all in an inch

A little coloring 'trick'

 

Patience...small circular motions...and not too much pressure are the keys to getting good results with color pencils. We also know that the best quality art paper for using color pencils has 'tooth', that tiny amount of texture so that the pigment in the pencils will grab the paper. (not unlike the surface of an Inchie Square!) We know too that with the layering of similar...yet different colors... you can shift the appearance of a color - by making a red look more pink...or making a red look more orange.  

Another way to accomplish a similar shifting or overall tone of a color is to use a Copic marker as the foundation, or base for color pencil coloring.

I am crazy nuts about using oversize stamps on Inchie Squares. Maybe it's the slight unpredictabilty of how your stamped image will turn out...or maybe it's just that by seeing only a portion of an image the rest is left to your imagination. Either way, this Elegant Pointsettia from Memory Box is a perfect image to demonstrate a little coloring trick.

Remember, when stamping with an oversize image it is much easier to ink the stamp and turn it face up, and then bring your Inchie Square to the stamp. For more control on setting it down on the stamp you can either make a little tape handle for the back of the Inchie Square or do what I often do and just stab it with an awl as a way to pick it up - but make sure you don't stab too hard or it will go all the way through!!

If you want to have a finished poinsettia with an underlying pink tone, first color with Copic marker R00. Unlike color pencils, the alcohol marker fills in all the little spaces created by the slight texture of the Inchie Square surface.

 Apply the first layer of color pencil - Prismacolor Scarlet Lake

 

Then layer in Crimson Lake

And finish with Raspberry

 

 

If we were to start over and you wanted the pointsettia to have a more 'gold' or redder tone begin the coloring process by laying down a foundation of Copic marker YR21. 

 Use the same colors, in the same order as the 'pink' version - starting with Scarlet Lake 

 Then Crimson Lake

Finish with Raspberry

 

 
  
 A great feature of the Inchie Squares is they are solid core white and you can color the edges with Copic markers - this adds a nice finish quality to your work.

 

What would a holiday card be without a little pizzaz? You have to try Smooch (!!) the new Pearlized Accent Inks from Clearsnap. They are quick drying and really add just the right amount of sparkle!

 

 

When you compare the two versions side by side it's amazing to think they were colored using the same 3 colored pencils. The only difference is the Copic marker foundation color. When you start experimenting it's amazing how you can influence your coloring with this little trick!

White Inchie Squares and Inchie Note from Inchie Arts. Patterned papers by Graphic 45.

Deconstructing a pine bough

Deconstructing....! I think I have been watching too many cooking shows...but it perfectly describes the process of making this card. This is also a great way to use the new Colored Inchie Squares in the neutral tones and a new khaki Inchie Note card. 

Using three different colors of Inchie Squares, line them up in a bit of a jig jog - this way you get a combination of stem (which runs down the middle) and pine needles when you stamp. Left to right the colors are wheat, dark cream, dark cream and light gray. The stamp is the Big Pine Bough from Hero Arts. 
   

They are reassembled here just after stamping so you can see how they appear before taking them apart.

Now 'deconstruct' the pine bough and rearrange it in a 4 square, turning the squares until you are pleased with the way they appear.

Since all of the paper components of the card are darker colors you want to be sure and run a coordinating Copic marker around the edges of the paper so you won't see the 'white' edges when you assemble the paper layers.

The photo never seems to do justice to the richness of the subtle beiges, taupes and grays of this card and how well the neutral Inchie Squares coordinate with two of the papers from the Granola 6 X 6 assortment pad from Basic Gray.

Be sure to visit Cindy Lyles blog, StarLitstudio, for additional ideas about combining different colored Inchie Squares in one card!

 
  
 
 

Still on the vine

 

It's almost Halloween and pumpkins are everywhere. These patterned papers were just begging to be made into a card for the season. I especially love the one that is textured like a basketball...no kidding. When I first discovered it in my local craft store a few years ago I bought several sheets. I see it from time to time and always buy a few more.

(It has also been the perfect paper to use for coaches gifts so if anyone knows what it's called and who makes it...please share!)

 

The rich color of the new dark cream Colored Inchie Squares makes the perfect base for a 3 part inchie puzzle. Create the pumpkin vine using the Lockhart Ribbon Vine paired with an Itty Bitty Pumpkin. Florentine paper from Graphic 45 and a Jack O Lantern colored card from Memory Box pull it all together.

 

  

You can really tell the difference between the new dark cream Colored Inchie Squares and the original white Inchie Squares. Now with a total of 7 different colors you can select the color that best suits your papercrafting project!

 

Stamp the vine across all three Colored Inchie Squares. It's ok if you want to put a piece of tape across the back to hold them together, but you don't really need to. Just line them up and make sure you have all the squares top side up (the edges round away on the top side).

 

Can you believe these tiny pumpkins were colored with 6 differernt Prismacolor pencils! It's amazing how this layering effect really richens their appearance. Begin with the lightest color...spanish orange...and then progressively use mineral orange, goldenrod, pumpkin orange, burnt ochre and sienna brown.Use small gentle ovals and hardly any pressure incorporating some basic shading techniques with the darker colors more towards the edges to emphasize the round shape. 

 

  

By the time you get to the 4th color you can really see the effect.

 

 

Use G21 Lime Green Copic Marker directly on top of the stamped vine and YG 17 Grass Green to barely put a touch of color on the leaves.

 

 

Assemble the card components. Our favorite adhesive is still the Tombo Mono DOTS Permanent from the Craft Collection - it doesn't leave glue balls behind, is REALLY easy to dispense, has refills and the size of the dispenser is perfect for working in small areas on small things...inchies!  

 

  

One of my most favorite tools is a centering ruler and it definitely comes in handy when putting this card together! Because there are 3 pieces to the inchie puzzle you want to place the middle one on the card first...in the center. This type of ruler makes doing that a snap. Unlike a normal rule, the 0 point is in the middle of the rule, not the end. It counts measurement from that point to both the left and right. All you have to do is position it on the card and slide it back and forth until the measurement on both the left and right edge of the card is the same...in this case 2-3/4". 

Yikes, I better stop coloring and start carving....! 

 

Time for a change - fall season sample cards

 

I think fall is probably my favorite season; sunny days and cool crisp nights. A huge mindset change accompanies this time of year too and as much as we will miss the warmth and fun of summer there is something really welcoming about this change of seasons. Here at Inchie Arts we have switched seasonal gears too and you may have seen some of the 'fall' theme sample cards we are now sending out to stores.

 
Stamp Lockhart Two Acorns #5004 onto buff colored paper stock and color with Prismacolor pencils. Punch out a section of the image using a 7/8" punch and mount onto a black Inchie Square. Then affix to an Inchie Paper square, then a larger piece from 7 Gypsies Angelo collection. 

 

Stamp a portion of the Lockhart Indian Corn #5005 directly onto a white Inchie Square*. Color with assorted Copic markers. Mount onto a series of coordinating papers from 7 Gypsies from their Angelo and Nottinghill collections.

 

Stamp Lockhart Sunflowers #2073 onto white card stock. Color with assorted Copic markers including the background (with a very light buff marker). Carefully cut out a portion of the image measuring 7/8" wide and 1 3/4" tall. Cut this exactly in half into 2 - 7/8" squares. Color the edges of two white Inchie Squares with that same buff marker and then mount each of the two stamped image squares onto the Inchie Squares (you will have created a color "frame" that matches the background). Mount the two Inchie Squares with a little bit of space between onto layering card stock.   

 

Stamp a portion of the Lockhart Rocking Chair #2114 onto a white Inchie Square* . Color with assorted Prismacolor pencils and a tad of Copic marker (for the grass). Use a McGill 1 1/2" Fancy Square punch with an Inchie Paper square for the immediate background and then a stripe of coordinating patterned paper.

 

*All of these sample cards were created using only portions of larger stamp images. Take a look at your stamps and experiment with this technique. Also, when stamping a portion of a larger image onto an Inchie Square it is often easier to turn the stamp face up...ink it...and then bring the Inchie Square to the stamp.

All of these samples were created using cards from the various Inchie Notes color collections. Be sure and visit inchiearts.com for more information about all the Inchie Arts products and where to buy them.

  

 

 

 

   
 

50 is Nifty!

 

There I was the other night just about to dash out the door to a very special gathering when it dawned on me...I didn't have a card! I have to admit, there are so many funny 'turning 50' greeting cards in the marketplace, but most of them have humor that just would not have been the appropriate sentiment for my dear friend. Falling back on the card maker's mantra, "everyone always loves a homemade card" I went for it...!

This card came together very quickly using some of the new neutral color Inchie Arts products and some wonderful paper from the Rhubarb Tart Collection by Memory Box. You will be amazed at how the new neutral colors of Inchie Squares and Inchie Notes coordinate with so many of the wonderful pattern papers on the market. For this card the pairing of paper to card stock has just the right amount of 'aging' gray (ha, ha!) with the bright colors that matched the exuberance of the birthday girls personality! 

Using the light gray Inchie Squares from the new Colored Inchie Squares assortment (see the posting below about these new products) I stamped the squares with black pigment ink using my favorite alphabet stamps from Words & Crafts. These are really easy to use because each letter has it's own little stem handle that even nests upside down in the packaging! And, they are the perfect size for using on the Inchie Squares. 

After stamping, dust the numbers with clear embossing powder and heat to set. Finish the edges of the light gray squares by 'feather edging' with the Dew Drop ink pad of Memento London Fog (medium gray ink).

The inside of these new cards are solid color but even using the darkest gray card from the new Inchie Notes - Neutrals set it's easy to read any sentiments and comments you will want to be sure and write!!

A very Happy Birthday MB!! 

 To learn more about the new Inchie Arts Neutrals Collection of Inchie Squares and Inchie Notes contact lisa@inchiearts.com