Spring 2024 - Gel Printing Workshop

Hello everyone,

It was so nice to welcome all my new and returning students to my Spring one-day gel printing workshop.

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class. Hope to see you all in the Summer.

Take care,

Connie

 

Perfect Pearls Butterfly: Brayer a thin layer of black acrylic paint onto gel plate and place the die cut butterfly frame (negative) & the butterfly die cut (positive) on top of the black paint. Immediately place a piece of scratch paper over and rub all over to remove the black paint from the open areas of the butterfly. Leaving both the negative & positive butterfly die cut in place, brush on different colors of Perfect Pearl powders in the open areas. Brush off any loose powders before removing the negative & positive butterfly die cut. Brayer a thin layer of metallic purple acrylic paint on the gel plate over the colored butterfly image. Place the white paper on top and rub well all over and carefully pull off print. Cut out print with the rectangular die and assemble card with ribbon, gems and sentiment as shown.

Pink Flamingo: Brayer Tumble Glass & Twisted Citron Distress Inks onto gel plate and place paper on top to pull the light background print. Brayer Peeled Paint & Mowed Lawn Distress Inks onto gel plate, place leaves stencil on top and stamp crackles over stencil. Place the light background print back on top, rub all over to transfer the crackle leaves and pull the final print. Stamp and punch out sentiment on white card strip. Sponge flamingo die cut and sentiment w/ Rose Bud Memento Ink. Cut out print with the round corner rectangular die and assemble card as shown.

Leaves & Flowers: Brayer a thin layer of green acrylic paint onto gel plate and place leaves on top. Place a piece of scratch paper over and rub all over to remove the green paint from the areas around the leaves. Remove leaves and place a white card panel on top of the leave images on the gel plate. Rub and pull leaves print. Clean brayer & gel plate. Brayer a thin layer of burgundy acrylic paint onto gel plate and place flowers on top. Place a piece of scratch paper over and rub all over to remove the burgundy paint from the areas around the flowers. Remove flowers and place the leaves print back on top of the flower images on the gel plate. Rub and pull the leaves & flowers print. Clean brayer, but no need to clean gel plate. Brayer a thin layer of gold acrylic paint onto gel plate and pull the final print. Use the intricate floral die to cut the print and adhere to beige card panel before adhering to purple card base. Add gems, ribbon and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Embossed Hibiscus: Apply small drops of red, peach & lime gel acrylic paint onto gel plate. Spray on some water and use fingers to spread out the colors. Place the mixed media card panel onto gel plate to pick up the color paint. Dry color panel well with heat gun. Stamping hibiscus flower with VersaMark clear embossing ink and apply gold embossing powder over image. Use heat gun to heat set image. Die cut image panel with shape die. Adhere panel and sentiment sticker to fuschia card base as shown.

Kimono: Brayer Scatter Straw, Spun Sugar & Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Inks onto gel plate. Place leaves stencil and then paper on top. Rub well all over to lift images for 1st print (positive). Remove stencil and place another piece of paper on top to lift 2nd print (negative). With the ink remaining on your brayer (without re-inking), brayer onto gel plate and place the 1st print back onto gel plate to add background color to the 1st print. Again,with the ink remaining on your brayer (without re-inking), brayer onto gel plate and place the 2nd print back on gel plate to add background color to the 2nd print. Die cut prints with scallop rectangular die and adhere to gold panel before adhering to beige card base. Adhere kimono die cut, gems & sentiment sticker to finish card as shown.

Roses BDay: Brayer Spiced Marmalade & Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide inks onto gel plate. Place rose stencil and then paper on top. Rub well to transfer images and lift the positive print. Remove stencil and place positive print back onto gel plate to add the negative images to the positive print. Adhere print onto green mat before adhering it to beige card base. Add birthday heart die cut, gems and ribbon to finish card as shown.

Spring 2024 - Handmade Greeting Card Workshop

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for attending the one-day card making workshop today. I hope you enjoyed making the cards as much as I enjoyed creating them. Thank you Lee, Karen and Joan for bringing the goodies to class.

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made. See you all on May 15.

Take care,

Connie

Birds of Paradise Birthday: Use Tombow markers to color the birds of paradise stamp on white card panel. Adhere pattern and white papers on card panels as shown. Add orange gems and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Debossed Butterflies: Deboss white card panel with diamond embossing folder. Stamp floral swirls randomly on card panel with Pinecone Versafine Clair ink. Lightly swipe Antique Linen, Tumble Glass and Frayed Burlap Distress inks over the panel. Stamp butterflies and sentiment on another white card panel with Pinecone ink. Color butterflies with watercolor pencils and use waterbrush to blend. Die cut panel using scallop oval die. Add ribbon and assemble card as shown.

Embossed Floral: Lightly spray water onto white card panel. Spray yellow and orange Fireworks ink all over the wet card panel and dry well with heat gun. Stamp floral background with Versamark embossing ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Sponge Mowed Lawn Distress ink all over panel. Wipe off any excess ink on top of the embossed image. Die cut panel and weave ribbon through slots and mount card panel onto white mat before adhering onto green card base. Add gems and sentiment as shown.

Iris Folding Kimono: Mount the back side of die cut ivory card panel onto the pattern provided. Fold all color & gold papers in half lengthwise. Tape down the color & gold papers with the folded edge toward the center following the instructions on the pattern.

Stencil Dragonflies: Place torn edge papers onto white card panel to mask off area. Place swirl stencil on top. Lightly sponge Lilac Posies & Grape Jelly Memento inks over stencil area. Remove stencil, but leave paper mask in place, sponge Lilac Posies ink over the open area. Remove paper mask and stamp draggonflies with Nocturne Versafine Clair ink over the ink area. Add pearls, ribbon and stamp sentiment before adhering to card base as shown.

Gorgeous Day Roses: Fold along the score lines and adhere the rose pattern papers on each section as shown. Stamp and die cut rose and leaves using Rose Bud, Lady Bug, Rhubarb Stalk and Bamboo Leaves Memento inks. Adhere rose, leaves, bow and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Winter 2024 - Gel Monoprinting March 27, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a brief recap of our last gel printing class for the Winter session.

Have a great Spring break and hope to see you at the next session.

Take care,

Connie

Fairy & Hare Thank You: Brayer Distress ink on gel plate and add swirls stencil on top. Next place a piece of scratch paper over and rub all over to remove the ink from the open areas of the stencil. Remove stencil, place the paper over top, rub all over and lift off print. Die cut print for background. Stamp fairy, hare and dandelions with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. Add sticker sentiment and purple glitter glue to wings, hair and dandelion petals to finish card as shown.

With Love Floral Bouquet: Sprinkle gold, red and green mica powders onto gel plate. Use sponge to blend, spread and smooth out colors to cover the gel plate completely. Brush off any excess. Ink leaves background stamp with embossing ink and stamp onto powdered gel plate. Brayer a thin layer of iridescent white acrylic paint over stamped gel plate. Place paper over top, rub well, lift off print and die cut background rectangle panel. Glue floral bouquet die cut on top of background panel before adhering to red card base. Add gems to finish card as shown.

Birthday Seahorses: Sprinkle blue, green and white mica powders onto gel plate. Use sponge to blend, spread and smooth out colors to cover the gel plate completely. Brush off any excess. Ink jelli fish background stamp with embossing ink and stamp onto powdered gel plate. Brayer a thin layer of iridescent white acrylic paint over stamped gel plate. Place paper over top, rub well, lift off print and die cut background panel. Add gold seahorse,seaweed and sentiment stickers and mount onto black mat before adhering to cream card base.

Ribbon weave Sunflower: Brayer Distress ink on gel plate and add sunflower stencil on top. Place paper over and rub all over and tape one edge of the paper down to the table before lifting up the paper and remove the stencil. Remove stencil and replace the paper back down. Rub all over and lift off print. Use decorative die to die cut print for background.Weave ribbon through and adhere to white mat paper before adhering to gold card base. Add stamp sentiment and gems to finish card as shown.

Winter 2024 - Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop, March 20 & 23, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are well. Below is a recap of the cards we made in class.

Have a nice Spring break and see you at the next class!

Take care,

Connie

Alcohol Ink Birthday: Using a felt ink applicator, apply plum, purple and pink alcohol inks with blending solution onto the back of a photo paper panel. Place stencil on top, apply a sponge applicator with a little blending solution through the stencil opening to lift off some inks and transfer the patterns. Dab with paper towel to soak up any excess inks. Die cut frame and dry emboss using embossing folder. Add flowers, gems, ribbon and sentiment before adhering to card base as shown.

Thinking of You Flowers: Apply white ink onto one side of basket embossing folder, place Kraft card panel on the un-inked side, close folder and run through machine to emboss the background. Stamp flowers on to watercolor paper, die cut with scallop square die and color with watercolor pencils as shown. Brush edges with Tea Dye Distress ink. Mount card on black panels, add sentiment and ribbon before adhering to card base to finish card as shown.

Dragonflies Birthday: Stamp dragonflies with tri-color Brilliance ink on white card panel and lightly brush Bahama Blue Memento ink around edges and inside card panel. Add ribbon, gems and stamped sentiment to finish card as shown.

Dandelion Fairy: Spray Fireworks colors and water onto non-stick mat. Swipe watercolor paper to pick up colors from mat. Dry and swipe to pick up more colors as needed. Dry well with heat gun. Stamp fairy image with Nocturne Versafine Clair ink onto panel. Place torn edge paper on the bottom and brush Grape Jelly Memento ink to create the ground at the fairy's feet.

Winter 2024 - Gel Press Monoprinting March 13, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope all is well with you. Please note that Wednesday, March 27 will be our last Gel class for the Winter session.

Classes for the Spring session are posted on the PVPUSD website link below. I will only have two one-day classes this session, April 17th for Handmade Greeting Cards and May 15th for Gel Printing. We will make 6 cards during the 4-hour window in each class.

https://reg136.imperisoft.com/PVPUSD/Search/Registration.aspx

Below is a quick recap of our previous class.

Perfect Pearl Butterflies: Place butterflies stencil onto gel plate and brush on Perfect Pearl powders to color the butterflies. Clean off all excess powders on top and around the stencil before removing it. Brayer a thin layer of gold acrylic paint. Place paper over gel plate and rub well all over before pulling print. Die cut scallop frame and butterflies. Mount die cut onto red shimmer card panel. Add ribbon and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Blue Celebrate: Sponge different acrylic paint colors onto various found object and stamp onto gel plate to create patterns. Let paint dry before brayering a thin layer of light blue and iridescent white acrylic paint on top. Place card panel on top and rub well before pulling print. Die cut Celebrate panel and mount onto blue card panel before adhering to cream card base.

3D Embossed Florals: Brayer some Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick Distress inks onto gel plate. Place embossed floral cardboard onto gel plate and rub lightly on the embossed area to transfer images. Remove embossed floral panel and place white card panel over gel plate and rub all over.  Die cut with rectangle frame and place it into the floral embossing folder to line up image before running through the embossing machine. Brayer Festive Berry ink onto gel plate and place embossed panel back onto gel plate and lightly rub embossed areas to pick up additional colors. Adhere to black mat panel. Add ribbon, sentiment and gems before adhering to red card base.

Embossed Jelly Fish: Brayer Cracked Pistachio and Broken China Distress oxide inks onto gel plate. Place wave stencil and white card panel on top. Rub all over to transfer stencil pattern onto card panel. Brayer the remaining ink left on the brayer and place the card panel back onto the gel plate to add background colors to the panel. Die cut frame, stamp and heat emboss the jelly fish on top. Assemble card as shown.

Winter 2024 - Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop March 6 & 9, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Please note that March 20th and 23rd will be our last class for the Winter session. 

FYI, the Spring session classes are posted on the PVPUSD website link below. I will only have two one-day classes this session, April 17th for Handmade Greeting Cards and May 15th for Gel Printing. We will make 6 cards during the 4-hour window in each class.

https://reg136.imperisoft.com/PVPUSD/Search/Registration.aspx

Here is a recap of the cards we made in the previous class.

Take care,

Connie

Shaker Birthday: Sponge alcohol ink onto Yupo paper, place stencil on top and use Alcohol Lift ink to lift off ink from the open area of the stencil to leave swirl patterns. Dab off excess ink on Yupo paper with paper towel. Wrap a piece of acetate around the Yupo panel to create a pocket and add confetti inside before sealing it. Adhere the shaker panel behind the oval frame before adhering to card base. Add sentiment and bow to finish card as shown.

Daffodils Thank You: Stamp and heat emboss daffodils with white embossing powder on card panel. Sponge on Dandelion, Tangelo and Pear Tart Memento inks to color the panel. Die cut frame, add twines and sentiment before adhering to card base.

Cherry Blossom Birthday: Use Alternew 3D Cherry Blossom to emboss pink card panel. Use Brilliant Pearlescent ink to lightly brush on the raised image. Place the pink embossed panel behind circle frame. Add ribbon and sentiment before adhering onto pink card base.

Sympathy Card: Stamp images using Pinecone Versafine Clair ink onto white card panel. Place circle mask on top of stamp image and sponge Elderberry Memento ink around the circle mask to create the moon. Sponge around the edges of the white card panel to add some shade. Stamp sentiment and punch out shape. Assemble card with ribbon as shown.

Winter 2024 - Gel Press Monoprinting Class - February 28, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class. See you in class.

Take care,

Connie

Chalk Dragonflies: Place dragonflies stencil on gel plate and color dragonflies with chalk pastel. Clean off any loose powder and remove stencil. Brayer a thin layer of iridescent paint and place paper on top, rub well and pull print. Use the frame die to cut print and adhere onto card base. Decorate with bow and gems to finish card.

Daffodils Easter: Brayer Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw & Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks onto gel plate and place daffodils stamp on top. Press to stamp image and pick up inks. Place paper on top and rub all over to pull print. Place the inked daffodils stamp onto the pulled print to add more details. Die cut frame and assemble cards together with palm leaves, gems and sentiment sticker to finish card as shown.

Seahorses & Bubbles: Brayer a thin layer of iridescent paint onto gel plate. Add glitter blue and purple watercolor on top. Use blower to disperse inks on plate and put wave stencil on top. Place a piece of scratch paper to pick up excess inks. Remove stencil and place paper on top to pull print. Die cut frame and assemble card together by adhering die cut seahorse, gems and sentiment as shown.

Heart & Butterflies: Brayer a thin layer of hand sanitizer onto gel plate. Add some pink, red and purple alcohol ink on top. Use blower to disperse inks and place flower stencil on top. Place a piece of scratch paper to soak up inks. Remove stencil, place card stock and rub to pick up print. Cut out frame with heart die cut and embossing folder. Assemble card with die cut butterflies, pearls, ribbon and sticker sentiment as shown.

Winter 2024 - Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop, February 21 & 24, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. 

Below is a brief recap of the cards we made in class. Our next class meeting will be on Wednesday March 6 and Saturday March 9. See you then.

Take care,

Connie

Sabastian Seahorse: Spray some Distress Mica Stain colors (Snow Flurries, Merry Mint & Wonderland) onto non-stick mat and spray some water to dilute the colors. Place the mixed media card panel to pick up the colors. Use a dryer to dry and set the colors, and pick up additional colors as needed. Dry card panel well and stamp seahorse with Nocturne Versafine Clair ink, add clear embossing powder and heat emboss image. Die cut with stitch frame die and assemble card with sentiment as shown.

Turtle Iris Folding: Follow the Turtle Iris Folding pattern, use two different color/pattern papers (odds with blue floral and even with the wavy pattern) to complete this card.

St. Patrick Shamrock: Die cut shamrock on green card panel and stamp shamrock leaves using clea Versamark ink. Assemble the gold shaker panel by wrapping some cellophane sheet to make a pouch, put some confetti in and seal the package. Adhere it to the back of the green panel. Glue the die cut shamrock leaf onto the opening. Add ribbon and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Red Roses: Place and secure rose stencils onto cream card panel. Use Memento ink pads (Rose Buds, Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves and Cottage Ivy) to sponge colors accordingly. Die cut card panel and add sentiment and ribbon to finish card as shown.

 

Winter 2024 - Gel Press Monoprinting Class, February 14, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in our previous class.

Have a great day and see you in class.

Take care,

Connie

Aqua Blue Sea Creatures: Brayer some phthalo blue with turquoise iridescent acrylic paints evenly on gel plate, and stamp octopus, fish and turtle. The stamps lift the paint and left the images on the gel plate. Place paper over gel plate and rub all over thoroughly to pick up the print. Die cut shape and assemble card with blue polka dots washi paper, sequins, beads and sentiment as shown.

Green Zebra: Brayer some sap green and green iridescent acrylic paints evenly on gel plate. Place some leaves on top and place paper over everything and rub throughout. Gently lift up one side while holding on to the other side; carefully remove the leaves one at a time and lay the paper back down to pick up the leave imprints left behind. Clean plate and brayer a thin layer of gold transparent paint on gel plate. Place the previously lifted green leaves print back on to add the gold sheen onto background. Die cut shape and add zebra die cut and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Embossed Pink Petals: Brayer some gentle heather and magenta iridescent acrylic paints evenly onto gel plate. Place the debossed side of the 3D embossed panel onto gel plate. Place paper on top to lift background. Die cut shape and place cut background in 3D embossing folder to match image and run through machine to emboss. Add twine, gems and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Magenta Dragonflies: Brayer some magenta, violet with violet iridescent acrylic paints evenly onto gel plate. Stamp dragonflies and vines. The stamps lift the paint and left the images on the gel plate. Place paper over gel plate and rub all over thoroughly to pick up the print. Die cut shape and assemble card with gem, bow and sentiment as shown.

Winter 2024 - Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop, February 7 & 10, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are enjoying the wonderful sunny day we had today.

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made.

Begonias Birthday: Emboss white card panel with Alternew 3D Begonia embossing folder. Use sponge daubers to color the flowers using Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron distress inks for the flowers and leaves on the "deboss/sunken" side. Go over the outside edges and the spaces in between with Fired Brick distress ink to add more definition to the overall picture. Add ribbon, stamped sentiment and adhere to card base as shown.

Happy Everything: Apply alcohol inks onto silver shimmer Yupo paper. Using a stamping platform, stamp image with Alcohol Lift ink onto Yupo paper. Place paper towel over stamped image to soak up the inks from the Yupo paper to reveal the stamped image. Repeat applying Alcohol Lift ink and stamp as many time as necessary to get a clear image. (Remember to clean off stamp to remove the alcohol inks before applying the Alcohol Lift ink each time.)

Lighthouse: Apply shimmer inks onto acrylic block, add water to create a small puddle and slightly dunk watercolor paper over the puddle to pick up colors. Repeat as necessary to get enough coverage. Die cut the lighthouse using the shimmer card panel. Assemble the watercolor panel in the back of the frame and the lighthouse die cut. Add blue twine, sentiment and blue mat to finish card as shown.

Birthday Pansies: Adhere pansies sticker onto vellum. Color the back of the vellum with markers. Adhere the colored vellum to the back of the lavender card panel. Add ribbon and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Winter 2024 - Gel Press Monoprinting Class January 31, 2024

Hello everyone,

Hope you are staying safe and dry. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in our previous class meeting.

Take care,

Connie

Stencil Emboss Flowers: Brayer two shades of purple Distress Oxide inks on gel plate and lift the print for background color. Brayer the darker purple color only and place swirls stencil on top gel plate. Keeping stencil on gel plate, place the background print on top and rub all over to add the swirls pattern onto the background print. Die cut with scallop stitch rectangle, stamp and heat emboss flowers with purple embossing powder. Adhere on white card base to finish.

Stencil Roses: Brayer Rose ink lightly over gel plate to lift background print. Brayer Port Red ink over gel plate, add rose stencil on top. Keeping the stencil on, place background print back on top and rub all over to pick up the rose images. Add ribbon, sentiment, butterfly. gems and adhere to red card base.

Stencil Sea Creatures: Brayer Antique Linen & Broken China Distress Oxide Ink onto gel plate, add wave stencil on top to lift the background print. Brayer Salty Ocean onto gel plate, add sea creature stencil, and place the background print back on to add the sea creature images onto background print. Die cut stitch rectangle, add stamp sentiment and twine and adhere to blue card base.

Sea Creatures Ghost Print: (Note: This card is made following the steps of the card above.) Remove wave stencil after lifting the background for the card above and place a clean white paper on top to pick up the image left on the gel plate (ghost print). Remove the sea creature stencil after lifting the print for the card above, and place the ghost background print back on to add the sea creature images left behind. Die cut stitch rectangle, add sentiment sticker and gems and adhere to white card base as shown.

Winter 2024 - Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop - January 17, 2024

Happy New Year everyone!

Wishing you a great year with good health, luck and prosperity!

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class.

Take care,

Connie

Cherry Blossom: Emboss Glossy Photo Paper with 3D Cherry Blossom embossing folder from Altenew. Spray Distress Oxide inks over the embossed panel. Once dried, buff lightly with paper towel over the chalky color to reveal the bright & glossy colors. Assemble card with ribbon and sentiment as shown.

Love Heart: Place heart mask onto white card panel, lightly brush Rose Bud Memento Ink around heart mask and panel edges. Remove mask and stamp flowers and 'Love' sentiment on top. Emboss panel with hearts embossing folder. Add ribbon and gems to finsh card as shown.

2-Step Sympathy Florals: Stamp flower outline with Lilac Posie Memento Ink onto white card panel. Repeat stamping with 2nd layer flower, but stamp off on scratch paper before stamping on card panel for lighter shade. Add ribbon and sentiment to finish card as shown.

Butterflies Birthday Front: Decorate card front with butterfly paper, gems, ribbon and sentiment as shown.

Butterflies Birthday inside: Stamp 3 butterflies with Warm Breeze Versafine Clair ink on some scratch lime card stock and cut out using butterfly die. Score one of the butterflies in the middle and fold in half for the center pop-up.