A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

April 28, 2023

Alcohol Inks on Gelli Plates

Hello Stamplings!

How are you? I feel like I've been gone a month! Oh, wait, I pretty much have been gone a month! It's nice to be back! Today's post is all about this month's Group of Seven Cardmakers crafty Zoom session and the results, so I'll give you some highlights of what I've been up to in my next post. 

Christine led the technique this month which involved swishing, swirling, and puffing alcohol inks on Gelli plates shaped like circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles. You can find the detailed instructions and our results on the Group blog.

I purchased a set of three small Gelli plates (a circle, a triangle, and a rectangle) from Amazon. Here are two of my results using the triangle shape:
I always thought Gelli plates were only used by very detailed mixed media style card artists, but as you can see, the technique also works for more clean and simple designs. It really is an easy (and, hence addictive) technique that adds major interest to a design. For the above cards I used the Creative Chaos set from Visible Image.

Here are a couple of the birthday cards I made using the circle Gelli plate:

Hammy was in schplatter heaven!

The 'You Are Loved' card in the first row above was made using glossy paper and the other three above were made using regular cardstock. Finally, for the card below, I used Yupo paper and blue AI and the result cried out for a nautical theme!
Behind the Yupo paper is a piece of pp. The whale and sediment are from a very old PTI set which hasn't seen ink in (cough) years. It has survived many Playhouse purges because it is so darn cute and it was fun to use it again.
And, yes, as you might have guessed, off-camera Hammy and I enjoyed tiny alcoholic drinks and jelly sandwiches while we played. Slurp! I've already sent off some of the cards I made, but you can see that I LOVED this technique and now my birthday card stash is plump again!

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I hope you will check out this fun technique over on the Group of Seven Cardmakers blog! And if you do try it, we would love to have you share your results using the linky tool there! 
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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Oh, and that tree from my last post is a Redbud tree. Thank you to all of you who let me know!

*Life is too short!

42 comments:

Christine Alexander said...

Wow Darnell amazing makes, and so much fun trying out different papers. I'm so glad you have now found a technique your like using a gelli plate :) once you start you just can't stop xx

Julia Aston said...

Oh Sis! I LOVE the colors and that bloom stamp - you used on your first triangle shape designs - they look so magical! And then your next two look like they might be the same mix but on a different paper and they are softer tones and so pretty with the stampings and colored framings. and then you whimsical whale card - I agree that background begged for an ocean scene! Great results and what a lot of cards you got made!!! well done! Julia xx

Loll said...

LOVE all the cards you've made with the mini gelli plates, Dolly! The colour combos of the alcohol inks are so beautiful. Looks like you had a lot of fun and made a LOT of cards! Great work, my friend! Love, Lolly

Liz said...

WOW, you HAVE been busy, Darnell. What a fabulous collection of cards. The technique of the alcohol inks on the Gelli Plates is beautiful. xx

Brenda in IN said...

Wonderful cards and a lot of them. I love this technique too and made a lot of cards, but not as many as you. It's fun to build up your stash doing something you have fun with. Great colors and shapes and the splatters look great.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Wow! I can see how you enjoied your gelli session, Darnell! Amazing works of Art! I have to put the mini gelli plates on my wishlist! :D Such fabulous CAS cards you made! Love the alcohol inks with the triangles and the stunning flower, and the scenic couple with the greens and the splatters! But the whale's one is my favourite... how cute, fun and impressive!
Hugs

jimlynn said...

ALL are so pretty! Just beautiful!
Lynn

Cat Craig said...

So very cool, Darnell. These turned out so nicely.Love the colors you used. Looks like these smaller gelli plates are fun to work with.

Kath said...

A fabulous selection of cards and a great technique too.
Kath x

Donna said...

These are gorgeous and it sounds like a fun technique!

JoAnn said...

Wow, you have been a busy lady. All these cards are amazing and I love them all. Thanks for all the inspiration. Will have to give this technique a try.
Have a great weekend. Hugs, JoAnn

Lynette said...

Your cards are all so cool, Darnell!! Looks like you thoroughly enjoyed the technique! LOL! Funny - I just had out my Gel plate on Friday night when our youngest grandson was here. I helped him make a birthday card for the party he was going to the next day. We used paint, though. I didn't even know you could use alcohol inks on them! I should check out the shaped ones, too.

Karen said...

These cards are wonderful!!! I'm totally impressed by the quantity of beautiful cards you added to your stash! I haven't had my Gel plate out in ages. You've inspired me to change that soon!

nancy littrell said...

OMG...LOVE ALL (20+) Gorgeous alcohol ink on mini Gelli plates cards...I MUST try this awesome techinique...whoops...I need to get back to dinner. Much more later..can't wait to try the technique and hear what you have been up to for a month..Missed You, my dear, sweet and very talented friend..Missed Hammy too...lol! Love and Hugs..Nancy

Lisa Elton said...

You and Hammy do make a great team, just look at that card stash! These are all so pretty, Darnell!

Cheryl W. said...

I LOVE these cards, but the "Friend" card is my favorite. It has the most purple, and I am drawn to purple like a moth to a flame. LOL Sounds--and looks--like you had a blast. You made a truckload of cards! I'm so impressed.

TK said...

Wow! Totally amazed by the number of beauties you made! This technique is definitely intriguing and gorgeous, I might have more "things to buy" now... Very pretty!

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh my goodness Darnell, did you and Hammy get a bit tipsy and carried away with the technique... just as long as the technique was addictive, and not the wee sips...
Loving your use of the smaller, shaped gelli plates - I have only ever seen the regular rectangles, so these are a real eye opener to me
Blessings
Maxine

Aquarius said...

You've obviously enjoyed your play with alcohol inks and the Gelli plates and these cards are brilliant. Off to check out the link now

Carole said...

OOOh ......I am LOVING these beauties...they are fabulous! Seems like you got to grips good and proper with this technique! What super little gelli plates you have found a dI think the triangle one is really unusual. xx

Sandra H said...

Wow what can l say other than absolutely stunning cards as always technique is totally amazing and beautiful, have a lovely weekend x

Carol L said...

Each card has it's own beautiful colors and design, but I just love the friend card with that snarky sentiment! LOL I have yet to try playing with a Gelli plate so I'm enjoying seeing all these great ways to use one! NJ on all.

Jeanne said...

Wow, Darnell, these look amazing! I love the softer look of the inks. The colors look like they blended beautifully. What a fun technique. So happy you were so successful with it and filled your birthday card basket. Thank you so much for sharing.

!neke said...

Great cards !!!!!
Effect is fabulous !!!
groeten Ineke

Pat said...

That's a lot of cards you made Darnell, and they are all beautiful using the different shapes of plate and some very pretty images over the top..all absolutely gorgeous. I thought Blogland had been very quiet..lol, but hope wherever you went you had a great time. x

sandie said...

Oh I love these. That first set is my fav stamp set and I love what you did here. I have no idea how gelli plates work and like you thought it was just for mixed media but it looks fab as CAS cards. Hope all is well and sending hugs xx-Sandie xx

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Darnell, you certainly have been busy, and all your cards are so pretty, such lovely designs with gorgeous colours. I do love your little whale card, so cute, Kate x

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Awesome cards and what fun you had!

Bonnie said...

Look at that birthday stash! Woot! You have embraced this technique and have such pretty colors and stamping! You make me want to pull out those alcohol inks and gelli plate again!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, my, you have been busy and I just love the results! What I know about gelli plates you could stick in your ear, but I have learned a lot from watching all you talented card makers. These colors and designs are fabulous and so many of them! Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Good to have you back, Darnell!

Julie B said...

Who knew there were mini Gelli plates, I didn't but it sure looks a fun technique. A great set of colourful CAS cards as a result too! :)

Stamps and Paper said...

Wow Darnell you have been busy...just love the technique with the Geli plates you've produced such amazing card and such wonderful background colours

Anne

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
beautiful cards and such a brilliant technique.
Love all of them.
I have a few gelli plates from years ago and have never used them note to myself to rectify this.
I also don't own any alchol inks either.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours.
Jenny L.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

These cards, all of them, are drop-dead gorgeous. Nooooo does that mean I have to by gelli plates and alcohol inks to get this effect? I think I may have to wait a bit, but your cards really do tempt me! Stunning work.
Faith x

Linby said...

I haven't had my mini gelli plates out for a while and now I want to play. These are all so pretty and inspirational.

Pia S said...

I haven’t invested in any gelli plate equipment and alcohol inks yet, but i might, this looks like messy fun!! Awesome backgrounds. I do love that whale with googly eye and the scenes of nature. I also like that you can keep the image uncolored and let the background do its tricks. Well done!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Wow, Darnell - you've really made the most of this technique!! What a stunning set of cards; especially love the triangle plate ones but they're all amazing!!

HilaryJane said...

These are all just brilliant, well done. We are all going to be addicted now and I even have those same 3 gelli plates, so I have no excuse. Thank you for the inspiration xx

BożenA said...

These cards are amazing, Darnell. Your cards are rainbow and so happy. I love how the alcohol inks mixed on the Gelly plates. I was wondering if the AI is damaging the Gelly tiles??
hugs,
BożenA

Kate said...

Well done! Gosh you were busy and what a gorgeous collection of cards! Hugs, Kate!

Papercraft Boutique said...

These are all gorgeous, Darnell! Love the mix of colors and the great design variations! The whale card is so cute too.
I've read that this technique is addictive in other Go7 cardmakers' blogs, but when I saw the picture of all those prints laid out on your craft table, I was 100% convinced. I can't wait to try out my new mini gelli plates! Thanks for your inspiration!
Hideko xx
p.s. I couldn't stop laughing when I read "...Hammy and I enjoyed tiny alcoholic drinks and jelly sandwiches ...". :-D

frommycraftroom said...

WOW you and hammy certainly have been busy!

Love the results.

Sorry been MIA! hope to catch up tonight!