How To Use Clear Stamps With Masking Techniques
Today, I’m sharing how to use clear stamps with masking techniques for beautiful DIY art. It’s one of my favorite stamping techniques! Whether you’re brand-new to stamping or you’ve been crafting for years, learning how to use clear stamps and masks together opens up so many creative possibilities.
For this project, I took an older canvas I had created a few years ago—one that had gotten a little messed up—and gave it an entirely new life. I painted right over the old transfers and clay mold castings and rebuilt the entire design using IOD’s Charlotte stamp, the AlphaBellies stamp, and some simple masking tricks. The end result is soft, vintage, and feminine… and honestly, one of my favorites.
How To Use Clear Stamps Video Tutorial!
You Need These Supplies When Learning How To Use Clear Stamps:
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Canvas or Wood panel
Brayer (Optional)
Stamp Masks (Comes with stamps or can be made)
Sealer – Clear Wax or Liquid top coats
What Is Masking and Why Use It?
Masking is one of the most powerful stamping techniques for creating depth. It allows you to layer stamps so images appear in front of others without smudging or overlapping in the wrong places.
Here’s the simple rule: Whatever you want in the front gets stamped first—and masked.
SAVE THIS PIN FOR LATER!
For this project, I wanted the floral pieces to look like a choker for the silhouette figure. I also wanted a small floral piece to become a hair accessory. So those elements needed to be stamped and masked before stamping the silhouette shape.
If your stamp set comes with masks, great! If not, you can easily create your own. I simply stamped the image onto paper and cut it out. This mask protects the shape underneath so the next stamp you place doesn’t distort or overlap where you don’t want it to.
Learning how to do stamping with masks instantly elevates your projects and gives them a polished, layered finish.
How To Use Clear Stamps – Step By Step
Step 1: Conditioning Your Stamps
If you just got a new set of IOD stamps, you need to condition them before the fun begins. You
only need to do this once and then your stamps will be set for life.
Start by removing the acrylic sheet attached to the stamping side of the design. You can either pull the stamps off the backing sheet or leave the stamps attached. Using a 180 – 220 grit sandpaper, lightly sand the stamping surface. Sand in one
direction and then rotate the stamp 90 degrees and sand lightly in a different direction.
This gives the surface of the stamp a bit of tooth, so the ink grips, instead of slipping.
Step 2: Adhering Stamps To A Mount
Next, when stamping on a flat surface, I like to mount my stamps on a thin mount. You could also use the backing sheet, that your stamps come attached to. It gives you a firm backing so you can place and lift your stamp precisely without wobbling.
Whichever mount you use, the backside of the stamps and the mount must be perfectly clean in order for the stamp to cling firmly to the surface. If you find that your stamp isn’t sticking to your mount, wipe it clean with alcohol.
If you’re learning how to use clear stamps for the first time, having a stable mount will make a huge difference in your results.
Step 3: Painting Your Surface To Be Stamped
For this project, I’m painting over a piece I created a few years back. Using a white paint called Pacific Pearl, I painted the entire piece to start with a blank canvas.
Step 4: Creating Masks Of Stamps (If Necessary)
Masks are just flat images of the design on the stamp. If your stamp set comes with masks, great! If not, you can easily create your own. Simply stamp the image onto paper and cut it out along the edge of the design. The masks protect the image underneath so the next image you stamp doesn’t distort or overlap where you don’t want it to.
Step 5: Stamping the First Layer
Once your stamps are sanded, mounted, and masked, it’s time to start stamping. It’s important to arrange your stamps, before inking, on your surface and mark where you want your first images to go.
Load your ink pad with good-quality ink (I used IOD’s black ink). You can ink the stamp directly, but I prefer to use a brayer for even coverage—it also keeps me from getting ink on the stamp where it shouldn’t be.
Holding onto the thin mount, I’m laying the larger floral stamp down first, firmly pressing the stamp with my fingers.Then lifting straight up.
Next, stamp any additional images that you want in the forefront; in this case, the small flower that I used as her hair accessory. These are my front-layer images; ones that will appear to be on top. Allow ink to dry or use a heat gun to speed up the process..
Step 6: Masking The Front-Layer Images
Once the ink is good and dry, place your paper or plastic masks over the stamped images, making sure the edges line up well.
Step 7: Stamping the Second Layer (The image in the background)
Next, it’s time to stamp the background image. In this case, the Charlotte silhouette.
After loading the stamp with ink, using a brayer, I placed it directly over the two masks; Pressing evenly—especially around the edges where I know the masks are—to ensure the image transfers well.
Because I’m using a canvas, I placed one hand underneath while pressing with the other. Stamping on canvas can be tricky since it has some give, but supporting it ensures you get a nice even impression.
After lifting the stamp, remove the masks and you’ll see the magic: the flowers appear perfectly layered on top of the silhouette instead of getting lost beneath the image.
Step 8: After Learning How to Use Clear Stamps, You Can Go Even Further To Enhance Your Art!
Once all your stamping is complete, let everything dry fully before moving on. Here are the finishing steps I took:
- PAINT FRAME – I painted the outer frame of the canvas with a chalk-style paint in the color Driftwood, using a 1-inch brush for most of the edges and switching to a small artist brush for tighter areas near the mold casting. If you enjoy mixed-media projects, combining molded trims with stamping is such a fun way to build depth and texture.
- EMBELLISH WITH MOLDED TRIM – I had originally casted trim pieces to add character and beauty to my art. I used air dry clay and the IOD Trimmings 3 Mold to “frame” my silouette.
- SEAL – To seal the piece, I applied clear wax, which works beautifully around intricate trims. Then I added a touch of gold wax (Rub and Buff in Gold Leaf) to the raised details of the molded frame. I started with my finger but eventually switched to a small brush so I could get into the tighter areas.
These finishing steps, especially the added trim mold, really make the stamped silhouette pop and gives the entire canvas a warm, vintage feel.
If you want to know more about using molded trims in your next DIY, grab this Free In-depth Tutorial:
Browse all the available IOD Stamps available for your next project!How To Use Clear Stamps – Final Thoughts
Learning how to do stamping, especially with masks, opens up endless creative possibilities. Whether you’re stamping on furniture, canvas, wood boards, or mixed-media surfaces, mastering a few key stamping techniques can completely transform your projects.
If you’ve ever wondered how to use clear stamps in a way that looks polished and professional, masking is a game changer. It allows you to layer images seamlessly and build compositions that look hand-illustrated.
I hope this inspires you to pull out your stamps and try something new. And if you want to watch the full project step-by-step, be sure to check out the video linked above.
Grab More Tips and Tricks On How To Use Clear Stamps And Boost Your Skills overnight!
How To Clean Your Clear Stamps
Be sure to clean your stamps after each use to ensure they can be used for years to come.
The easiest way to care for and clean stamps is to wipe down with alcohol, and avoid letting the medium dry all the way on the stamp surface.
Then, when you have time, wash them with mild soap and warm water. For some mediums you may find that you need a stamp cleaner. Use one that is safe for clear stamps. After thoroughly cleaned, place them back on the clear backing for storage.
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Until Next Time!
Love,
Joanie
