Gelli Arts� Printed Masks

Today I want to show you how you can create a complete �painting� using hand made stencils and masks on the Gelli� plate.

First you have to create a drawing of the image you want to print and you have to think carefully about the layers you want to create. I advise you to first try some easy prints to get the hang of the process as it involves some thinking to get it right. You could start with 3 or 4 layers and easy shapes before making it a bit more difficult.

In this print I worked with 4 layers. I drew a picture of tulips in a pot.

When your drawing is done you have to mark the separate shapes with numbers corresponding with the separate layers.

#1 for the top layer. These are the shapes that are not overlapped by anything else. They will appear closest to you in the final image.  Then #2 for the shapes that are only overlapped by #1, #3 for the shapes that are overlapped by #1 and #2 and so on. Make copies of your drawing for every layer, in this case 4.

From the first copy, cut out all the shapes marked with #1, from the second copy all the shapes marked with #2 and so on. You have to use a craft knife as you will need both the stencil and the mask to create your prints. Then place your original drawing underneath the clear gelli� plate.

Start with placing stencil #1 on top of the gelli� plate, lining it up with the drawing underneath.

Apply the first color, then remove the stencil.

Now line up the paper you want to print on exactly with the paper underneath the gelli� plate and pull the print.

Place stencil #1 back on the gelli� plate and repeat the previous steps until all the shapes of the first layer are done.

Once all the shapes of the first layer are printed you have to mask them with the parts you cut from the stencil. Use a repositionable adhesive to apply the masks to your print. Make sure the paint is dry before you do so.

Now it�s time to print the second layer. Place stencil #2 on the gelli� plate, apply the paint, remove the stencil and make the print on your masks paper. Again make sure you line up the paper exactly with the drawing underneath the gelli� plate.

Repeat all the steps for stencil #2 before you move on to layer #3. Mask both layer #1 and #2 before you start printing layer #3 and so on.

Repeat this process for all the layers.

If you like you can add texture to the different shapes too.

The very last layer will be your background and then the printing is done.

You can now leave it as it is and frame it, but of course you can also stamp, doodle, write and paint on top of your print as you can see in the examples below.

Finally I would like to show you some paintings from students who took my workshop to show how versatile this way of working can be. Even the most simple prints can be beautiful and real pieces of art.

I hope you enjoyed this process and got inspired! Thank you for stopping by and happy printing!

- Birgit

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

To enter the giveaway, click on the red "ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE" button below! (This will ensure that we can contact the winner and that entries are limited to one per person. One winner will be selected from all the entries via a random number generator to receive this very special giveaway!) Entries will be accepted until September 19th at noon EST. Our lucky winner will be contacted by email and announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page by 5:00PM EST the following day. 

For Email Newsletters you can trust.

PS: Please�share your prints with us on our Facebook page, or on Instagram using the hashtag #gelliprint #gelliarts and #gelliplate. Tag us with @gelliarts on Instagram and Twitter too! We love to see what you're creating!!

Remember, we now have Gelli� partners all over the world, so it's easier than ever to find a Gelli� retailer near you!

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Gelli� Printing on Fabric: Fun with Stencils & Pencils!

Monoprinting is a great way to create unique designs on fabric! Watch this Gelli video for fun ideas using stencils and pencils for fabric surface design! 

   

Using commercial stencils to monoprint on fabric is a great way to get started. And after you've created your print...you can keep going to add to your design with colored pencils! 

In the video, the demonstration is on 100% cotton. The paint is SoSoft by DecoArt, which is a fabric paint that barely changes the hand of the fabric. It's easy to work with and doesn't need to be heat-set! The pencils are Inktense by Derwent, and they are perfect for use on fabric. Inktense pencils are water-soluble, but permanent after they dry � and you can layer over the dry ink. 

When printing on fabric, I first iron each piece onto freezer paper to stabilize it. Doing this simple step makes handling fabric as easy as printing on paper. It also keeps the process clean, as any paint that may bleed through the fabric won't get on your hands. Another benefit is that it's easier to apply colored pencil to fabric that is stabilized. 

TIP: When ironing fabric onto freezer paper, place the freezer paper shiny side UP on your 
ironing surface. Place your fabric on the freezer paper and cover with parchment paper to 
protect your iron. 

Ironing will create a temporary bond and stabilizes the fabric for easy handling while printing and embellishing with pencils. When the print is finished, gently pull the fabric off the freezer paper. 

Here's how to create this print: 

1. Apply paint to the Gelli plate and roll into a smooth layer with a brayer. When printing on fabric, use a heavier layer of paint than when printing on paper. 
2. Place a stencil on the painted plate. Apply a second color of paint to the plate and roll out over the stencil. 
3. Remove the stencil. Lay your fabric on the plate, rub to transfer the paint and pull your print. This is the first printed layer.
4. Roll a layer of paint on the plate. Place a different stencil on the painted plate. (A stencil with larger openings works best for this layer)
5. With the stencil in place, print onto paper to remove the paint in the stencil hole areas. You may need to print this on paper more than once to remove all the paint from the stencil hole areas.
6. Remove the stencil, place your printed fabric on the plate to print the paint that was under the stencil. Rub to transfer the paint and pull the print. This is the second printed layer on your fabric.

Brush a thin layer of Transparent Medium or water on an area of the fabric before coloring with Inktense pencils. Doing this will make the application smoother and intensify the colors. You can also brush dry pencil marks with medium to blend pencil colors on the print. Or, you can dip the pencil tip in the transparent medium. You can use water to thin the medium, if desired. 

Another option instead of using transparent medium is to use just water. The color will be very intense, and more difficult to control. Using water will probably cause the pencil color to bleed on the fabric. You may want the watercolor wash effect! Using the medium keeps the color from bleeding. Some fiber artists use Aloe Vera gel, which, like transparent medium, helps to control the application of Inktense color and keep it from bleeding.

If you like to draw or doodle on your prints, try it on fabric! The process is so much fun and can add your individuality to stenciled images! 

For more information, techniques and ideas for printing on fabric, please take a look at the 
earlier blog post and video: Gelli Printing � Techniques on Fabric! from September 19, 2013. 

This Contest is officially CLOSED

And now for our FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!! 

Our amazing Prize Package includes: 

•  1 - 6?x6? Gelli Arts� Gel Printing Plate 
• 16 - DecoArt SoSoft Fabric Paints (1 fl. oz. bottles)
•  5 - Clarity Stencils by Claritystamps, UK 
•  1 - Derwent Inktense Pencil Set of 12 
•  1 - Faber-Castell Trio Sharpening Box GRIP (Pencil Sharpener) 

To enter the giveaway, click on the red "ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE" button below! (This will 
ensure that we can contact the winner and that entries are limited to one per person. One 
winner will be selected from all the entries via a random number generator to receive this very special giveaway!) Entries will be accepted until Monday, Nov. 24th at 12 pm EST. Our lucky winner will be contacted by email and announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page no later than Nov. 24th at 5 pm EST! 

Special thanks to our friends at DecoArt for generously providing the paints in this giveaway! 

This Contest is officially CLOSED

Good Luck and Happy Printing! 

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Printing with Small Gelli� Plates!

Love creating tags, cards and ATC's? Now there are two smaller Gelli plate sizes � perfect for these small print formats � and great for so many other projects and artwork. Watch this video and see how much FUN these new sizes are to print with! 

The NEW Gelli plate sizes are 3"x5" and 5"x7" ... just right for creating tags, cards, ATC's, 
postcards, small ?ne art prints or adding monoprinted images directly to larger work. The 
possibilities are endless!

It's so much fun creating small printed images. Printing on tags is so fast and addicting! It takes no time at all to create interesting layers. Use your favorite texture tools, stencils, and masks � and the acrylic paint of your choice.

The hard part is stopping!

FYI � the following materials were used to make the prints shown in the video:
3"x5" Gelli Arts� Gel Printing Plate
5"x7" Gelli Arts� Gel Printing Plate
Speedball 4" Soft Rubber Pop-in Brayer

Paints: 

• Pebeo Studio Acrylics
• Liquitex Basics
• Deco Arts - Americana
• Amsterdam Standard Series Acrylic

Paper:

• Tags - Avery #5 and #1 (small size)
• Pre-scored cards (from Michael's)
• Strathmore Bristol
• Deli paper (used as cover sheet while printing)

Texture Tools:

• Leaf 
• Gra?x Edge Stencil Film (various 'O' shapes cut on Silhouette Cameo)
• Gra?x Stencil Film - Heavyweight (punched circle masks)
• Dura-Lar (masks: hand-cut with fancy-edge scissors)
• Assorted commercial stencils
• Embossed paper (from Spellbinders embossing folder)
• Novelty yarn
• Rubbing plate (Roylco)

Small prints invite free and spontaneous printing. As you can see from the list above, anything goes. Use your favorite materials and techniques! Cut your own simple masks! The small format invites experiments of all sorts. And printing on index cards is a wonderful way to try out new ideas!

This Contest is officially CLOSED

****Congratulations! Our winner for this giveaway via a random number generator drawing was Lilotte! You can see more of Lilotte's artwork here... http://lilotte.canalblog.com/ 

And now... Our exciting giveaway includes both of our new small Gelli plate sizes:

1 � 3"x5" Gelli Arts� Gel Printing Plate
1 � 5"x7" Gelli Arts� Gel Printing Plate

One winner will be selected at random to receive our two new small plates. To enter to win 
simply leave a comment here on the blog. Comments will be accepted until Monday, June 23rd, 12noon EST. Our lucky winner will be announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page no later than Monday, June 23rd, 5 p.m. EST.

This Contest is officially CLOSED

Good Luck and Happy Printing!

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Gelli� Printing on Textured Paper

Smooth surfaces are wonderful for making highly detailed monoprints. But what if... you print on a textured substrate? Take a look at this video and see how fabulous the results can be!

This isn't about printing on commercial textured paper, like a cold-press or rough watercolor surface. What we're doing here is preparing an intentionally textured substrate designed to be an integral part of the print.

Because the Gelli plate has 'give', you can press a lumpy-bumpy textured paper into the plate and still get good paint coverage on your print. 

The �halo� surrounding the raised areas on the paper enhances the dimensional look of the print. But if you prefer a more solid print, simply use more paint on the Gelli plate! Or keep adding more layers.

There are countless ways to create an interesting texture on a sheet of paper. But here we're focusing on building texture on your paper with dimensional paint and puff paint � thick acrylic paints that come in squeeze bottles with a small nozzle � (available at art and craft stores, with fabric paints). They�re so much fun to draw and scribble with! Experiment and play!

FYI: Puff paints require heat to achieve their full dimensional effect. A steam iron is often 
recommended for �puf?ng� the paint. Follow directions for the speci?c brand you use.

The paper used in the examples is Staples� Card Stock, 8 1/2" x 11", White, 110 lb. The prints in this video are created on the 12"x14" Gel Printing Plate � a wonderful size plate 

for creating bleed prints on these custom-textured card stock papers!

Preparing textured papers with dimensional and puff paints requires signi?cant drying time. It's best to prepare your sheets of textured paper at least several hours ahead. Overnight is optimal if you want to plan ahead. Make sure not to stack papers with wet or tacky paint or they'll stick together.

The printing process on textured paper is the same as pulling any Gelli print. You can use your favorite masks, stencils, and texture tools, as usual. What makes this technique different is the textured paper!

Use dimensional paint to create 3-D, raised lines by squeezing the paint onto your paper. 
Simply squeeze lines, dots, squiggles, etc. on your paper. You can apply it randomly, or with a design in mind. Then, let it dry completely.

This is a layered print created over a design made with dimensional paint.

Here�s a detail from the print above showing the paint�s dimensional quality.

Also in the dimensional paint category, you'll ?nd puff paints. Squeeze them onto your paper, same as the regular dimensional paints. Allow to dry, then follow the instructions for heating the brand you're using, and watch your design expand and puff up! This has a higher relief than regular dimensional paint, and puffs into a unique spongy texture.

This is dry puff paint � ready to be heated to expand.

Puff paint � heated and expanded. It turns lighter in color and a bit spongy.

This print has several layers of paint printed over a puffed paint design. The areas next to the dimensional lines didn�t make contact with the painted plate, creating an interesting �halo� effect. Have fun drawing, painting and doodling into these white areas! The printed dimensional and puff paints also take paint and markers nicely, so you can embellish those too!

Here�s what the print looks like after going back into it with paint markers and pens.

And a detail picture for a closer look.

As you print the same piece over and over and layer paints, the prints created with textured papers continue to get more interesting as the colors build up.

This detail picture shows how puff paint accepts layers of paint.

Printing on textured paper is similar to using any texture plate on the Gelli plate. That means the textured paper leaves an image in the paint left on the Gelli plate � and can produce exciting ghost prints! 

Use dimensional and puff paints as a springboard for ideas on how to make your own textured papers for Gelli printing! Make a bunch at a time and let them dry overnight! As you experiment and come up with your own cool papers and prints, please share them with us on Facebook!

This Contest is officially CLOSED

This months Gelli Arts blog giveaway winner (random number generator 297) is Robyn - also known as RedDogGirl - You can see much of Robyn's art on her Flickr site - https://www.flickr.com/photos/reddoggirl67/ Congratulations Robyn!!

Now for our GIVEAWAY

WIN ONE ... GIVE ONE!!!!

One lucky winner will be selected at random to win the fabulous kit pictured below. We will 
ALSO donate one 12"x14" Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate to the art teacher or school of their 
choice!

Our FUN giveaway kit includes:

• 1 - 12"x14" Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate
• 1 - Speedball 4" Soft Rubber Pop-in Brayer
• 1 - 4 oz. bottle of Tulip Matte (Black - dimensional fabric paint)
• 1 - 4 oz. bottle of Tulip Puffy (Black - dimensional fabric paint)
• 1 - 4 oz. bottle of Tulip Metallics - (Gold - dimensional fabric paint)

AND ... we will ship a 12"x14" Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate to the art teacher or school selected by the winner!

To enter to win simply leave a comment here on the blog! Comments will be accepted until Tuesday, May 27th, 2014 at 12 p.m. EST. Our lucky winner will be announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page no later than Tuesday, May 27th, 2014.

This Contest is officially CLOSED

Good Luck and Happy Printing! *And Happy Memorial Day Weekend!*

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