2 - Hip to be Square

It's funny how when I think those words I start humming the tune, but this has nothing to do with Huey Lewis' song "Hip to be Square". It has to do with "Inchies". I have learned that "Inchies" are hip right now, or they are becoming "hip" - so it IS "hip to be square."

Karen asked me one day, "Have you heard of Inchies?" I was totally confused - was she talking like inches in a foot, or inch worms, or... I replied - "ummm, no - I don't think so." So then she explained and my mind just went bouncy with ideas. Inchies - what are they?

Well they are just that, little 1"x1" squares. Create them...trade them...collect them.

They are a smaller version of ATC's I guess you might say. The fun thing is to see what can be done with such a little, teenie, tiny canvas. There is something about items that are gigantic or itty bitty - they seem to really grab your attention.

So Karen started creating "Inchies" and yep, they grabbed my attention. The picture you are viewing is huge compared to this little Inchie - but I thought I would share one of the many fabulous Inchies tonight that Karen has created. Over the next weeks and months we hope to share a lot more and have fun playing with these Itty Bitty canvases. These birds are from the new Lockhart images being released this Friday. They are the Itty Bitty Birds not the mongo sized ones that appear here - LOL!

The basics go as follows - Create them:

• begin with a 1" x 1" square (typically chipboard). You can use cardstock, fabric and I've even seen glass, metal and plastic. The only rule is that the surface needs to be 1"x1". I like chipboard being the depth of the chipboard makes these fun to hold in your hand and stablizes them making them a little more substantial.
• decorate your square using anything you like - you can stamp it, collage it, doodle or draw it, add words, texture, frames, epoxy tiles, decorative papers, old book pages, definitions, Diamond glaze or Crystal Effects, glitter, liquid applique, teeny tiny bellies such as pearls, tiny brads, buttons, pin heads, fibers - the list is endless - if you think of something cool - try it.
• put your initials someplace on the front of the inchie.
• optional: add a magnet to the back. Magnetic tape works great and if you want that powerful snap there are many awesome magnets on the market now, but please keep those away from small children. These little canvases are so bright, colorful and appealing to little hands and mouths alike.

Trade them:

• put together little swap groups, (or big swap groups if you are brave - LOL)
• make them at a baby shower to complete a little piece of artwork for the babies room,
• make a series of inchies to commemorate the birth of your child - make the number of inchies equal the length in inches your little one was at birth,
• make puzzle games to set on your coffee table,
• send them to a secret sister,
• what about an "inchilada party" come the new year when the doldrums set in,
• leave suggestions in the comments box if you have other fun ideas that you would like to share with the stamping world.

Collect them:

• start a little journal. When you receive an inchie immediately put a little number on the back and add it to your journal book. Use this number to remember who your inchie is from and when it was that you received it. If you are anything like me this is essential - I can't believe how easily I forget these days. EVERYTHING has to be written down - LOL!
• display them in a frame,
• or sit them on a scrabble tile tray,
• place them on a magnetic board
• if you are shabby choose a "shabby" old surface, if you are contemporary - keep it slick and clean. Get creative as to how you would like to view/display your inchies.

The first "How-To Inchie" I will present to you tonight is a very special inchie that was created by Karen.

I thank her from the bottom of my heart for "rescueing" me today. I knew I was in trouble last night when I just ached from head to toe from the coughing. After a quick visit to the doctor's office this morning it was confirmed - yep, bronchitis. So needless to say my creativity is more than zapped. Karen drove these over to me today so that I could take pictures of them and share them with you being that I just didn't have it in me to make anything inchie worthy today.

Just a brief synopsis of how Karen put this together. She began with the smooth white surface and drew the little trees in using the Copic Multiliner .03. This is the pen that she creates all of her rubber stamps with and thus the scale works beautifully with her images. Step two - shows the initial layer of color - this was added using Copic markers. Step three - more color is added using Prismacolor color pencils. This brings out the texture in the paper. Step four - Nicholas is added on a pop dot. Step five - bling it up baby - the remaining surface is covered in an ultrafine mix of glitters that just make it shimmer and shine.

Now this is the part where it gets awesome! Karen has made 30 of these for us to give away to the first 30 individuals who place an order for $30 or more of Lockhart Stamp Company images after they are released at Midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning. We are calling it our 30 for $30 giveaway. Unfortunately there is no way for us to let you know whether or not you will be the recipient of one of these goodies until your box arrives on your doorstep. I wish I could figure out a way to do this so that you would know immediately, but my mind is completely braindead at this point. Surprises are always fun though - right?!?

So place your order for at least $30 worth of Lockhart Stamps as soon as possible Thursday midnight/Friday morning after the new stamps appear on our website and if you are one of the first thirty then one of these special little treats will be yours.

I can envision these hanging as an ornament on a tree. Think of these in a cube/box format - over the top - WOW! Tomorrow I will be adding links to a few other galleries where some incredibly talented women will be putting Inchies on display - so keep coming back to find where those links lead Ü

I am also working on a post that will share a little more about who we are - yes, a little more about Karen Lockhart, the women behind the scenes (Beth, Malin and Malena) who help me right here each and every day, the incredible team of women who are our current business associates (Debbie, Michelle and Trudee), and then top it off by sharing our excitement as we announce two new colleagues that are going to assist us in sharing how to use the Lockhart Stamp Company images in innovative ways. So stay tuned for more exciting things to come!

Remember 1 inch + 1 inch = 1 inchie = fun! Watch out they will inch their way into your heart Ü

Comments

[Ruth Gore]

How fun! These are adorable! Guess who will be staying up late tomorrow night to place their order? :)

[Viv (VivLyn)]

Very cute! You gals are the best!

[Sue B]

These are adorable.

[Rose Ann]

Inchies sound like a lot of fun, and these are adorable!!

I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Beverly A]

I received one of these inchies; how adorable and what detail on such a little thing. This inchie is going to have the place on honor on my refrigerator this holiday. Thanks to you and Karen!