September Expanding Your Options - Keri

Hi everyone, it's time again for my monthly series, Expanding Your Options!

This month, I've layered products from all of my past Frog Dog kits to create a fun DIY suncatcher for my kitchen window.
The idea for the design came from this great Joann's tutorial by Mark Montano. Cool, right?
Here's how I created the suncatcher:

Here's how the finished product looks:

And here's a close-up of how awesome the crackle/alcohol ink combo looks, with the sun shining in through the window:

Love this look, and can't wait to experiment even more with crackle+alcohol ink on transparent surfaces!
Thanks so much for joining me.

~Keri

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September Kit Journal Page

I am in love with this little girl...She takes center stage in much of my life and art.

I am her Mimi:)

I know that I am partial...but Annabelle is definitely "un-believably cute!" 

Just like the precious children in your life, I imagine:)

So, here was the process...

1st step...coat page with a thin layer of white gesso.

Next I applied yellow acrylic paint to the journal page with an old rewards card.

Before the yellow paint was completely dry, I laid this diamond stencil down on the page...using a baby wipe (you could use a wet paper towel) wipe off the yellow paint within each diamond. Putting the gesso on first helps make this process more effective.

Next, I added some "flower doodles" using white Gesso.

I also randomly sprayed the page with the Dylusions White Ink Spray from our kit.

Time for some more layers and finishing touches.

Above, I outlined the page with the Pink Big Brush Pen and smeared it with my thumb while it was still wet.  I love markers, and these have become one of my favorites!  

I also added the fun Blue Fragments (also from our great September kit), using a little matte medium.

Above, I added hearts using a small punch and the paint chip samples...then added the hole reinforcers with a bit of doodling.

I wrote the words (Un-Believably-Cute)  on white card stock, cut them out and added a bit of color 

with the Pink Big Brush Pen.

I layered some of my doodles with my Uni-ball Signo white pen and inked up this flower stamp (designed by Alisa Burke) with the Pink Pitt Big Brush Pen.

For the Photo images of my Annabelle, I used Transfer Artist Paper. (TAP)

Simply print your images, using your home computer and printer, directly onto this 8 1/2 X 11 Transfer Paper.  Once dry, simply iron onto the surface you wish to transfer to...it will work on paper, fabric, wood, glass, metal, clay and more:)  I have not yet tried all of these surfaces, 

but certainly will in the future!

Above is a transfer I did on a simple tag.  I added a hint of white gesso to the edge, then smeared a little color over it with the Pink Pitt Big Brush Pen.

Below is a picture of the letters I printed on the TAP.  If you are going to transfer letters, remember to "flip" the images so that when you iron them on they are not backwards:)

Below, you can see that I ironed on the letter A to this little linen tag.

The image above was also done with TAP.  With this one, I ironed Annabelle onto a piece of homemade paper...adhered it to the page with matte medium, and doodled around it.

(I love this moment caught on camera....she was "sneaking" her binkie out of the diaper bag...the one she can only have when she takes a nap...so sneaky:) )

For all the black "doodles" I used my favorite doodle pen "Scarlet Lime."  

The black circles you see were "stamped" on with the lid of my black craft paint:)

Hope this inspires you to use our September kit!  It is full of great products that you can continue to use for many projects in the future!  Buying kits expands "your stash" with great products that you can learn how to use right here on our blog for FREE!!!  

It's a blessing to share with you,

sue

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Bring On The Color! - Featured Kit and LTD Kit

This month's kits inspired me to the max!  I like bold, jewel tone or tropical colors!  I do like earthy colors but the tropical colors make me happy.

Here is the September kit.  Look at all the goodies you receive!!!  I especially LOVE the Faber Castill Pitt Stamper's Big Brush!  Along with the stamps, the Big Brushes are permanent on paper, but on non porous surfaces, the color stays wet - so perfect for stamping with.  The Dylusions spray let me get playful and add splatters to my art.  The items I didn't use in this post, will be showcased in my Playful Musings post on August 25.

Here is the Limited Edition Kit!  I adore creating with the Gelli Plate!  The brayer you receive is soft and perfect for making mono prints.  The Stencils and other goodies has your imagination going on overdrive not wanting to stop designing prints!

This art infuses 2 Gelli Plate prints,  the Big Brush Pens, and a graphic image I computer generated.

A little paint goes a long way on the Gelli plate.  For best results, use water-based paint and inks.  Oil based may be used but they are harder to work with and clean off the plate.

An even motion back and forth, side to side is used.  Sweep upwards at the top, and downwards at the bottom lifting the brayer off the end of the plate with each pass.  The brayer in the kit is a soft brayer which is perfect for mono printing with the Gelli plate. Harder brayers won't work as well.

Here are photos of the two Gelli prints I made.  I took the first print, and adhered the second print on top for contrast.  I enhanced the second print - the circles, by using the  Big Brush Pens.  The circles were originally white.

The graphic is printed on vellum and adhered to the art after using the  Big Brush Pens, black pen, and white ink to add contrast, dimension and color.  3D elements added for further contrast and texture.

Here is the finished art.  After printing with the Gelli plate, I added more ink, stenciled numbers, collaged, add more ink from the Big Brush Pens, and 3D embellishments.  See how the pink lacing adds a perfect divider from the two prints.

This art is using the featured kit, no Gelli plate.  I die cut the background paper and watercolor painted cardstock.  To enhance it, I took crumbled plastic, and scribbled on it with the Big Brush Pens.  These Big Brush Pens stay wet on stamps and any non- porous surfaces (see my Playful Musings at the end of the month for more detail).

The white Dylusions spray is a dream!!  I was able to spritz and splatter (from the bottle) the paint.  Also added white to the UmWow Chipboard elements.  The sun was stamped using the Big Brush Pens  and painted/enhanced with a gel pen.  The black "amazing" was made more dimensional with the black paint pen.

3 different types of art, done differently but from the Featured Kit and the Limited Edition Kit!!!  Too many ideas to show here, once I started creating, I couldn't Stop!

Gelli Plate Tips:
- Fabric paints like Lumiere's will work with the Gelli Plate.  You will get beautiful results.

- Watercolors are not the best for the Gelli Plate. The viscosity (thin) will bead up on the Gelli Plate.  It can be done, especially with Gouache watercolors.  Experiment and see what you can come up with.

- Do your monoprinting on dry paper - do not wet or soak paper first.  Glossy does not work as it will stick to the plate and damage the surface of the plate.

- If your paints bead up on the surface, there might be a film build up, easy to remove by washing plate surface with dish soap like Dawn.

- If your paper is sticking to the Gelli Plate, there is too little paint on the surface.  A slight learning curve as you print, to see how much paint is required.  You want a thin coat but not too thin.


Cre8tivelea Yours - Lea

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Gelli Plate Madness!

Hi! and Happy Monday!

Tina here today to kick us off with our September Design Team tutorials, tips, and how-to's.  Before we get started with today's video tutorial, let's take a peek again at the 2 AMAZING kits offered this month!

First up, we have the September Mixed Media kit!

Neons are screaming HOT today and this kit is full of bright, vibrant colors and patterns.  The creating possibilities are endless!

We also have a Limited Edition kit, that will provide an unlimited amount of projects and will allow you to create unique, one of a kind mixed media canvases, art journals, and more.

Today, I will be sharing a few projects created with the September Limited Edition kit.  My first video tutorial will show you how to use your Gelli Plate and provide some basic information on the Gelli Plate projects and options.

Let's get started with the first video tutorial!

How is that for a cool product?  And so many uses!

I also wanted to share with you 2 projects I created with my Gelli Plate prints.  First, I would like to share a Girl Canvas that was created using several of my Gelli Prints on Deli Paper.

The canvas background was created using Gelli Prints, paint, and ink.  Here's a short video on that process.

My second project uses one of my Gelli prints as a base for an art journal page.  I don't have a video tutorial on my design process, but here are some images of my art journal page and close-ups.

I used a similar technique as used on my Girl canvas, building layers with paint, ink, and sprays.

If you are looking for a way to create endless, unique projects, a Gelli Plate is the way to go!  You will be addicted, I can guarantee it!  :)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great Monday!

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