There’s something truly special about the simple act of sending a hug through the mail. It’s more than just a card; it’s a piece of warmth, comfort, and love wrapped up in paper and ink. In a world where digital messages often take the forefront, there’s something deeply satisfying about creating a physical card that carries a bit of your heart with it. Today, I’m excited to share a card design that does just that, featuring the third and final Bokeh technique I’ve explored in a recent series. This card combines the soft, dreamy background of the Bokeh effect with bold, dimensional elements that make the sentiment—sending lots of hugs—truly stand out.
Sending Lots of Hugs Card:
Recapping the Bokeh Effect
If you’ve been following along with my recent blog posts, you’ll know that I’ve been diving into the world of Bokeh techniques, exploring different ways to create that soft, out-of-focus effect that’s so reminiscent of warm, glowing lights in the background. For this final technique, I wanted to push the boundaries a bit further and show how Bokeh can be more than just a backdrop—it can be a key player in your card’s design.
The Bokeh effect is incredibly versatile, and I’ve found it works beautifully in both subtle and bold designs. For this card, I’ve used it as a soft background to highlight the focal elements—a set of richly colored leaves and a bold sentiment. It’s the perfect balance between dreamy and vibrant, making it a great technique to add to your card-making toolbox.
Crafting the Card: The Building Blocks
The Bokeh Background
Let’s start with the star of the show: the Bokeh background. I created this using the same technique as in my previous posts (be sure to check out the earlier blog post for a detailed guide), but this time, I’ve taken it a step further by die-cutting it into a framed shape using the You’ve Been Framed Die Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs. This die adds a clean, modern edge to the soft, ethereal Bokeh background, creating a striking contrast that really makes the design pop.
After cutting out the Bokeh background, I backed it with a piece of Pitch Black cardstock. This deep, rich color adds depth to the design and helps the Bokeh effect stand out even more. I then adhered the panel to an A2 top-folding card base made from Neenah Desert Storm 100 lbs cardstock. I love using this cardstock for fall-themed cards—it has a warm, earthy tone that pairs beautifully with autumnal colors.
Pro Tip: When working with Bokeh backgrounds, consider pairing them with a contrasting color for your card base. This will help the Bokeh effect stand out and prevent the design from looking too washed out.
Adding the Focal Elements
For the focal images on this card, I used the Two Step Leaves Stamp Set from Waffle Flower Crafts. This stamp set is perfect for fall, with its mix of solid and detailed leaf images. I wanted to create a warm, glowing look, so I stamped the solid leaf images using a blend of Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide Inks. To get a soft transition between the colors, I applied the ink with a foam blending tool, which allowed me to blend the edges seamlessly.
I stamped the leaves on Neenah Solar White 80 lbs cardstock, which is my go-to for clean, crisp images. For the second step—the detailed lines of the leaves—I used Scorched Timber Distress Oxide Ink. This dark, rich brown adds a nice contrast to the bright colors of the leaves, giving them a more dimensional, lifelike appearance.
Once the leaves were stamped, I die-cut them using the coordinating dies. I love how the intricate details of the leaves stand out against the soft Bokeh background. The die-cutting adds a bit of dimension to the card, making the leaves look like they’re almost popping off the page.
Pro Tip: When blending multiple ink colors on a single stamp, start with the lightest color first and gradually add the darker shades. This will help you achieve a smooth, even blend without harsh lines.
Crafting the Sentiment
Creating a Bold “Hugs” Sentiment
The sentiment is often the focal point of my cards, and for this one, I wanted it to really stand out. I used the Oversized Hugs Die from Waffle Flower Crafts to create a bold, dimensional sentiment that pairs perfectly with the rich colors of the leaves. I cut the shadow die from Pitch Black cardstock, and then layered three additional die-cut “hugs” on top, which were cut from scrap cardstock. This adds a lot of dimension to the sentiment, making it really pop.
To give the sentiment a touch of elegance, I cut the top layer of the word “Hugs” from Gold Holographic paper. This mirror-like finish adds a bit of shine and catches the light beautifully, drawing the eye right to the sentiment.
Once I had all the layers glued together, I adhered the sentiment to the card front using Bearly Arts Liquid Glue. I love using this glue for intricate die cuts because it gives you just enough time to adjust the placement before it sets.
Adding the Subsentiment
To complete the sentiment, I chose a subsentiment from the Subsentiments Hugs Die Cuts from Waffle Flower Crafts. I trimmed the sentiment strip to fit perfectly beneath the larger “Hugs” sentiment, and then edged it with a Black Copic Marker to give it a finished look. I attached the subsentiment with a bit more liquid glue, making sure it was aligned with the larger sentiment.
Pro Tip: When working with intricate die cuts, try using a precision tip glue applicator to avoid excess glue seeping out. It’s especially helpful when working with small, detailed areas.
Finishing Touches
No card is complete without a few finishing touches, and for this one, I added a sprinkle of New Penny Rhinestones. These rhinestones add a touch of sparkle and tie the whole design together, complementing the warm tones of the leaves and the gold sentiment.
Pro Tip: When adding rhinestones or other embellishments, try to place them in a triangular pattern. This helps create balance and leads the eye across the card, making the design feel cohesive.
Final Thoughts on the Sending Lots of Hugs Card
This card is a beautiful way to send a heartfelt hug to someone special. The combination of the soft Bokeh background, the richly colored leaves, and the bold sentiment creates a design that’s warm, comforting, and full of love. I hope this project inspires you to try out the Bokeh technique and play around with different color combinations and elements to create your own unique cards.
If you try this technique, I’d love to see what you create! Share your projects with me, and let’s keep the creativity flowing.
Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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