Hi everyone! Welcome to the Gelli Arts® blog- it’s Birgit here today!
Every month, on the Gelli Arts® Instagram feed, we share a “Trash or Treasure” reel.
In these reels, we show how items that would usually end up in the trash can be used to create wonderful textures on the gel plate.
In this video, I will show you how all these treasured waste materials can come together in one big celebration of gorgeous textures and patterns.
Almost everything that has a texture can be used as a tool on the Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate to create patterns and texture in the paint layer.
And what can possibly be better than FREE gel printing tools? They are all around you!!! Cardboard and plastic packaging materials are often very suitable to use.
Here are some ideas: parts of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and alternatives for bubble wrap (all kinds of paper inserts can be found in packages), lids from soda/washing detergent/milk cans and bottles, egg cartons, empty pill blisters or chewing gum blisters, onion/fruit nets, dividers/liners in packages holding smaller items, empty spools, corks etc.
So, sit back, watch the video and then go on a scavenger hunt around the house! Check the garbage and recycle bins, and have fun printing!
Enjoy!
Watch the YouTube tutorial here at this link: https://youtu.be/_mHkU4PSJbI
The papers you create this way can be used for a large variety of projects depending on the paper you print on.
Printing them is very easy!
Just roll out a thin layer of acrylic paint in a couple of colors. Use whatever texture you have on hand to push into the wet paint. Pulling up the item will lift up paint in the areas where it touched the plate, therefore creating the texture. Make it as simple and clean or wild and messy as you like!
Let the paint dry on the plate, then roll out a second layer and while this layer is still wet, place a sheet of paper on top.
Leave the paper on the plate until everything is dry, then pull the print!
In the video, I printed on smooth heavy card (300gr./140lbs), which is wonderful if you want to create ready to frame projects, backgrounds, tags, cards, die cuts and more.
I also printed on regular copy paper, which is great for almost everything like card making, die cutting, pages in (junk) journals, scrapbooking etc.
And, I printed on tissue paper which gives the most beautiful collage material. The paper is so thin that it totally sinks into the background when applied with matte medium.
What will you use your treasured trash prints for? Please let us know by tagging us on social media @gelliarts and use #gelliarts so we can find your posts!
Happy printing and have a lovely day! Make it colorful 🌈 🩷
Birgit
Materials:
8”x10” Gelli Arts® gel printing plate
Speedball soft rubber Brayer
Acrylic paint f.i. Amsterdam, Liquitex or Ara
Heavy smooth card (300gr/140lbs)
Regular copy paper
Tissue paper
Slow dry blending medium (Liquitex)
Matte medium (Liquitex)
Other/Optional:
Lino brayer (optional, for easy blending)
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