all in an inch

Use diluted marker ink to create a sweet background

Water based markers are a great resource for creating a background following Dina's trick - to dilute them with water on a non absorbent work surface and then lay a white ATC Art Square directly into the ink. In this case she used a pink distress marker and fine tuned it a bit with a waterbrush pen. 

This sweet solution was an homage to the introduction of a new holiday stamp set from Poppy Power called Heaven & Nature Sing. Be sure and visit her blog (Mama Dini's Stamperia) today for all the details as she hosts this week's Mix-Ability Challenge for Splitcoaststampers!

Layers and layers for a winter watercolor

We are always stunned at the ability to create such a richness of color simply with a watercolor medium. And Elizabeth does just that today in her posting on Studio Sessions as part of a Penny Black design team challenge to create a winter watercolor.

Be sure and read her detailed step by step because she put down at least 4 different layers; something that definitely wouldn't work on paper, but is well suited to doing on a 4ply white ATC size Art Square!

Don't you just love her interpretation of winter colors - so warm and cozy!!  

Splash Ink vs. Watercolor?

In preparation for our demo on Saturday morning at the Impress Holiday Open House in Tukwila we have been creating all kinds of samples. We are always asked about the difference between using different coloring mediums on the Art Squares and if we prefer one over another. So, we decided to do a test evaluating Splash Inks against Koi pan style watercolors. 

For those of you not familiar with Splash Inks, they are quite unique because not only are they an acrylic based 'ink', but there are only 4 colors in the set including yellow, blue, magenta and black...just like the ink colors in your printer. Working with Yasutomo, Karen Elaine Parsons created a massive color chart (that comes with the 4 bottle set) with drop by drop formulas showing how to make just about every color you can imagine.

We recently discovered the Sakura Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch box containing 24 colors of highly pigmented dry pan style paints. This small box kit comes with it's own palette that you can use to mix brushfuls of color that you pull when you moisten the pans of color with water.

We were surprised to find that the intensity of color was very similar between these two completely different types of paint mediums!!  And, with very little effort in color mixing we were able to quickly replicate similar colors.

First we stamped 2 white ATC size Art Squares with the Forest of Trees stamp from Impress using VersaMark ink, white embossing powder and then heat setting. Paint right over the embossed trees and then use a paper towel to blot up any paint to keep the trees white. 

The one on the top right shows the watercolor version created by the traditional method of combining different green, blue and yellow pan watercolors. And the bottom left version shows the exact same colors mixed from just the cyan and yellow Splash Inks.  

Who knew...it's a draw! And frankly we love both of them!!

 

Announcing the winner of the CardMaker and Inchie Arts blog hop giveaway!

 

The response from all of you has been tremendous. I speak for all of us on the Inchie Arts team in saying that we had a blast participating in this blog hop!

We hope you enjoyed all the projects we shared and hope you continue to follow us for new ideas and creative solutions with Art Squares!

Congratulations to the commenter who goes by the initial "C" because you are the winner of our Inchie Arts product giveaway!

Please email me directly at [email protected] with your preferences for 4 boxes of product and your mailing information and then keep an eye on your mailbox! Your choices include individual boxes of any of our size Art Squares: 1", 1.5", 2", 3", ATC size and 4". The Art Squares are available in white, ivory, dark cream, light gray, wheat, dark gray and black. And of course if you want any recommendations depending on the way you plan to use them we can chat about that too!

Autumn Splendor watercolor painting and the Grid Works die from Sizzix

Jill just has a way with color and a true love for combining pigment with water! 

She initially stamped Penny Black's large fall theme background image onto a piece of watercolor paper and then painted the leaves with one watercolor painting method, and the background with another.

Then, using the Grid Works die from Sizzix (Susan's Garden), she die-cut the image into 4 perfect 1-7/8" squares and glued them onto 2" white Art Squares. These dies were created specifically for use with Art Squares and leave a perfect 1/16" border when glued to the squares. In fact they are available in sizes that correspond with our 1" Inchie Squares, all the way up to our ATC size!

Visit Studio Sessions today for the specifics on Jill's watercolor painting for this card!

Hop TODAY with the CardMaker and Inchie Arts design teams and leave a comment for a giveaway of Art Squares!

We are very excited to be a part of a blog hop today with Cardmaker!

It's been an amazing collaboration of two design teams and we hope that their fall themed creations using Art Squares has inspired you, and you will leave comments on the blogs in the hop. We will select one commenter to receive a giveaway of 4 boxes of Inchie Arts products; the color and sizes of your choosing. Leave your comments from now until next Thursday the 16th and we will select and post the winner here on Friday the 17th.  

Since we are the last stop on the hop we wanted to share a couple of techniques that are perfect for 4" white Art Squares. 

 

We are so excited about a new technique called Stendoodling TM created by Michael Trent. It involves carving up an outlined shape into sections and then using stencils or stamps to apply pattern in those areas. The patterned areas can be colored either as part of the process or afterwards.

This application on a 4" white Art Square is a variation of that idea.

After tracing the outline of Aspen leaves (favorite fall leaf!) using a fine line black pen (0.3 or 0.5) we used the pen to create 'sections' on each leaf that loosely follow the idea of the veins. Using masking paper we covered the entire square and traced (you can see through the masking paper to do this) just the outline edge of the leaves. Next, using a craft knife cut through the masking paper following just the outlines of each leaf.

Lifting off one leaf at a time prepare to stamp each section with different pattern stamps using clear VersaMark ink. Mask the section you will be stamping using small post it notes. Then color each section with Pan Pastels that will 'stick' and darken wherever there is ink. Use a very light spray of fixative as you finish each leaf so you won't accidentally smudge it.

(tip: you can use dies or stencils for the larger shape (leaf) or simply draw and cut a shape from cardstock)           

 

This next project was inspired by photos taken of summer flowers that were copied onto regular copy paper and then die cut with these wonderful Impression Obsession wheat dies!

Beginning with a 4" white Art Square remove the absorbent characteristic of the square by generously 'painting' it with matte Perfect Paper adhesive using an old paint brush. Arrange the cut out wheat stalks in a pleasing arrangement alternating colors by laying them on the wet surface and gently pressing them. Quickly cover them with more adhesive (this product is really a liquid like acrylic medium that dries clear) being careful not to overwork. Leave to completely dry.

Using Splash Acrylic inks mix several fall colors in a palette with wells. Using bunched paper towels, and beginning with the lightest colors, dab color onto the background and around and over wheat stalks. If too much ink covers the wheat stalks you can 'clean' them (before ink dries use a wet QTip - if dry use a bit of alcohol). Repeat with all colors until you reach a desired amount of overlappying color. Use an alcohol soaked QTip at the very end to add the 'white' dots.  

If you haven't visited all the other blogs in the hop here are the links:

CardMaker: http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/

Jeanne Jachna: http://akeptlife.blogspot.com/

Mae Nazareth: http://www.inkdpaperbymae.blogspot.com/

 

Sharon Harnist: http://paperfections.typepad.com/

 

Noelle McAdams: http://noelle-paperandice.blogspot.com/

 

Dina Kowal: http://mamadinis.blogspot.com/

 

Penny Ward: http://www.pennywardink.com/

 

Piali Biswas: http://touchofcreation.blogspot.com/

 

Jill Foster & Elizabeth Allan: http://www.studiosessionsart.blogspot.com/

 

Theresa Momber: http://craftingtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

Inchie Arts: http://inchiearts.typepad.com/

 

If you are new to Art Squares perhaps you have been motivated to create with them, or you are an 'inchie afficianado' that wasn't aware of our new larger sizes. Regardless, we hope you have enjoyed the journey and will visit us again here on our blog, or please like and share our Facebook page for tips and ideas!

And don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway!!

a note to all: it has been so much fun being a part of this blog hop! I have enjoyed reading all of the comments so far and am warmed to hear that many of you have never heard of our products before but have great interest. Aside from being precision cut (so you don't have to cut your own) what most don't know is that the greatest benefit of the Art Squares is that you can create your art directly on the square because the top surface is similar to a high quality artist grade paper - some say like a watercolor paper and so can accept all kinds of wet and dry media without deterioration.

If you are interested in purchasing our products please visit this link to the STORES page on our web site.  

Hop with Inchie Arts and CardMaker design teams this Thursday October 9!

We are so excited to join forces with CardMaker magazine for a collaborative blog hop highlighting the work of both of our design teams! 

Join us Thursday for this special fall theme event saluting Art Squares of all sizes! 

Have you joined the Penny Black Club?

Holiday inspiration delivered to your mailbox until the end of October!!

We are excited to share that Jill Foster, a member of our design team..and also on the Penny Black design team, will be exploring topics such as achieving beautiful mixed media collage, stamping techniques, ATC designs, and scenic painting.

If you haven't signed up yet here is the link, and stay tuned to receive some great ideas as you gear up for the holidays!