Video Frenzy With Gel Press® and StencilGirl

Today is Video Frenzy Day with Gel Press® and StencilGirl and Gel Press® designers have been working hard to inspire you with their projects.  Look for the link at the end of my blog today to see the rest of the videos.  Here is my project.

Thanksgiving Card Made from Masterboard

Using a Masterboard to make backgrounds is a great way to start seasonal projects. I used the 12" x 14" Large Format Gel Press® Plate and StencilGirl stencils and printed on large mixed media paper to make my Masterboard.  What is a Masterboard, you ask?

Masterboard- a large mixed media background of various patterns and colors that can be cut into smaller projects.

I love StencilGirl stencils and have dozens of them.  Many leading artists design their unique stencils so there is something for everyone!  They even have a monthly club that I was a member of for over a year. I received 3 exclusive stencils every month, along with access to a private Facebook group and monthly video on how the artist who designed the stencils used them.  Find out more about the club here.

See how I made my fall themed Masterboard in my video.  

Masterboard Technique Steps

1. Place the stencils/masks onto the Gel Press® Plate. 
2. Drop fluid acrylic paints on top of the stencils.  I used 2 or 3 colors that would not make mud.
3. Remove the stencils.
4. Brayer one or two colors of heavy body acrylic paint onto palette paper.  Make sure that the brayer is covered with a thin layer of paint. 
5. Brayer over the fluid acrylic paint on the plate.  The heavy body paint will fill in the areas where there's no fluid acrylic paint. 
6. Pull the print.  

Tips:

• Overlap large patterned stencils/masks over smaller patterned ones (or vise versa) for interesting results.  
• Placed stencils in a tub of water to make cleanup easy.
• Add a touch of metallic or luminous colors for dramatic results.
• Use similar colored fluid acrylic paints and heavy body acrylic paints to avoid muddy colors.
• Use contrasting colors for the different layers. Just don't brayer over the same spot in Step 5 or you could get mud and ruin the stencil pattern.

Thanksgiving Card Using StencilGirl and Gel Press@

Place Cards Using Masterboard

Gel Press® Printed Avery Labels

Masterboard Projects

Ready for the Holidays!

Now go check out the rest of the videos on the Gel Press® YouTube Channel or on the Gel Press Facebook Page today.

I hope you are inspired to make something crafty with Gel Press® and StencilGirl stencils.  And when you do, don't forget to share it on Gel Press Junkies Facebook page! For more inspiration follow Gel Press® on Pinterest and Instagram.

Have a great Holiday Season!

Kathy

Whales, Bees, and Sky: January Sneak Peek for Scrap n' Art

Happy New Year Card

Wow!  I completed lots of projects for this issue!  Along with Christmas decorating, shopping, and traveling, December was a busy month.  I trust that you all had a happy and safe holiday season and I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year!

I worked with some amazing new products including 7 Dots Studio and Blue Fern Studios, both providing the design team with beautiful patterned paper and chipboard.  I used 7 Dots Studio, "Destination Unknown" paper collection, featuring beautiful celestial and sea designs in teal, black and light neutrals.  It is stunning!

Destination Unknown

I LOVE these beautiful tags!

This is a bit off-topic, but I LOVE whales!  Ever since I read an article in National Geographic magazine when I was little, I've loved them.  What appeals to me about them is their size combined with their intelligence and gentleness.  The Blue Whale (click on the link for an interesting interactive) is the largest creature on earth, at 100 feet long, is larger than a basketball court or 3 school buses in a row. It weighs 200 tons, or the equivalent of 15 school buses. I've never seen one in the wild, but it is on my bucket list. 

With that said, I created a simple canvas using the Destination Unknown patterned paper, paints and this cute chipboard whale that came in the collection.  I don't think he is a Blue Whale, but I used my artistic licence and painted him with shades of blue paint and added a bit of white. I think he is adorable!  The quote on the canvas reads: "You are a rare and beautiful creature and you fill my heart with wonder and joy."

Rare and Beautiful Canvas

I also created a scrapbook page using the celestial pattered paper that I painted with Viridian (color) paint by Art Anthology.  It is very transparent so the pattern shows through.  Check out my tutorial at Scrap n' Art here: Destinations Unknown with 7 Dots Studio.

Blue Fern Studios offers a huge variety of laser-cut chipboard in every conceivable shape you can think of! Their patterned paper is very heavy and beautiful subtle colors and patterns.   I used some hexagon/honeycomb chipboard and pattered paper for an artistic tag.  

Indigo Blu is a wonderful rubber stamp company based in England.  I used the Snow Queen stamp to create a winter themed canvas for the magazine.  I used a 10"x 10"canvas that I started in November for a project and I didn't like the results so I put it aside and picked it up in December, painted it over with gesso, and blue paint and started over.  I kept little bits of the bright orange color from the original canvas peeking through, which added depth to the finished project.  If you are in the States and want to purchase Indigo Blu stamps, check out Joann.com or Paperwishes.com 

So check out the January issue of Scrap n' Art magazine for more projects and tutorials.  Learn and be inspired.  Thanks for visiting! Leave me some words below, as long as they are nice!