Create your own unique texture plates for printing with a Gelli® plate with molding paste! Watch this video and see how easy it is!
Here’s what you need to make molding paste texture plates:
- Canvas panel
- Molding Paste
- Palette knife, old credit card or scraper for spreading molding paste
- Stencil
- Textured items to impress into molding paste
Here’s how:
- Place a stencil on your canvas panel (or other stiff substrate).
- Spread molding paste over the stencil with a palette knife, spatula or scraper — then scrape off excess.
- Press textures on top of the stencil — into the molding paste. You have a little time before it sets up. If you want to make changes — just smooth out the surface and press your textures into the molding paste again.
- Carefully lift and remove the stencil.
IMPORTANT: Allow your texture plate to dry completely before using.
Plan ahead, as it can take a while for the molding paste to dry. While you’re at it — make a series of them!
When you’re done making the texture plates — it’s a good idea to clean your stencils and tools. You don’t want molding paste to dry on them 🙂
Printing with your texture plate:
- Apply acrylic paint to your Gelli® plate — and roll into a thin layer with a brayer.
- Press the texture plate into your painted plate — and remove.
- Place your printing paper onto the gel plate, rub to transfer the paint — and pull your print.
Next steps:
After you’ve pulled a print, quickly apply a new layer of paint to your Gelli® plate and press the texture plate into it. There should be some paint left on the texture plate from the previous print. Some of that paint will transfer when pressed into the Gelli® plate, creating a print with more complex coloring.
Experiment and PLAY!
Here are a few ideas …
- When you’ve made several prints, you’ll get a build-up of wet paint on the texture plate. Without adding more paint, press the paint-covered texture plate directly onto the Gelli® plate and remove — and pull a print.
- Try rolling a loaded brayer over the relief surface of the texture plate. Then press the texture plate onto the Gelli® plate — remove — and pull the relief image print.
- Stamp the texture plate directly onto a previous print!
- Combine texture plates with other texture tools and mark-making. Once you’ve pressed the texture plate into your painted Gelli® plate, continue to make more marks in the paint before pulling your print!
- Try pressing sections of the texture plate into different areas of the painted gel plate.
- Layer prints, changing the position of the paper as you print each layer. Create areas that partially overlap previous layers.
You’ll get great effects using masks between layers, too!
Here are some prints made with overlapped layers and a simple mask!
These textured prints were created with a second layer of paint applied to just part of the plate.
This print is simply printed as two layers, partially overlapping.
And sometimes it’s impossible to remember exactly how a print was made 🙂
TIPS for creating texture plates:
- Instead of using a stencil, apply a layer of molding paste directly to the substrate and make assorted marks and textures over the entire surface — or part of it.
- Food wraps (plastic, foil and waxed paper) and bubble wrap create great textures and patterns when pressed into wet molding paste.
- Draw into the wet molding paste with a soft-tipped tool or stylus.
- Use combs to create patterns in the wet paste.
- Press into an area of wet molding paste with a putty knife or palette knife —and pull it up. The suction creates beautiful organic shapes! The lines created this way make stunning, unique prints!
NOTE: If the dry molding paste has any sharp areas, gently sand the points.
As the texture plate becomes covered in layers of paint, it can take on a wonderful patina. You may want to use it as a piece of art in itself — or as the beginning of a new painting or collage! Or how about book covers!
Creating your own texture plates with molding paste is fun and addictive!
Explore the possibilities!
Good Luck and Happy Printing!
Thanks for sharing such great ideas! The results are beautiful and inspiring!
This is a fabulous giveaway! I would so love to win these products and get to play. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to win.
Fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing and the chance to win!
Love the molding paste idea. Cool, cool, Cool.
Just found out about you on Facebook. I teach Art to grades 3-8. This would be wonderful to have in our classroom.
Wow, Would love to win this. Love the Gelli Plate. Thanks for all the crafting ideas. And I'm sharing on facebook as well.
Definitely trying this, Wonderful tutorial!
Oh, Joan…this is an amazing technique. I was just introduced to the gelli plates at a recent retreat. I have been jonesing for them ever since. I never thought of the texture possibilities in this manner. Thank you so much for the "demo" and please keep them coming. This is a most amazing giveaway. Thanks for a chance to win!
would love to play with these goodies! Thanks for the chance!
I can't wait to give Gelli print a try!
Looks fun and easy.
fun method. will be trying it this weekend. would love to have the smaller gelli plate and the rest of the prize. thank you for a chance to win.
great method. need to try this over the weekend. would love to win the small gelli plate and the other goodies. would be great fun to play with it all.
I love this idea–you can make more complex designs and reuse them over and over. I think I will combine this idea with fabric to make quilt squares that are all printed with the same paste pattern but slightly different color combos…a Warhol style quilt!
Ooooooopo pick me, pick me!
I just molding paste a lot in my art but never thought of using it as a tool to create art with.
I'd love to win this. This is an item on my "must get" list!
Wonderful technique.
Fantastic giveaway.
I will share it on Facebook
Fab tutorial I must give it a whirl, thanks for sharing.
Wonderful Give aways. I already have a Gelli and I love it so much!
It would be great having another. Thanks for the tutorial very useful.
http://pinterest.com/ssalmi60/gelli/
Wow amazing techniques and such texture. Great prize too. Off to share on Facebook.
Hugs Ali x
Okay now I gotta get a gelli plate! I share your blog on a link from mine 🙂
What a great idea! Would love to try it out!
Just shared via Facebook. Love the great ideas you guys come up with.
Thanks,
Heather Jones-Pryor
Just shared via Facebook. Love the great ideas you guys come up with.
Thanks,
Heather Jones-Pryor
another amazing idea from gelli arts. i think this one might be even better than the clear packing tape method (i only said maybe!)
I really want to win this awesome prize! I have used the gelli plate and recommended it to several people but have yet to find one to buy without paying postage from on-line. I keep looking but —-. Thanks for the chance to win! Mary Werner
What anoher great tutorial! Thank you so much.
I'm still saving up to buy the Gelli plate and I'm certainly looking forward to that.
Thanks for the chance to win!
This is totally exciting!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just shared with all of my Facebook friends on
https://m.facebook.com/MelissaThompson88?id=100000375687418&_rdr
Hope I win!
Love my Gelli Plate and will certainly give this technique a try. Thanks for the opportunity to win some goodies!!
Thank You! This is just WOW! Love your company and your fantastic product.
Always fun tutorials. thanks
~Christina in Cleveland
(now trying rubbing plates directly onto a painted gelli)
WOW!!! Pretty cool technique!!!!!! I love it!!!!!
am I in time? I think this Gelli Arts Printing technique is da bomb, how fun!!!
Great ideas! I have another one and will share it as soon as I get a plate and start creating!
Would love to win this package. The results are stunning and uniquely your own.
OMg this is so inspiring and fun. I'll share this on facebook and my blog!!
i sure would be grateful to win….looking fwd to working w/ textures – either way =}. from plumz soapz ob fb
posted to my facebook page as well – love my Gelli Plate fun! Super technique – can't wait to try it!
Gosh, I'd LOVE to win this! I just love all your videos! Thanks so much! I've shared on FB!
Ohhhh this is a really good idea!! I pinned it on my Pinterest page here: http://pinterest.com/pin/207517495302965403/
Thanks for the chance to win.
Gelli printing looks like a ton of fun! I see it becoming my new artsy addiction! Thanks for the chance to win!! Vina from California
This would be a BLAST to do with my boys!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!!
Super technique. Would love to try it out.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing technique! I feel like I could spend months on end exploring with only my gelli plates and the various techniques you have been sharing – thank you!
Love this. Been looking for new ways to add background to my designs. Would it work with watercolor paint(mixed with gun Arabic) or do I ned to use acrylic paints only?
Awesome! Sharing on FB too!
What great texture. I would really love a chance to play with these products! Thanks for Sharing.
Thanks for sharing this tutorial: it has pushed me to get into gelli printing! Well, the ability to use the panels after they've gotten all grungy after use put me over the top! And I'm sharing on FB too!!
This would make an awesome birthday gift… just saying!!!!
I can't wait to win! 😉
Fondly, Tami