This week’s technique challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is all about creating a masking tape background — and if you’ve never tried this before, it’s such a fun technique! There’s a tutorial over on the challenge blog, and it’s definitely worth a look if you’re new to it.
I kept things fairly clean and simple with this one, letting the background do the talking, and added a few festive elements to bring it all together.
Here’s how I made it.
What You’ll Need
- Cardstock: Textured Pool Party (card base), White
- Ink: Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Garden Green, Black
- Dies: Deckle Edge Rectangles (Craft Addiction UK), Christmas tree dies
- Stamps:
- So Many Stars (Stampin’ Up – sentiment)
- Christmas Season (Stampin’ Up)
- Embellishments: Clear half-back pearls, glitter
- Other: Masking tape, blending brush, foam adhesive, liquid glue
Step 1: Create the Card Base
Start with an A6 card base in textured Pool Party cardstock. The subtle texture adds a little extra interest straight away and works beautifully with the soft colour palette. My card appears to be speckled with red dots which actually worked well with my colour scheme.
Step 2: Die Cut the Panel
Cut a piece of white cardstock using the Deckle Edge Rectangle dies. This will be your main focal panel.
Step 3: Create the Masking Tape Background
Now for the fun part!
Take a piece of masking tape wider than your panel and press it directly into your Coastal Cabana ink pad. Then press the tape onto the cardstock, lifting it away carefully.
Repeat this three times across the panel, leaving a small gap between each strip. Vary the pressure each time you apply the tape — this creates a soft ombre effect, with some areas appearing more intense than others.
It’s such a simple technique, but it gives a really lovely, slightly organic look.
Step 4: Add the Trees
Die cut two Christmas trees from Pool Party cardstock. To give them a bit more depth, lightly blend Coastal Cabana ink around the edges using a blending brush.
Adhere the trees to the left-hand side of the panel, slightly overlapping for a more natural arrangement.
Step 5: Add the Sentiment
Stamp your sentiment from the So Many Stars stamp set in black ink towards the top right of the panel. This balances the trees nicely and follows a simple, clean layout.
Step 6: Add Holly and Berries
To bring in a pop of colour, stamp and fussy cut holly leaves and red berries.
Adhere these just below the trees, using a mix of foam adhesive and liquid glue to give a little dimension.
Step 7: Assemble the Card
Attach the finished panel to the centre of the card base using foam adhesive to lift it slightly and add depth.
Step 8: Finishing Touches
To finish, add:
- A touch of glitter to the trees for a subtle festive sparkle
- A sprinkling of clear half-back pearls across the panel
These final details catch the light beautifully without overpowering the design.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this technique — it’s quick, a little bit different, and a great way to create your own backgrounds without needing lots of supplies. The soft Pool Party and Coastal Cabana tones keep the card feeling fresh and wintry, while the holly adds just the right amount of festive colour.
If you haven’t tried a masking tape background before, this is definitely your sign to give it a go! Head over to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, check out the tutorial, and have a play — you might just find a new favourite technique.
Happy crafting!
Lily-by-Gilly 