Decorative Masks, or stencils, are a great tool in your stamp room because they are inexpensive, versatile and an easy way to add texture and interest to your cards. While they are part of the Linked Together bundle (stamp set, dies and decorative masks), I am focusing just on the masks today. I am using a variety of stamp sets to illustrate their versatility.
The masks have some features that make them easier to use. First, they are numbered - you can use them in any combination and I will be using 1, 2 and 3 in the video. This is also an easy reference to describe which one I'm using. Second, they have a notch in the top right corner that will allow you to make a mark there and at one corner to get perfect alignment when using combinations of them on the same piece. Third, they are easy to clean. Just run them under water and they are good to go. When using them, I like to put a tiny bit of Seal adhesive under the piece I'm coloring to hold it in place, then a little transparent tape to hold the stencil. Another useful tip is to use a block to hold the stencil in place as you are coloring - this will keep your fingers cleaner and it holds the stencil better than your hand.
Gather your supplies:
- Cardstock: Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"(scored at 4-1/4"); Basic White (2) 4" x 5-1/4", 3" x 3"; Granny Apple Green 2" x 3-1/4"
- Bundle: Linked Together (just the masks and dies)
- Stamp: Hope you Know
- Ink: Blueberry Bushel
- Embellishments: Tinsel Gems 4-pack, Brushed Brass Butterflies
- Adhesive and Tools including Blending Brush and transparent tape
Before I tell you the steps to make the card, I do have to apologize for the weird lighting in the
video. For whatever reason, the light seems to flicker brighter then darker. I hope this doesn't distract you too much!
As I mention in the helpful tips above, I like to stick the white panel to a scrap piece of paper with just a tiny bit of Seal adhesive. I place this in two spots, which helps prevent the card from rotating. Then position mask number 1 over the panel so that there is an even border around the edges (the measurements of the mask are 3-3/4" x 5" so you'll have an small portion that is un-inked). Make a mark at the notch and then at one or two of the other corners. If desired, add a little piece of tape to hold the stencil in place.
Use a large blending brush to add a light layer of Blueberry Bushel over the entire surface. Swirl the brush in both directions to get full and uniform coverage. I like to start at the top and work down, using a block to hold the mask when it is inky. Remove this mask and repeat the process with numbers 2 and 3, each time, adding a little more depth in color.
Cut out the die cut pieces (four flowers and the oval from the small white piece and two leafy branches from the Granny Apple Green piece. Stamp the sentiment in Blueberry Bushel on the oval. Do a dry fit with the branches before gluing them in place. Add the flowers with Mini Glue Dots and add blue gems to the centers.
To assemble the card, glue the stenciled background to the front to the card base, which has been folded in half and creased with a bone folder. Use Dimensionals to pop up the oval in the lower left corner. As a final touch, add a small and large Brushed Brass Butterfly to the oval.
For the inside of the card, take mask 1 and using just the ink left on the blending brush, add a little bit of color to the lower right corner of the second white panel. Stamp the sentiment over this inked section and adhere with glue. Use the mask again to do the same on the lower left corner of the envelope.
This next card is very masculine and features mask 4. I used Gray Granite ink and paired it with Night of Navy. For the sentiments, I used the Linked Together stamp set. The Natural Tones Linen Thread (which comes in Night of Navy, Cajun Craze and Garden Green) adds a splash of color without adding bulk or a bow.
Cuteness alert for this one! The Darling Dinos Bundle is so adorable that just about any card made with this set is going to be great. But this background makes it fabulous! I again used mask 4 and did the first layer in Melon Mambo. To add the second layer (Pumpkin Pie), I had to turn the mask
over and
upside down. You don't have the notch to align the mask, but it is simple to do with this pattern. I love how you get a third colors from this technique where the two colors overlap. This means that when choosing colors, it is better to pick analogous colors so they mix well. I colored my dino with Stampin' Blends and popped everything up over that White Woven Ribbon. It's my favorite card of this
video by far!
My next sample uses just mask 5. Here I used tone on tone to add just a little bit of interest to the background of this card front. I showed this card a few weeks ago when I worked with the Everyday Arches dies, but wanted to show it again because it's a good example of using the mask in a subtle way. The card features the Bloom Impressions DSP, Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon and With You in Mind stamp set.
Masks 1 and 5 are used in this sweet card. I first stenciled using mask 2 and Bubble Bath. Then I layered Berry Burst on top of that soft pink using mask 5. The heart and sentiment on the front are from the Hearts of Elegance bundle and the Iridescent Striped Trim ribbon adds a beautiful touch. For the inside, I used Comforting Thoughts, making this a perfect card for my coworker to send to her Aunt who's dealing with breast cancer. I stenciled a light layer of mask 5 on the envelope corner too.
The Meant to Bee Bundle is new from our scrapbooking line of products and is the star of this adorable card! Instead of just doing a full panel, I chose to ink only the corners using mask 1. I inked Daffodil Delight over a piece of Lemon Lolly in the corners at an angle. After adding the bees and sentiment, I decided it needed the last bit of my roll of black and white gingham ribbon (sadly retired) - I think it was the perfect touch! For the inside sentiment, I used Bee my Valentine, along with a little more masking at the corner.
My last sample features mask 2 and Shimmery White Embossing Paste. While this card has the paste on Basic Black cardstock, you could do it on white cardstock for a more subtle look, or even color the paste with re-inkers. It is important to drop the mask into a basin of water right away after using it, as the paste will dry quickly and then be difficult to clean if you don't. When it was dried, I loved how it had undertones of aqua and pink, so I paired it with Summer Splash, Pretty in Pink and the Everyday You & Me Bundle. The sentiments were from Simply Said and Hooray for Surprises. For the knot, I used Summer Splash Bordered Ribbon and a piece of the White Woven Ribbon that I cut into small strips.
I did try a few things that didn't work out too well. I tried using a Stampin' Write marker to trace the shapes in the mask. This wasn't horrible, but I didn't like how the pen marks looked (bigger dots of color at the start/end point). I tried the same thing with Blends, but due to the nature of blends, they extended beyond the mask a little bit and that didn't set with me either. I did try a fine tip pen, but that was just too wimpy. However, I think I could play around a bit more and perhaps fill in the area of tracing - this might work for smaller pieces. I'll keep thinking of more ways to used these masks ... who knows what you might see in future videos!
Karen
ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com
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