i finally tried it and i think i'm in love

i finally (finally, finally) had a go at my gocco today.  and, oh boy, is it fun. 

i've had this plan in my head for weeks (after spending time with two sick kiddos a while back, playing with the spirograph), but it was sarah's post yesterday that pushed me to finally open the box.

all of the things i was worried about turned out to be quite simple.  one of my greatest delays was getting to a good-old-fashioned-copy-machine to copy what i had drawn.  in the end, my hp all-in-one worked perfectly.  (seems that hp inkjet inks use carbon but epsons don't.)  i followed this tutorial (thanks, leslie, for the link).  and checked in here for a bunch of silly questions along the way (thanks to sarah for that link).  sarah and leslie, they've been my big gocco champions.  sarah pointed me to the machine, leslie sold it to me.  they've both been encouraging me to get to it already.  why didn't i listen sooner!?

the biggest stumbling block?  when i went to expose the screen, nothing happened.  i tried again and again.  until i realized that i needed 2 AA batteries.  brilliant.  oh, and "even pressure," apparently i didn't understand that concept fully the first time.

but every time i pressed that machine down to print another card, i was practically giddy when i lifted it up and found the image on the other side.  seriously, like a small child making a new discovery.

next time i will do things a bit differently.  i would have blended the inks.  used the colors a bit more carefully.  but for my first time.  so much fun.  i've gotta get some more screens and bulbs so i can try it again.

Comments

[cloth.paper.string]

yay! lovely, lovely results, emily. i'm so glad that you're enjoying the gocco, and i'm really looking forward to seeing what blossoms from this new love affair!

[joleen]

so, so great! :)

[erin]

hooray! i just finished my cards tonight. and i am so copying the spirograph. just so you know!

[leslie]

i am so glad you dove in. your cards are wonderful. and it was your first time. you just wait. things will only get better now. i had the same giddy feeling my first time. and still get it!

[leslie]

i guess i need a gocco!
lovin yours!

[Grace]

i want to do it. very much. BUT ... i don't draw. and i don't have a good idea about where to get other images to use. you know, legally. someday, though, it's gonna happen. i feel it in my bones.

the bottom photo, with your cards all in a row, looks so beautiful.

xo