Dropshadow Technique with Gelli® Plates & ScanNCut Stencils & Masks!

You almost have to wonder if the ingenious folks at Brother had
Gelli Arts® printing in mind when they created their amazing ScanNCut cutting machine! These pair together like they were made for each other! Watch this
video and see custom-designed ScanNCut stencils and masks in action with the
6×6″ Square and the new 4″ and 6″ Round Gelli® plates!

The first thing that happens when unboxing the ScanNCut is an
overwhelming feeling of excitement and possibilities! All the stencil and mask
designs you can dream up are now at your fingertips!

Brother says:  “See
it. Scan it. Cut it. Create it.” And it’s TRUE!!! Imagine turning your own
drawings, computer-generated designs, and patterns that come in the ScanNcut
machine, into stencils and masks! It’s the ultimate in immediate gratification!

An essential feature of the ScanNCut is its ability to size, or
scale, your design before you cut it. That’s such a great thing when you’re
working with different-sized Gelli® plates! I was able to create unique masks
designed to use with the 4″ and 6″ Round plates! Talk about
versatile!!

The stencil material I use is Grafix Edge Stencil Film, which
comes on a roll (20″ x 25′). I went ahead and cut a stack of 10″
squares on my cutting mat with a rotary cutter and quilting ruler. It’s great
to have plenty of pre-cut stencil film ready to use.

I also cut stencils and masks from 110 lb. heavy card stock — and
while it’s not as durable as the stencil film, it works great!

There’s good news too for those of you who prefer to skip the design
step and dig right in. The ScanNCut comes with over 600 built-in images for you
to use. So you don’t have to draw the images if that’s not your inclination. I
had a great results creating stencil patterns using some of the design elements
that come in the machine!

The ScanNCut has so many features and functions it would be
impossible for me to explain it all in this blog post. But I can direct you to
the fabulous and talented artist, Julie Balzer, who is an official Brother spokesperson
for ScanNCut. Julie has numerous excellent instructional videos online — in
which she clearly explains different features — and inspiring and
creative ways to use the ScanNCut. Julie’s enthusiasm got me hooked!

And if you’re looking for additional how-to info, you’ll find
loads of other video tutorials from Brother International Corporation, paper crafters, and quilters
online.

Now I’d like to share a fun little technique that’s great to use
with stencils and masks! Making a drop shadow image!

The following instructions are for stamping with your gel plate
(mounted on acrylic blocks):

Here’s how:

1. Roll a mid-value paint color onto the plate and
   print onto your substrate.
2. Place stencil on the printed area.
3. Roll a dark paint onto the gel plate.
4. Print the dark paint through the ‘holes’ in
   stencil or mask using the gel plate as a stamp. Remove stencil. Let paint dry.
5. Place same stencil over the previous impression,
   aligning the stencil holes—then move the stencil over about an
   1/8 of an inch and up a little.
6. Roll a light value paint onto the gel plate and
   stamp again over the stencil. This creates the drop shadow effect! And it’s so
   easy!

What a great way to add a dimensional look to your stencil image!
Easy and fun!

NOTE:  The stencils I
created from the rolled film have a bit of curl to them. You’ll notice in the
video that the curl can make it a little trickier to get exact placement before
stamping over them. Stencil material is available in flat sheets, and might be
a little easier to work with.

The prints in the video were all made using Blick Matte Acrylics. They work beautifully for layering to achieve the drop shadow images.
And their matte finish makes it easy to work back into the print with colored pencils, markers, pastels, and collage.

So far, I’ve focused on making stencils and masks for gel printing. But the ScanNCut opens up a whole universe for creative cutting to
make whatever gel printed paper and fabric project you
can imagine!

If I sound like a serious ScanNCut enthusiast, it’s because I am!
I’m not a paid spokesperson — I just love the endless world of
possibilities this machine presents! Both for monoprinting — and
way beyond!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!!!

Have you sensed by now that something SPECIAL is brewing for our
GIVEAWAY??!!!!

If you’ve guessed it’s a Brother ScanNCut…you guessed RIGHT!!!

Thanks to our wonderful and generous friends at Brother International Corporation for
providing a ScanNCut machine — we’ll have the enormous pleasure of
sending it to one VERY lucky winner!

And a Gelli Arts® Giveaway wouldn’t be complete without Gelli® plates!

Ready for our Grand Prize
Giveaway?!!!

Enter our Special ScanNCut and Gelli Arts® Gel
Printing Plate Giveaway below. Check out all the options for entering the
random drawing and choose one OR choose all the ways to enter!

Multiple entries allowed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We’re as excited as you are about this AMAZING opportunity to win
this AWESOME PRIZE PACKAGE!!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!!!

Remember, we now have Gelli® partners all over the world, so it’s easier than ever to find a Gelli® retailer near you! 

Happy Printing and Good
Luck!!!

Product Used In Today’s Blog:

Brother ScanNCut Cutting Machine

6×6″ Gelli® Plate

4″ Round Gelli® Plate

6″ Round Gelli® Plate

Grafix Edge Stencil Film

Rotary Cutter

Quilting Ruler

110 lb HeavyCardstock Paper

Acrylic Blocks

Blick Matte Acrylics