Gel Printing with VersaFine Clair Ink Pads: Bold Blocks of Colour
I've been a little obsessed with the new VersaFine Clair colours recently. Their fresh, bright tones inspired me to pull out another favourite tool from my craft room – my gel plate!
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Unlike my previous project, I used the ink pads themselves to apply colour directly to the gel plate. This created bold blocks of colour rather than the blended backgrounds we often associate with gel printing.
Before I begin, you can find a reel showing all of the step-by-step pages plus links to my previous blog posts using the new VersaFine Clair ink pad colours, at the bottom of this post.
Creating the background
No brayers or blending tools were required as I used the ink pad itself to transfer ink to the gel plate which created a cool block effect.
The goal wasn't to cover the gel plate with colour, which is what we normally do when gel printing.
I am using VersaFine Clair Lemonade, Carrot & Dahlia Purple for the printed background and some of the background stamping.
I began with Lemonade, pressing the ink pad on the gel plate to create blocks - pulled a print ...
and then repeated the technique with VersaFine Clair Carrot, pulling the print using the Lemonade background I made first.
My final layer used VersaFine Clair Dahlia Purple, again creating blocks of colour. I used the previous print to pull the remaining ink from the gel plate and complete the background.
Adding the next layers
In my previous reel/blog post, I added stamped layers using the gel plate. This time I stamped directly on to the background using Dahlia Purple to begin with and added contrast using Nocturne. If you missed my previous gel printing experiment using VersaFine Clair inks, you can find it HERE.
I did like the end result but also felt I had taken away from the block effect. I grabbed my Square Simplicity stencil and white texture paste, adding some blocks back in to the design.
It was only when this layer was dry that I could have kicked myself. Seeing the dried texture paste, I realised my mistake. Stamping over a raised texture paste surface was never going to give me a clean image. Just as I was about to abandon the idea, a light bulb moment hit me – acetate!
As the acetate is clear, this would give the illusion that I had stamped directly on to the background. If you don't like the gloss effect the acetate gives, add a coat of clear gesso which takes away the shine while still allowing the background to show through.
I used glossy accents to stick the stamped acetate flowers to my background - I've always found that glossy accents works perfectly compared to many other adhesives. If you do not have glossy accents, gel medium is a good alternative.
Finishing touches
Originally this was going to be another art journal page but at the last minute, I decided to make a tag instead. I think I have as many tags as I have art journals ...! I glued the background to a pre-cut tag, cutting away any excess.
I added some stamped quotes and a few punched hearts and the tag was finished. What started as an experiment with blocks of colour ended up becoming one of my favourite tags from this recent gel printing session.
All moves captured in a reel!
You can click on the image below to watch the reel and just in case, it may not work, I have also uploaded it to YouTube HERE.
Previous VersaFine Clair blog posts:
More than a Swatch: how one card idea changes
How to use VersaFine Clair ink pads on a gel plate/ art journal tutorial
Supplies used on this project:
I really have enjoyed using the VersaFine Clair ink pads in different ways and hope you have too. I am busy editing a reel about the left over ink I spoke about in my previous blog post and will share that as soon as it is finished.
When the new colours launched on HobbyMaker TV, I created a "Get to Know VersaFine Clair" resource sheet to help crafters explore their ink pads with the papers and cardstocks they already use. Would you be interested in a full video where I share everything I've learned about VersaFine Clair over the years?
Until next time, take care,
xxx
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