Pressing a handmade layered texture plate into a painted GelliĀ® plate is a fabulous way to create a unique image! Watch this video for a demonstration of this easy technique.
You can make texture plates to match the size of your GelliĀ® plate, or make smaller plates that can be used as stamps. This technique is especially fun for making custom texture plates designed speciļ¬cally for your Round GelliĀ® Plate.
Texture plates can be made from many different materials. The material used in the video is…heavyweight fusible stabilizer. It’s perfect for making quick layered texture plates that are ready to use right away.
I use Peltex 71F(by Pellon) ā a heavyweight stabilizer with fusible adhesive on one side. It’s a stiff non-woven polyester material about 1/16″ thick. And so easy to cut!
Those of you who quilt or sew may be familiar with this stabilizer for creating fabric bowls, bags, postcards, ATCs, etc.
What makes Peltex so interesting for making layered texture plates is its dimensional quality. As you build the layers, you’re creating a deep relief pattern.
When the texture plate is pressed into a painted GelliĀ® plate and removed ā a ‘halo’ effect
remains around the shapes. In other words, the surface of the texture plate removes some of the paint … but there will be a line, or shadow, around the shapes. This can make wonderful printed images ā with an almost 3-D effect!
Here’s how to make the texture plate:
- Cut a piece of Peltex to the desired size to use as the substrate for your texture plate.
- Place the cut substrate on a piece of parchment paper (on top of ironing surface)
- Cut pieces of Peltex into desired shapes.
- Arrange the pieces on the substrate with the fusible side down. (Layer some cut pieces on top of others to create dimension on the plate)
- Cover with parchment paper and press with a hot iron to fuse the layers together. (Follow manufacturer’s instructions for fusing)
- Remove the parchment paper and trim along the edge of the texture plate.
So fast and easy! Now your layered texture plate is ready to use!
Printing with these plates is like using a stamp.
- Apply paint to the GelliĀ® plate and roll into a smooth layer with a brayer
- Press the texture plate firmly into the wet paint and remove
- Place the printing paper on the painted GelliĀ® plate
- Rub to transfer paint
- Pull your print
For a dynamic effect with layered texture plates ā try printing on black paper with opaque white or metallic paint!
- Peltex is available at fabric stores, like JoAnn Fabrics…and many online sources.
- When cutting a full-size texture plate for your GelliĀ® plate, add a half inch or so to the overall dimensions ā for easy handling.
- To apply a layer of paint to the round plate with a brayer ā start from the center and roll out to the edge.
- Press the texture plate firmly into the wet paint. Avoid moving the texture plate while you press it into the GelliĀ® plate, as that can blur the image.
- If you don’t have Peltex, try making texture plates from sticky-back craft felt. You can find it at craft stores.
- Adhesive-backed craft felt can be cut into shapes and layered. Simply peel the backing off and stick the pieces together.
- Craft felt produces a slightly different image … not quite as hard-edged as Peltex. If the felt plate becomes saturated with paint, stamping the felt plate on paper will give you a relief print of the image.
- When making multiple prints from the same texture plate, wet paint from the previous print may transfer to the next painted GelliĀ® plate image. This is a wonderful way to create multi-color images! So, itās important to consider the sequence of colors used. It’s easy for the prints to get muddy as you switch from one color to another.
- Using colors with a high contrast against the paper color creates very dynamic images. Likewise, dark colors on white paper make exciting prints!
- For those of you who scan your prints and enhance them in photo-editing software ā this technique lends itself to very interesting digital prints.
FYI: Materials used in this video:
- 8″ Round GelliĀ® Plate
- Deco Arts Multi-Surface SATIN⢠acrylic paint
- Strathmore Bristol (vellum surface)
- Strathmore Artagain (coal black)
- Speedball 4″ Soft Rubber Pop-In Brayer
- Peltex 71F
- Scissors
- Parchment Paper
- Iron and ironing surface
This Contest is officially CLOSED
And here’s our awesome Giveaway to get you excited about making texture plates for Gelli printing on the NEW 8″ Round GelliĀ® Plate!
- 1 – 8″ Round GelliĀ® Printing Plate
- 12 – Deco Arts Multi-Surface SATIN acrylic paints (2 oz. bottles)
- 1 – Pad (24 sheets) Strathmore Bristol (9″x12″)
- 1 – Pad (24 sheets) Strathmore ArtagainĀ® coal black (9″x12″)
- 1 – Speedball 4″ Soft Rubber Pop-In Brayer
- 4 – Pieces of Peltex 71F (9″x12″)
To enter to win, all you need to do is leave a comment here on the blog. Comments will be accepted until Tuesday, Feb. 25th at 12 noon EST. One lucky winner will be selected at random on Feb. 25th and announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page no later than Feb. 25th at 5 p.m. EST.
This Contest is officially CLOSED
And a special thanks to our friends at Deco Art and Strathmore Papers for their generous support for this giveaway!
Good luck…and Happy Printing!
What a great idea! I love all the different effects you can create! Thanks for sharing!
These are brilliant. I love this blog for all the inspiration and I can't wait to try them x
The creativity possibilities never cease, thank goodness š !!!
Thank you for the very interesting technique tip!
I want a Gelli plate so bad! This is it, I WILL be the winner this time!
It's look so nice. I've never tried a Gelli plate. Maricelys77
How many 'layers' of acrylic paint can one load before making a print on paper? I'd love to win and even if I don't I think this just might be my next 'project'!! The video helps explain it – impressive.
I cannot wait to try this. Your tutorials just get better and better! Thank you!
What a great idea!
I love my Gelli plate.
Beautiful idea! I've been wanting to try out the round Gelli Plate for a while now. I'm so addicted to my 8×10. I really hope I win!
So awesome….now I want a round Gelliplate! Your ideas on this blog are fantastic!
I've been wanting to try those for a long time! So many awesome results!
What a great idea. I love the prints.
Can't wait to try this!
OMG!!!! I Love the depth and beauty of this technique!
I just can't get over all of these creative ideas. I just love this out of bounds look. Brilliant!
I just discovered the Gelli Arts Printing Plate on line last week…I am soo excited to try this new process…art makes me tingle!
Amazing what can be done with the gelli plate. Thanks to everyone for their awesome tips.
Thanks so much for the great video and new technique! I love my Gelli plates! Once I get started it is so hard to stop playing with the paint and pulling those prints. And I really enjoy using what I create in other mixed media projects. Thanks for the ongoing inspiration and ideas!
Looks like a lot of fun. I have some Peltex here, at least enough to make at least one plate. You could make them square or rectangular for the other GelliPlates.
This sounds so cool!! Love my rectangle gelli plate would sure love a round with the goodies! Lissag123@verizon.net
Very interesting idea! I love it!!!!
what a wonderful idea, so many possibilities.
Wow- this is so outside the box/plate creative. The circle gelli plate ends up giving each project a very peaceful impression. These dimensional additions really take the gelli printing to another level.
How cool is this idea! I love playing with my homemade gelatin plate. But a permanent gelli plate would be fabulous! Now I just have to figure out what to do with all my prints! Thanks for all the fun ideas!
Oh, I have a question. I have made a couple of texture plate with the fun foam. I have been disappointed with the print from those because it seems like the foam just doesn't pick up enough paint to make a good print. Do you think if I were to apply a layer of gesso on the foam it would improve my prints?
This looks like so much fun. I have the 8×10 GelliPlate, and it's so easy to lose yourself in GelliPlay. I've got some Peltex here in the house and I think I'll make a rectangle one to play with. Would love the round one and all the goodies in the giveaway….good luck to all.
What a fabulous give away! I just love your gelli plates!
Beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway and the opportunity to win.
inspiration just oooozes from your pores over there in Gelli-land!!!!
Excelentes ideas y grandes oportunidades de crear con Gelli Plate, muchas gracias!
Great technique. The white on black is awesome! Wonderful give away.
This looks way cool!!!! Awesome, like art-deco!
Love that dimensional look! Great give away…. would love to take a crack at making something sensational with all those goodies!
textilerecycler a t yahoo d o t com
Wauuuu….yet another way to use my gelli plate. AND have the chance to play with a round š
AMAZED. Impressed. GOTTA wanna have it now!!!! What an amazingly inspired idea!
It's look so nice. I've never tried a Gelli Plate!. Maricelys77
It's look so nice. I've never tried a Gelli plate. Maricelys77
That looks so fun! Thanks for all the inspiration!
I am new to Gelli prints, going to try my first today. Will make some layered stamps tonight. Thanks for the idea
Leaving a comment by the skin of my teeth! Thanks for offering this giveaway, I just heard about Gelli products from a friend and am eager to learn more!
Wow, this looks an amazing product and promises loads of fun. I've just spent some time watching a number of videos on printing with the Gelli Art Plate and it has inspired me. I loved making lino prints when I was at school some 45 years ago and I'd love the chance of having a go at printing again. There are so many different techniques and so many wonderful results it seems, having looked at the pictures on your site and read other users comments. I do hope I am lucky enough to win the Gelli Kit and will keep my fingers crossed!
I just got my first Gelli plate last week and would love the round one. I have had so much fun printing.
That process and those prints are amazing!
How absolutely fabulous! Gelli plates are so wonderful and versatile.
What a fabulous technique. Have to try this!
I love all your ideas. This would be so fun to win. I can't wait to see what other techniques and ideas you have to create beautiful prints.
i would love a round one…please and thank you
Love the concept, I will try this