Gel Plate Technique Fun and More

 Hello! Summer is here with the heat and humidity so I thought you might like a glass of something refreshing to start before diving into this photo heavy post:) The image is from one of last year's calendars. I only added the decorative paper and magazine clipping at the top and washi tape along the bottom of my journal page. Cheers to the T Stands For Tuesday gang! Also linking to Art Journal Journey for the theme of "Inspired By".

 Finch nest update:

 here they are from a pic I got last Friday, and as of this posting today:

 The feathers are coming in fast so it won't be much longer til they are gone. I've had such fun watching them:) However, this next sighting right OUTSIDE MY BACKYARD had me a bit shaken:

 Do you see that bear thru the fence????That blue edge and taillight are my hubby's car! My neighbor texted me and said she heard there was a bear sighting at Moravian College. I thought it was a joke cuz I had just 10 min. earlier been out back and saw the deer again. Never in the 35 years we've lived here has there ever been a deer, let alone a bear in our area!! He was much closer than he looks so as soon as I got the pic (while shaking) I ran inside. Within an hour he was tranquilized. They were moving him from the ground when I went to see what all the flashing sirens and cars were about just a few houses up from me. I almost started to cry but the warden assured me he would get a health check, get tagged and then be taken to a forested area. This bear was a baby at only 88 lbs. Oh my gosh, my adrenaline is going just thinking about it! Makes me wonder what I'll see next...

 This card is meant for the Simon Wednesday Challenge "Bright and Cheerful":

 Products: Neena Classic coat 110# Solar White cardstock; pink patterned paper; Altenew Build a Flower Camelia stamp and die set, Painted Greetings stamp set; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Archival leaf green ink; Staz On Forest green ink; Distress Inks- Mowed Lawn, Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Worn Lipstick; Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp).

 And last but not least- I finally pulled out my smaller (5 x 7") Gelli Arts Gel Plate to play! Here is my tutorial on what I am calling the "foil technique". As far as I know it hasn't been done by anyone -at least not that I know of. First here's a look at some of the finished background prints:

 And if you have a plate give it a go- it really is a no fail and easy peasy! Ready?

Step 1 . Grab a sheet of foil wrap and scrunch it into a ball- not too tightly. Choose several paint colors , dab some dots around the plate (go lightly) and brayer over it to meld the colors together.

Step2:  Use your ball of foil to gently pick up ink off the plate here and there. Move or replace the ball of foil as needed. I think you can see on the plate where the paint has been lifted.

Step 3: Place your desired paper (I also used envelopes-not shown) on the plate; place a scrap paper over top of that and press the papers to transfer the paint.

Step 4: Peel off your scrap paper (save for another use), then your print- et voila! This red was the first one I tried and then I went all out mixing colors and printing without cleaning the plate. Here are my favorites up close:

 So what do you think?  Please let me know if you give it a try and share your prints won't you?Edited In: I had some ? about the foil damaging the plate-no, I've had no problems at all but to reiterate- use a gentle hand when pressing the foil around the painted plate. HTH.

 In my next post I will share more Gel Plate inspiration!  Linking to Paint Party Friday.
Thanks for staying with me, and I'll see you soon!

" I define creativity as the person-centered process of imagining possibilities and taking expressive action to bring ideas to life."     Marta Davidovich Ockuly