Playing around - simple DIY printing

The last couple of weeks have been frantically busy,  both work and home/family-wise. I also succumbed to a sinus infection which put me out of action for a few days, after which, rushing to get everything done  I felt I was meeting myself coming  backwards. But - the mindfulness/gratitude strategy is slowly sinking in. Instead of panicking (my usual strategy) I realised I needed to take things a bit more steadily and further playtime was necessary! In place of stitching today I decided to have some fun with paint.

This is so good for me - I really don't do messy - and I find it hard to play and push back  my neat and tidy comfort zone! (Himself  says I  am Monica from 'Friends!') Sadly he's not wrong,  I do tend to work in a detailed and controlled way,  so loosening up play times aren't natural to  me, but I'm learning!

I was very impressed with my friend Alison's Gelli Plate for mono printing. I didn't think I'd really use one enough to warrant buying my own,  but  it did inspire me to try a few DIY printy things,  without spending a lot of money.

First I picked some leaves from the garden,  sloshed a mix of Artist's watercolour paints on the back and pressed them onto watercolour paper - using a kitchen towel.

This was really fun!  I tried a few more watercolour prints in my journal on cartridge paper. (These are St Petersburg White Nights watercolour paints which I love.)

Then I got out my fabric scrap bag and tried using acrylic paint onto calico. First I tried some Jacquard Textile paint. I really like how these buddleia leaf prints turned out.

 Flushed with success -  I made up a rough plate using a piece of mat board with some acetate stuck on it  - to see if it would work. I didn't have a brayer, so used a natural sponge to apply the paint (just cheap acrylic craft paint to which  I added some fabric painting medium.(All very high tech!)

Pretty rough and ready, but it worked ok!

I don't have any stamps, so I drew into the paint using a rubber tipped art tool,  then laid fabric scraps over the design and lightly rubbed. These are the results:

 


Not too bad for a first attempt,  and these are much more free and expressive than how I normally work.  I think I may try a thick silicon mat for a base,  as it will have more spring and flex - and get a proper brayer! Anyone got any tips or suggestions for other DIY/recycled tools and equipment to share -  or more fun ways to play with printing?

I'm going to take some of these prints and see how I can develop them a bit more too.x