Masking and Blending backgrounds with Earthen Textures

Did you know that Stampin’ Up! supplies masking paper – they measure 5″x 7″ (12.7 x 17.8 cm) and there are 12 sheets in a pack. They’re great for masking backgrounds. I often use post-it notes before discovering Stampin’ Up! do theirs in much bigger sheets, so you can cover up a whole card front!

Here’s something quick and easy which takes no time at all to make. You can use any circle punches, stylish shapes dies or nested essentials dies to cut an aperture in the masking paper. Ensure it is cut the same size as the card front so that you know where to centre the aperture. The other tools you’ll need are some blending brushes.

How to make the card

Prepare the masking paper by cutting it the same size as your card fronts and the inside of your card for all three cards. You can also use plain copy paper as masks but you’ll need to secure it with washi/painters tape to prevent the paper from moving. If the paper moves, your masked image will be smudged. I used the Nested Essentials Dies for my masks. Select the appropriate die you wish to used for each card to cut an aperture and temporarily adhere it to the Basic White pieces. Apply colour through masked apertures with blending brushes to correspond with colour of card stock. Ink up and stamp images with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

First up in Pretty Peacock are the nested rounded rectangle dies.

Second is the Moody Mauve card using the stretched hexagonal dies

Third is the flag end tag die in Boho Blue.

Cutting guide

1. Cut 3 standard card bases from Pretty Peacock, Moody Mauve and Boho Blue card stock. In Europe/IE this is half A4 sheet measuring 5 ⅞” x 8 ¼” (14.5 cm x 21 cm).
2. Card front Basic White cut 3 pieces 3 ½” x 5” (7.5 cm x 12 cm)
3. Inside card Basic White cut 3 pieces 3 ¾” x 5 ½” (9.5 cm x 14 cm)
4. Cut 3 masks for the card fronts, and 3 masks for the inside of the cards.

Video Tutorial

Supply list

Listed below is the supply list. Just click on the picture to take you directly to the item in my online store.

Product List

Earthen Textures Bundle (English) [161514]	Earthen Textures Bundle (English) [161514]	Earthen Textures Dies [161513]
Stampin' Up! Masking Paper [155480]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Boho Blue A4 Cardstock [161733]
Moody Mauve A4 Cardstock [161732]	Pretty Peacock A4 Cardstock [150886]	Boho Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [161650]
Moody Mauve Classic Stampin' Pad [161649]	Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [150083]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]
Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker [162481]	Blending Brushes [153611]