When Gelli Meets MagicStamps™

... good things happen. (including a giveaway!)

Maybe you've already discovered some of the amazing things you can do with MagicStamp™ moldable foam stamps. Such great stuff! But if you haven't explored the design potential in these versatile blocks — you’re in for a ton of fun using them to create your own unique patterned Gelli prints!

These foam blocks are heat-moldable, which means when you warm the surface of the foam with a heat gun and quickly press into a textured object, the block will mold to that texture and retain the impression. Voila! Instant stamp!

Don't like the impression you got? No problem! Just reheat the block and the foam will return to it's original smooth surface. You can use a block over and over — or decide, like I often do, that a block is a keeper. I have favorite patterned foam blocks I've been using for years! Here's a few of my faves .... I love them!

Potential stamp textures are all around us! Things like burlap, lace, buttons, doilies, cheesecloth, feathers, leaves, shells, cut crystal, paper clips, string, rubber bands, rubber stamps and stencils can create great MagicStamp images.

The foam surface is quite sensitive and will hold surprising detail. Relatively shallow textures will work best.

You'll find your favorite stamp textures. Here's mine:

I like to draw patterns with a hot glue gun to be used as a mold. Many of my hot glue designs are drawn onto coffee filters or medium-weight Pellon interfacing. I began using these porous substrates years ago as a way of making molds for creating deeply debossed handmade paper. But that's another story :)

The point being, I have a collection of original, durable, dimensional patterns drawn with hot glue. Perfect for making into stamp images!

To create the glue design, simply draw with hot glue on a substrate, such as paper, cardstock or chipboard.

If you'd rather not draw freehand, or like to plan ahead, you can start with a line drawing on paper or chipboard, and follow that as your guide while using the hot glue gun.

Let the glue COOL before the next step!

Using a heat gun, heat the surface of the MagicStamp for about 30 seconds. Immediately press the foam block firmly into the glue pattern and hold for around 20 seconds.

That's it! Easy peasy. A new custom stamp! Very cool. Especially for those of you who want a new stamp ... and want it NOW.

Here's where the real fun begins! The gel printing plate and foam stamps are perfect partners.

Simply follow this easy printing process:

1. Apply a thin layer of acrylic paint to your gel plate with a brayer.
2. Press your stamp(s) into the wet paint. (Stamping will remove paint and reveal a negative of the image.)
3. Cover the painted Gelli plate with paper. Gently smooth your hands over the paper to transfer the paint.
4. Pull your print off the plate. That’s it!

Keep in mind, the recessed areas of your MagicStamp are what will become the printed image!

And remember — while you have wet paint on your foam block — this IS a stamp :). Have a piece of paper or fabric handy to stamp the paint off! I often use deli paper for this purpose (dry waxed paper). This is also where I roll excess paint off my brayer. By the end of the printing session, I have a few more fabulous and colorful complex printed pieces!

Keep layering images: Use multiple colors, combine your Magicstamps with other texture tools on the same plate, include masks! Build up your printed images. Go anywhere your imagination takes you. It's so much fun!!!

Images from hot glue patterns are perfect for additional embellishment.

Add stitching, writing, doodling, collage, beads, etc. to your Gelli prints!

(These doodles were done with Sharpie Water-Based Paint Pens — which write smoothly over acrylic paint!)

And then there's clean up.

While printing, you can toss your paint-covered stamps in a container of water and wipe them off later with paper towels. The manufacturer suggests washing them with soap and water.

Honestly, I don't usually bother with that. After I've stamped the wet paint off onto paper, I toss them aside and clean later with a dollop of gel hand sanitizer. They clean up just fine.

True confessions ... sometimes ‘later’ is after I’ve used the stamps over many printing sessions — without cleaning them. Then, at some point, when the stamps are caked with dried paint, I get out the Purell and gently scrub with a paper towel or soft toothbrush until they're practically good as new.

Looking for MagicStamp foam? Can't wait to try it? You'll find it at numerous sources on the Internet, including Dharma Trading Co., Artistcellar, and Joggles — to name a few.

But WAIT!!!!!!!

I'm excited to announce … we have a GIVEAWAY!!!

 

Gelli has three packages of MagicStamps to give away! 

Each package has 8 stamp blocks waiting for you to, well, — do your magic!!!

All you need to do is comment here on the blog and you'll be entered to win! Please describe in your comment what you might like to "impress" into a MagicStamp to create your own unique stamp!

We'll announce our 3 winners here on this blog and on our Facebook page next Monday, January 22nd!

Happy stamping! And please share your images using the stamps that YOU cook up!!! We love to see what you're creating, so please, go ahead and post your prints on our Facebook page!!! 

Show me yours ... I'll show you mine! You can see them in the following slideshow, which features MagicStamp images on fabric! The vibrant paint is BioColor — thank you, Jane Lafazio, for telling us about it!!!

Enjoy! Thanks for watching! 

As always, your comments are appreciated!!!