Friday, February 9, 2018

Fri-YAY and Some New Discoveries + Giveaway

I'm so glad the weekend is finally here. This week has been 99 kinds of crazy. Perhaps 100 kinds of crazy.

I have added a few new podcasts to my list that you might like. All my favorites lists can be found here and cover most areas of my life.

I have a backlog of many fun things to show you that I created right around Creativation, but didn't have edited, etc. so I have some cool tutorials coming up with some of the samples I picked up at the show. One is coming on Monday so stay tuned.

But today - I wanted to try something with the Gel Press and layering stencils.

When you monoprint, since the paper is facing away with you - you never really know what you're going to get. It's part of the fun of printing.

So I took these stencils I bought LAST SPRING - gah - and hadn't had a chance to use yet, and I challenged myself to see if I could use them with my Gel Press and see if I could get them somewhat aligned, and I did!

The trick is to put your Gel Press inside the base of the MISTI and then use a few alignment tips in my video below try to get close to lining the patterns up. I did make a mistake, which you will see in the video - BUT the print turned out beautiful anyway.

But on the ghost print, I did get them lined up and I just love the way it looks. It's sooo different from the look you get blending ink through these stencils, because the ghost print picks up the leftover ink - which is on the part of the stencil that blocks ink from getting on your paper. So it doubles the number of different looks you can get from this stencil - so fun.

I also used a product I bought years ago to see how it adhered to the surface of the Gel Press. These inks have an acrylic base but are extremely fluid, which is why I got the level of transparency I did - and that was necessary to really get the full look of the layering stencils. The inks are amazing - you use very little and they cover the Gel Press beautifully. I finished off the card with just simple word dies - C&9's Double Cut Alphabet and Gina K's friend die.

AND - I don't know why you've all been keeping this website from me - but I have just discovered it! Not only do they have the linen textured cardstock I've been searching high and low for, but they have it in different weights, AND, they CUT, SCORED and corner rounded it for me! WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?? So that's what I used for the card base. I used the Corner Chomper to make the print match that bottom finished edge.
Layering Stencils with the Gel Press by Understand Blue
Gel Press 5 x 7 REUSABLE GEL PRINTING...
[ SSS ]
"Friend" Die
[ GNK | SSS ]
Double-Cut Alphabet Dies
[ C&9 | SSS | ELH | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE A Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE B Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Niji Splash Ink
[ BLIC ]
Speedball 2" Rubber Brayer - Soft
[ JGG | ELH ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | SBC ]
Sizzix BIG SHOT EXPRESS Gray and...
[ SSS | ART | BMS | CST | SBC ]
8 1/2 x 11 Bright White Linen...
[ PPR ]
Gold Glimmer Paper by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock by...
[ SUP ]
We R Memory Keepers Cropadile CORNER...
[ SSS ]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Ranger Inkssentials MINI GLOSSY...
[ SSS | ELH | CST | MFT ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]

Now the second card was where I made my alignment mistake - check the video for the little thing I did wrong that made that yellow circle not line up behind that pink star in the center - it's off about 1/2". It's still beautiful and I love it but I have tips in the video for how to avoid doing what I did. It's pretty simple.

I die cut the print with the Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies to capture the center of the kaleidoscope, and then just added another circle of gold glimmer paper, and the sentiment stamps & die cut from Halftone Circles - I think this was one of my first Altenew sets I bought - I use it a lot. That's all mounted on a Whisper White card base. I stuck the die cuts to the glimmer paper for these cards with Glossy Accents

Layering Stencils with the Gel Press by Understand Blue
Gel Press 5 x 7 REUSABLE GEL PRINTING...
[ SSS ]
Altenew HALFTONE CIRCLES DIE Set
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Altenew HALFTONE CIRCLES Clear Stamp Set
[ SSS | ELH | CST | ALTN ]
Circle Infinity Dies (H)
[ HA | ELH | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE A Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE B Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Niji Splash Ink
[ BLIC ]
Speedball 2" Rubber Brayer - Soft
[ JGG | ELH ]
Tsukineko VersaFine Clair NOCTURNE...
[ SSS ]
Gold Glimmer Paper by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Whisper White Cardstock - Thick
[ SUP ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | SBC ]
Sizzix BIG SHOT EXPRESS Gray and...
[ SSS | ART | BMS | CST | SBC ]
We R Memory Keepers Cropadile CORNER...
[ SSS ]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Ranger Inkssentials MINI GLOSSY...
[ SSS | ELH | MFT | CST ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]

Prior to filming, I had done a test of the inks with the same stencils with the magenta and blue. Since overall, the print was darker and very busy - I thought it would look better in a smaller die cut, so I used the Cuddles & Hugs die to create that thin outline, and then used the big hugs and the skinny hugs in Whisper White for the center. The sentiment is from the matching sentiment - and the little heart is part of that die set as well. Since the value of the magenta and the blue were a little too similar - the larger print didn't look as good as the smaller one. But no gel print ever goes in the trash here - it's amazing what a die cut can do to what you think is an ugly print.
Layering Stencils with the Gel Press by Understand Blue
Gel Press 5 x 7 REUSABLE GEL PRINTING...
[ SSS ]
Cuddles & Hugs Dies
[ C&9 | SSS | ELH | SBC ]
Cuddles & Hugs Stamp Set
[ C&9 | SSS | ELH | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE A Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Altenew LAYERED KALEIDOSCOPE B Stencil
[ SSS | ELH | ALTN | SBC ]
Niji Splash Ink
[ BLIC ]
Speedball 2" Rubber Brayer - Soft
[ JGG | ELH ]
Tsukineko VersaFine Clair NOCTURNE...
[ SSS ]
Whisper White Cardstock - Thick
[ SUP ]
We R Memory Keepers Cropadile CORNER...
[ SSS ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | SBC ]
Sizzix BIG SHOT EXPRESS Gray and...
[ SSS | ART | BMS | CST ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
The AQUA Absorber Towel 17 x 27...
[ SSS ]

So here's my short video on this technique, complete with my blooper. Click over to YouTube to watch it in HD.




What are your plans for the weekend? I am making a date with my craft desk for sure - it's gathering dust and that's a crime.

How about a giveaway?

I'll do it  a little different today - I'll give you a way to get two chances instead of one!

Leave me a comment below with your current favorite stamp or die for one chance - and for a second chance - just leave me a comment on this YouTube video!

The prize will be (you're so lucky I accidentally buy doubles of things!) the Crafty Friends Stamp set from Altenew! This is one of my favorite sets - I use it all the time - and I love putting some of the sentiments on the outsides of envelopes when I mail friends cards. Here's what it looks like.


Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

Loveyameanitbye.

16 comments:

  1. Your cards are amazing, as always, and you’ve inspired me to get out my gel press this weekend.. always fun. My favorite stamp set at the moment is my new Hero Arts monthly Valentines set, which comes with dies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super cool cards! :) Those colors are so cheerful!

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  3. Beautiful cards. My favorite stamp set at the moment is You're Pretty! from Neat & Tangled (the name always reminds me of one of your blog posts). I made a card for a co-workers wife. He developed Alzheimers and Dementia and all he remembers is delivering mail, so I send cards every week so he can sort and deliver them in the house, so I made one for her this week as well.

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  4. Beautiful cards! Love the designs and look of the gelly press! Glad I'm not the only one who buys doubles of things! Picking a favourite is really hard, so I'll go with one that I've used the most recently - Altenew's To the Moon stamp set. Love the layering moon and the sentiments!

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  5. I hope this isn’t a repeat google giving me a hard time. My favorite die is a small Elizabeth Craft word cheers. I use it all the time. Most used stamp in a sentiment hand crafted by for back of cards. Favorite stamps waaaaay too many to list.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haven't been stamping much lately as I have a grandson on the way so I have shifted focus to some sewing. My all time favorite die is Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish and Medallion is one of my favorite stamps.

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  7. I don't have a gel press but can say that now it's on my crafty wish list. My favorite stamps are anything flower. I like to color and use the multi step stamp ones. It just depends on my mood!

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  8. What!?! These are amazing - you are amazing.

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  9. Such lovely cards. I love watching you create. I always learn so much. My favorite stamp set ( dies) right now is Hero Arts Prayers.

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  10. Hmmm ... how do you pick a favorite ... how about Honey Bee Blah Blah Blah

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  11. Beautiful cards & technique! I love how you used the blue print on the hugs card, clever way to show off the lovely print without overpowering the card.

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  12. Oooh, what a genius move to use the print that you didn't care for as an outline for your die sentiment! My recent favorite die is a set of balloon dies by Elizabeth Craft Designs. There are round, long, and heart shaped balloons...so much fun!

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  13. Wow! Love your colouring!!! Thanks for this great chance to win!!! My current favorite is Kobi's Hugs & Kisses stamp set from the Studio Katia! Too cute!!!

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  14. So, a gel press and stencil are way outside my comfort range but I had to watch your video to see how you made that awesome kaleidoscope design. Thanks for including your blooper for those viewers (like me) who think that everything has to be perfect, lol! My favorite dies are actually really basic ones like stitched circles and stitched rectangles. I can used them on anything, and they make even ordinary cards look fancier.

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  15. Not only do I not have a gel press but I don't even know what they are so this was a fun video to watch. I love the ghost print effect, wow!

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  16. Beautiful cards.
    My latest favorite stamp set has to be Jane Davenport Crafty Minx.

    ReplyDelete

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