Today we're exploring the wonderful world of GEL!!! Finnabair has amazing gel products which include: soft matte, soft gloss, 3D matte and gloss gels, and heavy body gel, each with their own special properties. So, how do you use gel, and which one do you choose? It helps to learn about each one so we've prepared a few infographics for you. Feel free to right-click and save each gel sheet for your own use! Now, let's explore the options!
Soft Matte Gel - posted above this gel is your standard go-to for:
- sealing projects,
- sealing individual art layers,
- adhering items to a project (especially heavier items like wood and metal),
- and as a base for mixing in other Art Ingredients like glitters or mica powder to create your own "paint", so to speak!
It's fabulous for so many uses that you really just need to start experimenting! It can create a resist effect as well, but since it is "soft gel" it may soften a bit from its form after applying, so keep that in mind.
Soft Gloss Gel - very similar to matte gel, but with a shiny finish! This gel is beautiful when mixed with mica powders, glitters, and/or micro-beads as it provides a smooth, shiny surface when dry!
3D Matte Gel: This clear gel is a must-have! If you love texture and design this gel will provide the perfect body for it.
- Use over stencils for clear, defined patterns,
- or to create a resist pattern when color is applied over it!
- mix in products to color or add shimmer,
- or use for extra-strong adhesion of heavy items when creating collages!
3D Gloss Gel - exactly like 3D Matte Gel, but dries with a sheen! Both 3D gels have great body to them allowing you to create dimension on your project by creating designs with Finn's brushes, using over a stencil design, or just applying in your own free-form patterns.
Heavy Body Gel: Meet the tough guy in the family! This gel is transparent, flexible, permanent, extra heavy body acrylic medium with a gloss finish. It can:
- Add heavy body to paints
- mix with pigments, inks, and paints;
- help create dimensional texture holding very high peaks.
- Excellent 3D collage adhesive, or as a base for thick, custom gels.
Apply with a palette knife, texture tool, or fingers. Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.
AVAILABILITY: Gels are available in 8-8.5 oz jars, some in 16 oz jars, and/or smaller 2 oz tubes. Some are included in the Mixed-Media Essential kit, available at select craft stores, as well. Now that we have explored the different gels Finnabair has in her line, let's see them in action!
projects
"Soft Matte Gel is a lovely, soft-bodied gel medium. It makes collaging easy and stress free and it can also be used in transfer techniques. With this medium you can also transform your acrylic paints into acrylic washes!" ~ Riikka
In this journal page I first used the medium to adhere the old book pages to the Finnabair journal and then added some picture transfers on top. You could also use the gel to make your own paints and effect pastes!
If you want to see, how I made the journal page, please see the video! Video Link: https://youtu.be/WUGBDKuBSaY
Prima Products: 961428 – Soft Matte Gel, 584283 – Vintage Alpha Card Set in a Box, 962890 – Vintage Ephemera, 962883 – Ephemera, 583620 – Vintage Emporium Ephemera, 595166 – Decorative Tape Dark Vintage, 961060 – Mechanicals Washers, 992330 – Wild and Free Cling Stamp set, 960995 – Music to my Ears Clear Stamp, 961831 – Bubbles Clear Stamp, 960865 – Checkered Clear Stamp, 961466 – Clear Gesso, 964542 – Impasto Acrylic Paint Pumpkin, 964610 – Impasto Acrylic Paint Bottle Green, 584269 – Watercolor Confections Tropicals, 963897 – Silicone Brush 1”, 960209 – Finnabair Mixed Media Journal
"I like so much this 3D gloss gel that offers so much opportunity to play as a glue, or as an additive. In this video, I use the gel to create a paste with artisan powder that I spread on a stencil to create texture on my canvas. It also serves as a glue for my embellishments, and fixative for my art stones. " ~ Jennifer
Finnabair's mixed-media line is absolutely brilliant! It is well thought-out to include all of the "basics" you need to play and learn. Gels are one of those items that can be scary to try out at first, but I hope we gave you enough information to tempt you to try one! My favorite creative way to use gel is to mix in a touch of mica powder with the gloss gel, then sprinkle in a touch of glitter. I like to spread it over a stencil on a tag to create the most beautiful effect!
Amazing all ptojects!! Thanks for sharing the video!!! xoxo
Posted by: luciana warnowski | Wednesday, November 08, 2017 at 04:37 PM