It’s Friday, and that means time for another TGIF Challenge!!! This week is a technique challenge using masking.
Be sure to go to the TGIF Challenges website and check out all designers’ amazing projects!!!
For my card, I used a couple different masking techniques. I used one to eliminate the stems on my stamped flowers and turn them into floating water lilies, and I used another to create the illusion that one flower was in front of the other.
For my water lilies, I used the Remarkable You stamp set. As you can see below, the stamp includes a large stem. Initially, I tried simply wiping off the ink with a baby wipe, but that was not as successful as my washi tape masking technique.
For the washi tape method, I simply inked up the stamp, then used some old washi tape to cover the stem before stamping (see photo below.) I needed to re-apply the washi tape each time I stamped, but it worked like a charm!
Next, I used the more traditional technique of masking to create the illusion that one flower was in front of another. For this technique, stamp the front flower first. Then, stamp the flower again on scrap paper and cut it out. (I stamped three flowers here, but ended up only using one.) Tip: I under cut a little, in other words … I cut a little inside the stamped edge of the flower. This is particularly effective for this stamp because it has a thick outline. By cutting the mask slightly smaller than the stamped flower, I eliminated unwanted gaps between the first and second stamps as a result of the height of the mask.
Next, cover the original stamp with the mask and stamp the second flower as shown. When you remove the mask, it looks like the second flower is behind the first. Tip: Remember perspective. Items behind will always be slightly higher than the ones in front.
I continued to stamp the flower two more times. Because I intended to watercolor, I stamped with Basic Gray Archival Ink on Shimmery White Paper.
Afterwards, I used an Aqua Painter to watercolor the flowers and background. For the flowers, I used Sweet Sugarplum, Perfect Plum, and Eggplant Envy. And for the background, I used Lemon Lime Twist, Tempting Turquoise, and Bermuda Bay. I wanted rich, vibrant colors, so I thought the bright greens and blues of the water would be a nice contrast for the darker water lilies.
I borrowed the greeting from the Waterfront stamp set. Then, I kept the rest of the card pretty simple. I used some free Sale-A-Bration Shimmer Ribbon and coordinating Mini Tinsel Trim around the side.
One more tip: To control your knots and bows and make them stay where you want them, place a few Mini Glue Dots underneath to secure them in place.
Supplies used on my card:
