Gelli Arts - How to Make a Multipurpose Tin with Gelli Arts Gel Plates and Bleeding Tissue Paper

Shared from: Gelli Arts                      Date: 25th February 2021

Hi everyone! Mollie here.

This project is a great way to upcycle old coffee tins, or any other metal tin that you may have at home. If you are anything like me, and hate to throw these kinds of things away, you might have quite a collection. For this project I have used a Nescafe coffee tin and an Allison’s Yeast tin. If you follow all the instructions you will end up with 2 beautiful upcycled tins, which use different techniques and ensure that none of the tissue paper goes to waste.

You can use your finished tin for all manner of purposes, pencil/pen/paint brush pot, make-up storage (eyeliners, mascaras etc), kitchen worktop storage, vase for dried flowers – the list goes on.

Please tag me in your creation on Instagram at @artwithmollie as I would love to see what you come up with!

Tin One

Measure the height of the tin, not including the rim at the top and bottom.

Cut out a rectangle of card where the width is the height of the tin and the length is the circumference (will wrap right round the tin).

Check the card wraps neatly around the tin and that the edges join.

Cut or tear your bleeding-tissue paper into small sections. Then use the sponge and water to make the card wet.

Add the pieces of tissue to the wet card, making sure it does not dry out. Experiment with the tissue, try out similar colours and clashing colours and watch the ink bleed out and the amazing effects this creates. Don’t be afraid to layer the tissue; there is no right or wrong way to go about it, just have fun.

When you have finished leave it somewhere to dry.

Your next step is to carefully remove all the dry tissue and keep all the pieces somewhere safe.

Now it’s time to print!

Get your Gelli Plate ready and roll on a thin layer of paint

Position your stencil onto the Gelli Plate and then put a piece of paper on top and rub gently to remove the excess paint. Keep this piece of paper and re-use it as often the best prints are the ‘accidents’.

Remove the stencil and position your colourful tissue card on top, or turn the Gelli Plate over and print onto the card so that you can see where your image is going to go.

Leave the print to dry and clean your Gelli Plate.

Now repeat the whole process with a different colour paint. This time make sure the print is on the table and that you hold your Gelli Plate upside-down so you can see what you are doing. This will make sure that you don’t print in the same place as you want both colour paints to show and also the colourful print underneath.

Leave to dry.

Now measure the short edges and cut double-sided tape to fit neatly in place. Then measure the gap along the long edges and cut tape to size. If you are left with any small gaps cut small pieces of tape to fill these in.

Wrap the print around the tin until it fits snugly, then carefully remove the backing tape from one short end and stick down.

You can now peel off all the other backing tape and then slowly stick the print around the tin until the 2 edges meet. Enjoy your creation!

The VIDEO below shows it all coming together. 

Tin 2

Now you are going to use all the dry scraps of tissue from the first project. If you haven’t done so already then take a look at the pieces of tissue and pick out your favourites. Every time I used bleeding tissue paper I always get really excited about the serendipitous nature of the bleeding of different colours together. It is similar to gel printing in that you never know quite what you are going to get and it is a joy to create new effects and so never gets boring. A perfect marriage of 2 different mediums as far as I am concerned!

As with the first tin, measure and cut out a piece of card.

This time apply a thin layer of glue with a square edge paint brush. Do this a bit at a time as you add each piece of tissue. Smooth the tissue down slowly and carefully to avoid ripping it or leaving bumps and creases behind. When you have covered your card you can go back and add pieces of tissue over any gaps. Then trim any tissue overlapping the edge carefully with your scissors. Leave it to dry.

Get your Gelli Plate, stencil and paint. Have a look at your tissue collage and decide which colour paint will work best. I used black as a contrast with all the bright colours, but it would also have looked good with gold or silver for example. If you are not sure then make a test piece with some of the pieces of tissue and try out different paints with a paint brush before continuing.

Add a small amount of paint to your Gelli Plate and roll out evenly. Position your stencil onto the Gelli Plate and then put a piece of paper (the same one as before – see what interesting patterns this creates!) on top and rub gently to remove the excess paint. 

Put the tissue paper collage on the table and hold your Gelli Plate upside-down so you can see what you are doing. This will mean you are not leaving the finished effect to accident as there may be some pieces of tissue you are particularly keen to show through the gaps in the stencil.

Leave to dry.

Now measure the short edges and cut double-sided tape to fit neatly in place. Then measure the gap along the long edges and cut tape to size. If you are left with any small gaps cut small pieces of tape to fill these in.

Wrap the print around the tin until it fits snugly, then carefully remove the backing tape from one short end and stick down.

You can now peel off all the other backing tape and then slowly stick the print around the tin until the 2 edges meet. You now have your second tin which you may love even more than the first one!

Be sure to take photos and if you are on Instagram upload them and tag me @artwithmollie so I can see them – I can’t wait! I am also on Facebook 

Good luck and I hope you enjoy my project.

Mollie

MATERIALS:

One or more clean tins (no sharp edges)

Gelli Arts® gel plate (size depends on the size of the tin – I used my 8 x 10 inch)

Bleeding tissue paper (most tissue paper is colour fast and will not work for this project)

Brayer

Slow Drying acrylic paint, 2 contrasting colours (I use Golden Open and Pebeo)

Thin card (I used 170gms – size depends on the size of the tin)

Stencil (I used my Gelli Arts® Circle stencil)

Ruler

Scalpel or blade

Scissors

Double-sided sticky tape

PVA glue

Square edge paint brush

Sponge and water in a bowl