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! |
A Gelli Plate and Golden Paint??? Count me in 🙂 Thanks for the great giveaway. Love both products very much.
What an awesome chance to get started doing some major gelli plating! (and would be a fantastic birthday present too!) Fingers crossed and posting on FB to let everyone know…. textilerecycler@yahoo.com
Looks like loads of fun. I have wanted to try one of these Gelli plates out, maybe I can be lucky and win one.
Very cool, looking forward to trying this out. I have tweeted and shared on FB as well as written a comment on FB
Great Giveaway and I also like the technique for lettering on the gelli plate. Am sharing.
Absolutely love the videos. I have a Gelli Plate, though my creations are not quite a wonderful as yours, I love the process. I find it very meditative. I love the fact that you are introducing Golden Artist Colors to your repertoire. I've tried the cheap acrylic paints do not prefer them although they are good for practice. Thanks again for all your innovative ideas!!
Look how many people love GOLDEN'S!!! I have a Gelli plate & absolutely love working with it. I have never tried writing words in my prints. Thank you for showing us how. I added Golden & Gelli to my Pinterest likes & will try to post about your tutorial & give-away. 🙂
This makes gelli printing look easy! Posting this on FB also! TY
Hoping to win! I shared on facebook.
Looks like a fun and interesting medium to try!
I am so impressed with this technique, since I find it more interesting to have words on a print. Thanks for sharing this technique. I left a comment on your Facebook page as well! Please enter me twice! I want to be luckier…
what a fun tutorial.. and s great give away.. congrats in. advance to the lucky winner.
I will be trying this definitely 😉
I have been wanting to try GOLDEN paints for ages and ages and ages and ages so thank you for the chance to win some.
and shared on Facebook.
Also shared your post on Facebook and Twitter – @craftywhoopidoo https://twitter.com/craftywhoopidoo/status/358240357273710594
Hi, I posted on Facebook. This would be great to win!
I re-pinned it to Pinterest too.
Wooow, fabulous giveaway !!!! I'm a new follower as I've just bought one small Gelli plate, but I really need tow as I've twins girls that dream to play with me LOL ! Thank you for the chance to win. Coco x
This is such a great idea. I have just made a handmade book from gelliprints with shared memories for a colleague who has just retired. I will have to try this technique for my next book
Great tutorial! The possibilities are endless with the gelli plate! Thanks for the chance to win!
I pinned this on Pinterest and commented on FB. I love the ideas on the video and I hope I win.
WOW! Always looking for more ways to make my hand made papers for tack down. Can't wait to try it!
WOW would love to win this! I have never done Gelli Printing, but taking a class on this next Friday all day! Since I am a fiber arts quilter and mixed media stamper and teacher, have a feeling this technique will open new horizons for me in creativity! I love your blog, been reading it lately. Great information! Thank you for sharing so much!
I love Golden, all there paints are top notch. I love their historic acrylics, there is some magic in that paint!
Followed this from Golden's FB page. I had never heard of Gelli before now. As a former printmaking major I am VERY excited about finding this! Wow… just paused to think of the possibilities AT HOME! Super exciting!
Another great idea on how to use my Gelli Plate! Thank you so much! And thanks for offering a giveaway.
LOVED seeing this! I've wanted a Gelli for some time and now I. Must. Have. One! Whether I win or not… but just in case, I've re-pinned and shared on Facebook. Thanks so much!
Can't wait to try these techniques! Thanks for the tutorial! Shared on FB, Twitter and Pinterest
Thanks for some great tutorials!
I'm hoping I can join in from the UK?????
I just ordered my first gelli and can't wait to get it. Would love to win!
Am posting on fb and pinterest!!
What a grand Giveaway!!! I would love this. I have posted about the Giveaway on my Blog Sidebar.
I just pinned this for my students. I can't wait to try the technique with my high school students. 3 jars of open acrylic would go a long way!
jaci ayorinde
Awesome giveaway!
Oh gosh this would be a fab win! I'm also sharing on FB and Pinterest!
This looks like so much fun! I love gelli printing.
What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win. Now, I'm off to pin. Hooray!
Never thought about adding words — a must try now! Thanks for the opportunity!
un fabuleuse technique!!!merci pour la vidéo..il ne me reste plus qu'a acheter la plaque de gelli
Oooh yes please! I have time on my hands now so would love to win and follow your tutorial
Fab prize and great tutorial, posting on FB too !!
Hi,
Love the words techniques with a Gelli plate. Great prize to, I would love to win.
Would love to win this–have always wanted to experiment with the Gelli plate!! Sharing it on Facebook!
great tutorials-love it
Thanks for the chance to win – love to try new techniques. I've shared and commented on both.
Thanks for the tutorial. This looks so easy to do and fun too. I would love to win. I shared on my Facebook page too.
Awesome give away! Thanks for the opportunity!
I love your videos so much . . . almost as much as I love my Gelli plate! I'm so obsessed with it right now and I'd really love to win the smaller size plate and especially those acrylics!!!!
Oh my I would love to win this fabulous giveaway! I've shared the giveaway on Facebook(and Commented), Pinned It, and Tweeted It!
This is my first time here, so fun!
Shared this on pinterest: pinterest.com/pin/40532465369423269. Waiting for my Gelli plate to arrive in the mail. I just ordered the 8×10 2 days ago!