Magically Masked - CTMH Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to this month's Technique Blog Hop where we are using Close To My Heart products in our featured artwork. The theme for the month is "Magically Masked" and participants are able to interpret that as they see fit. I can't wait to see what everyone has created; how about you?!

If you are coming from Maz Wood's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this blog, if you were to get lost along the way. Otherwise, keep following the links in each post and check out what we have to share with you!

To showcase the masking technique, I decided to share the card I made - CASEing the original artwork created by Close To My Heart (used in the first photo). It's a great example of masking and I have worked to share the process with you below. 

If you look closely at the flower bunch, you'll see that all of the stems are placed BEHIND the not. That's all done with stamping and the process called "masking". Masking allows you to make stamped images appear dimensional. Let me show you how I achieved this look!\

Because the knot was going to be the forefront of the bouquet, I stamped it first.

Then, I stamped it again, on a sticky note - so it was close to the top where I could benefit from the sticky part. I cut the image right on the lines, and placed the sticky note image directly on top of the stamped image. 

Because I wanted this flower and stem to be in front of those to the left and right of them, I stamped it next. With the rope being covered, the stem appears to be inside of or behind it. Cool, huh?

Next, I stamped the next stem of flowers to the right, without overlapping the other floral image. 

I had to create another "mask" for the first flower I stamped - just the upper part, as shown - so that the leaves and flowers from the stem to the left looked 3-D. You can see how I had both masks in place when I stamped both of the last two images to create the desired effect. 

And then...my bouquet was complete!

After I had stamped the floral images, I stamped the sentiment and colored the flowers in with ShinHan Markers.

"Many Congratulations" is the stamp set I used. 

This technique is fun for flowers, balloons, etc. - any time you want this look. Have you ever tried it? I would love to see what you create using this technique! It's totally fun and pretty simple!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Before heading to the next blog, consider leaving me a comment to let me know what you think of the technique or the card. I always love hearing from you! 

Now...go see what Michelle Loncar has to share with you! Wishing you a great upcoming week!

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Michelle Loncar
3. Debi McBain
4. Catherine Nowak
5. Haley Dyer
6. Darlys Recker
7. Wendy Kessler
8. Marciava Warrell
9. Sarah Devendorf
10. Maz Wood

In any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Thank you for joining us again for...

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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Melinda and I have some fun artwork to share with you today, a spin off of creations generated from the Close To My Heart Art Department.

I am highlighting the "so happy for you" card shown on the left. Because I don't have a sewing machine, I had to make some adjustments to accommodate the elements of the card.

Be sure to read to the end of this post so you can view what Melinda is sharing with you, with a link provided to take you to her blog.

I enjoy working with vellum and don't do so often enough. I love the softness it provides for artwork,  generating an elegant look. There are some things that need to be considered when using vellum, including a way to attach it so that the adhesive doesn't show and disrupt the desired results. For that reason, I decided to create a black border (as opposed to sewing as done on the original card) that would secure the vellum. 

The Black cardstock was cut at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" with a 1/4" border allowed on all sides, creating a frame. I then stapled two pieces of White Twine to the black frame, before proceeding, so the back of the staples do not show. 

I glued the piece of patterned paper to the card base. After embossing the floral images, with White Embossing Powder, on the Vellum Paper, I placed a thin line of adhesive around the edges of the vellum piece (where the black would cover it) to secure it to the patterned paper. Then, I adhered the black frame on top of it. 

The sentiment was stamped, in Black ink, on a piece of Bashful cardstock measuring 3/4" x 2 3/4". A dovetail was cut for visual appeal. Add three White Gems and you have a beautiful creation to gift to someone. 

I love the resulting card and hope you do too. It's simple and elegant - a perfect combination, in my opinion. 

Supplies used:

• Z3367 Vellum Paper
• Z3350 Basic Fundamentals Paper Pack
• C1693 Many Congratulations
• Z3370 White Pearls
• Z3216 White Twine
• Z2027 Mini Stapler
• 1386 Black Cardstock
• X5941 Bashful Cardstock
• Z555 Craft Heater
• Z891 Versamark Ink Pad
• Z2068 White Embossing Powder

Now, be sure to head over to Melinda's Blog where she is showing you how to make this gorgeous sympathy card using our awesome clear, acrylic stamps.

We always appreciate you stopping by our blogs and encourage you to do your own version of CASEing. Be sure to tag us when you do - #ctmhinanycase - as we search social media ready to reward participants with a prize.

Enjoy the rest of your week and see you next time, on May 10th, for our next episode of "In Any CASE..."!