The Living Tree, and Gelli Prints Pt. 2

  The theme at Art Journal Journey is "Living Beings", at Mix It Monthly the theme is "Trees" and at Mixed Media Monthly the theme is to be inspired by the colors of this photograph:

 

 I do love to combine challenges  whenever I can and in this case it wasn't difficult given the themes and colors! The background is a deli paper gelli print I had glued into my journal. The face images were stamped on tissue paper so the background colors would pop through. Some of the circles are from gelli prints. Other circles were punched from tissue papers.

 Also linking this to Art Journal Every Day and Paint Party Friday.

 In this post I shared some new gelli plate prints and said I'd be back with some techniques I've come up with to get more use out of just one gelli plate (the 8" x 10"). I LOVE my plate but cannot justify the expense of buying every size or shape available. SO, I have come up with a way around that after some experimentation.  Be forewarned, the remainder of this post will be photo laden!

 I thought the circle plate was very interesting but wasn't confident I'd use it very much so here's my alternative to buying it:

 Simply die cut a circle from card stock-or use a bowl to trace around and cut. You can add your colors etc. on the plate before putting the card stock cut out on and/or add colors as you print. the card stock will last for numerous prints-and the paint actually makes it stronger. These are some of my prints:

Don't want a circle? Perhaps you want smaller prints though:

 Die cut or measure and cut  the size you want to print-same as above using card stock. Sometimes when you make a large print with larger stencils and stamps you lose the details when cutting it down to a smaller size. Here you can use smaller stencils and images-without buying a small plate!

 since I have been asked about how I begin this is what I do. I add several drops of different colors of acrylics then brayer them around the plate.

                            In this case I put a stencil down first then placed my cut out on top.

 A piece of trimmed cardstock is placed over top. After I pulled that print I removed the rectangle cut out and the stencil and made a ghost (2nd) print. And these are those two papers:

  In many instances the 2nd print is the better of the two, but don't throw them away! If you don't like a print either use it to clean off the brayer or add stamping and ink sprays and I can guarantee you, you will be pleased.

 I recently found some old plastic templates so I thought I'd play with them on my plate too:

                                           Place your paper over top and this is what you get:

  How cool is this?? Sorry for some off colors and photos-I know you understand how difficult it can be to continually stop and photograph when you're in the zone:)

 Here's another:

 and some more:

           Deli paper was placed over the prepared plate and a brayer was used to pick up paint.

    After I took the deli paper off I placed one of the plastic templates down, pressed a paper on top and this was the resulting print:

 This was just one of the papers I used to clean off my brayer and take some paint off the plate:

                                                     I see possibilities even in this one!

 I do hope I've given you some new ways to use your plate. Feel free to share this! All I ask is that you do not take credit for my work -it is so important to give credit where it is due. Please let me know if you've tried any of these techniques-and if you'd like - I can put your posted link  here on my blog:) If you have any further ?? email me-I'd be happy to help. We all learn from each other and I am so grateful for what I learn from YOU!

 There is a Pt. 3 in the works-and I will have some finished projects to share as well (using these papers) in the near future.

" What works for one artist doesn't necessarily work for another- try anything and everything and go with what works for you."     Paul Dixon