Blue Shabby Digital Backgrounds

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What is Cottagecore?

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh

To me Cottagecore is a new trend that celebrates the beauty of simplicity. It's cozy and inviting. Best noticed in countryside living. 

Vintage clothing, floral patterns, and homes/cottages filled with earthy tones and natural materials, such as freshly picked flowers from the garden in a mason jar. Hummingbird feeders set in front of the kitchen window with the sound of windchimes lightly tinkling. A cottage garden filled with various kinds of wildflowers attracting bees and butterflies. It is a reminder to slow down and just enjoy being. 

It is definitely a visual feast meant to invite you to a slower pace and reconnect with nature. Gardening, foraging for treasures at flea markets, thrift stores, and the like. Baking homemade goodies or creating home made gifts and crafts. 

Cottagecore has the magical ability to transport you to a different time and place into a world of beauty and serenity. 

Escapism....probably but it makes for a beautiful staycation that can recharge and renew frazzled nerves and mental exhaustion.

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Basics of Gelli plate terminology

 Ready to dive into the world of Gelli printing, but feeling a little overwhelmed by all the technical terms? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this post, we'll break down the basics of Gelli plate terminology

Gelli plate: A flexible gel printing plate that lets you create all sorts of designs and textures.
 

Brayer: A rubber roller used to apply paint evenly on a surface.
 

Monoprinting: A printmaking technique that creates one-of-a-kind prints using a printing plate. Gelli plates are great for monoprinting!

Stencil: A thin material with a design cut out of it, used to create specific patterns or designs in paint.

Stamp: A carved or molded design that can be pressed into paint or ink to create a repeated pattern or image.  

Texture plate: A flat surface with raised designs or patterns, used to add texture and depth to prints.

Pull: is the print you pull from the plate.

 Now go forth and create something amazing!

How to Pull Good Prints From Your Gelli Plate

 
"Want to get the best prints from your Gelli plate? Here are 5 quick and easy tips to help you get started.

1.Experiment with different types of paint, like acrylics, watercolors, and inks.

2. Use a brayer to evenly spread the paint on the plate.

3. Layer different designs and textures using stencils, stamps, and other tools.

4. Choose high-quality paper that can absorb the paint and hold details well.

5. Try applying different pressures when transferring the paint to the paper.

By following these simple tips, you'll be able to get the most out of your Gelli plate and create beautiful monoprints.

If you have some tips that work for you but are not on our list please leave a comment.

 Now go forth and create something amazing!

What is a Gelli Plate and How Does it Work?

 What is a Gelli Plate?

 So, what is a gelli plate? Simply put, it's a flexible gel printing plate that allows you to create all sorts of textures, patterns, and designs with ease. Whether you're interested in making cards, wall art, fabric prints, or something else entirely, a gelli plate can help you bring your vision to life. And the best part? You don't need to spend a fortune on a printing press or master complicated techniques – a gelli plate and some paint is all you need to get started!

How Does a Gelli plate Work?

Using a Gelli plate is really easy and most of all it is fun if you love to create. You can literally spend hours creating design after design. 

 If you are ready to take your art to the next level, I can walk you through a few basic steps to get started. Nothing fancy.

 Step 1: Gather your materials. You'll need a Gelli plate, paint, a brayer, and paper (or other surfaces) to print on. You can also gather other materials such as stencils, stamps, and texture plates to add extra layers to your prints.

Step 2: Squeeze out a small amount of paint onto the Gelli plate. Use a brayer to evenly spread the paint across the surface of the plate.

Step 3: Place a stencil or stamp onto the plate, or use your fingers to create texture and designs in the paint.

Step 4: Lay your paper (or other printing surface) onto the plate, and use the brayer to transfer the paint onto the paper. Carefully lift the paper off the plate to reveal your beautiful print!

Step 5: Repeat the process to create multiple prints, or layer different designs and textures to create even more unique prints.

 Here is a video courtesy of Gelli Arts that show a basic printing technique to create multiple layer prints.

Once you have created some prints and allowed them to dry you can then use those prints in art journals, junk journals, or other paper craft projects.  

This is the plate size I started with. In my research I found it was the size to start with then I could experiment with other sizes. 

 Now go forth and create something amazing!