Venice holds a special place in my heart.  It is one of the most romantic and history filled places I have ever traveled to.  It has been several years since I have been there and I am missing Venice. So, I wrote Venice a love letter.

Clear glass beads over painted text.   I have had the jar of those things for ever- it felt so good to use something that has been neglected for so so long.

This stamp, a part of Maureen Blackman’s Venice collection, was exactly what I needed here.  Serious seamstresses- avert your eyes from the horrible stitching (that I quite like).

The notebook paper was drenched in spray inks and then lots of water to get that great color.  Not surprisingly, cheap paper rips when wet.  At first I thought it was a mistake, but then I realized it was just an oops.  Turned out that I liked the rip and how it looked.   I never would have ripped it there on purpose but I like what it did so next time I may rip it there on purpose.

Writing over the wrinkled paper- well, it didn’t go well.  I don’t love my handwriting anyway and when I added the wrinkled challenge- well, let’s just say oops.  I actually kept scratching over it with a very fine tipped pen and in the end I like it!  I actually like my handwriting- a big deal for me!

You where I’d like to go on my next trip.  Do you have a favorite vacation spot that you miss?

Just a week until A Colorful Workshop: Gelli Printing begins! It’s $10 off until April 1st.  You can get all the details here.  Linking up to Mandarin Orange Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Creative Everyday,  Make It Monday, Art Journal Journey and Monday Mantras.

You can’t fail with a Gelli Plate and I can prove it or I should say my husband can prove it!  The orange arrows- that is his very first print!  He is a wonderful human being but let’s just say that his area of expertise is not art. This video chronicles his very first experiences with the Gelli Plate!  This video is only for those with a sense of humor…

You can’t fail with a Gelli Plate!

Too much paint?  Not a problem- he had lots of paint on there for his orange arrows.  All  that meant is he had a darker ghost, or 2nd print.

Don’t have any stencils? No problem, cut some.  These diamonds took seconds.

What kind of paint to use?  Cheap craft paint or Golden? Any acrylic paint works!

What if you make an ugly print?  Just add more layers.  This pink print changed dramatically once I added the turquoise vines!  As more and more layers get added to this it will continue to develop into the kind of print I love.

Be open to the fun of the Gelli Plate.  I didn’t expect this print but am glad it showed up!

If he can get a Gelli Plate to work with his incredibly limited artistic experiences then imagine what you can print!  He did that with a nano second of instruction – imagine if he had  5 weeks of my videos filled with step-by-step instruction!

A sampling of some of what you will learn in this workshop:

• how to get layers of color in just one single pull from the Gelli Plate
• how to use homemade and purchased stencils
• how to get texture on the Gelli Plate with found objects
• how color theory applies to the Gelli printing (the polite way of saying how to avoid mud)
• how to get subtle or bold effects when you want where you want
• how to use more than just paint on the Gelli Plate
• how to use rubber stamps on the Gelli Plate
• building a composition using layers on the Gelli Plate
• painting on the Gelli Plate
• how to deal with the ugly prints
• how to use the prints in a variety of mixed media projects
• how to combine multiple techniques in one print
• how to be free and experience all the joy in playing with the Gelli Plate!

Class starts Monday, April 1st!  Hurry and get your $10 discount before the price goes up.  All the details are here.

Linking up to Paint Party Friday and Creative Every Day.