Gel printing with Dylusions Inks & Shimmer Sprays
So far I’ve used my gel plate with acrylic paints, distress oxides and alcohol inks so I thought: today, let’s do some gel printing with Dylusions Inks & Shimmer Sprays!
I know what you might be thinking (and that’s what I was thinking too before giving this a go): ”But… inks are liquid, it will go everywhere and make a total mess”….
And you would be completely right if… You put too much but, with just the right amount… Oh my!
I did not expect to create such beautifully vibrant gel prints (and if yours turn out to be a bit ”too much” to your liking”, I’ll show you an easy way to tone them down without covering everything up)…
Are you ready to do some gel printing with Dylusions Inks and Shimmer Sprays with me? Let’s do it!
Watch the videos below and let me know your thoughts (and if you’ve tried it too, any tips?) with a comment at the bottom of this page š
xx mimi bondi
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List of supplies:
I included links to as many products I could to make it easy for you to find what I used in my video.
The orange links are to my store, The Mixed Media Store and whenever possible, I have also included blue links for Amazon.com
I really hope you find the list below helpful cos it took me a very long time to put together š
- Gel Press Gel plate 12×14 (Amazon)
If you have a different brand (Amazon), or a smaller gel plate, that’s totally fine! I just like the super big one so my ink goes all the way to the edges with no empty space š - Brayer
I like the ones with a removable roller for easy cleaning, like this Renoir brayer (or Speedball brayer on Amazon) - White cardstock
- Dylusions Ink Sprays:
Calypso Teal (Amazon), Lemon Zest (Amazon), Funky Fuschia (Amazon), Squeezed Orange (Amazon), Cherry Pie (Amazon) - Stencils (in order of appearance):
Carabelle Studio Boxes stencil (Amazon)
Darkroom Door Polka Dots stencil 9×12 (Amazon)
Dylusions Fresh Dots stencil 9×12 (Amazon)
Joggles stencil (can’t remember the name but it’s discontinued) - Texture plates:
Carabelle Studio Rounds texture plate (Amazon)
Carabelle Studio With the Hearts texture plate (Amazon)
Carabelle Studio Twist texture plate (Amazon)
Carabelle Studio Starry Mandala texture plate (Amazon) - Acrylic paint. Use any paint you have! I love Liquitex Basics for their range of colour and consistency of the paint. I mostly used:
Liquitex Basics Titanium White (Amazon)
Liquitex Basics Light Blue Permanent (Amazon)
Jacquard Lumiere Pearlescent Pink (Amazon)
Jacquard Lumiere Halo Violet Gold (Amazon)
Jacquard Lumiere Pearlescent Turquoise (Amazon)
Jacquard Lumiere Pearlescent White (Amazon) - Dylusions Shimmer Sprays:
Calypso Teal (Amazon)
Fresh Lime (Amazon)
Watch the video tutorial!
PART 1
PART 2
Hi Mimi enjoyed watching š. I have a love hate problem with the sprays. I definitively have a control issue as I like to be able to predict the outcome. The inks reactivate if they are used in say collage mixed media page. It drives me nuts!!!! I have gone to Seth Apter ink sprays. They are exactly what I need and I use the ink with a dip pen as well. Never reactivate after, what I created is final lol. Have you had other feedback?
Yes, that can be really annoying Lorraine, I agree! Have you tried doing a few light coasts of a mat spray varnish? This should not disrupt the inks if you make sure they are light coats (let each one dry in between) and then you should be able to add on top without reactivating. Let me know how that goes š
Time to get my Gel plate back out. I’ve not been doing much with mixed media lately, you know…..having a creative block. This might just spark my creative juices again. Thanks muchly =)
I do know Michelle! Sometimes we just have to force ourselves to make the first little step and then it all flows back. I really hope you got your gel plate out and got reminded of how much fun it is š
Thanks Mimi for the videos. You’ve introduced me to the love of iridescent paints1
So happy to hear Denise! Is it a love or an addiction?? LOL A lovely addiction š
Thanks for posting Mimi! I find it so relaxing to watch. Just the colours and beautiful results, very therapeutic š
Thanks Jane!! It makes me happy to know you are watching my videos and finding them relaxing š š You always seem pretty chilled though hehe xx mimi
Hi Mimi,
Thank you so much for sharing your gelipress ideas. You made some gorgeous backgrounds & gave me lots of ideas to try, many thanks.
Sam š
Oh I’m so happy to hear this Sam!! Thank you for letting me know and for popping by this corner of the internet š x mimi
When I use a spray through a stencil on the gel plate, after spraying, I lift the stencil and put is down on paper. I don’t put paper on the stencil while it’s still on the gel plate, because then it picks up the paint in the holes, which is what you want left behind. This is why it wasn’t working for you, especially with the first one you tried, because you were pressing the paper into the holes, and picked up all the paint there.
I love the colours of the Dylusions sprays, but I don’t like the way they seep through everything you put on top. You got some interesting prints though, and I always love watching gel printing videos! It’s been a while since I did any gel printing, I need to get back to it, but it means clearing space on my desk so I have room!
Hi Julia!
Thanks for your feedback! You know what, I sometimes feel really retarded with my gel plate because my brain seems to have trouble processing things that are ”up side down” if you know what I mean… Sometimes I really have to think about the end results and then it kills the fun so I just go with the flow and no brain thinking LOL So I end up doing weird things like that hahaha
Yes the seeping can be a total pain but you can use it to your advantage!! I show you an example in one of my latest videos (the ‘go with the flow’ spread in my Jane Davenport journal) š And I have to use the floor when I gel print, forget about the desk! x mimi
Haha, I know exactly what you mean, especially if there’s letters and numbers, I often end up with them back to front! I couldn’t use the floor, or all my prints would have paw prints and cat hair all over them! Even using the desk it’s hard to keep them off. One of them (it would be the one with white fur!) stuck her paw in a painting I was doing, and ended up with a sky blue paw! She wasn’t happy with me trying to clean it off!
Gel printing is so relaxing though, before you know it, the room is covered in sheets of paper or card, drying off, and 2 hours has gone by!
Mhhhh Wet paint and animals definitely don’t mix so well hahaha I agree, gel printing is so fun and relaxing, it doesn’t even need to be complicated š