MORE GELLI PRINTING PLATE PRINTS

I had some great play time with the Gelli Printing Plate and my Thursday Art Group.  I am always talking about it and thought that I would demonstrate it's use.  I think that the ladies were impressed...not by my skills but by the versatility of the process....and the gorgeous textures!!!

And....You have to love the unexpected surprises.  It never turns out as planned and I have to say... even the worst prints can be cut up and used in other art pieces.  So far, all of my prints have been used as journal pages.  I just add a little doodling and lettering and called it a day!!!

This is how I made these prints:

I used two colors for this print.  First I brayered yellow paint all over the plate, stamped with bubble wrap, used a texture comb and pulled a print.  Next, I brayered blue paint all over the plate, stamped with a tile stamp, circle stencil and bubble wrap; placed three mermaid masks on the plate and pulled a print. I planned to add a third color but decided that I would lose some of the delicate pattern so I quit while I was ahead!!

These are the tools that I used to make the mermaid print.  Notice that I don't wash my stencils or masks!  (grin)

For this next print, I used three colors.  The first color used was yellow and textured with a texture comb.  Next, a magenta color was brayered only in select areas and textured by using a stencil and bubble wrap.  For the last layer, I brayered blue paint all over the plate, textured it with a texture comb and then positioned the bird masks prior to pulling a print.

I love the texture of the birds especially the one on the right and think that I might make prints of birds to cut up and use as tags or ornaments.

This next print is a mess....and unfortunately, I have no idea how it was made.  lol! I started with the yellow background, then added the magenta...didn't like it and kept adding colors and layers.  I finally had to stop before it turned to mud!  This is one print that I will probably cut up and use in my art journal.

This print is a ghost print of the previous print.  A print was taken after I removed the bird masks. (This picked up the blue paint left over from the previous print.) Then I brayered yellow paint all over the plate, textured it with a tile stamp and pulled a print.  Next, I brayered green paint in select areas, used a leaf mask and pulled a print.  Lastly, magenta paint was used in select areas, textured with bubble wrap and pulled a print.  The nice surprise on this print is how the bubble wrap made little round star flowers. That's what I love about the Gelli Printing Plate...you never know what you are going to get!!!

I hope that you enjoyed seeing these prints made from the Gelli Printing Plate and I hope that you are inspired to try some of your own.

If you have a Gelli Printing Plate and would like to share your experiences or tips, I would love to hear from you!

Until next time,
Hugs,
Ginny

MAKING AN ART JOURNAL CALENDAR FOR 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

I hope that you and your family had a fantastic Holiday Season and a great New Year's celebration!

We are three days into the new year and it is now time to get busy working on those New Year's resolutions that we made with much thought and trepidation.  I hope that one of your resolutions was to make more ART!!!  I know that was one of mine.  Fact is....I signed up to do the Facebook "Art Journaling Calendar Challenge 2013" by Kate Crane.

Kate is a published artist best known for creating the most wonderful calendar pages using artistic journaling techniques.  The Facebook group that she created is a great place for other artists to share their work, techniques and questions.  If you have never joined a  FB group of other artists, you will find that artists are the most supportive, generous and creative people on this earth!  It is a great place to make art friends and to become part of an artistic community....one that shares your art interests whatever you medium of choice may be.

Before I get started on how I am making my Art Journaling Calendar I would like to say that my method is a bit elaborate compared to what everyone else is doing. You don't have to follow my example...there are no set rules!  It is completely up to you how elaborate or simple you make it.  You can make your calendar by using a store bought journal, an altered book or from scratch using watercolor or bristol paper.  If you feel comfortable drawing and holding a paint brush, you can be very artistic and draw or paint illustrations on your pages. Maybe your artistic interests lie more toward rubber stamping or even collages using ephemera or magazine clippings.  This journal is simply a place where YOU can artistically record the events of your day on a calendar page painted, drawn, stamped or collaged by you!  It's your artistic expression so make it using a style or medium that works best for you.

SO...are we ready to get started making an Art Journal Calendar from scratch?

Lately, I have been into making my own journals by cutting watercolor paper to size and binding it by stacking and stitching the pages together.  I started making my own journals because I could control the size and number of pages.  If you are doing a themed journal or in this case, a calendar which will have exactly 12 months of pages, you may want to make your own from scratch.

I got my inspiration for making this journal from the Teesha Moore You-Tube video on how to make a 16 page journal and from the beautiful painted journals by Valerie Sjodin.  Valerie also has a You-Tube video showing a journal with fold out pages.

These are the supplies that I used:

• 18" X 24" Strathmore watercolor paper, 140 lb.  If you use a different paper, make sure that it creases without tearing.
• Craft knife or scissors for cutting the paper to size.  You can also tear the paper if you have a long metal ruler and like that look.
• Bone folder or something to crease the paper.
• Black Pitt, Copic multiliner, or other permanent black ink pen in extra fine and medium.
• White pen, fine.  I love Uni-ball Signo but others will do.
• Ranger Distress ink pad in "Soot" and Ranger sponge or felt dauber to apply ink.
• Stencils and masks.
• Dylusions and Ranger Color Wash sprays.
• Awl punch or tiny spring hole punch.
• Waxed thread and needle.
• Ribbon to tie around the journal to hold it closed or velcro.

My journal is 10" X 13" and has seven pages including the cover.  The cover page is 10" X 13" with a 4" flap on one side that I cut into a decorative shape.  The inside pages are 9" X 13" with a 6 " fold out on one side.

Cut one cover page and using a bone folder crease the center fold and flap.  Cut six inside pages and use a bone folder to crease the center fold and a flap on one side.

Now, gather all your paints and stencils because it it time to decorate the cover.  I like to decorate the cover before the journal is assembled because it lays nice and flat for painting with spray inks.

I decided that I wanted to use the silhouette of a girl on the front and birds on the back but I first had to make a mask for the girl figure.  Rummaging through my collection of magazine cut outs, I found a girl that was just the right size and pose. To make the mask I used mylar sheeting and traced the outline of the girl and carefully cut it out so I would create both a mask and a stencil.  For this process, I used both.  If you don't have mylar, you could also use card stock and use graphite paper to transfer the shape.

Before I used my spray paints and stencils to make a pattern, I wanted to add ephemera and a wash of color to the background.   Leave the paper white if you want white paper showing through your pattern.  This wasn't my desire so I painted the whole background with a neutral color, yellow and a very light coat of gesso.  I later covered the paper with so much color that the ephemera didn't show through.  So much for that process.  lol!  This is not the first time this happened. Will I ever learn?

To paint the girl on the front cover, I first positioned the stencil of the girl on the cover sheet and using various stencils and colors of Dylusions and Color Wash sprays, I painted a design over the girl figure.  Next, I placed the mask over the girl figure and did the same for the background.  A word about working with spray mediums...they tend to be very wet and dense in areas...blot with a paper towel. This will rid the painting of the sprayed look.  Don't forget to use that beautiful paint left on the stencils by blotting it on the back cover or a separate piece of paper for use later.  I try not to waste any paint!

I did the same for the back cover using the bird masks.  To make a black shadow around the girl and birds, I used the Ranger black soot ink and a sponge dauber...protecting the girl and bird images by covering them with the masks.  I pounced the ink away from the figures and lightened it the further it got away.

Now it is time to embellish the stenciled painting.  I always say that paintings go through an "ugly stage" and need to be saved or spruced up with doodling or mark making.  So gather up your pens and maybe a little gesso and lets start making marks!

I like to use both black and white pens because it gives so much more dimension! Your marks don't have to be elaborate...just find the shapes in the stencils and embellish them with circles, dots, hatch marks, or write works following a line.

One technique that I learned from one of Joanne Sharpe's classes is that if you paint over the water reactive inks or paints, the gesso will bleed through and be tinted the color of the paint underneath.  This is the process that I used for the banner with the names of the months.  I first painted the banner with a very thin coat of gesso and then after it was thoroughly dry, I did the lettering.

I kept the flap for the cover simple and painted it with acrylic paint because I thought that it would take the wear better than water reactive paints.

NOW!  Let's assemble this baby!!!

First...decide how you want the fold-outs for the pages to work.  Do you want the fold-out on the right or left or a combination of the two.  If you want a combination, which months do you want a fold-out and which ones do you not want a fold-out?  For my journal, it was important for me to have a fold-out for February, March, May, July, October and December.  This doesn't mean that the other pages won't have a  flap to decorate...it just means that they will not have a flap folding inward that you can use for the that month's theme.  Another words, you don't want the flap from the 4th of July folding on top of the month of August. Or maybe you do?  lol!!  Anyway. decide how you want the pages to stack and line them up!

Because my journal is so large, I punched 7 holes through the spine.  I first made a template so I would know where to punch the holes.  You can either use an awl and punch through all 7 pages at one time or you can do as I did and punch each hole separately.

Now that the holes are punch, you are ready to stitch this baby up!!  You can use waxed bookbinding thread or make you own like I did.  I found that DMC "5" 100% cotton, 25 ml embroidery thread works quite well and it comes in colors!  I first wax it with beeswax for added strength.  (I find this at JoAnn's.)

Measure a generous portion of thread that equals a minimum three times the length of the journal.  Thread a large eyed needle and start at the top outside hole and go to the inside, then down to the next hole and then to the outside.  (Make sure that you leave a long enough tail on the outside for knotting or even stringing beads later.)  Keep going in and out down to the bottom hole and then in and out back up to the top.  When you reach the top, do not go back into the inside...just tie it with the other outside thread.  I am planning to string some beads on the tail after the journal is finished and somehow incorporate the date so when it is sitting on a shelf, the date will be visible.  Anyone know of any beads with numbers?

Additionally, if you do not want a thread or knot on the outside of the journal, some individuals start on the inside middle hole, go out and in to the bottom, in and out back up to the top, in and out back down to the center and then tie a knot on the inside middle of the journal.  Cut the thread short.

Taa Daaa!!  (Drum roll please!)  We're done!

Coming up next...making the pages for the months!

Until next time!
Hugs,
Ginny

GELLI PRINT - FLOWERS

This is the first Gelli monoprint that I made.  At first I thought that

I used way too much paint and mark making on it but after I added the

lettering, I really like it! 

The lettering was really a bear to add as none of my pens worked 

over the acrylic paint.  Even my white paint pen didn't want to work so I

ended up using a fine paint brush and Speedball Acrylic Ink.  Ughhhh!

There has got to be a better way.  I heard that the Posca pens work really

well.  I will have to look into that!

The flower mask is a Sizzix die.

I really have one of these bushes in a pot in my yard and everyone who sees

 it when it is in bloom can't believe that it is one plant.  It will have all

three color flowers on it at the SAME TIME!  It really is beautiful!

Can you see the resemblance between my Gelli print and the real plant?
Uncanny isn't it!  lol!

MAKING A MASK

What is a mask pray tell?

Well....a mask is a cover that is usually made of paper or plastic 

which is used to protect the surface beneath it from ink or paint that is

 either sprayed or brushed over the mask.  When the mask is removed it 

reveals an area untouched by the medium....creating 

an image in the negative space.

Before I started playing with the Gelli Printing plate, I knew 

that I was going to use...excuse me.....NEEDED many masks 

for the process.  I invisioned flowers, donuts, hearts, stars, birds, 

people, mermaids...the list goes on.  To do this I first turned to all the 

dies that I have for my Cuttlebug machine.  I cut flowers, swirls, scrolls, 

butterflies, leaves and trees from mylar.  I made many cuts from each

 die and saved both the positive and negative image because.....

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL NEED.  

Each die cut was then placed into an envelope that was 

labeled with it's name and a traced image.

I drew other shapes such as hearts, stars, donuts, letters, and numbers 

by hand.  For the birds, people, and mermaids, I placed the mylar 

over magazine images and traced them using a sharpie pen.  I cut them 

out and also placed them into an envelope with their image.

I used mylar instead of paper to make the masks because the mylar is 

transparent, making it easy to see when tracing objects, and it doesn't 

warp or tear.  I never wash them, although, I could if I wanted to but it is 

not necessary.  Just don't do what I did and peel the mask off the paint and 

place it paint side down on a paper covered desk. 

 Then I had to peel the paper off the mask!!  

Not an easy task!!

It's a lot of fun making masks and using them with the Gelli Printing Plate.  

Try it!!  You're gonna love it!

Gelli monoprint using three bird masks.

Till next time!  Hugs!

Ginny 

GELLI MONOPRINT

This is another Gelli ghost print enhanced with a letter stencil,

 doodling around the donut image and journaling.  

I'll show you the before and after image so you can get an idea of 

how much...or I should say how little it is altered.

After

before

I really love the ghost prints because of all the texture 

and the way the white paper peeks through....  

but I haven't tried to alter the parent prints yet and who knows.

I may like them better after they're completed. 

That will be next!

Till next time!  Hugs!

Ginny

THREE BIRDS GELLI MONOPRINT

OK, so here is the finished Gelli monoprint enhanced with lettering 

and Ranger Distress Ink applied with a brush.  

You can see that I am a person of few words and like to repeat words 

for decorative purposes.  

This is a technique I use a lot because......

I NEVER KNOW WHAT TO SAY!!!  

Seriously!!

I envy people who can spill their thoughts onto paper...I'm just not like that.  

I am somewhat of a private person and don't like to spill my personal life

 on my journal pages for everyone to see.  

What am I doing blogging you ask?  I hope to change!  

In the mean time, I will depend on the words of others and use quotes 

that have meaning to me.....or repeat words for decorative purposes.  

Till next time,

Ginny xoxo

GELLI PLATE MONOPRINTING

Shriek!!!

My Gelli Plate has arrived!!

If you haven't heard about the new art product in town...
the Gelli Printing Plate used for monoprinting...
you have not been blog hopping.  Everyone is giving it
rave reviews and creating some pretty awesome art prints.  I can't wait to
get started but first let me explain that you don't have to use the
Gelli Printing Plate which is a hefty $29.00 plus shipping for the
larger 8"x10" plate.  You could make your
own by using Knox unflavored gelatin and water.
There are plenty of recipes and You-Tube videos on the
internet so I won't go over them here but I will say that
you do have that option.

I chose not to go the gelatin route because it would take a little
forethought to make the plate beforehand and I know that I probably
wouldn't do it.  Also, the gelatin only lasts for up to two weeks and
would take space the refrigerator.  Which I don't have!
So, I opted to buy the Gelli Printing Plate which will be ready and
available whenever I have the urge to play!

The BEST tutorial for using the Gelli Printing Plate is the
Gelli web site:  http://gelliarts.blogspot.com.
Joan Bess who hosts the site is simply amaaaaazing!!  She pretty much
covers it all...she uses stencils and masks,  purchased rubber stamps
and homemade moldable rubber stamps, and found objects.
 She shows how to enhance the print afterward by using dyes, inks, acrylic
glazes and watercolor as a tint.  This lady has loads of ideas and creates the
most unbelievably gorgeous prints using techniques you
would never have dreamed of!  Also, did you know that you can use
the Gelli Printing Plate to print fabric too?
Shriek!!!
Yes, you can even print FABRIC!
Think of the possibilities!!!!

OK, let me show you some of my first attempts using a Gelli plate and what I have learned thus far.  For this first print I used three colors of soft bodied Liquitex acrylic paints and printed them in this order: Light Blue Violet, Indian Yellow and Deep Magenta.  (Any soft bodied acrylic paint or craft paint will do.)  I fully covered the plate with paint for each printing and used stamps, stencils and flower masks for each.  Also, I fully cleaned the plate with water and a baby wipe between printings but I didn't always clean the roller, stencils or masks.  Most of the time the paint was dry and wouldn't transfer to the plate anyway. 

This first print taught me that too much of a good thing can muddy the pot!  I did too much mark making and stenciling with each layer and lost much of the detail. You can't even see the letter stencil through all the layers! And....I had such high hopes!  Oh well.....this will make a nice journal page once I start adding to it.  

I have to say.....it takes a little forethought to decide in which order to layer the colors and when to apply the masks.  For example; If you use a light color for the first printing and then use a darker color and mask for the second printing, the area masked will be the lightest color.  If you did the reverse and used the darkest color for the first printing and applied a lighter color and mask for the second printing, the masked area would be the darker color.  So think about how the different colors and layers are going to work together and when to apply a mask if you are using one.  The process does have its surprises but you can manipulate the effect with some planning.

For my next attempts, I eased up a little on the mark making and stencils and even tried strategically applying the paint to specific areas and not the whole plate.

This next print was made by loading up the entire plate with color for the first two printings using India Yellow and then Bright Aqua Green.  I went a little easy on the stencils and mark making this time.  For the third printing I rolled the deep Magenta color only in the area of the birds, applied the bird masks, a funky ribbon and made a print.   There was paint left on the plate so I removed the bird masks and made a ghost print by using a clean sheet of paper and rubbing it over the plate.  I put this aside for use later.  I decided the print wasn't finished so I rolled the Light Blue Violet paint in select areas, used a circle stencil to remove some paint and printed for a fourth time.  Do you see what I mean about manipulating the print with some planning?

This is the ghost print made from the previous print.  After the birds, I printed the blue areas using stencils and masks and then printed the yellow area just using masks.  I started to embellish this by adding Ranger Distress ink (you could use pan pastels) to the background to soften some of the white areas and then added the inked outline of a "B" stencil.  See how different the ghost print is from the original?  It's all in the order of how the paint and masks are applied.  Two completely different looks!

Here are a few more mono prints using the same colors but in a different order. The first one is the original and the one that follows is the ghost print.  I think that I like the ghost prints better.  What do you think?

Look at all the delicious texture that is created by the Gelli Printing Plate.

Don't you just love it?

Till next time......

Ginny