Hey gang, who loves Gelli Arts Printing plates? I've been playing with my printing plate with pigment inks and a Fiskars Stamp Mount. You could try this method with any kind of plate, really. I have used plexiglass and you could use a stamp mount, old DVD or CD case. (Video below).
The prints won't be as clear but - what the heck! I mounted my small plate (4"x5") onto my large Fiskars stamp mount (9" x 11") and used pigment inks from Avery Elle and Memento Luxe.
Tech Talk: What is the difference between dye inks and pigment inks? Dye inks are thinner and sink down into the paper; thus "dye." Pigment inks are thicker and sit up on the surface of the paper. The pigment inks take a while to dry (you can hurry them with a heat gun) but they held on to the gelli plate better. Pigment inks can be used on fabric. Heat set them before washing.
This technique was inspired by the new Gelli Plates available in smaller shapes. Super cool. I think that I'll be using my plate more now. So much fun and a bounty of collage and background papers. You could stamp right into your journal.
I love the idea of some no, or at least low, mess, quick play with the Gelli Plate Diana. And I make the most of the stencils too . . . flipping them over and stamping them off, laying them on paper and cleaning the excess through them with a cloth or baby wipe. Sometimes the clean up gives great prints.
Posted by: Wendy @ the Late Start Studio | 12/09/2015 at 02:49 PM
It’s a fun technique, Wendy. I like to use baby wipes on the stencils. I flip them over so the inky side is up and and clean up that way. I didn’t show much of that in the vid. I never get good results if I try to print the leftovers for whatever reason xo d
Posted by: Diana Trout | 12/09/2015 at 06:19 PM
Great information! You're right...using the ink pads is a lot quicker and less messy than using paint. Thanks for the video!!!
Posted by: Barbara Albrecht | 12/09/2015 at 06:56 PM
So glad you enjoyed the video, Barbara. Thanks for commenting.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 12/09/2015 at 07:14 PM
Wow! I love the sheer look of these ink pads! Great post!
Posted by: Vicki Ross | 12/09/2015 at 08:37 PM
Great post! I really liked this. I have used inks but not the pigment. Hmmm wonder how chalk pads will work?
Posted by: Denise Spillane | 12/09/2015 at 08:39 PM
So glad you enjoyed it, Vicky! Thanks.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 12/09/2015 at 09:38 PM
Hi Denise, I think chalk ink would work very well. It is sticky and thick. The dye inks do work but tend to bead up a bit. Let me know how the chalk inks go.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 12/09/2015 at 09:38 PM
I'm so excited about this technique!!! Paints are out with the huge cleaning deposit. But this, this, I can do! Wee-haw!
I've got a really primitive way to extend paints… it's called a water mister. Not a spattery one. Super fine, clean mist. Even here in drought central California I used to keep acrylics on a Gelli plate wet longer with a few light mists. Obviously if you drown them the colors dilute and become water paints instead.
Here's one I like but it was a few years ago...
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INEFXD4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Posted by: SusanJane | 12/09/2015 at 10:28 PM
Lol. Misting does work! Thanks for the link! I needed spray misters for my studio classes and these look great. I’m so glad that this post gave you ideas, SusanJane!
Posted by: Diana Trout | 12/10/2015 at 09:46 AM