There’s a special kind of creative torture can happen when I’m almost finished with a piece—whether it’s a gel print or a journal page. Early on, I’m loose and playful, splashing color, layering texture, letting myself wander. BUT on that last layer, the pressure to “get it right” cranks up.
Suddenly, every mark feels permanent, every word feels like a commitment I might regret. That pressure can lead to decision paralysis. But I found a way around it when I’m adding a word.
A little cheat that takes away all the risk and it’s probably sitting in your desk drawer right now: Scotch tape. Yup, the stuff you get at the office supply store. that is wonderfully matte and disappears when you stick it down.
You start by gel printing the words. I’m using my Fragments of Your Soul stencil from StencilGirlProducts.com. This is a wee bit different from regular gel printing because you want the words right side up. Then add a thin layer of any color of paint you like and remove the stencil.
Once the paint is dry, use tape to lift up the words. Then you can audition them to see if they’re the word meant for that layer. If the tape is gently placed on top, it’s easy peasy to lift up if you change your mind. Once you like where it is, then press the tape down and it stays.
So why not just stencil the words straight on and skip the tape? Well, that step adds the hint of grunge that only a gel plate can! Farther down I’ve got a close up photo so you can see the details.
I store my tape words on a teflon sheet so they are at the ready when needed. They can stay plain or they have some color added!
The paint can be wet or dry on the gel plate and in the video you see it done both ways.
Sure, I could stencil the words directly onto the print, but by using the tape and a gel plate, I get a hint of grunge. The minor imperfections that make it blend in with the other layers.
The layers underneath show just a hair under the black of the word evolution. That’s why these words look like they “belong” on these index card gel prints.
The next time you feel creative paralysis creeping in, grab some tape and give yourself permission to play with the possibilities. There’s no right or wrong—just another playful detour on your creative journey.
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