The smallest of the rectangular Gelli plates, and the one most people end up using more than they expect to. Postcards, ATCs, gift tags, sketchbook spreads, journal pages — anything where you want a one-off printed background or layer in a hurry, this is the size that gets reached for. Gelli plates exist because traditional gelatin printing plates were a faff. They had to be cooked from gelatin and water, lived in the fridge between sessions, cracked under heavy use, and grew mould eventually. Joan Bess fixed the whole problem by developing a permanent gel-like surface from mineral oil and proprietary binders — the same tacky feel, none of the maintenance, and effectively indestructible if you look after it. To use one: roll out acrylic paint or water-based block printing ink with a brayer, lay in textures with stencils, leaves, lace, bubble wrap, anything with a pattern, then press paper onto the plate and lift. Each pull is a one-off, which is the whole point of monoprinting. The 5×7" plate is light enough to take to workshops and small enough to leave on your desk between sessions. Size: 5" × 7" (12.7 × 17.8 cm)Material: Mineral oil and proprietary bindersCare: Cleans with soap and water. Store flat in original packaging.
