Tuesday Tutorial #3 {1-24-12} Basic Reverse Masking
 

Today I'm going to share with you the basics of a technique called reverse masking. There are many variations on this technique but we'll start with a quick, simple one today. Reverse masking involves cutting out a shape with a die-cutting machine, punches or scissors and then using the negative of the cut shape as a mask to cover up parts of the cardstock you don't want inked, leaving the shape revealed to stamp and sponge.

You can use any shape such as a square, oval, rectangle, heart or star. You can also stamp an image and cut that out for your shape. I've even googled an object in images and then used the outline to cut out my shape for masking - I've tried it with a guitar, flower, and an irregular shaped heart.
Today I'm going to use a circle cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles in my Cuttlebug, but I've also cut a Nestabilities Labels One from a post-it-note just as an example.


You can cut your mask from regular paper or from post-it-notes. Thick card isn't ideal because when you come to stamp over the masking sheet, the stamp will not connect with the the card you're stamping onto right up to the edges of your shape, and it leaves gaps in your stamping.
The advantage of a post-it-note is that one end is sticky and when you put the masking sheet over your card base the stickiness will hold it in place so it won't slip around while you're sponging and stamping. If you use a post-it-note, it's helpful to cut near the sticky end as shown in the photo above, so that it holds the shape in place more securely.
You can also use removable adhesive, or some people like to use a repositional adhesive spray product. When neither one of these is available I've used little bits of masking tape to attach my cardbase to the table and also the masking sheet over it. Just check first to make sure your masking tape is low tack enough so that it doesn't ruin the edges of your cardstock when you remove it!
Here's what it looks like when I've got it all in place.


The next step is sponging color inside the circle. Before this step I used some post-it-notes at the edges to cover up the cardbase and protect it from ink while I'm sponging inside the circle. There are several things I like to remember so that the ink goes on smoothly. You can use a sponge or an ink applicator. Tap your applicator onto the ink pad to pick up ink and bring it down first on the outside of the masking sheet once or twice before moving inside the shape in a circular motion. If you come straight down inside the circle there will be sharp ink lines and uneven, splodgy ink instead of even coverage. When I first started I practiced on scrap paper until I got the feel of how much pressure to apply. I've used Stampin Up's Cool Caribbean first as my lighter color and then added a layer of Ranger Distress Broken China on the outside edge so the color is heavier there and gets lighter towards the center of the circle.
Here's what it looks like at this stage.


Then take a background stamp and ink it up in a slightly darker shade - I've used Ranger Distress Broken China again here with Sweet n' Sassy Stamps Light of Christmas background stamp. This is a beautiful background, the words are so small that they aren't limited to simply Christmas cards! Because I want the script background to be uneven to make it more interesting, I've taken a clean sponge and rubbed off a bit of ink on one side. I then stamped over the circle and here's the result.


At this point you can take any other stamps you'd like to use for a background and add them such as partial flourishes or flowers. Postal images work well too. If you want a lighter stamped image, stamp off your image once a peice of scrap paper before stamping inside your shape.
If you leave the masking sheet in place before stamping your main image, it will look like this.


Here's an example of the result when you remove the masking sheet and then stamp your sentiment.


You can also remove the mask before stamping your main image and your sentiment and it will look like this.


For both of these examples I've stamped the sentiment after removing the masking sheet so that the words are partially outside the circle.
Whether you keep the masking sheet in place or remove it before stamping your main image, it's entirely up to you. It just depends on the look you're going for and what you prefer, both work well.
This flower silhouette and sentiment are from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps Wildflowers set.
Other Sweet n' Sassy Stamps which I thought would work well are the flowers from Poppies and Greetings, Spring Tulips, Rose Blossom, and Flowers in Bloom. What about trying the images from Together Silhouettes, Snowflake Flourish, or any of the beautiful bird sets!
I stamped a few tiny butterflies from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps Serene Silhouettes and then put my card together with dp, punched butterflies, pearl brads and ribbon and here's the end result.


There are so many creative ways to use reverse masking and make it your own, so I hope you'll have fun with it!

Bridget, this is a fabulous tutorial and your card is just gorgeous!!

Great tutorial and gorgeous card Bridget!

Wow, Bridget - this is SO amazingly gorgeous!! I cannot wait to try this technique - thanks SO much for the tutorial!

And your card is really gorgeous :)

Mathilda M
 

Bridget ... your card is gorgeous ... can't wait to try this technique ...thanks for sharing.

Oh, Mathilda, I do hope you will share with us what you make :)!!

Bridget - it's fantastic! So many great details and options!

I just had to tell you, Bridget, earlier this week I was at a local office supply store that I frequent...they are sort of a close-out type store.....and they had generic post-it notes in packs of 12 for $1!! I grabbed a pack just for this technique :).

Korin, you got a great deal all right!! It's hard to find the larger size post-it-notes here, so I had good ole' Mom send me some from the U.S.!

:)Mathilda, Harriet, Taylor, Kim and Korin, thanks for your sweet comments and like Korin said, if and when you give this a try, we'd LOVE to see your creation!

WOW!!! this is fantastic Bridget!

Awesome tutorial and beautiful card TFS...

What a beautiful technique – your card is really special! This seems like something I'd be very comfortable trying, so thank you for the inspiration.

Your "card" is much too pretty to be just a card .... it should be framed. Thanks for the inspiration!

So I had some time this afternoon to give masking a try. It took me a few false starts, but within an hour, I had this "first" effort. Mask Card by noreenkilby - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

Your card is wonderful!!! I'm so glad you gave it a try!

Noreen, I'm so glad you gave this a try, and look at the result - beautiful!!! I hope you had fun too!
Thanks for your kind comments, Noreen, Lola, Nana2Sean, and Mary - you're all very sweet and encouraging!

I finally got around to giving this a try :)....

Let Go WT359 by sweetnsassystamps - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

Oh my word! I am so glad I popped in! This is gorgeous!!

Great explanation and very helpful pictures...oh, and of course, your card is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing Bridget :)

Bridget, I'm curious. What kind of lighting do you use to take the photo of your card? Mine always turn out yellowish and I"m sure it's the type of bulbs in the lamp I use.

I'm not Bridget, but I may be able to help with the yellow lighting.....it's best to use natural light if you can....I often shoot my photos in front of a window during the day, but if I have to take them one the sun goes down, I use my Ott-lite....because it uses white light....many household light bulbs give off yellow light so that will make your pictures look yellow.

Thanks so much, Bonnie and Gail!

Yes, I second everything Korin has said, Noreen. I got something called a "natural light" light bulb which I put in a regular desk lamp and that helps...it was only slightly more expensive than a regular light bulb, and I know they'd be available in the U.S. too. Most household bulbs have a yellowish hue.
I find shining the light from the top is helpful too, so that huge shadows aren't cast.
There are probably tutorials on taking photo's and if I can hunt one up I'll put a link here...hey, Korin, maybe we could do one of those here! : )

What a wonderful 'tut' Bridget.
No matter how many times I've done the 'reverse masking', I have to stop and think....senior moments. Now I have printed this and it's on my desk.
Thank you.

Thankyou! And I know exactly what you mean about those "senior moments" and having to stop and think....and stop and think again...then stop and try to remember what I was thinking about.....:)

Another card ... I'm getting a little OCD with this technique. This one was challenging because I didn't like how the cup aligned in the circle -- maybe because the cup is curvy? Anyway, I finally got this one after about the 5th try. All supplies are CTMH (Wonderland Workshop).

Oops, I forgot to put the link to my card: http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...oreenkilby.jpg

Oh, Noreen, I smiled with delight when I saw your card! You really made this your own and were so creative with the bg, image and sentiment...all are fabulous, by the way, and ones I'd not seen before! Glad you're having fun with this technique!

I use shrink art sheets or stencil sheets and make permanent stencils
of my nestie dies... I cut heart ones for all of gals in one of my
card clubs last year and we were able to use them over and over.

Mathilda M
 

Finally tried this wonderful technique ... here is my card ...

Mother Teresa by Mathilda - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

I have fell in love with this technique! Thanks for sharing! :)
here are some cards I have made using it

Happy Birthday Korin
April Showers
Worthy Is The Lamb

Great tutorial! I love your card.

Love this tutorial
 

You make it all look so easy. Newbie here so any help on what are good stamp pads would be appreciated... beginner level ;)

Kathi

Hi Kathi!

Tim Holtz Distress Inks are great for this technique but most any decent dye ink would work. Welcome to the wonderful hobby of stamping :)!!

Thanks! I am very excited to get into this part of crafting! I appreciate the welcome ;)

Hi Kathi! We'd love to see what you come up with! Have fun! :p

This is a technique I see in the gallery and wonder how it is completed...now I know...thanks for the pictures...some of us are visual learners!

In order to attempt it I need colors other than black and brown! Have a few very old SU colors I can try...


And seriously...I thought that sponge/handle tool was only used with Tim Holtz distress inks! I have lots to learn...:rolleyes: