all in an inch

Welcome a new design team member - Jill Foster!

 

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!! 

Recent store samples

 

(Stampendous Garden Background stamped across 6 white 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares with Memento dye based ink, then colored with Copic Markers)

You may have seen the sample cards we send out with every store order. We try really hard to illustrate a variety of techniques that can be used on our different size and color ART SQUARES; from inchies to our new ATC size and 3" squares. We are honored to have relationships with many stamp companies and if you like the image you see on one of these samples, be sure and open up the card to find out the manufacturer and supplies used to create the finished piece.  

   

 
(Starting with a 3" white ART SQUARE, stamp Fred Mullet's Gingko 2 stamp by coloring it with various Tombo markers and misting lightly with water each time before stamping. Dab white areas with yellow pigment ink and heat set. Moisten entire square with Versamark ink, dip in clear embossing powder and heat set. Sentiment from Rubbermoon)

 

(starting with a dark gray 2" Twinchie Square stamp Full of Posies stamp with white Fresh Ink pigment ink and dust with Judikins White Diamond embossing powder - heat set. Then stamp New Moon with black ink inside circle. Using pale pink and pale blue Prismacolor Pencils lightly color the 'posies' and the face of the moon. All stamps are from Rubbermoon.)  

 

(Stamp 4 white 1" Inchie Squares with Dylusions small flower using Memento Dye based Tuxedo black ink. Color around stamped flower with Copic Markers, being sure to color the actual edges of each square. Sentiment from Rubbermoon)

And if you happen to be in Anchorage, Alaska stop by Stamp Attic to see these samples! Thanks Betty!

 

Hydrangea 3 ways...

Hydrangeas are one of my most favorite flowers, and this stamp (from Stampendous) is perfect to demonstrate different media applications and coloring techniques on 3 different sizes of white ART SQUARES.

To create this "puzzle" technique first stamp the flower across 4 white 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares. Anchor the squares together on scratch paper with a non permanent adhesive so that they fit tightly together. Stamp with a dye based ink such as Memento Tuxedo black. Keep the squares together while you color with Copic Markers. When you mount the squares on the card separate them by equal distances.

(flower colors: B63, B32 and B23; leaves YG03 and YG63 and outline the entire thing with T2)

Like to stamp and watercolor? Then you will love our new 3" white ART SQUARES!

Before you stamp, moisten the paint pots with a few drops of water each. We used Twinkling H2O blue ice, periwinkle and wild blueberry for the flower and lucky apple and moss green for the leaves. Stamp the square with a pigment ink and emboss with clear powder (we used a black stamp pad in need of rejuvination so it appears more gray than black!). By embossing the ink you not only create a bit of a physical barrier that makes it easier for painting, but you don't run the risk of the ink feathering out when painting. When you are ready, "paint" the entire flower FIRST WITH WATER and then dab in each color, repeating until you have the desired affect. Don't overwork, let the magic of the watercolor blending do it's thing. (tip - we like to use a medium size Kuratake waterbrush pen) 

 

We are having a blast experimenting with all kinds of mixed media techniques on the new sizes. It is particularly challenging for me to let go of the concept that you always have to put something on a card. (So...we had these little acrylic 'feet' made so ATC's and 3" squares can stand up!)

The technique of layering with different color pigment inks and clear embossing between each layer seems to be the thing of the moment....it is so much fun...and easy!

Starting with a white ATC we dabbed about 4 different blues and lavenders....one color at a time....using either the ink pad directly or a dauber. After applying each pigment ink color, dip in clear embossing powder and heat set. After all of the blues, we guessed where the leaves might be (once stamped) and did the same thing with a very light bright pigment green. Then, an overall application of Versamark clear ink and then again clear embossing powder. And....while still hot...quickly stamp the hydrangea after inking the stamp in a dark blue pigment ink. It's so cool how it all hardens to a shiny overall finish.     

(if you are unable to find Inchie Arts products in a store near you, contact our stores list on the web site for a list of on-line retailers. Or, contact us directly at lisa@inchiearts.com for information) 

 

2 new sizes and all new packaging!

 

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!!

 

 

 

Azure

 

Azure is one of those very cool sounding words that must have a mystical or magical meaning. It turns out that azure, "looks like the color of the sky on a bright, clear day"....almost like today...quite a shift from recent weather!      

This color study was inspired by the bins and boxes we gaze at every morning that are filled with every conceivable 'art supply'. As homage to all these different mediums we decided to color each white 1" Inchie Square all in similar color, but with a completely different product. (click on the photo for a larger, close up view)

Starting at the top left corner and going left to right, one row at a time...

- water wash then dabbed with Prismacolor Watercolor pencil

- Copic marker

- Sakura Glaze pen  

- Tombo water-based dual brush pen

- Niji oil pastel

- Twinkling H20 paint

- Crayola crayon

- Grumbacher opaque watercolor paint

- Prismacolor pencil  

 

And for something a little different...instead of putting this colorful collection of inchies onto a card, how about inside a shadow box frame!

Check out these amazing facts about azure, especially the color chart of all the different hues! 

Prismacolor pencils on black squares

 

It's always such a pleasant surprise that pigment rich pencils such as Prismacolor retain their color intensity when used on surfaces other than white. We are such creatures of habit when using bright color mediums (most always on white) that it's easy to forget that these pencils work really well on even the super black of our squares.

We are often asked about cards like this that use large images across multiple squares - in fact, when we send these types of cards out to stores as samples we are told that they often 'go missing' from the shelves!

A few tips that will make creating this card super easy. Begin by selecting 4, 1-1/2" black Inchie + Squares. Adhere them to your work surface so they fit tightly together to make a square. Be sure and use a REMOVABLE adhesive. (our favorite is a dry, roller style made by TOMBO).

Ink the stamp, the Striped Outline Poppy from Impress, with white pigment ink. Stamp across all 4 of the black squares. Working one square at a time, pick them up and dredge (see tip below) them through white embossing powder and tap off the excess. Heat set these squares and fit them back together on your work surface.

Using a variety of similar color pencils (we used pinks, fushias, and purply reds) color the flower to your liking. Don't forget to keep your pencils sharp, don't press too hard and remember that you can overlap different colors to create new hues.   

When you assemble the card make a point to select card stock and papers that coordinate with the colors that you have used to color the flower. Try making a set of 4 of these, each with a different color solution! 

 

 

This next card utilizes a completely different technique. Instead of coloring the stamped image, you create a colored 'frame' with coordinating and overlapping color pencil strokes. 

Begin by stamping the leaf, Leaf with Veins by Gretchen Ehrsam for Rubbermoon, using a Pear color pigment ink by Fresh Ink on a black 2" Twinchie Square. Dredge the square through clear embossing powder and heat set. 

Using at least 3 coordinating Prismacolor pencils (we used artichoke, pale sage, and limepeel) create a frame around the stamped image by repeating and overlapping quick pencil strokes that begin about a 1/4" away from the edge of the stamped image and run off the edge of the square. Continue all around the stamped image changing colors and overlapping until the desired color is reached. This card is finished with one of our most favorite script style sentiments; thanks from Rubber Soul.

Tip: Our tip for handling embossing powder really comes from all of the classes we teach and the desire to figure out a way to make embossing powder easy to use. By putting the embossing powder in disposable plastic wear (we like the small shallow round ones best) we discovered that it's easy to 'dredge the stamped squares' into the powder and tap off the excess without any mess or hassle.  

  

Multiple squares on one card!

Check out this amazing inchie puzzle made with 9 white Inchie Squares!

More information on how it was created can be found on the blog of our newest design team member, Dina Kowal. Visit Mama Dini's Stamperia for all the details!

More store samples....

  

In our last posting we ended with the Lockhart Ribbon Heart. It's part of a collection of three hearts. The opportunities for coloring these are endless; especially with this Paisley Heart. The heart was stamped with Tsukineko Memento Ink and colored using a combination of Copic Markers (first!) and then Prismacolor pencil detail work on a white Twinchie Square. The sentiment is from Rubbermoon.  

A little bit of this...and a little bit of that...seems to best describe the samples that are going out the door with store orders. But it's that versatility that demonstrates all of the different types of stamping and coloring...and direct art applications of our Art Squares.  

These next few samples use cards from our various Inchie Notes card packs. Each package contains 12, 3-1/2" square cards and white rectangular envelopes (can't imagine paying a surcharge for a square envelope!). They come in a variety of color packs, each with 4 different color cards (3 each). The color assortments have white insides and include Peach/Pink, Blue/Lavender, Green/Yellow, Wild Sherbet, Fall and Holiday, The neutral color assortment (Ivory, Khaki, Light Gray, Dark Gray) is solid color inside and out and coordinates really well with our neutral tone squares! Check out the web site, inchiearts.com for photos of the assortments. 

 

 The photo doesn't do justice to the next two cards. They both use White Diamond Embossing Powder from JudiKins which not only has a tremendous opague quality, but has sparkle as well, adding a fun dimension to your cards. We stamped Fred Mullett's Lil Maidenhair Fern using a gray pigment ink on a black Inchie + Square and then dusted it with the powder and heat set. To add extra attention we drew a line around the image with a silver metallic gel pen. The card is the dark gray from the neutral assortment pack of Inchie Notes.   

 

 

Whether it's Valentines Day or Mother's Day or just a perfect spring day there are many ways to stamp with Savvy Stamps Vine Heart. The color combination of pink and gray is a classic and we have again stamped with a light pigment ink, dusted with White Diamond Embossing Powder and heat set on a dark gray Twinchie Square. Placing tiny pink pearls over the 'dots' of the stamped image adds a special touch. The sentiment is from Lockhart. This card is the dark gray from the neutral assortment pack of Inchie Notes. 

(remember, you can click on any photo to see an enlarged view)

 

 

Simple and sweet but with a twist on a stamping technique. This Gerber Daisy stamp from Savvy has enough 'rubber' surface area to experiment with combining pigment ink and Twinkling H20 watercolor paint from LuminArte. Turn the stamp face up and carefully 'ink' the flower (Versacolor Orchid) and the stem (ColorBox Moss Green). Then dab in, just at the center of the flower, a concentrated drop of Lemondrop paint. Bring a white Twinchie Square to the face up stamp, press on to inked stamp, turn over, apply a tad bit of pressure and remove. You will be left with a blurring at the center of the stamp where the paint and ink combine. When it dries you will see the shimmer left at the center of the flower from the mica in the paint. This card is from the Peach/Pink Inchie Notes assortment.

 

 

From stacked squares to multiple ink colors, there is a lot going on on this small card. Begin by anchoring 4 white Inchie Squares to a piece of scrap paper, fitting them up against one another, with a removable adhesive (our favorite is from Tombo, the light green dispenser, of Mono Adhesive Removable). You can actually do a block of 8, or even 12 squares at a time (enough to make 3 cards!)

Stamp with Fred Mullett's Spider Mum stamp across all squares, running off the edges too. We used four different Fresh Ink pigment colors; Freesia, French Lavender, Island and Grass on the background and then Freesia on a diagonally turned white Inchie + Square. Separate the background Inchie Squares a bit when you glue them down, and use foam dimensional tape to 'llft' the Inchie + Square above the background. This card is from the Blue/Lavender Inchie Notes assortment.   

Hurray, hurray....the sun is out today!!  

 

 

Recent store samples - March 2011

 

The card above was created by lining up 4 Inchie Squares (secured with non permanent adhesive while you stamp!), alternating dark cream and ivory squares, stamping with black Memento ink and coloring with assorted pink and green Copic Markers. The stamp is actually quite large, it's called Row of Blooms by Leigh Hannan for Impression Obsession.  Sentiment is from Hero Arts.  

(remember, you can click on any picture for a larger version)

For those of you who purchase our products at your local papercrafting store you might recognize some of the card samples that we have been recently sending out with product orders. We strive to send out an assortment of cards that show different art techniques and versatility of our Art Squares (Inchie Squares, Inchie + Squares and Twinchie Squares). If you see one of our sample cards be sure and pick it up as we will write notes inside the card about the specific art technique or the stamp manufacturer.

  

 

This wonderful bird is part of a set of 4 from Hero Arts called Decorative Birds. Each one has such personality and they are perfect for stamping and coloring on white Inchie Squares. This is a great opportunity to experiment with a light color Copic Marker (in this case G000 Pale Green) for the background around the bird...and the edges too! Card is from the blue/lavender Inchie Notes assortment. Sentiment is from Savvy Stamps.

 

 

To create a bit of a more rustic look in your coloring try layering colors of Prismacolor pencil. Since the amount of color is directly related to how much you 'put down' try a slightly unrefined blending technique with several different colors and then pair with a bold pattern paper. This very versatile oversize stamp is from Impress, stamped on a white Inchie + Square (1-1/2") and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. The card is from the peach/pink assortment of Inchie Notes.

 

Photos just don't do justice to a card! In this case the background of a white Twinchie Square (2") was created with a light wash of Twinkling H20 Key Lime. As it dries an amazing irridescent shimmer appears that perfectly frames the Lockhart Lavender in a Teacup. Just be sure and create your watercolor background first, letting it thoroughly dry before stamping the image and coloring. The card is from the blue/lavender Inchie Notes assortment. 

 

 

A fun technique is to repeat a stamp, and in this case, create what appears to be a beautiful continuous floral hedge! Begin by lining up 3 white Inchie + Squares (anchor onto your worksheet with non permanent adhesive) and repeat stamp from left to right even slightly overlapping the previously stamped image. The stamp is called English Garden Flowers from the Lockhart Stamp Company. 

 

 

 

Ok, we realize that this sample is a little out in left field, and that we really should be doing an entire posting on this photo transfer technique, but we have included it anyway! Yes, we promise we will do an exclusive posting with step by step instructions. Frankly, we are experimenting a bit with this technique - as originally posted by one of our design team members over at Art in Red Wagons! A simple explanation....you photocopy a photograph, spread a layer of glue medium like Modge Podge over the top of the photo and 'stick it' to a Twinchie Square (we used ivory). Let it dry overnight and then gently 'rub off' the paper by dabbing and rubbing with a wet finger. The paper sort of disintegrates and sloughs off leaving the reverse of your photo imbedded in the Twinchie Square. Can hardly wait to try this with new photos of spring flowers!

 

 

So precious! This is one of the new hearts from Lockhart - it's called Ribbon Heart. We stamp a lot with large stamps so that you only see a portion of the stamp on the white Twinchie Square. There are a few interesting technique things going on here too. After the heart was stamped we took a super light pink Copic Marker and covered the entire background. Then taking a darker rose colored Copic we carefully colored over the top of the first color and then finishing near, but not quite up to  the edge of the heart. It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but it creates almost a halo effect. We kept the coloring simple if only because the real star of this show is all of the tiny pink pearls that really make this a special card.

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

Not only for the year...but think of all the ways you can use numbers on individual Inchie Squares! Special occasion dates, reasons to do something, number of ways that you love someone....all quick solutions for a fun card.

 Technically, there is quite a bit going on with this card, but in reality it's pretty simple to create. The concept that drove the design was to utilize the same background for both the card and the Inchie Squares. 

 

 

A really easy way to get one continuous background for a card is to use one of the Mega Mount patterns from Impression Obsession stamps. Several different patterns are available, this one is called, Cover-a-card Vines. The 'stamp' is cling rubber that adheres to a curved acrylic mounting block insuring complete coverage over a large area.

 

 

Using an ink color that is just a tad darker than the card stock keeps the overall image somewhat subtle - perfect for a background effect. We used a Pear colored pigment ink from Fresh Ink.    

 

 

Clean the stamp and re-ink it with a soft, light gray (Provincial Gray) and stamp across four white Inchie Squares. We used a bit of Tombo Mono Removable Adhesive under the squares to make sure they stayed put while stamping. 

 

 

Certainly one of our favorite alphabet/letter stamp sets is from the folks who make the Magnetic Poetry sets. Each letter is mounted with it's own little 'stem handle' making it really easy to use, clean and store.

 

 

 

After stamping each Inchie Square with the appropriate number ( French Lavender pigment ink) quickly coat with clear embossing powder. It's worth investing in a large jar of clear powder and keeping it in a plastic container. It's SO MUCH EASIER to use a pair of reversable tweezers and DIP, rather than constantly cleaning up sprinkled powder! The color of the numbers really comes out when you heat set, and they match perfectly the little purple flowers in the background paper.

Finish the card with a sentiment of your choice - we used one from the Holiday Sayings set from Hero Arts.

Happy New Year!!