Maybe you’d like to include words in a Gelli® print? Watch this video and see how to do it!
Words can add meaningful visual interest to your prints. Especially on art journal pages!
But here’s the tricky part… words and letters written or stamped in paint on a Gelli® plate will print in reverse!
So, unless you’re proficient at mirror-image writing — OR, you’re willing to stick with X’s and O’s … and a few other letters with vertical bilateral symmetry 😉 — you’ll probably find the following step by step ideas helpful!
Below are two easy techniques for making your gel-printed words reader-friendly! These are subtractive methods — meaning paint will be removed to create the letters.
Technique #1 — Just follow these easy steps!
Step 1
Write a word (or words) on a piece of tracing paper with a Sharpie or other marker. You want BOLD writing!
TIP: You can also add some guidelines for your print composition! They’re especially helpful when you print multiple layers.
Step 2
Flip the tracing paper over — so the writing appears backwards. Tape your tracing paper in place to your work surface.
Step 3
Place your Gelli® plate on a clear protective substrate — such as Mylar, acetate, Plexiglass, DURA-LAR, glass, etc. (I’m using DURA-LAR for this demo)
TIP: Roll a clean brayer over the plate to squeeze out air bubbles.
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| Gelli® Plate on piece of DURA-LAR |
Step 4
Place the clear substrate on top of the tracing paper and position your Gelli® plate over the writing. Tape in place.
TIP: If you want your writing skewed to one side of the print, remember to place your Gelli® plate over the writing on the OPPOSITE side from where you want the writing to appear on the print. This compensates for the left/right reversal in the printing process!
Step 5
Apply a thin layer of paint onto the gel plate with a brayer. Avoid opaque paints, as you want to be able to see your lettering under the plate 🙂
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| Golden Open Acrylics Used in this Demo
Step 6 Trace over the lines using a cotton swab. It can help if the swab is slightly dampened with a drop of water first. **The writing in the paint will be backwards (mirror-image). Step 7 Use various texture tools in the wet paint to add another level of interest to your print. Step 8 Cover the painted plate with your paper. Rub gently to transfer the paint … then remove paper to pull your print.
TIP: This technique will work best with fairly transparent and slow drying paint … to allow time for tracing. Golden Open Acrylics are ideal for this! Or add Golden Open Medium or Acrylic Glaze to your regular acrylic paint to increase its working time while adding transparency.
Step 9 – Fun and Final Step! Add a second gel- printed layer using transparent pigments — to create wonderful mixed colors on your print!
Technique #2 – Three Easy Stepsfor Including Words in your Gelli® print!Use cut out letters! Ideally, with some dimension. This can include hand-cut letters, die-cuts, craft foam letters, and chipboard letters. Self-adhesive alphabets are available at art and craft stores — and they’re great for this technique! Step 1 Arrange the letters and adhere them to the substrate of your choice — to create a lettered printing plate. Adhering letters to craft foam gives you a flexible and reusable stamp for gel printing your favorite words! Tip: Do not reverse the letters. Your placement should be right-reading.
Step 2 Press the lettered plate into the painted Gelli® plate — and remove. The letters will remove paint and leave a mirror-image impression on the Gelli® plate. Step 3 Cover the painted Gelli® plate with paper, rub — and pull your print. So easy!
Have fun putting words in your Gelli® prints! And now… our GOLDEN GELLI® GIVEAWAY! Our Giveaway Prize Kit will get you started putting words in your Gelli® prints! Our GOLDEN GELLI® Giveaway Includes:
The three 8 oz. jars of Golden Open Acrylics included in this prize are:
To enter to win, just leave a comment here on the blog — or on our Facebook page! Share this blog post on your Facebook page, blog, Pinterest or Twitter … and we will enter your name twice! Just let us know 🙂 One lucky winner will be chosen by random selection on Tuesday, July 23rd!! We will announce the winner here and on the Gelli Arts® Facebook page! Special thanks to our friends at Golden Artist Colors for supplying the generous 8 oz. jars of Open Acrylics for this Giveaway! Our winner is getting a GIANT haul of premium paint!!! 🙂 Talk about LUCKY!!! Good Luck and Happy Printing! |
Love this demo! You just gave me an idea I want to try out. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love this technique. Can't wait to try it!
I shared this post on Twitter and Pinterest!
Thanks for the give-away!
And, I pinned your link to Pintrest HERE:
http://pinterest.com/pin/44473115043556367/
~ Shelly
I would love to win this.
I shared in Facebook , pinterest too =)
I shared this on Facebook.
I was wondering about the paints you used just seconds before I scrolled down the page and saw your giveaway! I don't get much time to play with my Gelli plate but when I do I always seem to choose colours that go muddy and nowhere near as vibrant as I see in your videos. I'd love to give these paints a go! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity 🙂
I have been wanting to try this but not in the budget, I would love a chance to win it!
Oh how i love the idea of putting your letters upside down on parchment under the Gelli Plate … very cool! And, please pick me … I've been wanting that Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold for ages!!!
As always, a great technique video! I love my gelli plate and would love some Golden products to play with! Thanks for the chance to win.
I pinned your link on Pinterest too.
http://pinterest.com/pin/184718022189338887/
Great ideas, great product! Thanks
Love my Gelli plate, I have been using it on my Live Stream show on Tuesday, I give prizes away also on that show and would love to give a plate away
Wow, love this techniques..cannot wait to give it a try. Thanks for the chance to win this amazing prize:)
Love this idea and Golden paints too
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this prize!!
Great video as always, thanks! I shared about this post on pinterest.
Thanks for the tutorial and opportunity to win this great giveaway. I would love to have a 6×6, the Golden paints and die cut letters.
Another great technique for the Gelli plate!! 🙂
I shared this blog post link on my Facebook page! Thanks for a 2nd chance to win this great giveaway!
this was outstanding, what a great video….amazing what can be done.
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
I got a gelli for my birthday and I love it. This site has great ideas and inspiring tutorials. I want to win Golden makes great paints!
Thanks for the tips. I would love to win the giveaway!
Would love to win this as Golden paints are quite costly but so worth it.
Can't wait to try! Eye candy!!
Wonderful tutorial, thanks! And thanks for the chance to win this prize pack 🙂
Thanks for the great tip about the printing on the Gelli Plate, love it and will try it. Thanks for the chance to win such a great prize.
I've shared on facebook. Thanks, again!
Kathy Hut would LOVE to win – thanks for this great chance! I have Golden paints, but not OPEN Golden paints – perfect for the Gelli plate without drying so fast……
Loved this. I would love to win those fine paints and accessories. Just love golden paints and gelli plate.
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will have to give this a try and everyone loves new toys!
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I love Golden paints and I love my GPPs!
I am sharing this on Face Book!
I would love to win this and try the Golden Open Acrylics on the Gelli plate. What a great prize pack!
After watching this video I have realized two things! One never get rid of things you don't think you will use like tons of sticky foam alphabets! Two I think I have been using way to much paint on my Gelli prints.
Joan,
Always an inspiration to all of us and am so Thankful that you share your idea's and knowledge with all of us. You give me such great idea's and make me want to be more creative with the Gelli Plate…..Thank You…Thank you …Thank you….JIM
I will Share on Face Book as well……Thanks…….Again Jim
Great step-by-step tutes! Sharing on FB and on my blog. http://kellyscreativedreams.blogspot.com
Found you on Pinterest!
What fun. I can't wait to find all those foam letters I bought.
What a great tutorial & giveaway! Thanks for the chance 🙂 Also tweeted & liked on FB.
OMGosh! This is an awesome prize! Perfect to try this technique. I hope I am blessed. 🙂
Another wonderful demo to fire up the imagination! I HAVE POSTED TO FACEBOOK.Thanks Joan.
Haven't tried Golden paints but they look awesome. Love the gold and magenta . Thanks for the helpful video. I added you to pinterest.
I'll be sharing this tip with my art campers next week. I'm posting it on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtStart1. Thanks!
I liked you on facebook.
Hi, Joan, thank you for precious info always! You look like an angel!!
Cheers, Sadami
Love the idea of adding words to the gelli prints. As always you are so creative! I would love to win the goodies on my birthday, July 23rd. I will share on FB and make a comment as well on your FB page. THANKS