22 October 2023
Hello, crafty friends!
Have you seen the BetterPress Letterpress by Spellbinders? This tool has been engineered to be a BETTER way to do LetterPress, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!
Katie has been playing with her new BetterPress LetterPress and joined our morning video this week to share what she has learned. SPOILER ALERT: This system is super-easy to use and will enable you to achieve professional results right away!
If you’re new to the idea of letterpress, I found this information online which describes the look very well:
Letterpress printing is loved by many for leaving a tactile and visual impression into the paper – some call it “debossed.” It communicates an elegance and handcrafted quality that can’t be matched by any other printing method.
As an example, this image below was made with one of the BetterPress LetterPress plates. It may look like a regular stamped image on your screen, but in fact the letters and black ink are PRESSED (debossed) into a special paper rather than on sitting on the surface, as with a stamped image.
Click HERE to watch the video with Katie from Monday, 16 October 2023. Katie showed us how to set up the system right out of the box, which paper and inks to use, and how to position the plate for success.
Click HERE for links to the products Katie shared in her demo.
Click HERE for our BetterPress LetterPress category, including the system, plates, inks, and papers.
So let’s take a look at some of the fun samples Katie shared with us! The first thing we learned is that you’re not limited to only black BetterPress Ink when using the BetterPress! She used three colors of Oxide Ink on the Pumpkins and Ghosts Background plate (linked in the product list) to achieve an ombre look. HoneyBee Gems provide just the right amount of sparkle!
If you could see Katie’s samples in person, you’d see how the letters and inks are PRESSED into the paper for a completely different look than you get with stamping. It looks like something out of a print shop!
Next, Katie showed us how she used the same three colors of Oxide Ink on the background, the used black ink on the BetterPress plate. Wow, that black really pops on the Oxide background!
For her demo, Katie showed us how to make this ombre background using two shades of Oxide inks, lightly spritzing it with water using her Distress Sprayer. The ink reacts with water to create that mottled look we love. When this piece dries, it’s ready for your BetterPress plate!
Katie also showed us how to make this beautiful “spotlight” background by placing her lightest ink in the center, then using darker purple and black around the edges. The highlight in the center really draws the eye! She used a bit of metallic Mica Spray to add a touch of gold. This background technique could be used with stamping, too (we’d suggest using Black Archival Ink and your MISTI for a crisp impression).
Katie also played with this awesome Spider Web plate. It makes a perfect background for these little ghost trick or treaters, which are two of many on the Halloween Icons BetterPress Plate (both plates linked above). The words included on this plate also have matching dies, making them easy to cut out perfectly.
Katie created some stunning backgrounds with Mica Stains — love that subtle shimmer! What an eye-catching background for our little ghosts!
The possibilities are endless with the BetterPress plates! That skull looks awesome when adhered with a Wobble for a little shake-shake-shake!
Once you press your BetterPress image in black, you can also color it in with colored pencils or other mediums. This pumpkin is especially cute on a tag!
What a fun and informative morning with Katie learning about this great new tool! If you’ve purchased the BetterPress LetterPress or are thinking about it, we encourage you to give it a try! It’s engineered to be foolproof and easy to achieve professional results in no time at all.
If Katie has inspired you to try the BetterPress system, stop in! We have a great selection of plates and would love to help you find everything you need to get started.
If you can’t make it in, no worries! We offer online shopping 24/7 and super-fast shipping, too. Or just call the store at (515) 965-1102 and we’d love to help you shop by phone.
Thanks for visiting our blog today!
Janet
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