Celebration! A New Years Bokeh

I have a card to show you that came together through various means!  I was so excited when I realized what could be!

First, I was demonstrating the bokeh technique at the Stampers in Stitches monthly meeting this weekend.  Also know as the SISers.  This group is lead by Glenda Travelstead, one of the demonstrator leaders with Stampin' Up!  I don't get to attend many meetings so when I am able I take full advantage.  This time I decided to step up and demonstrate a technique.   I have had so much fun with the bokeh effect so I offered to demonstrate it at the meeting.  Of course, once I volunteered the pressure was on to create some samples.  Watch for that post on Monday!

Anyway, back to this card, while at the meeting, some one mentioned that the specific bokeh effect card I created would look great as a new years card, with the Making Spirits Bright Stamp Set from the Stampin' Up! 2014 Holiday catalog.  So that was the start of the card.

Next, I was looking at The Friday Mashup! challenge #186.  It was a sketch challenge mashed with creating a project using a "surprise element, something you wouldn't expect to see on a card".  

The light bulb went on and I got busy pulling it all together!

So here is the card without the surprise element.  You can see the bokeh effect on the background.  
I started with a piece of whisper white cardtsock and sprayed it with a solution of basic gray reinker and alcohol and crushed curry reinker and alcohol in Stampin' Misters.  Then I took various sizes of circles and stars and used whisper white craft ink to create the bokeh effect.  I love the way it turned out!  Really pretty.

I added the champagne glasses and greeting.  I even used iridescent ice on the champagne inside the glasses!

Now for the surprise!  

A while back I pinned a blog post on Pinterest that explained how to easily cut cork from wine bottles by steaming the corks for a few minutes.  This was the perfect reason to try this technique!  It worked like a charm by the way!  

I like how this card turned out; the color scheme is perfect and the cork fits nicely.  I hope you enjoy the card and that you are inspired for your upcoming celebrations!

Watch for more bokeh examples tomorrow!