Thursday, February 16, 2017

Growing In Unity Day 4

It's almost the weekend and my Friday! Today I am going to focus on a technique from my early mixed media days, but it's a good one. I'm using heavy gel as a resist against spray inks. It creates really cool backgrounds.


Gather supplies. I chose Sending Up Something Beautiful for my stamp set, so I used a cloud stencil. The process works great with texture stencils as well. Be sure to use heavy gel as you need the stiffness to hold the shapes of the stencil.


Hold down your stencil, I use my magnetic mat and magnets, but you could also use painter's tape, you just don't want it moving around.



Apply a nice thick layer of the gel over the entirety of the stencil or the sections you wish to fill in.


Smooth out as much as possible. Remove stencil, set aside to air dry. If you're really impatient, you can place it in a warm oven to speed the process up, but I just set it aside and work on the rest of of my bits to add on top. Be sure to wash your stencil right away as the dried gel can damage it.

 

Whilst my gel is drying, I prepare the rest of the parts for the card. I stamped images on scrap pieces of watercolor paper, painted, cut them out.


Once the gel is dry, spray the paper with desired spray inks. No need to cover completely because you'll add water to spread out the ink and wash the gel clear.


Dry with heat tool to keep colors from mixing and muddying the colors. You can see the gel clouds wicking away the ink.


It really makes a cool effect. I've not used it with the cloud stencil, but will soon again!



I added the rest of my elements, doily, hot air balloon, clouds, sentiment and have a finished card!

Be sure to comment each day to have a chance to win one of two grab bags of Unity stamps; see you tomorrow for my last day!

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58 comments:

  1. This is really neat! Texture is the element I have the most difficulty incorporating into my designs.

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  2. This is a nice reminder to get those stencils out again and use them. Love the way your sky turned out!

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  3. Gorgeous!! What a beautiful sky and clouds. Very sweet card. Thanks for sharing a great technique.

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  4. Odio tu increíble tallent con el calor de un millón de soles.

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  5. I love the end result!~
    Gorgeous card!

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  6. this is a technique I'll definitely have to try!

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  7. Another great technique! Thank you for sharing

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  8. Beautiful background! The card came out great! This is a great Unity kit!

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  9. Beautiful background! The card came out great! This is a great Unity kit!

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  10. I love using stencils! Your background turned out fabulous! Wonderful card!!

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  11. Eek! That background is amazing, and it goes so well with the Unity Hot air Balloon! Awww, day 4 already..... I am really enjoying these tutorials.

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  12. Thank you for sharing! Very gorgeous! I should try some gel medium. I have gesso and I suppose it may work the same but maybe no repel the color.

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  13. Wow that looks like a real thunder storm! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. That's a great technique. I really need to try it. Thanks!

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  15. Wow!!! I am just loving your growing in Unity tutorials.LOVE IT!!!!

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  16. That's a great technique. I really need to try it. Thanks!

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  17. Beautifully vibrant colors....love this card. Thank you!

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  18. Great technique, Laura. I have the gel & will need to give this a try. Thanks for sharing with us!

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  19. Beautiful. Time to get my stencils out again and make some new ones.

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  20. I love your tutorials. You use lots of colors, textures, and techniques--they all add up to beautiful, unique cards. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. WOW! I beyond love this sky!! I have the stamp set and will give this a try. I'm going to have to make my own cloud stencil, I am excited to try this

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  22. I should try this. I have mixed media stuff but haven't been good about using it as I didn't really know what to do with it. Thanks for the helpful tips!

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  23. You are the QUEEN of backgrounds!!!!! I am so wishing you lived nearby as "craft day" would be amazing to spend with you!!! Thanks for sharing your week with us. I am loving it <3 !!!

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  24. I'm loving your tutorials - can you see on my CSI page I tried the last one you did with the different colors on the stamp? Will try this one soon!

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  25. I am going to try this technique tonight. You are showing us some great stuff this week. Thanks.

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  26. Very nice! Thanks for the tutorial. Gonna have to get some of that gel resist stuff...

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  27. I never thought of using heavy gel! Great idea. I like how it's clear so the paper shows through and the gel would be flexible enough to withstand the handling a card would get. Cool!

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  28. Wow. I love it. I'm buying that gel soon and those stencils! Omg! Where did u get them

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  29. Love gel! It is such a fun effect. :)

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  30. I love using my stencils like you did! What a pretty effect!!

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  31. LOVE THIS you are making me wanna get messy and from a clean graphic girl that is saying alot! LOVE the yummy colors too I am a sucker for blues and greens... love it Mooney keep inspiring!

    See you soon
    xoxo
    e

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  32. Oh so pretty! I have really enjoyed watching these various techniques this week! Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait for tomorrow's post!

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  33. Wow! Really love the effect the background stenciling gives to your card! Gorgeous colors too!

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  34. What a perfect background for that card!

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  35. Your BG is gorgeous and the perfect setting for those cutey stamps!

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  36. Great idea! Thanks for the "how to" as well :) I'll need to show my niece this one.

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  37. You just blow me away with your tutorials! I love this !

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  38. What a great idea to use magnets. I'll have to try it.... Nice.

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  39. Very, very cool! Thanks for sharing!

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  40. love love love that background! nicely done!

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  41. Beautiful card! Gorgeous background and I love that sweet balloon.

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  42. That just looks awesome! Thank you for sharing and for the step by step images!

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  43. Lovely background and fun stamps. Hugz

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  44. So very cool! What a striking background.

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  45. I've never seen that gel used before. Thanks for the clear explanation.

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  46. You did a beatific job. I love the clouds.

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  47. This looks awesome! That's a technique I have to try!

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  48. what a fun technique. thanks for sharing
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

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