Do you enjoy finding simple ways to add depth and interest to your handmade cards? In my Facebook and YouTube Live on 28th May, I shared how to create Masking Technique Cards using the beautiful Opulent Oasis stamp set. This technique looks impressive, but it’s surprisingly easy and only requires a little extra preparation.
One of the things I love about masking is that it creates the illusion of layers and dimension while keeping your card nice and flat for posting. If you’ve never tried masking before, this is a great place to start. During the Live, I demonstrated how to create a simple floral card where the leaves appear to sit behind the flower, even though everything is stamped directly onto one layer of cardstock.
What is the Masking Technique?
The masking technique is a simple stamping method that helps create depth and perspective.
First, stamp the image you want to appear in the foreground. Then stamp the same image onto masking paper, cut it out, and place it over your stamped image. Once the mask is in place, you can stamp additional images around it. When you remove the mask, it looks like those images are sitting behind the main image rather than on top of it.
For these cards, I used the large flower from the Opulent Oasis stamp set as the focal point and added leafy branches behind it using Peaceful Pine ink.
Opulent Oasis and the New In Colors
These cards were also a great opportunity to showcase some of the new 2026–2028 In Colors.
The cards feature:
- Hydrangea Hue
- Crisp Cantaloupe
- Golden Glow
- Barely Blush
- Peaceful Pine
Hydrangea Hue Card:
Crisp Cantaloupe Card:
Golden Glow Card:
Barely Blush Card with Peaceful Pine Border:
I particularly enjoyed seeing how different the design looked simply by changing the flower colour. The soft Barely Blush version has a delicate, elegant feel, while Hydrangea Hue creates a much bolder look.
The simple design also makes it easy to customise with different sentiments and embellishments depending on the occasion.
Why I Love This Technique
One of the best things about the masking technique is that it creates visual interest without adding lots of layers or bulk.
It’s perfect when you want:
- Cards that are easy to post
- Quick designs for multiple cards
- A simple way to add depth
- A technique suitable for beginners
If you’ve been hesitant to try masking, I encourage you to watch the video and give it a go. Once you’ve created one mask, you can often reuse it several times.
See the Masking Technique in Action
The masking technique is much easier to understand when you see it being demonstrated. In the video, I’ll show you how to create and use a mask, along with several card variations featuring the Opulent Oasis stamp set and the beautiful 2026–2028 In Colors.
You can watch the full video here:
Here are the supplies I used to make these cards.
If you would like to see more ideas using this beautiful stamp set and the new In Colors, you might also enjoy this post.
The Opulent Oasis stamp set is a wonderful choice for creating elegant floral cards, and this masking technique is a simple way to make your stamped images look even more impressive.
If you need any of the supplies used in these cards, please feel free to contact me or visit my online store.
Why not give masking a try the next time you’re creating cards? It’s a simple technique that can make a big difference to your finished projects. If you create something inspired by this idea, I’d love to see it.