Mask Techniques with Stampin’ Up! masks

Mask Techniques with Stampin’ Up! masks

Today, I was due to hold a workshop demonstrating the different ways to use the new Butterflies and Flowers layering masks (from the January to June mini catalogue)., but unfortunately this had to be postponed due to storm Eunice! I wanted to show several different mask techniques.

All the sets of masks available from Stampin’ Up! are shown below and all of the techniques I was going to demonstrate (and will when I reschedule the event) can be used with any of the masks.

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Sponge daubers…..

These were my first play with the masks. Its very much trial and error, working out colour combinations and which tools to use, but lots of fun!!

Blending brushes…

Simply using one, two or three coloured inks to make some stunning backgrounds, and then embellish as needed.

Die cutting machine…..

Butterflies and Flowers layering masks
Embossed through die cutting machine…the image on the right was spritzed with alcohol and gives a deeper impression. Check your machine for which plate combination you need….and remember, if its very tight, then don’t force it…you have the wrong combination!!

Heat embossing……..

Butterflies and flowers layering masks
Gold heat embossing on black background, Black embossed sentiment on gold background

Embossing paste and re inkers……

Layering two masks at the same time and applying embossing paste that is coloured with a reinker. Don’t forget to mask off around the image you are using. You can see from my photo that I didn’t on my first attempt! I used an acetate card box for the design on the right.

Rubbing alcohol, shimmer paste and a spritzer…..

I pulled out my old retired Shimmer Paint for this. After fastening the mask down I sprayed a mix of alcohol and shimmer paint onto Night of Navy card. Love the effect I got!

Then after lots of playing, this is my favourite!

The ‘leaves’ mask was put through the embossing folder and leaving the mask in place I used a sponge dauber to carefully put ink onto the raised leaves. TIP; hold the mask carefully and dab the sponge dauber onto the leaves going along each tendril one at a time – they bend quite easily.

The masks are cleverly designed so that the leaves that are on a separate mask fit perfectly around the flowers. I used Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen for my leaves giving a subtle difference.

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Hope you’ve enjoyed this brief glimpse at what can be done with masks. If you would like to find out more then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Awesome Otters Birthday card

Awesome Otters Birthday card

I made this card for my Granddaughter’s birthday using the gorgeous Awesome Otters stamp set. This is one of the items you can get for FREE with a £45 order! Yes, FREE!!

Once again Sale-a-bration has started, this time running from January 4th until February 28th. During this period, any purchase from current catalogues (annual, Jan to June mini or purchases for online exclusives ie kits) that exceed £45, entitles you to choose from a selection of products from the Sale-a-bration catalogue. Spend multiples of £45 and get 2 free items or a higher value item (catalogue price excluding shipping and handling).

Anyway, back to my Granddaughters birthday card. She particularly loves Sloths, but as I don’t have a sloth stamp, I figured a cuddly otter would make her just as happy…hope I’m right! This set is soo cute! Three different otters and sentiments that are actually pretty usable. I think so many sentiments are too Americanized and not what we use in the UK. (I wonder if the Americans actually do use them on their cards?)

Awesome Otters Sale-a-bration stamp

I used Stampin blends to colour the otters and used blending brushes to soften the water around them. The background paper is retired incolor papers although the colour (Misty Moonlight) is still current until June this year.

On the inside I used sentiments from ‘A Grand Kid’ stamp set and just had to pop another otter in their!

So, don’t forget if you love this Awesome Otter, you can get it for FREE with an order of £45 or more. So you too can make an Awesome Otters birthday card!! To find out more email me at [email protected].

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If you don’t have the latest January to June Mini catalogue or Sale-a-bration catalogue and live in the UK, again drop me an email and I will get one to you [email protected]. Alternately, you can see everything in my online shop here

Anyone else have birthdays straight after Christmas? I now have son-in-laws card to make and post!!

Fancy Fold Christmas Card

Fancy Fold Christmas Card

During the past week, I have run a workshop demonstrating four fancy fold Christmas cards. In fact, the workshop extended into another session, as I didn’t take into account how much work we actually had to do! (Note to self, 2 fancy folds is enough in one session!)

This card is one of the ones we made. Probably the most technical and certainly a challenge to follow my own hand written instructions!

Lots of the materials were from the Whimsy and Wonder suite. I used 12 x 12 basic card stock for the base, but because it is not very stiff, I used lots of layers to help support it.

I wanted a cracker like feel to the card. The Basic edge dies were perfect to achieve this effect, and this is what took a lot of time….12 edges to die cut for each card!

I didn’t use Stampin’ Up! dies for the central aperture, as they were not big enough for it.

The gorgeous Whimsy and Wonder specialty designer series papers were used to decorate this fancy fold card. They are foiled on one side and so pretty. In fact they are so beautiful that its hard to decide which side to use, and in fact, some of the workshop attendees used the opposite side to what I used in my sample card. I stamped some of the Whimsical trees and the coloured baubles on to the central panel. To finish I added some Crystal Shimmery effects to make those pretty baubles shimmer.

To order any of the products used to make this fancy fold card, click on the images below.

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To find out more about upcoming workshops, take a look at the events and classes tab.

Birthday Card with Tasteful Touches

Birthday Card with Tasteful Touches

Today I sat and looked at all my stamps and thought…..what haven’t I used recently? Its way too easy to forget about those stamps you bought when they launched and then have pushed them to one side once new stamps are released. So, I flicked through my pile of stamps and decided to use a couple of stamp sets that I haven’t used for quite some time because before we know it another new catalogue will be out and again those unused stamps will be pushed to the back. I also didn’t want to use the main focal images on the stamps, but I did want stamped textured background on a birthday card. So, I used Tasteful Touches and also used Free as a Bird stamps.

Birthday Card with Tasteful Touches stamp set. A combination of Granny Apple green and Gorgeous Grape with a splash of So Saffron really sets off this pretty birthday card, and only I didn't use the 'focus' stamps in the sets either.
Pretty Birthday Card with Tasteful Touches stamp

I used Gorgeous Grape and Granny Apple Green for my card layers and stamped onto some basic white in Memento black and Granny Apple Green. The flowers are stamped onto some white card, coloured with Stampin’ blends and then fussy cut – who doesn’t love a bit of fussy cutting? And then, I cut slightly into the centre of some flowers and gently eased the petals to give some dimension. I layered one flower on top of another, making sure NOT to line up the petals for a more realistic effect.

The square shaped ‘blocks’ add a lovely bit of texture and interest to the background.

I added a mat layer inside and stamped and coloured one of the flowers inside too.

What do you think to this birthday card with Tasteful Touches?

Shop any of the products I used by clicking on the images below

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If you were at this weeks Coffee and a Card, then you will have had the opportunity to make this card.

Do you think you would like to make cards like these? Live local to Boston, UK? Why not pop along to The Mallard on a Monday morning and join our friendly group? Please note; from November 8th we will be meeting at 11:30AM due to winter opening hours.

If you are a complete beginner to card making and papercrafts and would like to learn more, watch out for beginners card making classes starting in the New Year. Sign up to my newsletter (at the top of this page) to keep informed.

24hour Sale

Cling Stamp sale 2021

Tuesday 19th October 11pm until Wednesday 20th October 10:59pm

A limited range of cling stamps are being offered for sale for just 24 hrs.

Have you seen a stamp set that you’ve been stalling over purchasing? This sale could be just what you need!

Their is quite a range of stamps included in the sale, so check out to see if that one you’re wanting is included.

If you live local to me, you can place an order by contacting me directly before 10pm on the 20th October and I can order for you, other wise visit my shop to order for yourself – don’t forget to use this months host code (9PXNMN3E) at checkout to get a thankyou gift from me (orders over £25).

Whats included?