Masking Complex Scenes with Joy Clair Stamps

Hi Everyone! It's Lindsay from the DT, here with you today, sharing the traditional Masking Technique, but kicking it up a notch and masking a complex scene. Masking is one of my all time favorite techniques. It allows you to use one stamp set (sometimes even one single stamp) and fill up your entire card front. All that is left to do is color! So today I have a video tutorial for your, sharing some of my favorite tips and tricks for making this technique achievable for anyone and a bit more simple!

ENJOY!

 

For my card today, I chose to use the brand new Let's Celebrate Stamp Set, and like I said above, it's the only set I will need to use to fill up my entire panel. I began with a white card stock rectangle that measured 3.75" x 5" and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (just be sure to use an ink that plays nicely with your coloring medium). The first step is creating your masks. You can use Post-It notes or tape (just be sure you stamp on the sticky part), Regular computer paper and rubber cement, or masking paper. I like to use masking paper, for a few different reasons. 1.) It's easy. 2.) I can reuse these masks over and over again! To use the masking paper I simply stamp my images onto the white side and fussy cut each image out.

Moving onto stamping out my scene, I began with the little girl image because that was the image that would be in the forefront of the scene. I masked off the stamped image and moved onto the gifts next and then finally added the balloon bunch in the top right hand corner of the panel. Here are a few tips for masking complex scenes -

1. Make a Map - Stamping a reference guide of what you want your end panel to look like will help with placement and stamping order so you can stamp out and mask a complex scene with ease.
2. Using a Placement Tool - This isn't a necessity, but it does help. Using my MISTI allows me to double check placement with ease and also double stamp is I don't ink up perfectly the first time!
3. Double Check - It is always a good idea to double check your masks and placement before you stamp anything down. I can't tell you the number of times I have forgotten to put down a mask and ruined an entire panel with just one little stamp.
4. Take your time - It never fails, if I try and hurry through stamping out a scene, I mess it up. If you just take your time and double check before you stamp it should come together beautifully!
5. Try and Fix It - If you do mess up, always try and fix the mistake or figure out a way to hide it before you toss the entire panel. We all make mistakes and if I threw out a panel everytime I messed up I wouldn't have completed a card yet! So always try and fix or find a way to hide your mistakes instead of tossing it!

With my scene stamped I pulled out my alcohol markers and colored in my panel. When coloring in scenes, it is always best to carry colors across the panel and use them more than once and make it look like a cohesive scene. If you have trouble with color combos as much as I do, a good tip is to look at a patterned paper or sequin mix and pull colors from there! I also added little highlights with a white gel pen to add more interest.

To put this card together, I adhered the scene panel onto a scalloped Kraft rectangle with double sided adhesive. Next, these two panels were secured onto an A2 top folding white card base with fun foam and double sided adhesive to add some dimension. Finally, came my sentiment. I stamped the "Celebrate" sentiment onto a white die cut banner and secured that in the top left hand corner of the stamped panel with fun foam and double sided adhesive. To add a bit of embellishment I finished this card off with a few dots of Enamel Accents in Black Tie.

As I said above, masking is such a great way to really take a single stamp or stamp set and fill up an entire card. If you are new to cardmaking, don't have a ton of stamp sets, or just aren't a huge collector, this technique allows you to really stretch your supplies and make the most of them! And I hope my tips and tricks will help you mask a complex scene as well! Until next time, Happy Crafting!!

Comments

[Marsha D]

This is adorable. LOVE the bright colors.