I have had these masks (and other discontinued ones) but hadn't really used them until recently and they are so effective as backgrounds to your cards and scrapbooking pages. Keep reading to learn about 3 ways you can use them today!
Ink and Blending Brushes
The background for this card was created using the Artistic Mix Decorative Masks with Blending Brushes and a Lost Lagoon Inkpad.
To get this effect, you just place the mask over the card you are going to be inking on and hold it in place. Dab the brush on the ink pad and apply the ink to the mask/card, then repeat until you have the required area covered. You can choose to cover the whole card as I have here, or you could just apply ink to a smaller area, which also gives a nice effect. In some ways, only applying the ink to a part of the card gives some extra 'depth'.
Once you have finished, be sure to carefully remove the mask and clean the mask so that the ink doesn't end up somewhere you don't want it to. Also rub the brush on some scrap paper until the ink is no longer coming off the brush.
Shimmery Embossing Paste
This can be done using any embossing paste, but for this card I chose the Shimmery White Embossing Paste. Once again, just position the mask over the card you are using and using one of the Palette Knives, spread the paste over the area of your choice. You can experiment with this, making it as rough or smooth as you'd like. Once finished, be sure to clean you Palette Knife as soon as possible. You will need to leave this to dry for a good 30 minutes before using the card.
* I suggest using the masks that have a smaller area showing. I found that when I did this one, the paste dried and 'warped' the card a little since the paste contracts as it dries. This hasn't happened when using the masks that leave a smaller area to paste.
**The effect is not easy to see on the screen, however it is lovely when looking at the card itself. The white on white gives a subtle but lovely effect.
Embossing Paste mixed with Colour
For this card I took a small amount of Embossing Paste from the tub using a Palette Knife and mixed it on some white scrap card with a couple of drops of Daffodil Delight Re-Inker.
Then using the same technique as above, I applied the coloured paste to the card. I was thrilled with the outcome and just love the tactile texture of this paste and the dimension it adds to the card.
As always, the biggest thing is to JUST PLAY AND HAVE FUN!