Wednesday 21 October 2020

WOYWW #594: Gelli prints with alcohol inks

 Another Wednesday, another WOYWW! Inching closer and closer to #600! I'll try not to miss it! Here's a snapshot of my desk during a frenzied gelli printing session - with alcohol inks! It was all triggered by a video I saw on Instagram by Birgit Koopsen, Queen of Gelli printing. Since then I've found the longer YouTube video as well for those of you who are interested. Careful though, it comes with an addiction warning! As soon as I saw this, I had to drop everything and try it immediately! Yes, I'm that crazy!

The results were deliciously unpredictable and grungy! I only had two colours to play with (Ranger's butterscotch and stream), but I've ordered some more! The stencil I used is from Stamperia (Azulejos tiles) and just the right size for my 8X10 plate. Here are some of the results I got - I was swooning over them and will be using these sheets in all sorts of projects - some time in the future, I'm sure. 







I've also tried another stencil (I think it's from Clarity) that produced some nice impressionist effects
 as well. In fact, I liked it so much I stuck it on a canvas and hung it in my bedroom! 



I've moved all my art books from my craft room into my bedroom as that's where I like to read and they have a calming effect on me. This freed up some valuable space on my shelves in the craft room for other things. That little corner with the fairy lights looks quite magical at night! 

Autumn has definitely arrived and I enjoy watching how the leaves turn colour, sometimes in the space of just a few days! Here's photo of our mountain ash tree that looks particularly pretty in autumn colours. That white spot there further up the plot is where my potting shed is going to be. Just waiting for it be delivered now! A bit too late in the season, but hopefully I can still use it to overwinter some potted plants that would have a hard time outside if we have a harsh winter. 


Thank you for all your lovely comments last week. I think I managed to get back to everyone, albeit rather late. I might be a bit late this week as well, but I'll make sure to catch up later!  Happy #594 and it looks like I managed to snatch the lucky #13 spot on the list this week!  

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32 comments:

  1. Lynette (NZ)21 October 2020 at 08:14

    I have a long weekend coming and the alcohol ink play is definitely on my list to try out. Gorgeous effects. I am loving your shot of the bedroom - fairy lights are so pretty - but I am also very inspired by your art up. I need to do more of that. xo

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    1. Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith21 October 2020 at 09:10

      Hi Lynette! That's my little sanctuary there - I like sitting on the floor and flip through all those art books I forgot I had! Have fun gelli printing! It's seriously addictive - just waiting for more alcohol inks to be delivered today to have another go!

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  2. Chrissie21 October 2020 at 08:24

    Those prints are to die for!
    I absolutely love them and will have to investigate what you did and how you did it!
    Amazing!
    Thanks SO much for the inspiration, I shall have to follow the link!
    Chrissie #10

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  3. Chrissie21 October 2020 at 08:36

    I've just watched the video and I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.... how long does the alcohol ink take to dry before each step and what colours did you use on your examples.... I love the combo!
    Thanks!
    Chrissie #10 (again!)

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    1. Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith21 October 2020 at 09:43

      Hi Crissie! I'm so glad you like my prints - grungy is not everyone's cup of tea but the only way to go for me! The alcohol inks dry very quickly, a matter of seconds, really - if you don't wait for them to dry completely before putting the white acrylics over, you get a less defined effect (like my first two prints) - if you dry them completely, your stencil lines will be more defined. Both are great, just different! You can't go wrong! The colours I used were butterscotch and stream (part of the nature walk collection, which also includes a third colour, but I lost it over the years!) Have fun and do show us your prints next time!

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    2. Chrissie21 October 2020 at 10:14

      Thanks so much for this, I think I have those colours... whoopie!
      I’m surprised it dries so quickly and really glad too...I hate long waits in creative processes!!!

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    3. Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith21 October 2020 at 14:17

      If you blow on it it dries quicker - as the alcohol evaporates - just don't use a heat gun on it LOL!

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  4. Julia Dunnit21 October 2020 at 10:01

    Wow, those prints are gorgeous. I would imagine that the work is rather frenzied with alcohol inks being what they are for drying...I LOVE that stencil. Me and tiles...it’s a thing! Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing what other colours you’ve ordered. My word it’s been ages since I played with alcohol inks...this technique is just wonderful!

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  5. Lunch Lady Jan21 October 2020 at 10:04

    Wow, those are gorgeous, they look like medieval tiles! And I'd know it was your work anywhere, those are definitely your signature colours. Gorgeous autumn pic there, my fav season - the trees are a bit behind here in S Wales though, only just turning!
    Hugs LLJ 17 xxx

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  6. Annie Claxton21 October 2020 at 10:39

    OMG Zsuzsa, I'm swooning too - and I can't believe you got those gorgeous effects with just two colours as well. I've lined up the YT vid to watch when I get home later, thank you. How exciting to have a new potting shed going up - love the colour of the outbuilding you already have there, very pretty - maybe that should be a crafting outpost?! :o) Have a great week. Annie C #23

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    1. Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith21 October 2020 at 11:52

      No way - my husband would kill me! He's very territorial about outbuildings LOL. On the other hand, we're getting a summer house as well - only a small one, but I can do something with that - if nothing else, just fill it with artwork!

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  7. glitterandglue21 October 2020 at 11:21

    Hi Zsuzsa. I think my favourite is the picture you hung on your bedroom wall. I really like it. I have specials hung there, too! The others, from the gelli plate, are great - just not my style at all - although I love the two colours together.
    Yes, the colours in nature are all changing - and fast, too. The hillside I can see from the front of my home is beginning to look beautiful - but the tree in my own garden is already empty of leaves. I do live in rather a high-wind area!!
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #3

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  8. Annie21 October 2020 at 11:49

    I really love the effects you've been getting this week...and the colours too.
    Hugs,
    Annie x #12

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  9. Diana Taylor21 October 2020 at 11:56

    Oh wow, these are stunning - I am totally in love with your beautiful prints and must give this a go. I can see how addictive it could become! What a beautiful tree that is - autumn colours are my favourite, this is such a lovely time of year.
    Have a good week,
    Diana xx #19

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  10. shazsilverwolf21 October 2020 at 12:05

    Hi Zsuzsa, Julia has done a blog post about the Zoom crop, so you can check it out. Love the pieces you made, really interesting. Love the art on the wall and the fairy lights.Stay safe, Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #4 X

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  11. Christine21 October 2020 at 12:12

    Thanks for your visit earlier, found some more paperwork that will need sorting so it looks like Gone with the Wind has gone for today . . . .I hope to get the Order of Service off to the printers today as well, I had forgotten that!! lol
    Love all those gelli prints, there will be no stopping you when you get your new colours . .
    have a good week
    Christine #14

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  12. Helen21 October 2020 at 13:01

    What gorgeous work. Love the tree too Helen #2

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  13. Felix the Crafty Cat21 October 2020 at 13:19

    Not sure I dare watch the Gelli printing video as I'm still using up the last batch I made. It's just so addictive once you get started. I had to smile at you moving stuff from the craft room Lol! very crafty making space for more stash I suspect, love it! Have a lovely week and a very happy woyww, Angela x20x

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  14. Felicia21 October 2020 at 14:21

    Zsuzsa, well, you have done it again!!! I think it doesn't matter what you "try," it turns out to be amazing! I love what came out of your vid watch. I am going to have to go watch that.....and dodge the addiction! LOLOL But, as always, you use some of my fave colors!!! Great turn outs! I love your little calming area, it looks so lovely and peaceful and ESPECIALLY with that amazing art on the wall!! I have yet to put any of my art on the wall...not sure what that is all about....but I just finished a project that I will probably share next week to show what will be my first thing I actually put on my wall! LOLOL Fall is slowly creeping in here in the southern US. It's always a slow go because it stays so humid and hot days haven't really left us yet. So to see beautiful colors, I have to go up north!! Hopefully more soon here, but your tree has yummy color that's begging to be put on page!!! I love when you visit my blog and thanks so much for last weeks comment, you made me smile! Blessings my friend! Happy WOYWW!

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  15. Shoshi21 October 2020 at 16:50

    Gorgeous, gorgeous alcohol ink prints, Zsuzsa! All in your signature colours, too! Some of them look like ancient Islamic tiles. I'm rather into Islamic design at the moment so I'm spotting it everywhere! I love your magical corner in the bedroom. Your garden is looking wonderful too with the autumn colours and I love your blue shed.

    Thank you for your visits. I was amused to hear about Oreo's facial expression being the same as Lily and Ruby's! They are endlessly amusing. Sorry to hear you've got an impending dentist visit too. Horrible, isn't it.

    I am really enjoying the tiny carpets project. Just got the final two to do to make a total of 3 needle books and then I shall do something else. I love the discipline of the counted thread work and seeing the design develop, colour by colour. The oriental rugs are such glorious designs too and it's fabulous to be able to interpret them in cross stitch. I'm quite tempted to do a bigger one for myself!

    Your antics over getting dressed made me smile! Some days if I'm not feeling so good I don't get dressed till later in the day (or not at all). Rather than being in a dressing gown all day, I slip on one of my kaftans and with a scarf or necklace, I look dressed if anyone comes to the door haha! Trouble is, since I've lost 5 stone in weight, the kaftans are too big and trail on the floor and are likely to trip me up, so I have to tie a scarf round my waist to hoist them up a bit. Actually it looks quite nice! Kaftan mode is definitely the way to go if you hate getting dressed!!

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi x #22

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  16. Karen21 October 2020 at 22:15

    Very cool! I pinned the video so I can finish watching it ~ I think I have everything I need to try it some time too. Your projects turned out great. What a nice spot to have a potting shed, that is something I don't have as of yet. I have to put my plants in the garage soon. Your tree is turning a beautiful color ~ Enjoy! Love, Karen#40

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  17. Crafting With Jack21 October 2020 at 22:19

    Happy WOYWW, love your prints and I darted off to find those YouTube videos, but I dare not look at them till tomorrow or I will be up all night x Angela #36

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  18. Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations21 October 2020 at 22:24

    Beautiful effect from the stamperia stencil, I have many of stamperia & that is one of my favs. I love how alcohol inks dry so fast but I rarely play in this way had to throw some away recently as I had not closed them properly and they had evaporated grrrr.. lesson learnt there. I'm so happy to see you too now keep your arty books by your bed, it's a very restful place to keep them.. gives me thoughts in the night and arty dreams.
    Don't those Autumn leaves look awesome against the colour of the outbuilding, I really think you should have it for outdoor crafting, i'd wrestle my hubby for it hee hee... Happy WoywW always something lovely to see. Stay safe & creative Hugs Tracey #8 xx
    P.S Thank you for the Birthday wishes x

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  19. My name is Cindy22 October 2020 at 00:28

    Hello there and thanks for the earlier visit - I'm late because the internet has been flaky all day. I love what you did with the alcohol inks and gelli plates and its on my list - but I've still got loads of prints from the last time I had the plate out! It's always so hard to stop. Definitely starting to feel more myself though I agree, why does the Night Nurse have to be that awful colour? It looks radioactive!! As for the card, it's for someone im my customer's church, hence the scripture and the eagle which apparently has religious significance. The meerkat however is just for fun!! Stay well, stay safe, Cindy #25

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  20. Sarah Brennan22 October 2020 at 07:18

    Amazing gel prints Zsuzsa. Will have to check out that video. The town stencil is indeed from CLarity. Love your bedside art library. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #1

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  21. Neet22 October 2020 at 12:04

    The mountain ash looks spectacular. Had to go to collect some stuff from a friend yesterday and it was lovely to see all the colours of the trees as we travelled along. Just a shame we could not stop every time I saw particularly lovely ones to take a photo.
    Love your |AI prints. never used AI's on a Gelli plate so will definitely be looking at your video link. Tracy Evans did a workshop using the on a Gelli plate but it is one I have not done yet, but intended to. Love the one on the easel - that is particularly spectacular.
    I always love your work and your colour palette so it is a joy to visit you whenever you post.
    Hugs, Neet 6 xx

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  22. BJ22 October 2020 at 17:17

    Hi, good to be back in the saddle post-op, didn't think it would take me 2 months to get back to crafting, although I haven't been just sitting around, just doing other things...

    Loving the gelli prints and yes I agree the house one is great on the wall. Lovely Autumn garden too. Ooo just had to look what date #600 will be - 2nd December 2020, thanks for the heads up.

    Thanks for the visit BJ#26

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  23. Belinda23 October 2020 at 18:23

    Zsuzsa all I can say is wow! I love the results of your gelli press art. I am so embarrassed to say that I bought a gelli print and have been putting off trying because it is so new to me. I am so inspired when I see other people do it so thanks for sharing. Maybe I will stop being a chicken and give it a try. I love your reading nook. It does look very cozy. The canvases in your bedroom look so pretty. Have a wonderful weekend!
    Belinda #38

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  24. Susan Renshaw27 October 2020 at 11:37

    Oh my goodness Zsuzsa I am going to have to try that gel plate with alcohol inks. What fabulous results!
    Sorry for the late visit. Susan #24

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  25. Win Dinn, Artist29 October 2020 at 22:04

    Zsuzsa, I just LOVE that print you made and hung in your bedroom - smoley hokes! :D

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