Techniques Class 2 -- Fabulous Florets Magic!

This little card features three different stamping techniques we will learn at my upcoming Techniques Club class on March 9th -- 1) Masking, 2) Reverse masking, and 3) Embossed Frame techniques. 

Step 1: Cut two Whisper White panels -- 5 1/4 x 4".  Use the 3" circle die to cut a circle out of the upper portion of one of the panels.  This panel with the 3" hole is going to be your "reverse mask".
Step 2:  Put some temporary adhesive (Dotto works GREAT!) on the back of the panel with the hole, and adhere it to the other white panel lining it up perfectly.
Step 3:  Stamp the flower from Fabulous Florets on a sticky note, taking care to stamp near the sticky edge -- cut out the flower very carefully, leaving no border around it.
Step 4:  Stamp your flower in Cherry Cobbler ink inside the masked circle in the upper right corner.  Now, use your "mask" -- the carefully trimmed sticky note image, and stick it onto the flower you just stamped.  Stamp a second flower in Baja Breeze ink slightly to the left, overlapping the first image -- this gives the effect that the first flower is in the foreground and the second flower is behind it.  Apply the mask as needed and stamp the leaves -- see how the leaves look like they are coming out from the base of the flower rather than just dangling in space?
Step 5:  "Reverse Masking" simply means you are using the negative (punched out or die cut space) to create your effect.  Here, I used a sponge dauber and applied Wild Wasabi ink around the edges of my reverse mask/3" die cut circle panel.  Once I was happy with the effect, I removed my reverse mask and then have a lovely floral image surrounded by a perfect 3" Wild Wasabi "halo".

Now, for the Embossed Frame technique -- if you look at the card carefully, you'll notice that where the flowers are stamped is smooth and flat, while the surrounding area is embossed with an embossing folder.  This is how you do that.
Step 1:  Take a piece of sturdy chipboard (5 1/2 x 4 1/4") -- I love our On Board Long Board as it is the perfect width and thickness -- and use the 3" Bigz circle die to cut a circle out of the center of your chipboard panel.  (You can use any shape, but you will need a Bigz die rather than a sizzlit, as you need to be able to cut through chipboard.)
Step 2:  Choose an embossing folder and put your stamped floral panel inside.
Step 3:  Add a little temporary adhesive on the back of your chipboard panel.  Line up the 3" die cut hole in your chipboard with the 3" green "halo" circle you sponged onto your card in the reverse masking step. 
Step 4:  Put through your Big Shot using the following sandwich:
-- Tab 2 of your multi purpose platform
-- embossing folder with stamped white panel inside
-- Chipboard frame centered over top
-- Cutting pad

That's it!  You have a perfect embossed frame around your stamped image!  I used a sponge dauber and Baja Breeze ink to high light the embossed pattern.  I also embellished my design with Basic Pearls, dazzling Diamonds glitter and the two-way glue pen, and the lovely new Baja Breeze pleated satin ribbon from the Occasions Mini.  To make the Cherry Cobbler flower stand out more, I stamped a second flower on a scrap of white and cut out the inner flower of the image and popped it up on dimensionals.

Here is the same card using a different color palette -- Pacific Point, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, and Wild Wasabi.