Tutorial: Masked letter print cards
TUTORIAL
You can turn your gel prints into simple, bold greeting cards by using letter masks. This is a fun way to use leftover prints and play with opaque paint.
Here’s how to do it…
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• Gel plate
• Brayer
• Opaque acrylic paint
• Pre-printed gel papers
• Blank greeting cards
• Paper letters (cut by hand or with a machine)
STEP 1: MAKES MASKS AND PREP THE PLATE
Cut letters from plain paper. These will act as masks. I just cut the letters freehand and didn’t care about the wonkiness.
Roll a layer of opaque paint on the plate. Most quality paint brands mark opacity on the bottle/tube, so look for one labeled opaque.
REMEMBER: You want the letters to read correctly on your print so place them backwards from right to left on the plate. The print will reverse them.
STEP 2: PRINT AND ADD TO CARDS
Place your backward letters on the painted plate and lay your gel-printed paper on top. Press well and pull the print.
BTW: this is a great way to use up all those printed papers you have laying around… just print on top of them (this is why opaque paint is important.)
TIP: Try colors other than black — any opaque paint color will work and gives a different look.
Trim your prints to size and glue them onto the blank greeting card bases.
That’s it—simple, graphic, handmade cards ready to send.
Happy printing!
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALL THOSE GEL PRINTS?
I collage with my gel plate prints in board books. Yep, children’s board books!
Board books are so much more interesting than a typical sketchpad. Aaaand, they're a total blast! With just a few tips I can help you learn the ins and outs to collaging in board books in my popular FREE online class, Build your Creativity: Board Book Basics!
