We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
"Little Gidding"
T S Eliot

Thursday 26 December 2013

Gelli-licious!

I finally got the Gelli Plate out to have my first go at using it!  And oh - once I got going I couldn't stop.  It was - "this will be the last one - um - the paint left on the plate looks interesting, think I'll just do another one ..." and so it went on!

I learned not to use too much paint (I'm using Liquitex Basic heavy body acrylic) - and know when to stop.  A few times I thought another layer would be a good idea, and it wasn't!


Here is everything I did - quite a few pieces are hidden under others!  I think the final total was around 50!

I used a variety of substrates, here are a few close-ups with details.







These are on cartridge paper (130gsm). 1st (on the left) and 2nd generation prints using a mask 3 times, and 3 different shades of blue paint, with a final thin layer of gold paint with squiggles.





The one on the left is a 2nd generation print on cartridge paper (200gsm), and the one on the right is 1st generation on watercolour paper.

Like the texture of the watercolour paper.



The one on the right is canvas (1st), the left is 2nd on cartidge paper (200gsm).

The canvas is very textured, and I do like the softness of the print. It didn't work well with 2nd generation prints.

I like the minimal-ness of 3rd generation prints, but you have to be quick before the paint drys.  These are on glossy paper (about 120gsm) and would make good backgrounds.





Using masks is effective.  There is a bit of bubble wrap in there too.

















1st generation using sheet music .....

















and book pages.

This is a 2nd generation print.   If paint is left to dry on the plate then more paint applied on top of it, the dry bits are reactivated.  Hence the blue bits.















I have only scratched the surface (no pun intended!) of what is possible, but now I'm getting the feel of the plate, I can be more adventurous.

Happy gelli-ing!

Saturday 21 December 2013

'Twas the weekend before Christmas .....

and this will be my last Christmassy post!

Recently the craft group I run finished their origami Christmas wreaths.  Because of time constraints, we used the less time consuming origami flower (instructions can be found here) with added die-cut leaves, glitter and ribbon.

Here is a selection - fabulous!



This year I  made just a couple of Christmas card designs, and as they have all now been sent (and hopefully received!), this one is for all my followers and blog readers!

I used 2 stamps - the sentiment is by Chocolate Baroque, and the bird with star is by Stampotique.  Add a double black fine line border, and repeat with a quickie glue pen - then throw on some glitter and mount onto a black card.  Glitter is always difficult to photograph!


Merry Christmas to everyone, and hope 2014 is good for you all.
K.
xxx

Sunday 15 December 2013

A box-shaped diversion!

I was going to break out the Gelli Plate for the first time, but got diverted by a project a friend did, which inspired me, and reminded me I had a couple of box blanks languishing in the back of the cupboard.  So the Gelli Plate got put back on the shelf!


This is quite a large chest shaped box, here in all its naked glory minus the fixings!

Though it has had a coat of gesso.










I recently found this fabulous ribbon, which really consists of random holes joined together!  Also on the box today are - metal flowers, bead caps, paper clay faces (still got a lot of those), and a die-cut key.










Before adding anything else it had a coat of Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint in Mushroom.

I then started adding texture paste and Kroma Crackle (because the lid is domed shaped the crackle formed drips, which I like).

Then several more layers of paint - Mushroom, London Night and Claret, and of course gilding wax!




Here you can see some crackle drips, and also a new find - Golden large mica flakes medium.










The final result - top view.
Very difficult to photograph so used flash in this one to try and pick up the glimmer from the mica flakes and gilding wax.











There was another smaller chest inside this one .....

Sunday 8 December 2013

Feeling a bit more Christmasy!

It was the final Ashtead Club get together of the year - which is always a bit of fun!  More details of what we got up to will be on the Club's blog in due course (link is on sidebar).


Just had to make another tiara - this one uses an existing old tinsel hairband, but I added some baubles and an origami flower.  Didn't get a good photo on the night, so here is one taken later.

Quite restrained I think!


We did some quick makes - I opted for the mini choc bar wraps. These would make good Christmas Tree pressies - though I doubt these particular ones are going to last that long!










The final Club challenge of the year was to make a Christmas decoration, which would then go into a blind swop with other entries.

This is my entry, which started life as 2 wooden butterflies that I was going to include on a canvas, but which didn't make it in the end.

I painted them silver, with a bit of crackle and glitter paint, and sequins.  So it looked good from either side, the two butterflies were sandwiched together, with some ribbon.

It looks huge here, but it is hanging on a tiny tree!






This is what I received in the swop - a really pretty daffodil.

It is also double sided so looks good from all angles.


















Talking of Club challenges, last year's Christmas one (pre-blog!), was to create a Christmas decoration out of household items.

This is my entry - Clarabelle, the singing Christmas Angel!  She is made from an upturned bath foam bottle, stainless steel scourer, bottle caps, and washer.

She did win too -and has remained on my bookcase all year!






Started this post a few days ago, then other stuff intervened, so finishing it off now.  Needless to say, the mini-chocs are no more - though I did save the wrappers as a reminder for next year!!