A Silly Idea in My Head

When silly ideas, like realism, pop into my head while art journaling, I follow them! I have no idea where my fixation on realism came from today, but there was one thing that I was obsessed with during the play. Yes, there is realism involved in these wonky circles.

Using up little bits of paper from another project, just couldn’t let that color and pattern go to waste, I made circles. Yes, these started out as circles – I’m not that precise.

That is until I decide to create a cairn. I love seeing those carefully stacked rocks sculptures so suddenly my paper one had to follow the same rules of physics that real life ones do.

So that meant I fiddled with the rock placement, constantly adjusting to be sure it would hold up. Thinking about how forces like gravity would be pulling on it was so important for some reason today.

I think it’s rather silly how it had to be this way, but I’ve learned over the years, when the silly ideas hit to just follow them. So if you get a way out there idea when you’re playing, give it a go and see where it takes you!

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3 Colors on an Impressable Gel Press Plate

Have you seen the Impressable Gel Press plates? They’re a gel plate that has a pattern on it. It’s all made from the same gel as their gel plates so it’s got that magical squish!

In the video above that I made for Gel Press, you’ll see three stages or ways to take the print to get different looks with an Impressable.

If you’re new to gel printing or a seasoned pro who is looking for more ideas and ways to use a gel plate, check out this page of gel printing resources.

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Gel Printing with a Roll of Toilet Paper

Just about anything can become a pattern making tool on a gel plate! Even toilet paper! Now that it’s not as precious as it was earlier this year thanks to Covid, I’m ready to make prints with it!

What I’m sharing here is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do with common everyday items from around your home. In my online workshop, Playing with Found Patterns, you’ll get step-by-step techniques that guide you to fully understanding why what happens on a gel plate happens. This means no more guessing how to make a print you love! Check out all the details here.

Start by adding some paint to your Gel Press plate. Any kind of acrylic paint you like to use is great! The press the toilet paper into the paint.

What brand of toilet paper am I using? No idea! I tend to buy inexpensive toilet paper and for this technique, brand doesn’t matter one bit!

You can squish the roll of toilet paper to create a more oval shape. I’m using a large Gel Press plate here but the technique (and toilet paper) works any size!

What type of paper should you use to take your prints? Any kind you like. I’m using a cardstock because I like how it feels. I’ll use just about any kind of paper. The only kind I stay away from are heavily coated papers, like inkjet photo paper.

Ugly layers are a gift. Truly. This print that I adore, would not have been possible if it wasn’t for some very ugly layers that you saw in the video above.

I encourage you to take a look around your home, your kitchen, the recycle bin, and of course the bathroom for pattern making tools you can use for printing! If you’d like to know more ways to use those found patterns on your gel plate, check out Playing with Found Patterns.

Here are the supplies used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps keep the free tutorials coming!

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The Fine Print

A Silly Idea in My Head

3 Colors on an Impressable Gel Press Plate

Gel Printing with a Roll of Toilet Paper