all in an inch

Photo cards - colors and textures

4 white 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares

We can't seem to stop making photo cards and just wanted to share a few of the latest that we have taught in recent classes. When you shift the focus of attention to colors and textures rather than just a pretty picture, the results can be wonderful. We invite everyone to get out in the garden, set your camera to a close up setting and snap away! Whether using 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares (as in the card above) or creating a sequence puzzle (below) with 1" Inchie Squares...it's hard to go wrong.

 

5 black 1" Inchie Squares

 

1 dark gray 2" Twinchie Square

 

9 black 1" Inchie Squares

 

1 light gray 2" Twinchie Square

 

3 black 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares

 

5 black 1" Inchie Squares

Tip: When we are creating photo cards with our Art Squares, we always leave a 1/16" border all the way around each photo to create an effect that is quite different from flush mounting the photos all the way to the edge of the square.

This can be achieved by trimming your photos as follows:

For 2" Twinchie Squares; trim photo to 1-7/8" square

For 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares; trim or punch photo to 1-3/8" square

For 1" Inchie Squares; trim or punch photo to 7/8" square

Rainy Day Impatiens

Living in the Pacific Northwest we are supposed to be accustomed to all the rain. But it's summer, and enough is enough! While the flowers are taking a beating they are a great inspiration for a set of 4 notecards created with:

4 white 1-1/2" Inchie + Squares

Twinkling H20 paints in Apple Blossom, Persimmon, Kiwi and Blue Grass

Prismacolor pencils in Magenta and Celadon Green

Mini paint palette, waterbrush pen, pattern and solid papers

(tip: before you begin, moisten the paint pots by adding a few drops of water to each one)

 

Create a small puddle of 'pink water' in a depression of the palette with a dab or two of full color from the Apple Blossom paint pot mixed with several drops of water. Use this 'pink water' to quickly paint flower petals on the square. Don't stress about the flower being perfect...don't sketch it out, just relax, paint and see what happens!

 

Draw in some quick, loose accent lines with the Magenta pencil.

 

Before the petals dry out, dab in some full color directly from the moistened Apple Blossom paint pot. If you need to add a bit more 'pink water' go ahead so that when you dab in the stronger color it will bloom and blend on its own.

 

Add a dab of Persimmon for a color accent....

 

Gently draw in the flower pistol with the Celadon Green pencil.

 

Create another puddle of colored water in the palette; this time with the Kiwi. Being careful not to bump into the pink flower you just completed, go ahead and paint with 'green water' all around the flower and out to the edges of the square.

 

Again, taking advantage of the damp green area, go ahead and dab in stronger bits of color directly from the paint pots of the Kiwi and the Blue Grass. Don't overwork it, just dab, dab, dab and let the paint bleed and bloom on it's own.

 

As the Twinkling H20 paints dry they will begin to shimmer from the mica that is mixed with their pigment - also, the colors will appear a bit lighter when dry.

 

Seems like we have shelves and shelves of odds and ends papers. All the more fun to poke through to find the perfect coordinating paper. In this case we trimmed the paper to an A1 card size which is the perfect fit for 4 Bar envelopes.

(The folded card measures 3-1/2" X 4-7/8") 

A Tangled Father's Day

I continue to be mesmerized by the skill and magic achieved by the art of Zentangle. One of these days I am going to take an official Zentangle class, but until such a time I am best desribed as an aspiring ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Artist).  

I know this posting is a day late, but wanted to share it anyway because I have found that our different size squares are the perfect medium for all kinds of detailed pen work.

Using a pencil 'whisper line' first draw the outline of each letter on a 1-1/2" white Inchie + Square.  If I could have found a stencil with letters, I probably would have used one! Taking your time, and enjoying the task, draw a variety of small patterns inside the defined areas with a black 01 Micron pen. A tiny bit of Copic marker color for a border and each letter is complete. (click on the photo for a close up look)   

While inserting patterns from your personal 'doodle' library is quite rewarding, you might be inspired by the tons of official Zentangle patterns that have been created. Be sure and visit the official Zentangle web site and another that I recently discovered that actually catalogs the patterns,  Tangle Patterns.

 

 

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.