Masking with Post It Notes

After the excitement of blog candy announcements, it's back to the last of the cards from the last telly show with Kay's stamps.

For this demo, I wanted to show how you can use some of the elements on the sheets.  It is nothing new, it was one of the first techniques I learnt getting on for 20 years ago.  If like me, you have been card making for years, it is nice to revisit these solid core techniques that work time and time again but with new products or designs. 

It is one of the reasons I have stuck with this hobby for so long, there are so many different techniques to try with different materials.  That is the joy of stamping, adapting these techniques with new stuff we have.

Way back when we started and I'd learnt masking to share with customers, we had a stock of small inexpensive stamp designs that were easy to use.  The basic requirements for starting were a smallish stamp, a permanent ink pad, something to colour in with like coloured pencils or a pack of inexpensive brush pens with a paint brush/water, Post It Notes and some white card.

The stamp I used on the show wasn't the easiest example to use for this technique as the design wasn't obvious as to which way round it is, but, if for instance you choose an object that has an obvious top and bottom, like a butterfly, it will be much easier to do when you first try it.

I have to say that when I made the background at home, it went far more smoothly than when I did it on the telly (of course!), I enjoyed revisiting this technique and was happily engrossed in it for quite a while.

Ok, so how to do this for those that haven't tried it yet...

Use a single stamp that is easy to cut out. 

Stamp the design on a Post It Note, stamp at the top of the pad that has the sticky bit underneath.  Take 3 or 4 sheets off the pad and cut out the design.  This will give you 3 or 4 masks.

I find it easier to stamp the first design in the centre of the card, this will make it the focal point as it is going to remain in front of all the others you stamp.

Stamp your design onto a piece of card with a permanent ink pad, (such as Ranger Archival, Stazon, Memories), and allow to completely dry, you can use a heat gun for this.

Place a mask over the design matching the pattern and stamp over the top of the mask with the same design, stamp above/below/wherever you have a large enough space to place the design. 

Add masks over some of the designs you have stamped and continue stamping over them to build up the design until the card is covered.

Colour the designs with whatever you prefer to colour with.  I coloured the background as well to really make the flowers pop out.  I added glitter glue to the flower centres to add extra sparkle.

Well, that is basic masking.  You will find that as the design is quite busy, you can cut borders or mounts from the piece you have made to make quite a few cards, you'll be surprised how far an A4 sheet will go.

OK, another reminder, I hope you will be able to join Tracey and I tomorrow at noon on Create and Craft TV, (Sky 671, Freeview 36).

We'll both give you a wave:)

Jill