Gelli Plate and Stencils

Yes, I know monoprinting doesn't have much to do with metal embossing, but as we now carry a good number of stencils , and they definetely are a perfect match for the Gelli plate, we decided to also carry it  in MercArt.

Once you start playing with the Gelli plate you cannot stop! It's addictive and the results are always a beautiful surprise.  I have used it in all sorts of papers, canvas, fabric, wood, tags.....
Besides stencils, our texture plates and decorative wheels  can create all sorts of textures with your Gelli prints.  And now we  also carry a new  Texture comb!!! for those extra amazing details.

Done on canvas with the new  TCW391 Climbing Vine stencil and some doodling

Done with the Artist Cellar stencil Paris AC001.  It looks like the stained glass medallion in Notre Dame

 

Assorted manila Tags using stencils, texture comb and texture plates

 

The top of a wooden box placed directly on the Gelli Plate

Copy paper with Stencil Girl Products S110 Tall Birds stencil and TCW Circle Grid stencil

This was done in fabric using Dreamweaver's Pear stencil LL563 and TCW Zinnia

Texture Comb

Get your Gelli plate and start having fun creating all sorts of unique prints!

Pewter and Stencils: a perfect match

There are many different ways and techniques to do Metal Embossing. One of the easiest ones is using stencils.  The main advantages of using stencils are:

*There are thousands of designs to choose from.

*It is one of the fastest and easiest ways to do metal embossing ; just trace the ouline of the stencil on the metal and you have already done most of the work.! It will look embossed already.

*Stencils don't  have the size limitation of an embossing machine or embossing folders. You can place the stencil anywhere in the metal and mix several designs in one project.  They also give chance to add textures, dimension and volume so your projects don't look "machine" made as embossing folders- projects usually do.

 

 

 

I used the Optic Circle  Stencil and pewter to create this project. The main steps were:

*Place the stencil on the pewter and flip it to its back.

*Rub the  paper stump against the metal until you clearly see the stencil design under the metal.

*Outline every part of the stencil design with the refiner tip of the Teflon D-01 

*Remove the stencil 

*Turn the pewter and place it on a piece of suede. Emboss or push (at the back of the metal, still on the suede) each one of the small circles within the main big circle. Use the appropiate size of Cup and Ball   (I used #4 and #6).

*When each smal circle  has been embossed, place the metal (at the back) on your hand and softly and in round motion, push the metal of the entire big circle using the wooden thumb until you get the desired volume or dimension. This will make the metal really pop out.

*Fill the back of the big embossed circle with the  Filling Paste and let it dry (it may take up to 24 hours if the area is big and deep).

*Apply the Pewter Patina with a brush and polish the metal with any silver polishing paste until you get the desired shine.