On a Roll- Create your Personal Mark Making Brayers

I use inexpensive brayers found at any hardware or dollar store to create some cool rolling stamping. They have inexpensive sponge, foam and textured rollers that can be used. 

textured and inexpensive sponge roller

Paint a sponge brayer with any textured medium and create a cool texture mark. Do you still have your old glue gun? Well, Fire it up and decorate a cheap sponge brayer for a very personal mark-making tool.

You can also use any found cardboard tubes, toilet paper, corks, even old thread spools to make your own. Add designs using foam stickies, string, elastic, cloth scraps and you’re on a roll! Try carving an old candle!

Always print on a padded surface. I have a print/ironing table in my studio. It can be made with firm batting or acrylic wool covered with duck or some sturdy fabric. I staple it directly to the underside of the table. It can be removed when it starts to turn multicolored and worked into more delightful painted fabric for your art projects.

Hint- I keep my paints upside down. I can see the colors readily, the paint is ready to squirt out of the container and it helps seal the paint container for less evaporation.

Hint- When you’re traveling a print surface can be made in a pinch. Use your hand towel and cover with a small piece of painter’s plastic. If the plastic is really wrinkled, hit it quickly with a hair dryer to soften slightly. This should relax the wrinkles.

Hint- Coat a used paint brayer with medium and use instead of buying the really expensive art brayers. OR just don't wash out the paint next time!