Model Magic Print Plates and Stamps for Mixed Media

When's the last time you wandered around in the kids' art supplies of your local craft or discount store? I highly recommend that you check them out and imagine how you could incorporate these colorful goodies into your creative space. It's so easy to think, “That stuff is just for kids. I want REAL art supplies,” but I can promise you there's a ton of fun waiting for you there! (Watch Mixed Media Fun With Spirographs and Create Your Own Collage Sheets With a Spirograph to learn what an amazing art tool a kid's Spirograph can be.) 

During this episode of Drama-free Friday I drew inspiration from Printmaking Unleashed by Traci Bautista. Traci shows MANY different ways to make print plates and marks in mixed media art. Crayola Model Magic, an air dry modeling clay is easy on your hands, easy to roll out and dries within 24-48 hours. Traci showed several print plates and stamps in this book created with Model Magic. It's SO MUCH FUN to work with! 

To create the print plates I impressed the clay with rubber stamps. NOTE: If Model Magic sticks to your stamps, just coat them with Versamark Embossing Ink first. Check out the photos below. Be sure to click on them to see the detail!

To create stamps, I cut out shapes with tiny clay cutters (like cookie cutters) which I then attached to a base layer of clay. Check out the photos below. 

Once the Model Magic plates and stamps are dry, there are a couple of good choices for applying paint. You can brush paint on the surface (I used a sponge brush to do this) or add paint to a Gelli Plate and use it like an big ink pad. I created large sheets of paper using my Model Magic plates and stamps with Canson Mix-Media Paper. After printing and stamping with Martha Stewart Soft Gel Watercolor Acrylic Craft Paints, I thinned the same paints to a wash-like consistency and painted the rest of the surface. I love the results, don't you?

The only disadvantage with Model Magic print plates and stamps is that they are a bit fragile, so handle and store them with care. Also, don't soak them in water. A gentle cleaning with a damp cloth or Baby Wipe is sufficient.

Another great art tool to add visual interest to these papers is a Cedar Canyon Rubbing Plate. I chose one to use as a big stamp along with the Gelli Plate as my ink pad.

I really hope you try this technique and let your imagination loose as you create stamps and printing plates with Model Magic!

Be sure to join me for the next Drama-free Friday at 2pm Eastern when I'll be using these beautiful papers to create something fun.

Until next time ~

Remember to Get Creative today! It's Easy!!

Barb