Masking and Stamp-a-ma-jig Tutorial and Sketch Challenge

You are going to get a lot of great information in this post. If you would like you can download and save a copy of tutorial in PDF form here.  Download Masking and SMAJ tutorial 

A lot of people ask me to show them how to combine two stamps to create a scene.  I thought a tutorial would be a good place to start.  Maybe I'll get the courage up to create a video tutorial but until then, here goes.

I have taken a lot of pictures to explain each step.  You will also get a quick tutorial on how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig as well because the stamps I used were not clear and I wanted to make sure I placed Tilda in the right place on the bench.

Here are some of the materials that you will need:  sharp scissors, ink, piece of typing paper, piece of white cardstock for final image and your two stamps.  You will also need a stamp-a-ma-jig and some removable adhesive to use at the end. (If you are using clear stamps you will not need the stamp-a-ma-jig part of the tutorial because you will be able to see where to place the bench.)

Your first step is to stamp your character onto your piece of typing paper.  Cut out the image.  You only need to cut out the part's that will be in the same area of the other stamp.

You can see in this next picture that I have cut Tilda out on one side so far.  I cut out all of the details up to her chin and then just cut in a wide arc around her head.  No need to take the time to cut out areas that you don't need to. With this image I also had to take a hobby blade and cut out the area between her feet.  That way I also get the detail on the bench.  (Note:  I have just stamped the bench here for instruction purposes only.  We will stamp our image of the bench later.)

Here is the cutout image ready to be used.

Our next step is to stamp our main image on the good cardstock piece that we will use for our card.  I am using Papertrey Ink white cardstock and Tsukineko's Momento Tuxedo Black Ink for this tutorial.

Next, take the cutout image and adhere it lightly onto the stamped image on the cardstock, making sure that the two images line up perfectly.  The following picture shows this step.

Now it is time to stamp the bench that Tilda will be sitting on.  Because I won't be able to see where the bench stamp will hit the paper I need to use my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  You can find this tool anywhere in your local craft and hobby store or online.  They are really inexpensive and make a world of difference when you are stamping with rubber stamps.

Place your bench stamp on the acryllic block.  Ink it up.  Your stamp-a-ma-jig comes with a plastic piece or you can just use a piece of thin vellum.   Place the plastic piece in the corner of your SMAJ.  Then stamp your bench image on the plastic making sure that your acrylic block comes down in the corner of the T of the SMAJ when you stamp.  If you look really closely at the following picture you will the plastic piece coming out from underneath the stamp block on the right hand side.  Everything, the plastic and the acrylic block butts up against the T of the SMAJ.  

Now you are going to lift everything up and place the stamped plastic piece on the white cardstock image of Tilda in order to line up the bench exactly where you want it to go.  When you have the plastic piece placed just right on the Tilda image, lay the SMAJ up against the plastic piece so that the corner of the T is against the plastic.  

Don't move the plastic piece until you have the SMAJ just right.  Then remove the plastic piece but don't move anything else.  Keep the SMAJ pressed down so it doesn't slip or slide.

Ink up your bench stamp again.  Then place your acrylic block with the bench stamp on it in the corner of the SMAJ. 

You can take the SMAJ away at this point to give you more leverage.  Stamp the image of the bench on Tilda who is still covered by the cutout.

When you lift the stamp up this is what you will see.

When you pull off the cutout Tilda you will see both of your images combined perfectly.  

Now it is time to color your image and get it ready for your card.  Make sure to keep all your cutouts.  You can use them over and over again to save you some cutting time.

Here is my finished card.  I have used a Sketch challenge sketch as inspiration for the design of the card.  It's not exact but most of the elements are there. 

I hope you found this tutorial useful.  I know my whole world changed when I learned to mask and use the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  

Supplies used:  Paper:  Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket; Stamps:  Markers:  Copic;  Punches, ribbon, cardstock, texture plate and twine:  Stampin Up!; Flowers:  Prima, Diecuts:  Nestabilities from Spellbinders

Comments

[Camille]

Beautiful card and excellent tutorial on masking and using the Stamp-a-ma-jig! Very well done, Christine! This will help so many people, especially if you don't like cutting out images LOL! Hugs, Cami

[Sharon Caudle]

WOW!!! What an awesome tutorial, Christing! Thanks sooooo much for making this and sharing it with us! Since I just started stamping, I've never tried masking because I had no idea how you would know where to place the stamp after masking. This totally cleared it up for me! I will now be getting a stampamajig!! THANK YOU!! Oh and I LOVE your card! Your coloring is gorgeous!

[Kimberly O.]

Thanks for a great tutorial. My SAMJ is my bestest stamping tool ever! :) I sometimes even use it with my clear stamps too.

[Kimberly O.]

I forgot to ask, what kind of removable adhesive do you use?

Thanks!!

[Ellen Smith]

Beautiful!

[Rachel Arambula]

This is absolutely adorable!!! you did a beautiful job! Thanks so much for the AWESOME tutorial!

[Linda S.]

Hi, I wanted to take the time to say Thank you for the great tutorial. You could not have chosen a better subject. It has always been amazing to me that such a simple couple of pieces of plastic could make my stamping life so much better. Even though I have been taught how to use the tool, it is still kind of confusing as I do not use it on a daily basis. I think it's that ole' left brain/right brain thing??? lol Well, now I can forget confusion, as I will have your tutorial printed out and close by for easy instructions and great photos. Thank you again for being so thoughtful. Linda S. in NE

[Alison (UK)]

What a pretty card! Great tutorial, thanks so much for posting this. I think I need to upgrade to a Stamp a ma jig!
I like to use Eclipse tape to mask as it's self adhesive and re-useable.

[Sheri]

Great tutorial on masking! Thanks so much!

[diane (cookiestamper)]

Hi! This card is adorable! Thanks for your comment. To answer your question...I use the White Signo gel pen from Stampin' Up! It works really nice.

[Sheila D]

Great tutorial. Thanks so much!