Many card makers will shy away from digital stamps because they are unsure of how to mask digital images for one-layer cards. X-Press It Mask IT and Inkadinkado Stamping Mask Paper make creating one-layer cards simple. In today’s video, I want to show you how I use these papers to mask digital images to add a stamped and colored background eliminating the need to fussy cut the digital image and then adding to your card.
Find the products used in this video listed at the end of this post.
Masking digital images is very similar to masking stamped images. Both papers require fussy cutting the mask the same as you would if you used a regular stamp. In addition, re-using the masks to create multiple cards is possible. Transferring the digital image to the masking paper is the biggest difference. X-Press IT Mask IT’s requires tracing an outline of the image, while Inkadinkado’s paper surface allows for printing a copy of the image directly onto the paper. There are other notable differences between the two papers to mention.
Using X-Press IT Mask IT to Mask Digital Images
The flimsy and slick surface of Mask IT can make the paper difficult to handle while cutting the mask. The delicacy of this paper makes it easy to tear when fussy cutting intricate images. I definitely recommend using Mask IT if you are planning to mask large areas since tracing and cutting multiple tiny objects may prove frustrating and time consuming. Mask IT is transparent and easy to apply the mask. Also, its medium tack keeps the paper from easily lifting when being worked. Also, while Mask-It has a higher out-of-pocket price tag, about $18.99 a roll or pack of sheets, the size and quantity will last you for years! Unless you mask multiple cards a day every day don’t expect to run out of this product any time soon.
Using Inkadinkado Stamping Mask Paper to Mask Digital Images
Preferred by most card makers, this paper definitely has pros and cons when it comes to masking digital images. As mentioned, a few times now, the biggest pro is the ability to print directly to the sheet. Printing the image directly to the paper ensures crisp and perfect lines to fussy cut. Also, Inkadinkado’s stamping mask paper is far sturdier than the Mask IT paper making fussy cutting simpler. For me, the biggest con is the price per sheet, about one dollar (12 sheets per pack). I recommend using this paper when you have multiple small digital or stamped images that you want to mask. This way, you can arrange and print the images using your editor, maximizing masks per sheet. In addition, the tack is not as strong as Mask IT, so the mask tends to lift up increasing the chance of coloring the protected image underneath.
In a nutshell, I enjoy working with both of these products. I am able to create perfect one-layer cards using my digital images. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog and watch the video. I hope you found the information helpful. I would love to hear from you! Please be sure to comment below if you learned something new from this post, want to share your creations, or even give us some more useful tips for masking digital images. Happy crafting y’all. – Erika
Products Used:
- Digital Image from MMedelIllustrations Etsy Shop: ‘El Cadero’
- My Favorite Things Clear Stamp: ‘On Solid Ground’
- Tim Holtz Distress Inks: ‘Black Soot’, ‘Chipped Sapphire’, and ‘Blueprint Sketch’
- X-Press IT Mask IT paper (rolls)
- Inkadinkado stamping mask paper
- X-Press IT Blending Card (for card panel)
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