Imagine combining Ph Martin’s Hydrus watercolors, Distress Paints, and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks all on one 3" white Art Square. Stop by Jill's blog, Inspired by, today and see how she created this explosion of color using all these mediums without any surface deterioration.
Jill comes up with some of the most incredible projects. Be sure and visit her blog, Inspired by, to see her latest take on using ATC size Art Squares and Pan Pastels. You will quickly understand why using white Art Squares is ideal for brilliant colors and the subtlety of the dark gray is a perfect way to use lighter colors; almost like a chalkboard effect.
And be sure and check the stores list on our web site for where you can purchase Art Squares form Inchie Arts, or send us an email at Lisa@inchiearts.com.
I am very excited to be the proud owner of a BIG SHOT! Having never before owned a die cut machine, I am now a self proclaimed novice, and experimenting with interesting ways to use die cuts with our ART SQUARES.
This project was supposed to be an experiment using a die cut as a photo tansfer.
Choose two flower photos of different colors, but each with a large concentration of color over most of the photo. (We teach photo card classes and tell our students that a great place to take pictures like these is at your local garden center or farmers market) Scan or copy the photos and print out onto standard copy paper.
To create a play on the flower theme of the photos we used the Flower Silhouette die from Savvy Stamps. Punch out flowers from both photos.
As the first step in the 'photo transfer' process completely coat the top side of a white 3" square with Matte Perfect Paper Adhesive. Use a paint brush to paint the adhesive all the way off the edges and rinse the brush well afterwards.
Taking the cut out flowers, one at a time, set them photo side down in the wet adhesive. Gently brush more adhesive over the top of them and set aside to completely dry. (you can click on any of the photos to view them larger)
When is was completely dry, the plan had been to sand off the back side of the copy paper to 'reveal' the photo 'transferred' to the square. What a pleasant surprise to find that the adhesive had completely saturated the paper and made the color from the photo seep through in a really cool way.
As a result, it was time to take advantage of the surprise and create a color surround!
Another characteristic of the Perfect Paper Adhesive is that it is actually a liquid acrylic medium. By painting it all across the surface of the square you create a coating so the square is no longer absorbent. With that in mind it was time to use the FW Acrylic inks we had recently rediscovered.
The first effort of painting directly with a paintbrush just didn't look right and a quick swipe with a paper towel removed the brushstrokes. Another ah ha moment occurred when we discovered that the paper towel would actually be a perfect tool to apply the ink - it even left a bit of pattern from the surface texture of the paper towel.
A small plastic eggshell palette was perfect for drops of ink and blending, all the while dabbing these mixed colors onto the square with the corner of the paper towel. Just keep dabbing until you have a pleasing result!
(the card stock is our exclusive dark gray - available in packages of 12 folded cards)
(Fred Mullet MagnoliaSticks and Fresh Ink Basil and Island)
Those memories of elementary school art keep creeping back into my consciousness.
Who can forget learning about positive and negative space - it was all so confusing until it was explained that positive space is the object itself...and negative space is the area around it...or the background. I was an Art Docent in the elementary schools for years and we had lots of fun teaching this concept.
I think we all get caught in ruts with regards to how we use stamps, so try this technique with any of your stamps and shake up your creativity!
As you are looking at these just remember...the images on the left are stamped traditionally using 2 different Fresh Ink pigment inks which are then embossed with clear powder and heat set. The images on the right are created by inking the entire stamp with clear Versamark, stamping, dredging in clear powder and heat setting. Then dab the SAME pigment inks using small sponge applicators into the 'negative' spaces. Use a cotton ball to remove the excess ink from the clear embossed shapes which will now show up as white.
(Fred Mullet WillowSpots and Fresh Ink Merlot and Melon)
(Fred Mullet Swirlfish with Fresh Ink French Lavender and Freesia)
This last one is almost an optical illusion...because the actual stamp is designed so that you are 'stamping' the water...not the fish...it's a visual that takes a minute to figure out!
(note - the ink colors from each 'version' aren't an exact match because the ink on the left version is heat set and the ink on the right version is just applied)
These were all created using the new white ATC size ART SQUARES!
We are pleased and excited to announce that Jill Foster will be joining the Inchie Arts Design Team!
Many of you already know Jill as she is an accomplished paper crafter and well known in the industry. She currently designs for Penny Black Stamps, Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft, and Ribbons Unlimited.
Always looking for fresh inspiration, Jill loves to create cards, tags, and various mixed media projects. When Jill creates for Inchie Arts, we will post a 'sneek peek' image here on our blog and then provide a link directly to her "Inspired By" blog where you will be able to find all the details.
Jill loves to share her passion for paper, color, stamping, and stickers through video and photo tutorials. She has already expressed how much fun she is having using our new larger ART SQUARES for her mixed media work.
We think she will be a great fit for Inchie Arts and hope you enjoy her upcoming posts!
So...without further delay...click on the picture below to hop over to Jill's "Inspired By" blog posting to find out more about these fabulous cards.
Welcome Jill!!
Love this technique...stamping with acrylics and then coloring with watercolors!
Visit Dina's blog to learn the details of using this coloring technique on 2" Twinchie Squares.
We are pleased to announce (by popular demand!) two new sizes:
ATC size 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"
and 3" squares
These new sizes are available in all of our 7 colors; either in boxes of all one color, or in an assortment. From left to right; black, dark gray, light gray, wheat, dark cream, ivory and white.
(bird stamp from Rubbermoon stamps)
ATC size, 3" square, 2" Twinchie Square, 1-1/2" Inchie + Square and 1" Inchie Square
But, ART SQUARES are a just a blank canvas until you apply love and art.
We have discovered that these new larger sizes are like opening a Pandoras Box of art techniques that were not quite possible with the smaller sizes.
Because of the larger size you are more aware of the uniqueness of the material and how it behaves like a hot press watercolor paper enabling the use of a great variety of wet mediums including
all manner of paints, sprays, inks and stains without the surface deterioration
that would normally occur with paper weight materials.
The artist grade surface is equally ideal for fine pen work, stamping,
all variety of markers, color pencil, chalks and pastels.
And the matboard weight of the material stands up to mixed media,
layering, collage, embellishment and encaustic.
the smaller sizes.
A few samples....
Image layering, larger format stamps and coloring with Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils and Twinkling h20 paints - yeah, larger coloring areas!
(stamps from Rubbermoon, sentiment from Impress)
Stamping and creating textures with gesso, then coloring with alcohol inks, Brilliance re-inkers, Twinkling H20 Paints or Pan Pastels.
(stamps from Savvy and Impress, sentiment from Lockhart)
White pigment ink with white and white diamond embossing powder to create special chalkboard effects on darker ART SQUARES as well as the magic of white gel pens and Prismacolor pencils on dark gray.
(stamps from Fred Mullett and Savvy, sentiments from Rubbermoon and Impress, embossing powder from JudiKins)
And explore using larger stamps by coloring the stamp with assorted dye based markers
(stamps from Fred Mullett and Penny Black, sentiments from Impress and Savvy)
This Valentines Day card was created by using white gesso as 'ink'.
Apply a few dabs of gesso to an non porous surface slightly bigger than the size of the stamp.You want it a bit 'gloppy' (vs. thin and smoothed out) so the stamp will 'pick up' enough of the gesso.
Press the stamp into the gesso being sure to pick up enough to cover the entire stamp. "Stamp" onto a white 3" ART SQUARE. Repeat twice more without overlapping images. Immediately wash stamp off in warm water or set into a very shallow dish of water so the gesso does not dry on the stamp. Let dry completely, best overnight.
The color is actually just a small squeeze from two different colors of Brilliance ink refill bottles. The Pearlescent Orchid and the Platinum Planet. Either in a small egg carton style pallette or a non porous surface place a small amount of paint of each color. Using a brush, sponge or just about any type of applicator pick up a dab of the Platinum ink and quickly wipe it across the bottom half of the stamped square - full coverage left to right. Moving quickly with a rinsed or new brush, repeat with the Orchid color on the top half overlappying the Platinum slightly.
Finish by using a more wet than just damp paper towel and wipe across the entire surface. As you do this you will be removing almost all of the paint from the white gesso hearts. The more water...and the more you wipe...the more white they will become.
The end result shows the 'ink' absorbing into the white 3" square and the gesso hearts resisting most, if not all of the overpainting of ink.
(stamp from Savvy, sentiment from Lockhart)
Happy Valentines Day!!
It's been brought to our attention that we have been remiss in sharing some of the sample cards that have been going out to the stores, and cards that we taught in classes from the past couple of months. Guess we had "summeritus" cause when summer finally came to the Pacific Northwest it was pretty tough not to get distracted! And while we are now in the midst of a glorious Indian Summer we will do our best to be a bit more timely with sharing. So without further adieu....
This color waterfall above was created by drawing quick short strokes of overlapping color on a white Twinchie Square and then dabbing water with a brushpen. If you haven't used Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks they are fabulous. We used quinacridone violet, quinacridone red, opera pink and hansa yellow medium. (don't be tempted to overwork it)
One of these days we are going to have to take an official Zentangle class! In the meantime we tinker with our pens, and whether replicating an official Zentangle pattern, like Antidot (above), or just doodling random patterns, using gold and silver Uniball Gel Impact pens on a black Twinchie Square make it really easy. (a great resource for a cataloging of Zentangle patterns can be found at http://tanglepatterns.com/2012/09/how-to-tangle-a-pumpkin.html)
A total experiment...this one. We hand colored this batik birds stamp from Memory Box with three different colors of Tombo Dual Brush Pens from the Jelly Bean set (purple 606, aqua 452 and green 173). After coloring the stamp with the pens, we moistened it with a big breath, and stamped onto a white Twinchie Square. To 'soften' out the colors we then went back in and gently dabbed with a water brush pen to blend...just a tad.
Be sure and check back...we have oodles more things to share...
I am a great admirer of the work of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. She is a graphic designer, painter, artist and even author... she is multi-faceted with a wide range of expertise involving art journaling, scrapbooking, fabulous original design work, mixed media, unique crafting...you name it!
I visit her blog often, if for no other reason than to get a creative boost, and always come away inspired.
A couple of months ago I had sent her some of the Inchie Arts products. I was dying of curiousity to see how she might utilize the squares with her style of imaginative design. Needless to say when I saw her Valentine posting today I was blown away and wanted to share her wonderful creations with everyone.
Check out her incredible valentines with Inchie Arts squares at http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2011/02/valentines-day-inchie-cards.html
I love how she used everything from glaze pens to watercolor crayons on the squares.
Thank you Julie...once again, I am truly inspired!!
crisp and contemporary
Using the pen and coloring technique from the last posting we thought it would be fun to try a valentine by using appropriate colors and 'drawing in' a tiny heart. This technique is highly addictive, but relaxing at the same time...we can't stop making them!!!!
Since we knew it was going to be a valentine we picked the colors before we even started the pen work. If you are using multiple colors in a project it's often helpful to create a tiny palette made of the same material as your project (in this case a white Twinchie Square). Not only can you use it to test and select which colors to use, but once you decide on colors it is a handy reference to remember which marker is which color as you work on the project. Be sure and use the pointed tip end of the Copic markers when coloring small spaces like these and color on the 'top' side (the side with the more textured surface and rounded edges) of the squares for the best results.
(for more information about coloring on the 'top' side refer to a posting called Frequently Asked Questions from June 2010)
The key to this technique is drawing one continuous line that connects back to the original starting point. The fun is coloring, because you really have no idea how it's going to turn out until you fill the spaces your pen has created! The pen work goes so fast it's easy to make several white Twinchie (2") Squares at a time.
After coloring, give the heart a little extra emphasis by applying Glossy Accents by Inkssentials. It's a clear liquid that dries leaving a hard, shiny 3D finish. It's tempting to check to see if it's dry, but resist the urge to touch it until completely clear and hard.
(An easy way to check for dryness is to take a piece of scratch paper and apply a drop about the same size as on your work - you can check this for dryness instead of touching your finished piece)
with a feminine touch
Creating these 'art' twinchies also gives you an opportunity to experiment with the card components. For each of the four finished pieces we created 4 completely different cards.
clean and simple
a bit more masculine
Looking at the calendar I guess Valentines Day is only a little more than 3 weeks away!!
(Mix and match valentine sentiments...Love, be my valentine and Queen of Hearts from the Lockhart Stamp Company and valentine wishes from Savvy Stamps)
