps- Embossing

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly