Ever fancied carving your own designs and making your own prints? For our final brand of Christmas, I'm taking a look at
Softcut (the cream-coloured stuff),
Linoleum (the grey-coloured stuff) and the
carving tools required for DIY printing and stamping.
I started with a piece of
Linoleum, and drew a design using a waterproof pen.
Using a
Lino Cutter with a narrow blade, I carved the outline. (Always carve away from you with all fingers behind the blade, and outwards from the design, then if the blade does slip, you haven't gouged across your lovely image - or your fingers!)
Changing to a wider blade, I carved out the background areas. It helps to ink the lino up with archival ink and make test prints every so often so that you can see what areas still need to be cut away.
Leaving roughly carved edges gives your image a rustic feel. And it means you don't need to be too precise ;) I brayered Dylusions Paint onto the image and took a print on white cardstock.
I popped the print onto a background of
Distress Paints, and into a box frame. Would make a nice 'new home' gift, I think.
So next, I had a go with the Softcut. This is more flexible than the Lino and carves slightly easier. I decided to carve circles, but somehow it morphed into a rose...
A few test prints on scrap paper...
Brayered with Red Dylusions paint, stamped onto a Gelli plate piece from my review of Gelli Plates.
A bit of paint for a stem and leaves, a bit of stencilling, a bit of black and white pen work, and it's ready to be mounted onto a card.
I hope you've enjoyed this little review, and maybe inspired you to have a go. Have a wonderful Christmas, and I hope Santa brings you loads of crafting goodies :)
Shirley x
This looks like a fun product, it's new to me but my sister in law and a friend are both lino cut artists so I appreciated the skill of the technique x
ReplyDeleteVery clever to make your own prints, they have both turned out so well
ReplyDeleteOn my list of things to do in 2016.......
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering about these tools and the lino but I'm also terrified of the thought of being let loose with them lol! I suffer from muscles spasms in my back and arms and regularly punch out or knock over a drink these days. However I would love to bring some of my own designs to life so I'll have to ask the OH to do the cutting. Fabulous mini tutorial too, thank you Karen x
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun ..... love how these designs have turned out xx
ReplyDeleteExcellent product focus, thank you for the tips and great finished pieces. X
ReplyDeleteWow, cool designs & finished pieces. How did you get outside petals on flower? (Don't worry, thinking out loud, no reply expected). I'd like to think I'd try this but my drawing is rubbish. Tyfs.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to make your own prints is marvellous! Not sure I can be let loose with cutting tools but it would be great to try!
ReplyDelete