Cajun-Blues and White Bokeh Flora and Fauna Birthday Card

This card contains a new technique (to me)--the Bokeh effect, one that was core to a challenge held at House of Cards.  The technique seemed a little daunting; but once I watched a few YouTube tutorials by other card makers, this project held quite a bit of fun and more self discovery. 

I may actually try to apply the technique to other cards...especially Shabby Chic ones; but I must first consider how the colors can yield new ones...and hopefully not ugly combinations.  There is plenty of warning against such a thing, all over YouTube and craft blogs.  The colors I utilized were based upon a challenge over at "Inspired by Stamping."  Well, now that the card is completed, I can share (and may see) that burnt orange, rust, navy blue and medium-light blue played together nicely.  They provided the gift of a secondary color palette:  one containing hues of salmon and rose.  What a delightful discovery!  Below, please find a complete list of challenges into which I have entered this card, followed by its ingredients and construction process.

Challenges/Links
Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge #398
House of Cards May Challenge Bokeh Effect
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes, Stencil It
Inspired by Stamping Monthly Challenge #94 Stripes and Color Scheme
Seize the Birthday Anything Goes Birthday
On a Stampage Mynette Kitchen's Birthday Bash Givaway:  BLOG CANDY!!!
Penny Black and More Dies and Punches w/Hand Stamping Focus
Fantasy Stampers Challenge #37 Wings and Things
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes
Fab and Funky Challenges #260 Flora and Fauna
The Shabby Tea Room #252 Fun Blooms
Cuttlebug Mania Ribbon
Creatalicious Challenge #75 Butterflies and DT Call
City Crafter Challenge #262, One or More:  Smooching, Stencilling, Splattering, Sponging
Just Us Girls Challenge Week #294 (Colors Scheme)

Card Ingredients
Papers:  Cajun Craze Striped DSP(Stampin' Up! Rich Regals Patterns Pack), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!), Really Rust CS (Stampin' Up!), Night of Navy Polka Dot DSP (Stampin' Up! Regals Patterns Pack).

Inks:  Bliss Blue (Stampin' Up!), Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!), Frost White Pigment (ColorBox), Brocade Blue (Stampin' Up!), White Opaque Embossing Powder (Stamp-N Stuff), Cajun Craze (Stampin' Up!), Blush Blossom (Stampin' Up!), Really Rust (Stampin' Up!).

Stamp(s):  Daisy Field Stampin' Around (Stampin' Up!), Elementary Elegance (Stampin' Up!), Carte Postale (Stampin’ Up!), Punch Potpurri (Stampin’ Up!), Tiny Tags (Stampin’ Up!).

Punches:  1/4" Circle (Stampin' Up!), 1/2" Circle (Stampin' Up!), 1" Circle (MarvyUchida), 3 Flowers Punch (Stampin’ Up!), Boho Blossoms (Stampin’ Up!), 2-Step Owl (for circles; Stampin' Up!).

Cuttlebug/Big Shot:  Circles #2 Die (Sizzix), Square Lattice Emboss Folder (Sizzix for Stampin' Up!), Make-a-Bow Die (used for circles; Sizzix).

Stencil:  Homemade (using punched cardstock), containing a variety of circle sizes from dies and punches. 

Embellishments:  3/16” Orange Satin Ribbon (Offray), 3/16” White Satin Ribbon (Offray).

Process

Layout:  Mojo Monday #398.

Base:  Navy blue CS cut and folded to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".

Layer 1:  5-1/4" x 4" white CS.  Bokeh effect created for challenge by using sponging techniques, using blues and oranges to satisfy color challenge requirement.  Laid homemade circles stencil on sponged CS and re-sponged inside circles using white pigment ink.  Allowed to dry; sponged edges.  Randomly stamped birds, butterflies and floral sprays.

Layer 2:  5-1/4" x 1" Cajun Craze striped DSP to satisfy "stripes" challenge.  Used spritzer with dark blue and burnt orange markers to create splatter effect.  Used same inks and their hues to randomly stamp small butterflies and miniature birds; lightly sponged edges.  Adhered along upper edge of Layer 1.

Layer 3:  Cut three strips of ribbon in two colors that were part of the aforementioned color challenge.  Adhered them in alternating patter to Layer 1, slightly overlapping Layer 2, and folder over the back. 

Layer 4:  Punched flower components and manual embossed using square lattice emboss folder.  Used pop-up dots to adhere one flower to the end of each piece of ribbon.

Layer 5:  4" x 1" Really Rust CS stamped with rolling stamp of daisies in navy ink.  Used a rust colored marker to color the center of each flower.  Manually embossed using square lattice emboss folder.  Sponged borders in burnt orange-hued ink.  Adhered to card.

Layer 6:  4-1/2" x 3/8" (approximate) Night of Navy polka dot paper; cut ends to create flag/banner look and glued it to Layer 5.

Layer 7:  Used Circles #2 die and navy CS to create outer circle; sponged rim with matching ink.

Layer 8:  Punched circle of white CS.  Re-created Bokeh Effect as in Layer 1.  Stamped small hollow circles in medium-light blue ink.  Enamel embossed sentiment.  Sponged rim and glued to Layer 7.  Used adhesive 3-dimensionals to adhere to Layers 5 and 6.