masking technique - The Maine Stamper

Peaceful Cabin In Pale Papaya

November 30, 2021

In Color: Pale Papaya, Part III

What a wonderful long color journey this has been! As I have explored the new 2021-2023 In Colors with you, we have covered 5 gorgeous colors over 5 months. And now we are down to the end…

This last In Color, Pale Papaya, is one I have struggled with. But I have to say, this card using the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set in Pale Papaya, Old Olive and Balmy Blue is my favorite! I did not intend to save the best for last, but you can be the judge of that.

Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set

The Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set is just that. You have a cabin scene, some pine trees, a wooden fence and more. There are also 5 lovely sentiments, and all but one can be used year round. Because my chosen colors are not winter themed, I down-played the snowy scene aspect and made a card that spans different seasons.

I began by stamping the cabin stamp from the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set in Early Espresso Ink onto Basic White Cardstock. You can see that the imagery here is lovely as is, or can be colored in to suit your needs.

Stamping the cabin stamp from Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set

Next, I stamped the same image onto a Post-It note. I made sure the top of the image was stamped along a sticky edge. Then, I cut this out with my Paper Snips, creating a “mask”.

Creating a cabin stamp mask with a Post-it note

And with my newly made mask, I covered over my original stamped cabin. This way, I could stamp my pine tree stamps from the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set behind the cabin. I stamped the trees multiple times in Old Olive Ink to get good coverage, overlapping them slightly.

MAsking a stamped image to stamp another image behind it.

The Colors of a Peaceful Cabin Card

My pine trees needed a little more green after I was finished stamping them. I used a Blender Pen to shade more Old Olive Ink to fill them in. The majority of the color, Old Olive, comes from my pine trees on this card.

Using a Blender Pen to shade in the pine trees from the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set

I decided to add background color for this card by way of Water Painters. One of my favorite methods is to use ink refill drops on clear acrylic blocks and adding water. I find that wetting the paper slightly with water before adding the ink color mix provides a great medium.

Creating a background with Water Painters and Ink Refill

When I was happy with background, I tore the top and bottom of the paper to create an interesting edge. Next, I used Blending Brushes to add Balmy Blue Ink to the top, and Old Olive Ink along the bottom.

Applying ink to the cardstock edges with Blending Brushes

Sentiments And Such

As I mentioned earlier, the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set has some great sentiments in it. I chose the words “for you” for my card. After I inked up the stamp in Early Espresso Ink, I used it on a small scrap of Very Vanilla Cardstock. I then mounted my sentiment onto a scrap of Old Olive Cardstock and cut one side at an angle with my Paper Snips.

Using the sentiment "for you" from the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set

Embellishments in a very specific color can be hard to come by…unless you make your own color! I did just that with the Elegant Faceted Gems. I added some color to the clear gems, using my Dark Pool Party Stamping Blend. Now, I know this card features Balmy Blue, but that shade was so light I needed something slightly darker. In the end, the color is still very opaque, and quite beautiful!

A little twine makes this card divine! I relied on the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack (5 colors to choose from!). Because I am adding Very Vanilla to my card front, I chose the corresponding color twine. I wrapped it around my Peaceful Cabin scene and made a small knot in the front.

Creating a Peaceful Cabin Card

Pale Papaya is the main focus color for this card, so I created my card base using Pale Papaya Cardstock. To bring in more Balmy Blue, I chose a pattern from the Subtles Designer Series Assortments. Likewise, I added more Pale Papaya color using matching sized squares of 2021-2023 In Color Designer Series Paper. You can see that I layered my squares on Very Vanilla Cardstock.

My Peaceful Cabin Card front layers were so easy to assemble! Much of them went down flat, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Assembled front layers of the Peaceful Cabin Card

I did add Stampin’ Dimensionals under my sentiment piece. I chose the mini version on purpose. In this way I could make sure my Baker’s Twine remained in between the dimensionals, so there was no issues with interference.

Adding the sentiment with Stampin' Dimensionals

The last thing I added to my card front was the pretty blue bling I created. I used my Take Your Pick Tool to lift the self-adhesive beauties onto my card. In symmetry, I used 3 smaller sized gems along the top, then 3 larger size gems along the bottom.

Adding Elegant Faceted Gems with the Take Your Pick Tool

My 2021-2023 In Color Tour

I hope you have enjoyed spending some time getting to know the new 2021-2023 In Colors with me! Each month we covered a different color and some coordinating combinations. And 1 out of 3 cards for every new In Color was a Christmas card. If you would like to see the Pale Papaya Christmas card, click here.

As always, products for the cards I create are available in my online stamping store. I showcased the Peaceful Cabin Stamp Set, but did you know there are also coordinating dies? The Cabin Dies and a Die Cutting Machine will help you cut the stamped images nicely, and the Peaceful Cabin Bundle will also save you 10%. I encourage you to check out any sales or specials when you shop…earn yourself some amazing deals. Your creativity is worth it!

Sweets & Treats In Polished Pink

August 25, 2021

Finished Cloche Shaker Dome Card using Sweets & Treats Stamp Set

In Color: Polished Pink, Part II

Sweets & Treats come in lots of fun colors. And there is no other color as fun as Polished Pink! As I continue to explore Stampin’ Up!’s new 2021-2023 In Colors, I am tickled pink.

Polished Pink is such a happy color shade. My last card showcased Polished Pink with Mango Melody and Mossy Meadow. To see that card, click here. Today, I have paired it with Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight…in an attempt to make a Sweet Treats card.

Sweets & Treats Stamp Set

The Sweets & Treats Stamp Set is found in the July-December 2021 Mini Catalog. But, don’t be fooled. The Sweets & Treats Stamp Set goes way beyond the holidays.

Sure, there is a Christmas pudding stamp, and a sentiment that proclaims “bring on Christmas”. However, Sweets & Treats are year-round delights. There is pie, a cupcake, and a candy apple. I say “yum!”.

Just Desserts

I started by stamping the cake stand and my dessert stamps using Memento Black Ink on Basic White Cardstock. Additionally, I made sure to leave enough room between images to fussy cut with my Paper Snips later.

Stamping dessert images in Memento Black Ink.

Next, I colored in my stamped images using a variety of Stampin’ Blends. Want to see how I organize my blends? Click here. I love the quick and easy way I am able to add instant color! I wasn’t sure if I wanted a cinnamon candy apple or a caramel apple, so I made one of each.

Colorful dessert images, courtesy of a variety of Stampin' Blends.

Delightful Dies

Although the Sweets & Treats Stamp Set is not bundled with the Cloche Dies, they do coordinate. And that is great value if you are also interested in the Classic Cloche Stamp Set. When you buy the Classic Cloche Bundle (the Classic Cloche Stamp Set and The Cloche Dies), you will save 10%. Then, you would have 2 stamp sets that work with the same dies.

Along with the Cloche Dies, I used the Stitched Rectangles Dies. On my Coastal Cabana Cardstock, I die cut my rectangle first. Next, I centered the cloche die for another run thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Lastly, I used the next largest rectangle die on a piece of Polished Pink Cardstock.

Die cuts with the Cloche Dies and Stitched Rectangle Dies.

Cloche Shaker Domes

Sometimes it’s fun to shake things up! With the Cloche Shaker Domes, you can do just that. These adhesive backed plastic domes come in a set of 10. They line up perfectly in the cloche die cut area, and hold your sequins snugly.

I wanted my Sweets & Treats to be presented against a white background, but not too white. My Blending Brush helped me to sponge on a little Balmy Blue Ink for a glass like look.

Using Balmy Blue Ink and a Blending Brush to create a soft background.

After I prepped my background, I adhered my Sweets & Treats to it. First, I did a dry fit, to make sure each treat would fit in my cloche dome. Then I glued each piece down. Please be careful…I went a little too high, and had to make a correction by adding an extra top edge of the cake plate under my desserts.

My stamped desserts adhered to the background piece.

Sweets & Treats & Sequins

If you are looking for amazing sequins for your shaker card, look no further. The Sequins For Everything are the perfect rainbow of colors. You will find 3 different shades in green, metallic, orange and red.

Removing static with the Emboss Buddy, so the sequins don't clump together.

I prepped my background by removing some static using my retired Emboss Buddy. This will help to keep the sequins from clumping. It will also leave a dull powder that may diminish the shine of your coloring. In hindsight, I should have used a dry paintbrush to pull some of the powder off my stamped images. Another thing I wish I had done was run the Emboss Buddy around the Cloche Shaker Dome, as some of my sequins did stick along the edges.

After I attached the Cloche Shaker Dome to the backside of my Coastal Cabana Cardstock, I placed some sequins over my Sweets & Treats. Then, I removed the second protective backing from my dome and placed it over my desserts.

Getting ready to put the cloche dome over my sequins and desserts.

Sweet Sentiment

I had a sweet choice of sentiments to use on this Sweets & Treats card. Instead of using a complete sentiment, I chose to use a partial sentiment.

Masking a sentiment for a partial stamped image.

From ” A tasty treat for someone sweet”, I masked my stamp and inked only “for someone sweet”. I then removed the mask (a small post-it note) and stamped my image on a piece of Polished Pink Designer Series Paper.

Sweet Finishing Touches

I love lots of layers on my cards, and this one has plenty. I chose a Polished Pink card base. Then I added a white layer 4-1/8 x 5-3/8″, followed by Daffodil Delight Designer Series Paper 4 x 5-1/4″. My Polished Pink and Coastal Cabana stitched rectangles sit toward the bottom right. By design, this gave me room for my sentiment.

Keeping with the Polished Pink theme, I chose Open Weave Ribbon in that color. Over that, I added some retired Bermuda Bay ribbon. I attached each section of ribbon with Tear & Tape Adhesive.

A look at the ribbon assembly on the card. — The last thing I adhered to my card front was my sentiment. I trimmed the stamped paper down and added a pop of Daffodil Delight Cardstock behind it. Then, I placed Tear & Tape on it and attached it over the top of my ribbons.

Adding the sentiment over top of the ribbon using Tear & Tape Adhesive.

Sweets & Treats & Polished Pink

When I first contemplated using Polished Pink with Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight, I pictured something fun and sweet. I hope you will agree that this card pulls that off in spectacular fashion.

My finished card, with the Sweets & Treats Stamp Set and the Classic Cloche Stamp Set.

If you need any of the supplies I used on this card, please visit my online store for an easy shopping experience. And be sure to come back soon for my final Polished Pink card in this series. There are more wonderful color combinations to explore together!

Beautiful Day In Rococo Rose

May 18, 2020

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be

Monday’s are hard, but in this cardmaking series, I will show you that stamping shouldn’t be. In fact, it’s quite easy. And with minimal supplies and minimal efforts, you can get fabulous results!

Today’s Monday Card features the stamp set, Beautiful Day. This stamp set only contains 5 stamps, but I managed to use all of them in my card (something new for me!). If you would like to see another floral project that features a Monday style card, click here.

Beautiful Day Stamp Set, item # 145915 — Beautiful Day Stamp Set, item #145915

As always, I use 1 stamp set for my minimal supplies card. I also use 2 ink pads, and for this card I feature Early Espresso and Rococo Rose. Additionally, this card is completed with 2 colors of cardstock, Rococo Rose and Very Vanilla. Minimal supplies for a Beautiful Day, indeed!

A Monday Card

The Card Recipe

Rococo Rose CS: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2″, score at 4 1/4″ for card base.

Rococo Rose CS: 2 3/4 x 3 1/2″ and 1 x 5″

Very Vanilla CS: 4 x 5 1/4″ x 2 (one for inside, optional)

Very Vanilla CS: 3 x 3 3/4″ and 3/4 x 1 1/2″

Stamp And Assemble

This Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be Card starts out with the typical “fold in half” and score with your bonefolder to get a great crisp card base. Let’s not break tradition.

However, my TIP to you is to score once, invert the fold and score again. Your inner crease is now as crisp as the outer one. This makes for a professional looking card base!

Create Your Own Designer Series Paper

With the minimal supplies used in this card, we are not adding designer series paper to it. We are making our own! This great background pattern can be used with any stamp sets you own.

I suggest stamping on scrap paper, as this technique has you stamping off the edge of your cardstock. Starting at the top, I stamped the big flower from the Beautiful Day Stamp Set in Rococo Rose Ink. I applied the image 4 times around one of the 4 x 5 1/4″ Very Vanilla CS pieces.

Large Flower stamp from Beautiful Day Stamp Set

Next, I stamped the Beautiful Day phrase “Always thinking of you” in Early Espresso Ink onto the Very Vanilla CS in the remainder of the space available. I varied the placement of letters from the stamp phrase along the edge of my paper as well. The middle will be covered in layers later on, so don’t focus on that!

Sentiment Stamp from Beautiful Day and Early Espresso Ink

Flag Me

A great way to add paper elements to cards without the use of punches or dies (this is a minimal supplies card, after all) is adding a flagged piece. On my 1 x 5″ Rococo Rose CS, I used my Paper Snips to flag one end. I always start in one corner and cut toward the middle. Next, I cut in from the other corner, continuing each side cut until the flag is complete.

It’s time to add some pieces to our card front. I adhered the stamped Very Vanilla piece down first. After that, I attached the flagged piece on the right side of the card front.

Remember that little triangle piece that was cut away when I did my flagging? I added that on top of the flagged cardstock, giving the look of a fancy fold paper. I encourage you to use all your scraps on your projects in unique ways.

Butterfly Focus

The focus piece of the card is always the most fun part to work on. For this card, I stamped the large butterfly stamp from the Beautiful Day Stamp Set in Early Espresso Ink onto the 2 3/4 x 3 1/2″ Rococo Rose CS. I angled the butterfly, allowing the image to fall off the edges.

Butterfly Stamp from Beautiful Day Stamp Set

After stamping the butterfly, I added the trio of flowers stamp in a random pattern on the same cardstock. This time, I used Rococo Rose Ink. I tried to focus on the outer edges of my paper. This little stamp is adorable, it reminds me of sequins, with the small open center on each flower.

Trio of small flowers stamp from Beautiful Day Stamp Set

Once this stamping was completed, I adhered the Rococo Rose CS to the 3 x 3 3/4″ layer of Very Vanilla. I love to frame my pieces with additional cardstock, giving them an air of importance. This assembly attaches flat to the card front as well.

Finishing Touches

It’s time to stamp some more words. This is the fifth and final stamp in the Beautiful Day Stamp Set. Because I wanted the sentiment to be a smaller image on my card front, I chose to mask off part of the stamp.

This is optional, of course. For the masked version, I used a piece of Very Vanilla CS measuring 3/4 x 3 1/4″. If you choose not to mask and want to use the entire stamp image, it is easily completed on a 1 x 3 1/4″.

The Art Of Masking

Masking part of a stamp allows us to use part of the image. This can be done using masking tape, painters tape or washi tape. I prefer painters tape, as it is less sticky than masking tape and stickier than washi. Happy medium!

First, place the tape over the part of the stamp that you don’t want to use. In this case, I am keeping Happy Birthday open for inking and closing off the remainder of the sentiment.

Second, ink up your stamp, tape and all. Just pretend the tape doesn’t exist. Make sure the rubber image you want to use has enough ink on it before stamping.

Third, and most important step! Remove the tape before you stamp your image. If you forget this step and leave the tape on, you will have a splotchy mess under the image you wanted.

Fourth and final step, apply the stamp to your paper. I focused on centering the Happy Birthday portion on my cardstock, rather than the complete stamp.

Happy Birthday Stamp from Beautiful Day Stamp Set

Masked Sentiment

Un-Masked Sentiment

The Insider Job

Now that your card is beautiful on the outside, with the addition of your stamped sentiment piece, let’s add some glamour to the inside. I love to mimic some of the stamped images from the front of the card and carry them to the inner layer.

For this card using the Beautiful Day Stamp Set, I stamped the large flower image in Rococo Rose onto the bottom corner of the remaining 4 x 5 1/4″ Very Vanilla CS. Next, I used the smaller trio of flowers in Rococo Rose Ink, stamping them off first before adding them, for a lighter ink image.

Inside Stamping With Beautiful Day Stamp Set

Step It Up!

I like to feature the same Monday Card Recipe with the addition of a few extra details, in an effort to show you that you can always add more. For my stepped up version, I added some Scalloped Linen Ribbon in Rococo Rose under the sentiment popped up by dimensionals.

Other new features here include 2 butterfly punched images, the larger in Very Vanilla CS and the smaller in 2019-2021 DSP, adhered together and given a lift with a dimensional. On top of my butterflies, I added a 2019-2021 Faceted Dot in Rococo Rose.

Stepped Up Version of Beautiful Day Card

Stampin’ Up makes color coordination easy with so many items to choose from. If you need any of the products I used for this card, head over to my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net/, and get them while you can. Some of these items are retiring very soon, so don’t miss out!

I hope you enjoyed making this easy card on a hard Monday with me. My video tutorial can be found on my FaceBook page, as well as my YouTube channel. See you next Monday for another installment of:

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be!

Braided In Beauty

January 29, 2020 2 Comments

The stamp set, Beautifully Braided, is new to the Stampin’ Up! January-June 2020 Mini Catalog. With so much focus on other flower stamp sets and bundles, Beautifully Braided could be considered by some to be a bit of a sleeper. You can combine the purchase of Beautifully Braided with the Braided Border Punch for a 10% bundle savings.

Unlike most bundles, the stamp set can certainly stand on its own. Similarly, the punch does not specifically require the stamp set. The connection between the two is a single dotted stamp in the pattern of the punch design. Regardless, each component makes wow cards, and who doesn’t love a bargain?

*Full disclosure, I bought this bundle for the punch and fell madly in love with the stamp set. When in doubt on a purchase, you should always go for the bundle.

Beautifully Braided Bundle, Item #153821 https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net

Card Genre

I applaud a large stamp image that can be used frequently. This generous sized flower stamp from Beautifully Braided requires clear block f, the big daddy! Consider it for birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, congrats, Easter, Mother’s Day cards, and more. The sentiments are unique and refreshing, speaking to us of friendship and kindness.

Card Design

This flower stamp looks clean and crisp done in black and white. When you add color, you add endless possibilities. For you doodle fanatics- grab those markers, blends or watercolor pencils and go for it. Hello quick stamp and go peeps or newbies- this is designed for you. My technique freaks- heat emboss, watercolor, spotlight.

Stamp direct for a deeper color or stamp off for a subtle look. The filler stamp is not an exact match, so stamping is super easy- no perfect alignment needed for this artsy look.

Add additional color with blends or markers. Then tap the uncapped end of either with your bone folder over your stamped image. This creates a sporadic and delicate splatter effect.

Braided Border Punch

Border punches are not new to Stampin’ Up!. Yet the directive to punch, align and repeat can be tricky. It takes a little practice and patience to get it right. Therefore, I have a few tips that may help you in creating an awesome border.

Choose the correct paper size for the punch. Bigger is better!

Steady your punched paper as you align and punch again. Make sure the paper edge on the right remains flush against the punch lip (all the way to the back).

Are you still having trouble making perfect punched borders? A simple solution is to hide the imperfections. First, add ribbon thru the lattice style opening, then knot or tie a bow. Next, tuck the border behind some pretty top layers.

My less than perfect punched border. Coverups are in the works.

Make your border long and wrap the ends around the back when layering. Supermarket shortcut: secure with ordinary tape. No messy adhesive required in the front!

Sentiment Use

Do you love the sentiment, but have no room to stamp all of it? You should mask and condense. Here, I used the word “smile” from the stamp “your smile brightens my day”. Certainly you could stamp the complete version to the inside of the card for continuity.

No need to ink the entire saying, just the portion needed. It’s okay to get ink on surrounding words as long as you don’t go crazy, that’s where the next step takes effect.

Painters tape masks unwanted images, and removes easily from the block and stamp. Use the straight edge of the tape (not jagged) against your inked selection.

Align and stamp. The painters tape keeps unwanted ink off your project.

Colorful Cards

Above all, the beauty of the Beautifully Braided stamp set is its simple versatility. The Braided Border Punch can be used in limitless ways. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram as I share additional cards made with this great bundle.

Be sure to shop my online store and add the Beautifully Braided Bundle to your collection. Most importantly, start creating your own colorful garden projects. Share with others, and make them smile. You’ll be glad you did!