Gel Press Experiments with Reactive Inks
Posted by Jessica Frost-Ballas on February 19, 2021

Gel Press Experiments with Reactive Inks

Good morning! I decided to do a little crafty experimenting this week with my gel press. I've had one for forever but I'd never gotten around to using it. I don't have any acrylic paint but decided that I'd see how it worked with Hero Hues Reactive inks!

So a general disclaimer here...I've NEVER used my gel press before and I know I have A LOT to learn (ha) but I can see the potential here for lots of crafty fun and I'm excited to keep experimenting!

I started by swiping Fruit Punch, Lemon Drop, and Creamsicle Reactive inks onto the surface of the gel press. I spritzed them with water and used a brayer to move them around. Then I pressed a piece of Dove White cardstock over the surface of my gel press to transfer the ink. This left a light impression on my cardstock.

I repeated the process with more ink but this time before I pressed the cardstock to the gel press I placed the new Art Deco Lotus stencil on the gel press. Then I took the same piece of cardstock and pressed it over the stencil and gel press.  The darker colors transferred to the cardstock but left the design of the stencil. I know this is totally like gel press basics 101 but I was smitten! I made 5 different backgrounds and then my kitten knocked a glass of water onto my desk and ruined all but one. *Sigh*.

To finish the card I kept it simple and stamped a sentiment from the new Big Hugs Stamp & Cut onto Pitch Black cardstock with Embossing & Watermark ink and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder. Then I die-cut the rest of the sentiment with Pitch Black cardstock. I simply adhered them to the panel with foam mounting tape and let the background shine! I'm so glad I finally took the gel press out and I can't wait to try it again. Is there anything in your craft room you've never used? What are you waiting for! ;)  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Have a great rest of your week!

Click on products to shop:

SA160 Art Deco Lotus Stencil - Hero Arts
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DC283 Big Hugs Stamp & Cut - Hero Arts
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AF421 Fruit Punch Reactive Ink - Hero...
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AF423 Lemon Drop Reactive Ink - Hero...
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AF422 Creamsicle Reactive Ink - Hero...
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PS325 Hero Hues Dove white - Hero Arts
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PS323 Hero Hues Premium Cardstock...
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AF419 Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink...
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PW110 White Embossing Powder - Hero Arts
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