Easy and Fun � Gelli Printing on Tags!

Gelli prints make great tags, cards and ATC's! Watch this video demonstration for ideas on creating fun small prints!

When you print on paper that's smaller than the painted gel plate, you're creating a bleed print. That means the printed image is the entire paper, right up to and including the edges ... no borders.

Making a bleed print � or in this case, printing tags � couldn't be easier:

1. Place your tags on the painted gel plate
2. Place a cover sheet over the plate
3. Rub to transfer the paint
4. Remove the cover sheet
5. Pull your printed tags

The cover sheet picks up the paint from the areas on the plate that weren't covered by the tag. In fact, the cover sheet is a masked print of the negative space around the tags. 

Also � use the cover sheets to pick up the ghost image after the tags are removed ... and you'll see how interesting cover sheets can become!

Cover sheets make great beginnings, so keep using them over and over. 

And here's a fun technique for adding rubber stamped images to Gelli printed tags!

This technique calls for some unprinted areas on your tags. You can achieve this simply with torn paper masks. Follow these easy steps for fun results!

1. Apply acrylic paint to the plate and roll out with a brayer.
2. Place torn pieces of paper (masks) onto the painted plate, which will create unprinted areas in your print.
3. Leave masks on the plate and place the tags onto the painted plate.
4. Cover the plate with a sheet of paper that's larger than the plate.
5. Rub the paper to transfer the paint � and remove the cover sheet. (keep using the cover sheet as long as the paint is dry)
6. Remove the tags and let the paint dry completely.

TIP:  Acrylic paint acts as a resist. It must be completely dry before continuing to the next step.

Ink a stamp with a dye stamp pad (such as Distress or Adirondack � both by Ranger) � and stamp onto the masked area on your tag. The stamped image can overlap onto painted areas.

With a damp paper towel, wipe stamped ink off the acrylic paint. Acrylic paint resists the stamp pad ink, and the stamped image will remain only in the masked area. 

Note: The stamp ink may smear or blend into the unpainted paper, giving it color! The stamp image remains.

It's fun to continue embellishing the stamp images with colored pencils or markers. But for special glittery effects, try the Wink of Stella brush pens by Zig! They add a subtle touch of superfine glitter ... and offer the easiest way to add some sparkle to your print! With no mess! The brush tip allows for delicate lines as well as broader coverage. They can lend a touch of magic to a small print, like a tag!

Want to give it a try? Our extra-fun giveaway will have you making sparkly tags in no time!

This Contest is officially CLOSED

We have a winner! The random generator picked Vicki Romaine! Congrats to Vicki and a huge THANKS to all who commented and shared their fun artwork with us over the past few days on our FB page. Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

 

This fabulous prize package includes:

• One (1) � 6" x 6" Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate
• One (1) � Speedball 4" Soft Rubber Pop-In Brayer
• One (1) � set of three (3) Wink of Stella Brush Markers
• One (1) � set of four (4) clear stamps by Inkadinkadoo
• One (1) � Distress Ink Pad
• Two (2) � Rubbing Plates by Cedar Canyon
• Twenty (20) � Blank Manilla Tags

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment HERE ON THE BLOG!!

Comments (as your entry!) will be accepted until 12pm (noon) EST Monday, December 23rd. Leave your comment NOW!!

This Contest is officially CLOSED

We have a winner! The random generator picked Vicki Romaine! Congrats to Vicki and a huge THANKS to all who commented and shared their fun artwork with us over the past few days on our FB page.

One lucky winner will be selected AT RANDOM and announced no later than 5pm EST on Monday, December 23rd. The winner will be announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page!

For more wonderful examples of Gelli printed Tags or ATC's, check out our Pinterest Boards loaded with thousands of examples from Gelli printers who live all over the world. Please share your Gelli printed Tags or ATC's with us on Facebook too!

Good luck ... and Happy Printing!

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Gelli Transfer Prints!

Gelli plates have a unique surface that allows you to pull monotypes on clear adhesive film! Watch this video and see how easy it is to do!

For this fun and easy technique you'll need:

• Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate
• Acrylic paint (fast drying paint is best for this technique)
• Brayer
• Texture tools 
• Clear packing tape 
• Bone folder (optional)

NOTE:  Packing tape has its size limitations. If you want to make a larger or full-size print, use cold laminating film. Clear Con-Tact paper will also work, but it's not as "clear" or shiny as tape or laminating film.

Here's the process:

• Apply acrylic paint to your Gelli plate. Use a brayer to roll into a thin layer.
• Use texture tools to remove areas of paint from the plate. Clear areas provide interesting collage and gilding opportunities!          
• Foam stamps, scrapers and combs are great for removing areas of paint. Use cotton swabs to draw lines and make dots.
• NOTE:  The print will look exactly like what is on your plate � not reversed!
• So take your time and have fun developing the image on your plate! To add more layers, let the paint from the previous layer dry first � so the paint doesn't lift as you add more.

• When you're done creating your image, allow the paint to dry completely. Yes!
• NOTE: This technique only works when the paint is TOTALLY DRY!

• Place packing tape � STICKY SIDE DOWN � onto the dry paint

• Burnish to transfer paint (a bone folder is helpful). Slowly peel the film off of the plate. Voil�!

This Gelli transfer print below is being pulled 

on cold laminating film, instead of packing tape.

What a fun way to clean your plate!

TIP:  If there are areas of paint that didn't transfer, replace the 

tape and burnish again. If the paint was completely dry, most 

(if not all) of the paint will transfer to the tape.

At this point, you can choose to use your Gelli transfer tape in your journal, collage, ATC's, cardmaking, art quilting etc. 

OR... you can continue with the following steps :)

NEXT... Embellish your Gelli Transfer Tape

The areas that are clear will still be sticky from the adhesive on the tape. You can use this sticky area to add further interest to your print! See some great options below!

• Option 1: Brush Perfect Pearls (mica powder) onto the sticky areas for a fabulous effect!  
• The clear areas will become opaque and sparkle with a metallic look! 
• Option 2: Metal leaf will also adhere to the clear sticky areas.  
• TIP:  Keep metal leaf away from your Gelli plate to avoid loose and flyaway bits from sticking to it :) 
• Option 3: You can also add collage elements under the print to peek through the paint. Text adds a great layered look!

Remember, the shiny side of the tape is the print (right) side. You've been embellishing the back!

If the tape is too shiny for your taste, lightly sand the surface with an extra-fine grit sandpaper to make it more matte.

Gelli Transfer Film prints make great additions to art journal pages, collage, ATC's, cards, art quilts, paintings ... and other mixed media projects! 

This is a fun and easy technique! Try it!!!

For more information on this technique, please take a look at the previous blog titled "Gild the Gelli!"

This Contest is officially CLOSED

And here's our giveaway:

Our fabulous prize package includes:

1. One (1) 6"x6" Gel Printing Plate 
2. One (1) package of Copper Leaf (25 sheets) by ArtMinds 
3. One (1) package of Ranger Perfect Pearls (set contains 4 colors and 2 brushes)

One lucky winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, May 29th and announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page.

To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here on our blog or on our Facebook page. 

SHARE this blog post, and we'll add your name again for another chance to win!  
You can share via Pinterest, Twitter, Youtube or your blog! Just let us know where you've shared and we'll happily enter you twice :)

This Contest is officially CLOSED

 

Good Luck and Happy Printing!

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Watch Your Back!

In my last blog post I talked about using different media to add color to Gelli prints that aren't quite "there yet".

What I didn't mention is that there's �another side� to the story. Literally!

Back of overdyed Gelli Print

On a number of prints, where the print surface was saturated with dye, the color seeped right through the paper to the back. And the acrylic paint from the original Gelli print created a resist! Talk about a cool effect!!!

Just like when you're working with fabric � sometimes the wrong side feels more "right". You may discover the back of an overdyed print is quite wonderful. Don't be surprised if at times you prefer the subtle, blurry, watercolor look.

The incidental images on the back of my spray-dyed prints inspire me to keep exploring! I'm hooked on this process :)

Following the same basic steps from my previous blog post, I applied additional color to Gelli prints and blotted or wiped it off with a damp paper towel.

To keep things simple, this time I only used Adirondack Color Wash Spray to overdye the prints.



Here's what I learned in the process�

1. Gelli prints created with a heavier application of paint � using stencils, masks, and drawn or blocked out images � often create more dynamic reverse-side prints.

In other words, you want to be sure there�s enough paint and pattern on your Gelli print to create an interesting resist :)

Gelli print created with stencils as masks, then overdyed.

2. Thinner paper works better. I was especially pleased with many of the reverse-side prints created on plain computer paper.

3. Dampening the Gelli print with water BEFORE adding the spray dye helps the colors blend together and absorb all the way through the paper.

Back of damp print

TIP: When the front of the print is saturated with water, flip it over and look at the back (or hold the print up to a light source). You'll see where the added dye is going to seep through on the back.






 4. Wet, saturated prints will buckle as they dry.

So, you might want to iron the prints flat once they�re dry. It's important to cover the print with parchment paper or a press cloth to protect your iron! (I use a piece of muslin)










5. This is an intuitive process. On some prints, I add water to the front and back to encourage the colors to spread. You can�t always predict how the colors will react � so experiment!

6. And if you�re like me and can�t decide which side to use � scan both sides! Then use the images in art journals, collage, ATC's, and any paper, mixed media or digital art project! Perfect!

And the best lesson of all? Spraying dye onto Gelli prints is a crazy-fun process!!!

In fact, we at Gelli Arts are having such a good time with this easy technique, we want to give one of our readers the chance to win a set of six Adirondack Color Wash Sprays to play with!!!

Just leave a comment on this blog and you'll be entered to win the Adirondack Color Wash giveaway!

The winner will be selected by a random drawing on Friday May 11th. Nancy will announce the lucky winner here and on our Facebook page. Good luck!

I hope you'll find some inspiration in this slideshow! And thanks for watching my backs!!!

Accompanying music - Sonatina in C Minor by Kevin MacLeod

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Gild the Gelli

To "gild the lily" is to unnecessarily add adornment to something that is already beautiful and perfect. Simply put, you're overdoing it.
 

To gild the Gelli ... Well, that's a different story!!! More is more! Let's glitz it up!
 

There are lots of ways to add a sparkly metallic touch to your Gelli monoprints! I'd like to share a recent discovery � a fun, easy and different way to create a radiant Gelli print.
And this time we're not printing on paper or fabric!
 

I'll call this technique "Gilded Gelli Film".
 

One of the unique features of this technique is that the print image will not be reversed.
What you see on the plate is exactly how it will appear in the print!
 

For this process � in addition to your Gelli plate and acrylic paints � you'll need:

1. Clear adhesive film (cold laminating film) � 

available in various sizes (in sheets and rolls) at craft and office supply stores. Clear packing tape or clear contact paper will also work for this technique.

2. Metal leaf, such as Mona Lisa Metal Leaf � available at art and craft stores. (Tip: Keep metal leaf away from your Gelli plate to avoid loose and flyaway bits from sticking to it.)

No metal leaf on hand? No problem. There's an easy workaround. Use aluminum foil instead.

Other supplies include a brayer or soft brush, and various texture tools.

That's it. So let's get started!

First, apply a layer of acrylic paint to the Gelli plate surface.
 
For this technique you will need to have some unpainted areas.

� Use texture tools to remove paint.

� Or wipe out a design with a cotton swab ... (my favorite way to make dots!)

It's important to have some small areas with NO PAINT!

 Using more than one color paint can make exciting prints ... just be sure to leave some blank, unpainted areas. Take your time.

Have fun. And remember � what you see on your plate is exactly what your print will look like!

Then let the paint dry on the plate.  
Really! Totally dry!



A little patience is all it takes � if the paint is not fully dry, this technique will not work. This is when those fast-drying acrylic paints are your best friend!

If you're compelled to move the drying process along, use a hair dryer on the COOL setting. No heat. And NO heat guns!!!

All dry? Take a piece of clear adhesive-backed film and remove the backing sheet if there is one. You are going to apply the film adhesive-side down onto the dried, painted surface of the gel plate and rub with your hands as usual to transfer the paint.

Slowly, begin removing the film from the gel plate. The paint will adhere to the clear film.

If there are any air bubbles between the film and the plate, the paint will not transfer in those spots.

The adhesive film must make contact with the paint.

As you pull the film off the plate � you might have a spot where the paint isn't lifting. Simply roll the film back over that area, rub again, and continue pulling the film from the gel plate.

This is a very easy process!

Your monoprint is now transferred onto the laminating film. Where there is no paint, the film remains clear and sticky. As you'll see � that's a good thing!

The next step is to apply metal leaf to the sticky, clear areas of the film. It will adhere easily. (Tip: Trim away the unpainted film edges first.)

You are working on what will be the back of the print.

Use your finger to burnish the metal leaf onto the film. Brush away the extra metal leaf bits. (I do this with a cosmetic sponge, over a sheet of paper, then tap the crumbs into a container and save for use on other pieces.)

Details from the right side

The metal leaf is now permanently adhered to the film. When you turn the print over to view the right side, you'll see the metal leaf has filled in the blank spaces! Beautiful!

If you don't have metal leaf � or are looking for an economical alternative � use aluminum foil!

Place the adhesive side of your Gelli Film print onto the shiny side of a piece of aluminum foil ... and burnish.

The film will adhere to the foil and fill in the unpainted areas with silver! Couldn�t be easier!

Gilded Gelli Film is a wonderful collage component!

Take advantage of its transparent nature and consider layering over text or journal writing.

The layer below will peek through in places!

You can even selectively scrape some paint off the film to create a clear space � perfect for revealing an image placed underneath.

Here�s something else to try!

Before adding the metal leaf, I like to press flat sequins, tiny stickers, small pieces of torn paper, or any flat element, onto the sticky parts of the film print! What fun!

Or, instead of metal leaf, my friend Judi Kauffman, suggests rubbing the sticky film parts with mica pigment powders such as Pearl Ex or Perfect Pearls, or micro-fine glitter. Use multiple colors for a fabulous shimmery effect!

Dazzling, right?

But wait! There's more!!!

Lightly sand the shiny surface with ultra fine sandpaper and ...

You can stamp on the sanded surface of your printed Gilded Gelli Film using StazOn inks!

Dab on some alcohol inks! Doodle with Sharpies, Sakura Souffle pens, Copic markers, and other permanent markers and pens.

Embellish the film surface with dimensional fabric paints, like those by Jones Tones or Tulip. Try a bit of foiling. Add a touch of glitter with Ranger's Stickles

Layer collage paper, fabric, or found objects onto the surface.

Go play! The possibilities are endless!

The discovery of the "Gilded Gelli Film" technique resulted from one of those "what if..." moments we all have. As you may have guessed, I was wondering if dried acrylic paint on a Gelli plate could easily be removed by applying tape and pulling it off. It can! 

And in case you've ever wondered where the expression "gilding the lily" comes from, the source is none other than William Shakespeare!

And he's been famously misquoted!

From his play, King John (1594), you'll find the following:

While you're thinking that over, please take a few moments to watch this slideshow featuring a collection of Artist Trading Cards made from "Gilded Gelli Film"!

Enjoy!

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