all in an inch

SWATCHES....and decorative paper napkins? WOW!

Elizabeth always comes up with the most creative uses for Art Squares!

Today on her Studio Sessions post, "From This...to That", she shares a brilliant (and easy) way to add color and a wee bit of texture to our newest SWATCH size of Art Square. 

Call it collage or decoupage, since Art Squares are a museum grade, archival 4 ply matt board they are the perfect substrate for this technique whether you create a stand alone piece or put it on a card as Elizabeth has done. 

We can hardly wait to try this technique! Just think of all the holiday pattern napkins that could be used to create tags and placecards!! 

Save everything....for quick enclosure notes

(click on the picture to see a larger version)

Believe it or not, these white 1.5" Inchie + Squares were saved from the recycle!

Every time I am working on a project that is colored with Copic markers, I always grab an extra square and use it as a palette to "see" the exact color...or how colors compare to one another. While doing this on the corner of your work surface seems the most logical; because of the distinctive absorbent characteristics of the ART SQUARES, colors will look a bit different if tested on random paper.  

So I have oodles of these weirdly colored squares pushed to the sides of my work table.

Turns out they are perfect for an enclosure note...but need a tad bit more work. 

Stamp a sentiment with black pigment ink and emboss with clear powder.

Using the larger end of a VersaMarker pen - draw broad strokes across those words.

Quickly dip in clear embossing powder and heat set.

Choosing one or two pigment ink pads, dab the square directly with the ink pad.

Wipe away the ink from the area that has been embossed over the words.

Dip again in clear embossing powder and heat set.

These also make perfect bookmarks!   

(the love stamp is from Rubber Soul and the happy stamp is from Rubbermoon)

 

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 #5 - truly 'artful' valentines!!

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!!

Really Unique Idea #4 - inchie letter 'squares' for scrapbook layouts

 

Ever have a tough time finding that perfect piece of scrap paper for a title block for your layout?

Regina Mangum solved the problem by using a white Inchie Square for each of the red adhesive letters. This is a great way to deal with spacing and positioning options too - you can position each letter individually and then paste them down one by one.

Be sure and visit her blog, The Stampin' Bean for all kinds of creative layouts, cards and papercrafting ideas!

 (Really Unique Ideas are a collection of projects from various artists and papercrafters that have used our products in very creative and different ways - be sure and click on the category archive listing on the right to see more of these amazing ideas)

Really Unique Idea #3 - stamp repeatedly using a larger decorative image

So simple and elegant!

This really unique idea is from Dina Kowal and her Design Team posting as part of a Flower Soft Blog Hop. She used a larger 'round' stamp from JustRite Stampers and each time she stamped an Inchie Square she moved the image a bit. Because each image appears to be quite similar it gives the illusion of being from one huge stamp. But when you look carefully you see that non of them actually fit together. Very clever!!

Be sure and visit her blog, Mama Dina's Stamperia, to see all the details.

Thanks Dina!! This is a great idea!

(it's her posting for November 17, 2010)

Really Unique Idea # 2 - silver and gold stitched Inchie Squares

 
Michele Kovack of the JustRite Stampers Design Team came up with the idea of piercing and hand stitching 4 Inchie + Squares (1 1/2") together to add another element of interest and sparkle to this beautiful holiday card. 

Be sure and visit her creative blog, Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker, to see the details of how she created this card and the supplies that she used. Scroll down to see this post, dated last Wednesday November 3.

Great inspiration!! Thanks Michele!  

(Really Unique Ideas are a collection of projects from various artists and papercrafters that have used our products in very creative and different ways - be sure and click on the category archive listing on the right to see more of these amazing ideas)

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!