AECP Level 2
Masking Unleashed

I am accustomed to using masking paper or liquid to mask an image I don’t want to stamp or paint over. In this class I learned more creative techniques to create beautiful cards!

Creating Backgrounds with Masking

This technique is very interesting. First I die cut a leafy branch, cutting from the “correct” side and the “wrong” side of the masking paper. Next, I applied these to my panel and created a heart-shaped wreath. After I ink blended a pale pink over these, I applied more die cuts nearby and blended over all the masked areas. Removing all the masks revealed white images and light pink images! But why stop there?!! I went on to use the same dies and cut into vellum, turning some over so I would have a complete “wreath”. The next step was to add some splatters with Altenew’s Pure White Spray Ink, but the splatter barely showed up. Switching to white gouache worked nicely.

I made a couple cards this way, and applied sentiments from different Label Love Sentiments sets, including French, Italian, Spanish and English. Finally, I went over each sentiment with Wink of Stella and mounted them on black craft foam, then onto the cards.

I used this technique to make another card! I die cut the letters and evenly spaced them in the top third of my panel. Then I ink blended a pale pink over this. Next I used a cover die to place over the letters and the entire panel, leaving areas not masked. I ink blended darker and darker, radiating out. Finally I added some white heat embossed text above the masked letters. This one was another fun card to make!

Coloring with Negative Masking

For this card I stamped some images, masking what I needed to avoid stamping over parts. Then I used a negative mask over all the parts but the flower. I ink blended using mini blending brushes, then added detail using the detail blending brushes. This is a pleasant change from my “usual.” For me, coloring only the flowers is kind of bold!

Masking and Watercolor

I had previously used freezer paper to make a mask and iron it onto watercolor paper so I could paint a select area. This was a little different because I planned the focal image, combining several stamps and die cut a mask. I also hadn’t done was a galaxy painting! Soooo much fun! I stamped and heat embossed the images, sometimes only one at a time, sometimes three. The weird part was NOT masking! I simply brushed off any embossing powder I didn’t want on the panel!

This was a very inspiring and educational class for me. I found the instructor, Svitlana Shayevich, to be very knowledgeable and talented!