Category Archives: Art How To

Create a Gelli-Ball Ornament!

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This year we had an ornament competition at the Irving Art Association. Member-created ornaments were hung at our gallery at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts for the Holiday Art Exhibit. Prizes will be awarded!

For some creative ideas, I browsed through YouTube and discovered “How To make a Paper Ball Christmas Ornament”, which launched this project.

Basically you start by cutting papers in a circle, so I decided to use my new round 8″ Gelli Plate to create the design. I used papers I had already printed but weren’t finished art. I added a circular print using my new plate with a metallic acrylic paint. The prints were made on cardstock, but I think you could use anything that wasn’t too fragile for gelli printing.

So then I cut out eight circles following the printed circle design, folded them in half with the printed side inside, and glued the the unprinted sides together. (More circles than eight might be better). I used a glue stick, but the video shows how to do it with a hot glue gun. Before I glued the very last side, I attached a ribbon in the center section to hold the ball. I knotted the ribbon above and below the Gelli-Ball to reinforce it  and glued it in place.

Because the circles weren’t cut perfectly, they were uneven. So I used fancy scissors with decorative edges to cut a scalloped edge. I also attached a spray of turquoise sequins as a weight underneath.

So many design possibilities for this idea! Adding bells, beads or fringe as a weight would be a nice touch. Besides using ribbon to hang the ball, consider string, yarn, cord, fine chain, pipe cleaners, skewers, etc. Edge treatment could be plain, cut, scalloped, bordered or decorated. Experimenting with different kinds of paper would be fun, and the “ball” doesn’t have to be round. The balls could be strung in a chain or grouped like a mobile. And of course the design created on the Gelli printed papers could be anything — it doesn’t have to be holiday-related. This would be an interesting way to display kid’s art.

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glue the unprinted sides together

 

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detail, showing the edges before they were scalloped

 

 

 

 

Making your own Gelatin/Glycerin Plate

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Printmaking without a press using the new GelliArts Gelli Plate has really taken the interest of the arts & crafts world. You can buy a plate or now simply make one!

Permanent Gelli Printing Plates are made by Gelli Arts — you can order directly from them at gelliarts.com. Or you can order online  from DickBlick.com, Dharma Trading Co., Amazon (only has one size) and locally from Stamp Asylum (Plano) or Creative Callings (N. RIchand Hills). — see also http://www.gelliarts.com/pages/retailers

Sizes: Rectangular: 6×6 ($19.99) 8×10 ($29.99) 12×14 ($69.99) Round: 8″ ($27.99)

The “gelatin” plate revolution started with homemade gelatin plates using gelatin and water, but they last only a few weeks and must be refrigerated. However, they can be reconstituted by heating and repouring.

For a more “permanent” gelatin plate, various artists have experimented with adding glycerin to the mix.

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Ingredients:

The recipe that Edie Cournover used:

6 T of unflavored gelatin (7 of the small packs)
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups glycerin (You can find 6 oz bottles in the CVS skin lotion section & in the Walmart drugs area next to the rubbing alcohol — you need 2 bottles)

Linda Germain has an alternative recipe. http://makemonotypes.com/ (her online course is well worth it in my opinion)

4 oz. unflavored gelatin (4 boxes or 16 packets)
2 – 6 oz bottles of glycerin
1/2 cup COLD WATER
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Equipment:

You can use a rectangular glass pan, one of those clear acrylic frames, or a metal pan or tray. You can also make plates in round shapes or cut fresh ones into geometric shapes or organic forms. If the pan is 9×13, the plate will come out about 1/4 inch thick. Adjust the recipe for larger or smaller sizes or thicker results. Thicker plates are less likely to tear.

Recipe:

First, mix the gelatin and glycerin together thoroughly in a heat-safe container, then added boiling water and stir slowly.  Try not to introduce air into the mix. Alternative: Start with the cold water and 1 bottle of glycerin; stir gently and add glycerin; stir thoroughly and add hot water; stir gently and add remaining glycerin.

Pour the hot melted mixture into a pan — make sure first that everything is level in your setup. Skim the top with a strip of newspaper to remove air bubbles. Let it set. You can also refrigerate the mix until set (a few hours) or put in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Or just leave it on the counter to cure, since it’s best not to move it until it’s firmer.

To remove the plate from the pan, use your fingers to go around working the gel back from from the edges. After you break that seal, you should be able to peel it from the pan and move it onto a plexiglas plate or whatever you will use as a printing surface. Note: a clear surface lets you place designs underneath to work with — or a paper so that you can gauge pulling prints better.

After curing, if your result is still a little sticky or malformed, you can microwave it (in a glass container) for 3-4 minutes to liquify it, stir it when needed. Then pour it, and let it set again.  Sometimes it needs more or less water. The paint should roll on smoothly, although the very first paint application may not be smooth. You can also redo the melting and resetting if it tears (or just cut it down).

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Results:

In contrast to the gelatin only plate, the gelatin/glycerin plate doesn’t need refrigeration. But it isn’t as permanent as a real Gelli Arts Gelli Plate since it is more fragile and will tear easily, especially if it is thin. You also can’t wash it under the faucet like the tougher plate. You can clean it by spraying with water and wiping with paper towels, or by using baby wipes.

Otherwise printmaking is just the same. After experimenting with acrylic and watercolor, the results are indistinguishable. But I think the homemade plate is slightly “friendlier” to watercolor because the Gelli Arts Plate has mineral oil in it.

NOT RECOMMENDED: You can also use rubbing alcohol in the recipe for permanent plate, but it is described as rather smelly. It’s also noxious. If you use that, then DON’T use the microwave process for resetting since alcohol is flammable. For that recipe and more on the process, see the Youtube videos at http://youtu.be/h9taUh073vQ (thefrugalcrafter) and http://youtu.be/Z6BQo63zsvA  (Edie Cournoyer) Linda Germain gelatin plate videos: http://youtu.be/JZgBkBv8y5s

Storing your plate:

I keep and use mine is a plastic box. But you can store yours on a plexiglas plate. Just be sure to use a piece of plastic on top or plastic wrap around it to protect it, especially from evaporation of the water contained in the plate. If it hardens, just reconstitute it as mentioned above. You might have to add a tablespoon or two of water.

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