Sunday 2 October 2011

Letterpress success

I've recently become interested in old letterpress printing blocks as I've seen some lovely vintage images used on letterpress printed cards and stationery recently. I wondered whether I would be able to get them to print without a letterpress printing machine and as there are lots of blocks for sale on ebay for not much money, I decided to risk buying one to try it out.  So I bought this lovely old fashioned Christmas greeting and set about experimenting.

I first tried just hand printing with an ink pad and a mouse mat underneath my cardstock to make a surface with some "give".  It worked but not very well and there was no impressed effect. So I was very brave and carefully prised the metal print plate from its wooden block and set about experimenting with my Cuttlebug until I found a sandwich that worked. I also remembered reading somewhere that using Versamark on a stamp underneath the ink might give a better impression - and it did!

It doesn't show up in my photo, but the greeting is impressed into the card. I cut the print out with a tag die and added holly stamps. Then I used Old Paper Distress Ink on the edges, matted onto some red card, and cut it out.

I couldn't resist making some more cereal packet chipboard accents yesterday and added one to my tag before attaching to a Favor-It Box which had had the Papertrey impression plate treatment. As you can see I tried printing in red too and I'm not sure that I don't like that version even more than the green. I just need to work out how to get the greeting onto the inside of a Christmas card now.

This little project will be entered into the current A Passion for Papertrey challenge and its also a SECOND (good grief!!) entry for the Make-It-Monday challenge over on {Capture the Moment}.

I can't wait to find a few more suitable printing blocks to try but don't worry Hannah, if you are reading this I don't think I'll be going into the letterpress business! The process is a bit fiddly and rather hit and miss. So I'll still be looking for my letterpress goodies at Little Red Press!

Stamps: Papertrey's: Holy Jolly; Love Lives Here
Dies (all Papertrey): Favor-It Box 3; Tag Sale 1; Mat Stack 1; Love Lives Here collection
Other: Papertrey Linen & Canvas Impression Plate

12 comments:

  1. These are very effective and I like the red ink best too. Love the little house made from ceral packets. Hugs Mrs A.

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  2. wow- you are brave Ann - well done on the experiment and its success. Love the little house accent.
    Linbyx

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  3. oooh, the little chipboard house is so CUTE!!! I love your letterpress tag, I think your experimentation paid off with a beautiful finished project!!

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  4. Oooh what a fab result from your experiment! I LOVE letterpressed images/sentiments!
    Thanks for joining us on A Passion for Papertrey!
    Hugs,
    Aimes
    x

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  5. awesome...such a cute little house!

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  6. Oooooh! Gorgeous. I especially love the addition of the cute little house - it suits that vintage letterpress just perfectly.

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  7. You've done really well, Ann, to get this printing without a press and I absolutely love the little block! Great result - looks authentically vintage and so beautifully finished off. (Sounds like hard work though.)
    Hannah
    x

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  8. I have just found your gorgeous blog, i am now a follower xx

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  9. Oh they are so lovely!!! They actually look vintage, which I like. :) Great job, Ann! :)

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  10. Oh Ann, the result was worth all the trial!!!!Looks really professional like all your paperworkii

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  11. These are gorgeous Ann, you're very brave puttin the letterpress through your cuttlebug! It looks fantastic!

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  12. Oh, I love the idea of using old letterpress plates, so cute! I adore vintage ;-)
    Hugs xx

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment - its hugely appreciated. Ann :o)

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