Everyday Expressions

Hi Everyone and thanks for joining me in the craft room again today! I need to tell you that I have a love/hate relationship with masking techniques. Can I get an Amen? You already know what I mean, right? I adore the artistic layers masking creates in stamped images, but the fussy cutting, product choice, and time … Ugh! Is it worth it? I must admit that I believe so!

This card and post is homework for Altenew Academy class, Masking Unleashed, taught by Svitlana Shayevich.

Techniques: So many options! What to do?

Option 1: Post-it notes or printer paper. I’ve tried this many times. Why it doesn’t work for me: After a couple of stamps, the ink can bleed through. Don’t even get me started on how annoyed that makes me! Also, it doesn’t stick well, and you have to add extra adhesive. But did I mention that the ink can blend through? Copy paper will have the same issues.

Option 2: Masking fluid. I have used this method a couple of times. I actually just bought a new brand and hope to try it soon. This is a liquid that you paint directly onto your images, allow to dry, finish your project, and then rub or erase off of your images. This is time consuming! I’m not patient enough to wait for dry time. Admittedly, I need to experiment more with this method.

Option 3: Masking paper. Currently, this is my method of choice! I’m not a fan of fussy cutting, but I like that I can re-use masks several times. This is the primary reason that I don’t mind using this masking method! The adhesive covers the entire mask, and all edges adhere nicely. Masking paper does lose its tackiness, and I just add a little dry adhesive when needed. Finally, I have not had masking paper allow ink to bleed through to my projects!

Tips:

* Stamp the outline of your image on masking paper, and fussy cut. Move the mask each time images will overlap.

* Add a removable dry adhesive when the mask loses tackiness. If any adhesive remains on the image, use your finger or an eraser to easily remove.

* Use Artist Markers in matching inks to fill-in any unstamped areas. (HERE is another masked card, that I use this tip.)

* Save your masks with your stamp sets for later use! Yay!

* With the loveliness of these layered stamps and the artistic flair of masking images,  you don’t need many embellishments. Here, I splattered Shimmer Spray over the masked images, and added Black Nuvo drops to the centers of the flowers.

Trick:

Mask images with masking paper for a gorgeous, artistic layered-look to your cards!

So what do you think about masking? Do you love the look and hate the time? What techniques do you use? Thanks again for spending some time with me today! Love and artsy hugs!

Erin

Products:

Altenew Build-a-flower Coral Charm

Altenew Beautiful Day sentiment

Crips Inks 

Shimmer Sprays

Inkadinkado Masking Paper

Tonic Nuvo Drops

Dry adhesive tape runner