Gelli Arts 4" Round Gel Printing Plate
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deli paper, copy paper, exam table paper in rolls, mixed media paper, and watercolor paper are some of the options. Because there's so much cleanup, I usually get out all of my paints, inks, and stencils and spend three to five hours making a bunch of prints. My favorites are the deli (try both sides to see which you prefer), but I'll also use the brayer to roll off excess onto the exam and/or copy paper to create cool backgrounds. Don't spend a lot of money on mixed media paper; I buy the cheapest or student grade and have discovered that the thinner the paper, the better the print. Watercolor isn't my favorite medium - does not produce the same results as imprint I split a box of 1,000 sheets from our grocery outlet store, which costs around $15 per box. For the other papers, I wait until Aaron Bros has a good sale or until I can use a coupon to get their student mixed media and water color paper. I purchased the exam paper from Amazon, and I have only purchased one roll thus far. $1 - $1 - $1 - $1 - $1 - $1 - $1 - $1 -$1 - $1 - $1 creates some very cool backgrounds My preferred paper weight is a medium weight, but before purchasing in bulk, try out different weights to see which you prefer.
To put it simply, they should have written rectangle rather than square. 8 x 10 isn't square, either. You can either get the rectangle or keep looking for a square gel plate, which I'm not sure they make.
During three summer school sessions, I worked with the student plates: Several middle school students were in my classes. The plates have held up remarkably well, and we've printed using both sides when one became "pitted" or otherwise imprinted. The smaller size appeals to me as well. Clean- It's less difficult to clean up, and the prints dry quickly. I hope this has been of assistance!
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Selected User Reviews For Gelli Arts 4" Round Gel Printing Plate
Overall, this is a fantastic product, and I learned how to use it by watching videos on YouTube. But here's what they don't tell you, and it's crucial information. You will completely ruin the plate your first time out if you do not understand these points. br>br>1 Do not use the Gelli plate on graphite of any kind, including line drawings. I used a pencil drawing as a guide, and the graphite was completely absorbed by the plate (see photo). I'm referring to the entire drawing that has been imprinted on the plate and cannot be removed (that drawing is on the gel plate, not the paper, and it is permanent). I tried cleaning it with soap and water and a strong cloth, but all it did was wear away the glossy surface, rendering it unsalvageable. ruined. br>br> 2 acrylics dry extremely quickly after application. I'm talking about instantly, and the surface is unworkable. None of the videos I watched suggested using a retardant, which I later discovered to be the key. Direct acrylic dries quickly, and the thinner the layer (which is recommended), the quicker it dries. You're watching the videos, but they're not mentioning this crucial point. br>br>3 If you try to "write" into dry acrylic with a soft tool, the surface will be scratched. The painting is skipped over, and the gel plate is perforated. I figured that spritzing a spritz of water over the dry acrylic paint would loosen it up. It only exacerbates the problem, and printing to paper produces an unattractive result. br>br>4 Please use water-based acrylic inks for printing. They have a much longer standing time than acrylic paint, and they all require a retardant to work. There was a lot of it. br>br>Aside from that, the plates are quite nice; I just bought my third one because the first two were beyond repair. It was my fault, but I've learned my lesson.
This is the third time I've used a gelli plate. When I moved, I gave away the two bigger ones, but I needed the 8 x 10-inch one. inch size has returned. I like how adaptable it is. Monoprints are one of my favorite things to do. In collage, I like to use the background a lot. br>Caring for the plate can be a challenge. I've seen videos of people wiping off the entire coat of paint in a few strokes. It takes much longer for me, and I have to be very careful because paint dries and sticks. br>There is one point in the instructions that I don't get-- When you're not using the plate, they recommend covering it with plain printer paper, but they also warn against storing it with any absorbent paper. The paper used in printers is extremely absorbent. After about an hour, I had a lot of stains on my hands, so I covered them with deli paper.
The plate worked fine at first, but after a few weeks in storage, the surface developed surface imperfections. They have the appearance of shallow craters. They show up on the final product when you try to print them; I bought several sizes, and they all did the same thing. I kept them in the plastic shell packaging that I received them in, with plastic sheets between them. They were kept in a temperature-controlled storage facility. I also placed an order for two other brands. Those are fine, and on that basis, I'd rate this one as a lower-quality product.
The band's catchphrase is "Addicted to Gelli," and it's true! For my card making and paper crafts, I wanted to do something more fine art-like, and I fell in love with the results right away. The fact that no two pulls from this plate are alike is part of what makes it so addicting; I swear I start using it and look up to find two hours have passed! It engrosses you completely. It's simple to learn and inexpensive to get started, making it ideal for children, seniors, and people with upper-body disabilities. My hands and fingers are often weak, but squirting acrylic paint from the tube, rolling the brayer on the plate, and swishing a Q-tip are all relatively simple tasks for me. Then gently rub the paper on top of the plate after tipping or pressing a stencil into the paint. One of the most worthwhile craft purchases I've made in recent years!.
It's Fun. I freely admit that I am easily persuaded by videos demonstrating craft products, but everyone who has used one of these Gelli Plates says they are so much fun that I was persuaded (by myself) that I needed one. I had previously attempted a homemade version using plastic-wrapped foam rubber, which had worked reasonably well, but when this little beauty arrived, it was a whole new ballgame. I printed and printed and printed, and yes, everyone said it was the most fun. You could spend an entire day just trying out all of the great videos with great ideas. This is a fantastic product that is well packaged, and I love it so much that I persuaded a friend to buy one, which arrived today, so we'll be having a big girl's playdate next week, making messes, laughing, and hopefully pulling a few spectacular prints.
Some people wonder how long these last; my first Gelli plate is about 5 years old and I still use it. You, too, can enjoy years of printing fun if you take good care of the plate and follow the basic directions. Because discoloration has no effect on performance, you can still pull prints if you use dyes. Water-based paints (acrylics) in a few colors, paper (even junk mail), and a way to spread the paint (a brayer is common, but you can also use a plastic palette knife, brush, or even an old gift card) are the only real necessities. Monoprinting is a fun activity for people of all ages, from three to 103, and it can help you make happy memories when you play together. You might be wondering why I purchased another plate when I already own one. With some of the techniques, I'm impatient, so having another plate allows me to keep playing while the paint on the other plate dries.
I'll admit it: I'm hooked on Gelli art. I made my own plate when I first learned about this method of monoprinting, and it lasted for one painting session. I decided to take the risk and purchase this item, and I've had way more fun than a 62-year-old should have! I believe that what makes this process so enjoyable is how simple it is, how much information is available on the internet to assist you, and how inexpensive the rest of your supplies are once you have the plate and brayer. You can become an instant "artitste" with some acrylic craft paint and common household items!.
I adore Gelli Plates, but this one had to have been sitting for a long time because attempting to remove the plastic covers tore the gelli plate apart. I decided to keep the one side that was still smooth. These items appear to have a limited shelf life in my opinion.
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