Gelli Print Share: Overcoming Bad Prints

When I first tried Gelli printing I didn't like it.  Everyone was making look so easy but my prints looked like crap!  I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong so I just figured it wasn't for me.

I put my Gelli plate away for about 6 months and even thought about giving it away.  Crazy right! I'm glad I didn't because I now know what I was doing wrong and love making prints.

I decided to start printing with an idea in mind as opposed to just grabbing random stencils from my stash and hoping it would work out.  I drew and cut out a simple bird shape to work from and started layering colors.

I tried to focus on using less paint on my plate.  Lots of layers add depth and interest to the background.  I played with masking and negative space.  Cutting basic shapes from card stock is an easy way to highlight different parts of a print.

Above all I just needed to play and not judge myself so harshly.  I threw on some music and just messed around.

Have you tried Gelli printing or monoprinting?

Sharing with Art Journal Everyday, Paint Party Friday

Moleskine Monday - Patience

I'm always learning.

Photo transfer from a book I'm reading called Playing With Image Transfers.  

The Crafters Workshop tree stencil, Tim Holtz Dot Fade stencil, and watercolors.

What are you always learning?  Do you have patience? 

See other Moleskine entries here.

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Creative Every Day, Art Journal Everyday 

Moleskine Monday - Brown Eyes

Good Morning,
I feel like I'm starting to get a bit more comfortable working in my journal.  I still find the small size a bit challenging at times but I'm going with the flow.  I got a hold of my Christy Tomlinson stencil and when to town with my molding paste.  You have to move pretty fast so that paste doesn't dry on the stencil.  I will normally have a wet brush and paper towels waiting as soon as I'm done stenciling to remove the molding paste quickly.

I picked up this chevon washi tape from Hobby Lobby months ago and was afraid to use it because the pattern is so strong.  Once the layers are built up it adds a nice texture to the page so you know that means I will be back for more.

I wanna say HELLO to my new followers!  Thank you everyone for your support!  I will be posting more now.  I'm trying to see if I can get some art journal videos made.

I'm having trouble photographing my Moleskine...sometimes I forget to lay it flat at night so when I'm ready to photograph it's a fight to keep it open.  I am working on getting a scanner but in the meantime does anyone have any suggestions???

Linking to: Create Every Day

Paper Saturday 

Butterfly Banner - Sketch #74

I tried something new with this weeks Cardabilities DT card sketch.  I don't normally use a lot of paints and mediums on my cards but I got the script stencil from Crafters Workshop and I just love how it looks with modeling paste.  This card is very simple but I wanted to use lots of texture to make it interesting.

Hope you enjoy this card and take some time to visit Cardabilities and 

create a card using this awesome sketch!

Mixed Media Tag Swap

I recently joined a mixed media tag swap hosted by Bona!  I will take any chance I can get to paint and share with others.  I used some new and old techniques to make these.  I hope to have a tutorial up soon.  For the most part, I just played around until I came up with something I liked to look at.  I hope the ladies in my group like them.

Click here to see more of my tags!

Stamps - 7 Gypsies

Butterfly - K & Co

Background stamp - Prima

Stencil - Americana

Gloss Gel Medium - Liquitex

Acrylic Paint

Thank you for stopping by!