masking techniques - nataliegramleystamps

card sketch #123 water mask card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 10, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, die cutting, masks, stamps ink paper, techniques

I love a good masking technique and when I was at OnStage in March, Stampin’ Up! debuted the Water and Dotted Lines 12″ x 12″ masks.

They are so cool and great for not only card making but because of the size they are also great for scrapbooking backgrounds!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″, 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
scraps for die cuts
Hydrangea Hue CS: scrap for sunglasses die

Place the card base in the middle of the Glass Matte Studio and place the Water Mask over the card.

You can hold the card and mask in place with tape or just with your hand (which is what I do)

Using Balmy Blue ink and a Blending Brush in circular motion color the surface of the card through the mask. YOU can lift up one side to look and see how deep the color is and whether you are getting adequate coverage.

Continue coloring the card surface until the entire card is filled with the mask design and is the color desired.

Take the Basic White CS strip and stamp the sentiment on it in Hydrangea Hue ink.

Adhere to the card placing the words on the right-hand side of the card. Cut off the overhang.

The beach ball and inner tube from the Splash and Relax Bundle are a two-step stamping process – I stamp the detailed stamp in full strength Hydrangea hue ink first and then stamp the background stamp in Hydrangea Hue ink and stamp off onto the grid or scrap paper and then stamp over the detailed image. I think it is easier to place the stamps correctly over the darker colored detailed images then the other way around – BUT it can be done either way!
Die cut out the beach ball and the inner tube with the Splash and Relax dies and die cut the sunglass outer image in Hydrangea Hue CS.

Cut the sunglass lenses out of Silver or Irredescent Foil and glue onto the sunglasses base Hydrangea Hue CS.

Adhere the sunglasses directly over the left-hand side of the sentiment strip and pop up the inner tube and beach ball above and below the sentiment strip!

Stamp the inside sentiment and the beach ball on the inside of the card!

Place three Rhinestones around the sentiment strip and this easy card sketch card is complete! I love the simple masking background – this makes the card don’t you think?

Try this masking background technique soon and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Splash & Relax Bundle

[167903]

$44.00

Splash & Relax Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167901]

$21.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Hydrangea Hue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[167687]

$14.00

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

$9.00

Hydrangea Hue Classic Stampin' Pad

[167677]

$14.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$7.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Water & Dotted Lines 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Decorative Masks

[167760]

$21.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$17.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Splash & Relax Dies

[167902]

$28.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← february demonstrator swap cards demonstrators choice onstage swap →

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and crushed curry

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 1, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, embossing folders, masks, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge card contains a technique I have shown before with a little twist!

I love white on white cards with a slash of color – and up north we are receiving a lot of the white stuff so I was in need of a SLASH of color!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers,
1/2″ strip scrap

Yep that is it supplies are minimal but the results are a WOW!

Take the two Basic White CS layers and die cut one with the Textured Notes rectangular dies – I used the fourth largest rectangle.

Save the die cut for another use as we will be using the negative die as a mask.

Take the other layer and emboss using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with Base Plate #1 and Embossing Plate #4 and the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.

I used my glass mat and taped the mask over the embossed layer – securing them down so they don’t move.

I burnished Crushed Curry ink with a blending brush in a strip down the right side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

I burnished Pumpkin Pie ink with a blending brush in a strip down the middle of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

I burnished Real Red ink with a blending brush in a strip down the left side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

Normally when I do a White Wash technique I drag the Craft White ink pad over cardstock to create the Whitewashed look but I did not want to drag my white pad over bright ink colors and corrupt the white pad. The craft ink would have re-wet the colored ink and destroyed the ink pad so I took my palette knife and made an ink slurry with Craft White re-inker and water (you can use a Stampin’ Spritzer to wet the ink) then mixed and spread it on an acrylic block with the flat bottom of the palette knife.
I then dragged the palette knife over the Sunflower embossed surface to give the tips of the petals a white washed effect!

Remove the mask and reveal your lovely layer!

I used a Basic White 1/2″ strip scrap and stamped the “just because” sentiment from the Blooming Phrases stamp set and colored it with the residual ink left on the blending brushes in the same order as done on the card!

Adhere the layer to the card base and adhere the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals for some added depth and dimension!

Add some Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card to finish it off with a little sparkle and this simple but stunning card is complete!

Imagine the possibilities – use any shape and make a mask and color inside the negative space!

Now go and try this technique and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Textured Notes Bundle (English)

[165556]

$48.50

Blooming Phrases Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165523]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

[147087]

$9.00

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

$9.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[147086]

$9.00

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill

[101780]

$7.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$7.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Palette Knives

[142808]

$5.00

Clear Block D

[118485]

$9.50

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

$6.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Sunflower 3 D Embossing Folder

[166145]

$12.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← holiday pocket card snowflake kisses die cut out card →

snowy delight bundle card

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 5, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, masks, new catalog, stamps ink paper

This fun winter card will be on be one of the. featured cards at my upcoming card class and with the new Snowy Delights Bundle with coordinating dies and masks it is super easy to make!

UPCOMING CLASS SCHEDULE:
*Card Class Design A
**Card Class Design B
***Card Class Design C

*September 9th – Greenville Area Library 4:30pm – 6:30pm * (RSVP to library)
*September 15th – Conneaut Lake Library 1pm – 3pm
(RSVP to library)
**September 23rd – Linesville Library 2pm – 4pm**. (RSVP to library)
***September 29th – studio class 1pm – 3pm (RSVP to me) same format as library classes 4 cards for $10***
*Card designs for the Greenville Area library and the Conneaut Lake Library classes are the same –
**the designs for the Linesville Library and ***studio class are different from the other classes!

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ , 3/4″ x 4 1/4″
scrap for snowflake die

Whenever I am stamping a larger format stamp image I turn it stamp side up and place the ink pad directly on the stamp image.

I think this gives you better coverage and control as you can see where you are inking!

I stamped the large snowflake image from the Snowy Delights stamp set off the layer above and below – this creates the illusion of expanse!
I stamped in Blueberry Bushel ink.

Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #1 and Balmy Blue ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes.

Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #2 and Lost Lagoon ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes over the Balmy Blue ink.

Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #4 and Azure Afternoon ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes and the empty white space beside the two partial snowflakes.

Using the cluster of smaller snowflakes stamp image in Blueberry Bushel ink I stamped in between the two partial large snowflakes to add depth and texture.

Taking the extra 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer I stamped the large snowflake image off the bottom of the page in Blueberry Bushel ink.

I stamped the inside sentiment in Blueberry Bushel ink and blended the bottom edge with a blending brush and Blueberry Bushel ink for added color and texture.

Stamp the outside sentiment to the 3/4″ x 4 1/4″ strip, add the small snowflake stamp to the left-hand edge and blend the edges with a blending brush.