all in an inch

A Valentine Memory Game - Part 2

 

Now that you have created 18 identical stamped Twinchie Squares (see previous posting) for one side of the Valentine Memory Game, the fun truly starts in trying to decide among all the potential options for the 9 pairs for the "matching" side. 

 

If you have ever worked with our Inchie Arts squares you know that they have the most incredible paper surface for watercoloring and any 'wet' media. The 'top' or 'pebbly' side acts as a very high end artist quality paper; many have even compared it's properties to hot press watercolor paper. That means it will hold an enormous amount of moisture without deteriorating.  

We LOVE Twinkling H20 shimmering watercolors and were very excited to learn about a new color assortment called Think Pink. Pictured here, the six new colors are in pairs of color families. Hopeful Honeysuckle and Dreams Bloom are peachy/pink. Courageous Rose and Luv U Pink are both true pinks. and Lucky Apple and Good News Green round out the six pack. Perfect for Valentines Day we used them to paint a Valentine Candy stamp.

Before any painting be sure and stamp the image with pigment ink, apply embossing powder (we use clear) and heat set. This creates a physical barrier between colors and also prevents the stamped ink from feathering.

If you have ever been in one of our watercolor classes you will understand the importance of the phrase, "more water". In order for watercolor paints to blend and create that blurring effect it is essential to first paint the desired area with water. This is what we are doing in this picture...and if you look really carefully you can spot this neat trick....we tinted this first coat of water with just a tad bit of pink so you can more easily see where you are applying it. You really don't have to have a puddle of water at the ready since the brushpen we are using contains all the water you will really need.  

Also at this time you want to make sure your paints are prepped and softened by adding a few drops of water (squeezed from the brushpen) directly into each pot of paint. 

  

Moving fairly quickly (before your water layer dries) pick up the desired color from the paint pot with the tip of the brushpen and begin 'dabbing' it into the desired area. Keep dabbing, and keep picking up paint until you like the results. Don't over paint as you want to see the effect of the 'watercolor' light and dark areas.

(another tip is to create a palette of paint colors on another white square so you can see how the colors look when dry)

 

Cleaning your brushpen between colors is really easy. All you need to do is swivel the tip of the brushpen repeatedly across a paper towel until it runs clear. If you have a lot of paint on your brush tip you may have to gently squeeze the brushpen to release a bit more water as you clean.

 

Continue this process with each area you wish to paint, first painting with water and then dabbing the selected color. We didn't blend colors since the painting spaces were small, but the principles are the same...you simply switch colors when 'dabbing' and watch the magic of the different colors as they merge.

 

We decided to create another pair for our Valentine Memory Game using the same Twinkling H20 colors, only this time we did blend the peach and pink colors inside this open heart stamp from Rubber Soul.   

 

Two more pairs were stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic Markers.

The Peacock Feather was colored with RV 17 Deep Magenta, R27 Cadmium Red, R20 Blush, G40 Dim Green and YG91 Putty.

The Flowery Heart with Swirls was colored with R27 Cadmium Red, V05 Marigold, RV02 Sugared Almond Pink, YG01 Green Bice, YG63 Pea Green and YG95 Pale Olive. 

 

These were our favorites! Especially since we got to eat them after we took the pictures!!  1-7/8" leaves a perfect 1/16" border all the way around when you paste them down. Just remember to trim two photos at a time so you will have an identical pair.

 

The square on the left was created using individual alpha letter stamps with red pigment ink. The dots were made with Copic Marker RV21 Light Pink.

On the center square, two pattern papers were used; one trimmed to a 1-7/8" square and the other with a heart shaped paper punch.

Create your own plaid background for the square on the right...draw edge to edge lines in one direction with Copic Markers R20 Blush and then V12 Pale Lilac in a perpendicular direction. Stamp over this background with a variety of valentine sentiments.

 

Remember how to play the Memory Game? Turn over two at a time. If they don't match turn them back over. Keep doing this until you find a match. When they match, leave them face up....

 

until you have matched them all!!

Happy Valentines Day

A Valentine Memory Game

This very unique valentine is actually a memory game made from Inchie Arts White Twinchie Squares that was inspired by an article in Country Living magazine. Perfect for all ages it's a fun alternative to a traditional greeting 'card'...plus it's an activity you can play with your 'valentine'!

 

Begin by creating the same image on the 'back side' of Inchie Arts white Twinchie Squares. One package contains 18 squares, or what will ultimately become, 9 matching pairs.

 

Stamp the Rubber Soul Whirly Heart with red ink (we used Fresh Ink Pigment Red Current) onto Eclipse Art Masking Tape and also onto a white Twinchie Square. Trim out the heart that is stamped onto the masking material.

 

Next, carefully place the trimmed heart over the heart stamped onto the Twinchie Square. The Eclipse Masking Tape has a perfect amount of 'tack' for easy removal and also for keeping things in place when you are stamping in layers.

 

Stamp over the masked heart with a large pattern stamp such as this one from Savvy. To contrast with the rich red we used a fun pink from Fresh Ink called Fresh Lemonade.

 

It's pretty amazing how many times you can reuse the trimmed out heart before you have to make a new one. Remember, you have to repeat this process 18 times in preparation for the second part of this project.

Be sure and stop by tomorrow to discover our 9 pairs of memory challengers along with some tips for creating them!

 

A fall foliage collage

This is a great project for creating several cards with a variety of common theme stamps and an assortment of pigment inks.

 

All of the stamps used in this project are by Fred Mullet. If you haven't worked with his stamps before they are representations of the real thing because his signature stamps are from actual nature prints. And the wonderful Autumn Blessings calligraphy stamp is from Rubbermoon.

 

Create the foundation of the collage with squiggles and dots using a Krylon 18Kt. Gold Leaf pen. The gold will shimmer through all of the stamped layers.  

Your goal is to create a stamped collage over an entire sheet of ivory card stock. It's up to you whether you stamp a full 8 1/2" X 11" or just a half sheet, but know the larger the paper, the more raw material you will have for cards.

 

Create each 'layer' by stamping each leaf randomly all over the sheet. Remember to change orientation of your stamp each time. This first layer uses the Lil Paper Birch stamp with Fig color pigment ink from Fresh Ink.

 
Next, the Lil Silver Birch with Honey.

(note: since pigment inks are very sticky and often slow to dry you may want to lightly heat set your work after each layer - this will prevent transfer of each ink onto the newest stamp)

 

  
The Flowering Ash Branch is stamped with Tuscan Olive.

As you continue to layer be sure and fill in the white spaces so you are getting good solid 'collage' coverage.     

  

Lil Sweet Gum with Honey. 

 

 Finally stamp the Lil Maidenhair Fern with Pear.

 

 

Unless you began by stamping 'off' the edges you will want to cut a strip off the top getting rid of the white area at the very edge. Then, cut a 7/8" strip (above) from the top edge. Do you best to be precise because when you cut this strip into squares and paste them onto the Inchie Squares there will be a perfect 1/16" border around the edge of your photo squares.

 

Carefully trim the strip into 7/8" squares with a paper cutter. As you trim them out be sure to set them down in order and not mix them up. This will make it MUCH easier to match them up again as you are pasting them down on your card. For each card use 5 continuous squares, pasting them onto the black Inchie Squares. Set all 5 squares down on your card first before glueing. Arrange them exactly how you want them (use a centering ruler to position the middle one if desired) and then paste down one by one starting with the square in the middle.

 

 

(Hint: A set of 6 or 8 cards and envelopes wrapped in a ribbon makes a perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving!)

It's all about "Ash"!

 
In February we did a posting about a class we were teaching, that created a unique pop up card. from photos from our local farmers market. The card stayed on display at Impress after the class and due to customer requests we are teaching it again. 

Even more exciting is to see what others have done with the concept! A dear friend of ours, Vee, has a precocious and photogenic cat named Ash. She designed a version of the pop up with a collection of pictures, all about Ash. This pop up concept is an easy way to showcase and share a collage of images whether that be a trip, hobby, children or special pet.

We love to see what others are doing with our Art Squares or project ideas - send us your photos!

JudiKins and the Stamp Show

 
We are VERY excited to be working with JudiKins in their booth this Sunday at the Puyallup Rubber Stamp & Paper Arts Festival. Not only do they have some incredible images to work with, but we are having way to much fun playing with all the MicaGloss colors and embossing powders. 

 

 
One of the techniques we will be demonstrating utilizes the supplies in the top photo to stamp and emboss the leaves onto white Twinchie Squares and then hand mix colors to paint pearlized metallics in subtle shades of green. (click on the photo for a larger view) Rather than putting the finished pieces on a card they are popped out of a small black frame for an elegant art piece to set on a table or hang. 

If you are in the neighborhood - be sure and stop by and say hi!    

Really Unique Idea # 1 - Twinchie Square holiday mini album

 
There are so many artists and papercrafters using our products in really unique ways! We decided to start a new archive 'category' in the right margin of the blog to save these wonderful ideas so you can find them when in need of extra inspiration. 

Kazan Clark of the JustRite Stampers Design Team just posted this little gem of an idea using Twinchie Squares for mini holiday albums. To see the details of how she created this, and the supplies that she used, be sure and click on the link to visit her blog, Nunu Toolies!

Thanks Kazan!! We love this!  

Photo transfers with Twinchie Squares!

Recently, one of the members of our design team (Kimmie) was tinkering with photo transfers and we asked her if she had tried it with Twinchie Squares. The results are amazing and you have to visit her blog, Art In Red Wagons, to see for yourself.

Not only that, but scroll down through the postings and she explains everything step by step. 

We continue to be amazed at the variety of papercrafting projects that can be created with Inchie Arts squares - just think of all the possibilities with this technique - scrapbook pages, cards, holiday projects, collage boards, journals. And experimenting with the different sizes and colors!! 

Thank you Kimmie for your wonderful inspiration! 
 

Christmas in July event at Impress

Open House Friday July 23rd from 6:30 to 8pm - Tukwila store

If you live in the Seattle area and want to attend a really incredible event you must stop by the annual Impress Christmas in July open house! We will be there doing demos of all kinds of fun holiday things that you can make with Inchie Arts products. From a fabulous version of a traditional holiday letter with inchies...to ornaments... keepsakes...gift cards and greeting card ideas.   

Hope to see you there!

Put a pocket in it!

This is a quirky little card that doesn't conform to any standard size - although it does fit into a regular size envelope - that kind of evolved in the making. The base of the card is simply a piece of textured red card stock cut 6" wide and 5 1/2" tall. Then scored at the halfway point so the finished base card measures 3" wide and 5 1/2" tall. 

If you look carefully you will see two of the new neutral squares - a wheat colored Twinchie Square with a dark cream Inchie + Square layered on top. You can just barely make out the stamping on the wheat Twinchie Square - it was done using Versamark ink to create a watermark effect with the Cedar stamp from Rubber Soul. The primary image is a Dove with Berries also from Rubber Soul. Stamp the bird using Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo black ink. Before coloring the image take a Copic marker (either C0 or E50 and draw an outline or halo all around the entire image. Color the bird with Prismacolor Crimson Lake and the berries with a combination of Limepeel and Kelly Green. (Tip: the reason that you use the Copic marker first is because you don't want to 'pick up' even the tiniest dot of color pencil pigment - it will be really hard to remove from the tip of the marker and will color everything from then on!)

The pattern papers are from Graphic 45 - what a wonderful collection that is just perfect for the holidays. Cut the largest piece 2 5/8" square (red one) and the next 2 3/8" (green one). Before you assemble the card take a color coordinating marker and gently 'edge' around the squares eliminating the white edges from your cutting. It also adds a slight bleed effect that is pleasing.

Assemble the card like a layer cake putting the piece closest to the card on first. Use a piece of foam tape when adding the Inchie + Square with the bird to give it an extra bit of dimension.

The pocket is really simple to create. Cut a piece of pattern paper measuring 3" wide by 5 1/2" tall. Score a line across - not quite in the middle - at 2 1/2" from one end. Then score along both long edges a line 1/4" from each edge. Cut the scored edges off the longer side - this becomes the side you glue to the card and you don't need the 'flaps'. Fold the short side up - this becomes the front of the pocket. Before you fold the flaps inwards and glue them to make the pocket use a circle punch on the front of the pocket. Also use a corner rounder on the side that sticks to the card. Then glue the flaps of the pocket down and then glue the entire pocket to the card.   

Once you create a pocket, make one or two more. That way you can quickly convert a card into a gift card holder - perfect for any last minute gift! Can you believe those wonderful kiosks at the grocery stores with tons and tons of gift cards!!  I admit, I grabbed a few yesterday myself!!

Happy Holidays to all, from everyone at Inchie Arts!

More petunias...and a great teacher gift

 

Ok, I admit it...I am in one of my gardening 'modes'. Doesn't help that Karen Lockhart has created a series of wonderful stamps of Patio Pots each with it's own little sign. I am nuts about these and think this is probably my third posting using the Patio Petunias #2107. 

 

This time of year I am always looking for cute gift ideas for teachers and my gardening buddies. Here in the NW it seems that just about everyone is into some form of gardening whether it be a pot outside their front door or an entire perennial border. I love buying the mini flats of 16 and giving them as thank you gifts! So how could I resist making these cute little plant markers embellished with inchies!

 

I found the white plastic markers in the garden supply section at one of the big box stores. I stamped each white Inchie Square with the chosen image using the rubber up technique (refer to last two postings) and then colored with Prismacolor pencils. Petunias come in so many different colors that you can really have fun mixing and matching your coloring if you are making a bunch of them. Each sign is finished with Glossy Accents.

Find a scrap of coordinating pattern paper and trace the shape of the mini garden stake on the back side. When you cut it out you will have to trim closer than your outline so it doesn't stick out when you glue it down. Affix patterned background paper with adhesive (our favorite is the Tombo Craft Dots!) to the stake and then the decorated inchie. Finish with a tiny bow in a coordinating color. I have found that if you take a tiny piece of tape and stick the ribbon to the stake before tying it doesn't wiggle round quite so much. A tiny drop of liquid glue on the bow will hold it securely together as well.

 

 

Be sure and use a Sharpie pen on the back side of the plant marker to write a personal greeting.

And remind them...lots of love, water and sunshine!