Inchie INKlings

Inchie Card Sketch #2

Hello!  I can't believe it's been an whole week since the first sketch!  I am absolutely thrilled at your response, encouragement and participation.  Woot!

If you find this post and use the sketch after the closing date for the giveaway I would still love it if you left a link so I can visit your blog or gallery.  Deal?

Who's ready for Sketch #2?

I began by stamping the Peas and Carrots Dress from the Vegetable Couture Collection (Lockhart) with Lettuce Adirondack Ink on Natural White (Neenah).  I just couldn't help but pair up this dress with the Garden Variety Paper Pad (Cosmo Cricket) - what a perfect match!!

 

I colored dress as follows with Copic Markers:

Lay down a base layer of Y21 on the carrots. 

Color directly over top with R27.

 

Color over the center of each carrot with YR04 to lighten and create an orange tone.

 

Color the peas with YG63 and then color over the entire pod with G40.  Color the ruffle on the dress with Y21 and then highight with YR04 from the top; drizzle with Clear Spica Glitter Pen (Copic).  Color over the peas again, this time with the Opaque White Gel Pen (Ranger) and color the hanger with the Silver Spica.  Cut the image in half and mount onto White Inchie Squares.  Finally, add a layer of Glossy Accents over the carrots and pea pods for dimension.

I didn't have quite the right green paper to coordinate with my project so I sponged the same Lettuce ink that I stamped my image in over Natural White card stock punched with the Binding Punch border using Cut 'n Dry Foam.

Finally, sponge around the edge of each inchie with the same ink to pull it all together.

 

All papers used are from the Garden Variety Paper Pad (Cosmo Cricket), ribbon is 1 1/4 inch moss silk (May Arts) and the sentiment stamped with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger) is from the Birds and Branches set (Hero Arts).

Finally, the winner of the first Inchie Card Sketch Challenge is Melissa Cash!

You will recieve this adorable little Itty Bitty stamp named "Inchie" by Karen Lockhart in the mail.   Please send us an email with your address.  It will be coming from Canada so be patient. :)

Please note that there will be a giveaway each week - you can be entered into the random draw if you participate, post your card and comment on the our Sketch post with your link.

Inchingly Yours, Lisa

Inchie Card Sketch #1

How exciting!  Our inaugural Inchie Card Sketch.  I'll let you in on a little secret...I already have 25 Inchie Card Sketches prepped and ready to go.  :^)

Without further adieu, go forth!  Create!  The sketch can be either portrait or landscape.  I have created a few cards below to inspire you.

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Especially For You

Supplies:

-Say Hello Stamp Set (Hero Arts)

-Sassy Petites (Cornish Heritage Farms)

-Baked with Love (Cornish Heritage Farms)

-White Inchie Squares (Inchie Arts)

-Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)

-Spearmint and Frond 6x6 Paper Packs (Memory Box)

-Diamond Lace Edger Punch (EK Success)

-5 Petal E-Line Flowers (Prima)

-Eerie Brads (Basic Grey)

-.05 Black Multi Liner Black Pen (Copic)

Congrats Home

Supplies:

-Birds and Branches Stamp Set (Hero Arts)

-Kioshi 6x6 Paper Pad (Basic Grey)

-Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger)

-White Inchie Squares (Inchie Arts)

-Classic Trim Collection (Webster's Pages)

-1 1/4 White Silk Ribbon (May Arts)

-Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Thank You Home

 

Supplies:

-Birds and Branches Stamp Set (Hero Arts)

-Kioshi 6x6 Paper Pad (Basic Grey)

-Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger)

-White Inchie Squares (Inchie Arts)

-Classic Trim Collection (Webster's Pages)

-1 1/4 Pink Silk Ribbon (May Arts)

-Glossy Accents (Ranger)

We would LOVE to see your cards!  Please leave a comment and link to your card on this post and you just might be chosen for a little *inchie love* in your mailbox. 

Inchingly Yours, Lisa

EDITED TO ADD:  The Inchie Card Sketch Challenge is open until 12am PST the following Thursday so that you have the entire week to play along!

A Spring Umbrella by Lisa Strahl

Wow!  How can I begin to thank you for that warm welcome?  Talk about warm fuzzies.  XOXO  Your encouragement can only mean one thing...it means that I am going to work REALLY hard for you!

Today's design features two Itty Bitty stamps by Lockhart - the Umbrella and Escargot.  I worked on the umbrella first and then decided that the background paper for the card needed to be "raining" something - how about snails?!!  We'll get to the snails in just a minute.  First, details on the inchie:

Begin by stamping the IB Umbrella on one of the solid green pieces in the Kioshi 6x6 Paper Pad (Basic Grey) with Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger).  Fussy cut out the top portion with Cutterbee Detail Scissors.  Stamp the image again on the green and orange plaid piece in the same pack.

Punch out the image stamped on the plaid paper with the 1 inch square punch.  Cut a piece of Sticky Back Canvas with the Labels 12 Die (Spellbinders).  This die cuts the PERFECT layer for your inchie!

Paper piece your green umbrella top onto the umbrella stamped on the plaid paper with the Quickie Glue Pen.  Fill in the handle of the brelly with Opaque White Gel Pen (Ranger).

Embellish the two stripes with Clear and Orange Spica Glitter Pens.  I can't emphasize enough the shimmer that these pens produce.  They have micro glass flakes for maximum sparkle.

 

Apply Glossy Accents over the entire brella top.

 

Stamp the Escargot with Peach Bellini Adirondack Ink (Ranger) on another green piece of solid paper from the Kioshi 6x6 Paper Pad and layer onto Mango Cardstock (Memory Box).

Punch Solar White Cardstock (Neenah) with the Thanks Edge Punch (Martha Stewart) and apply 1/8 inch double sided tape to the back side.

Final Details:

-die cut Thin Real Wood Birch with Labels Twelve to create another layer for your inchie; cut a thin strip of wood and adhere to the left of the thanks punch border

-add a small Mango Pearl to the top of the brelly

-add small clear jewels in every other hole on punched strip

-finished card size is 3.75 x 3.75 inches

Inchingly Yours, Lisa

P.S.  Check back Thursday to play along with our very first Sketch Challenge!

inchie shaker notebook by cindy lyles

 
Today's post details an easy method for covering a notebook (from Target), transforming it from dull to artsy and exciting!  We'll be using some new products from ellenhutson.com.

To begin, source notebooks from local office supply stores, or places like Target.  Choose a notebook with sturdy covers and a quality binding.  You can also make your own with a Bind It All.  Cover the notebook front with a good performing adhesive tape.

 

Cut Graphic 45's Postage double-sided cardstock to rough dimensions of the notebook cover, adding roughly one to two inches overall, as shown.  Chop off the corners, but do not trim too close to the corners - leave a bit of paper as shown.

Fold up one side, then using a bone folder neatly tuck in the excess paper as shown; repeat for each corner.

Fold in remaining sides and burnish cardstock into the adhesive.  Cover front inside notebook cover with another piece of cardstock.

To create the Inchie shaker, trim a postage stamp from the Graphic 45 Postage cardstock to just under one-inch square.  Select a one-inch sized Memory Capsule from Ranger, place a few beads or micro marbles of choice into the capsule.  Although not necessary, I opted to fully secure the beads by gluing the capsule to a one-inch glass pane.

Create a sandwich:  the capsule containing the marbles & glass panel, postage cardstock square, followed by the second one-inch glass panel.  Insert into a one-inch black Memory Frame.  (Available in copper and chrome also.)

Close frame and adhere to notebook front - I used two pop-up Glue Dots to adhere.

Additions of sheer burgundy ribbon and a pen nib complete the unique notebook front.  Instead of a pen nib try a length of beads or a charm.  Thank you for stopping by the Inchie INKlings blog today!

di-vine inchies by cindy lyles

 

Two vine Inchies are featured in today's card, and we're using some gorgeous paper and elegant brads from Basic Grey's Marrakech collection!

 

To begin ink up Memory Box Vine Branch stamp with an Oregano colored ink and hit just the tips of a few branches with a Rust colored ink.  Stamp onto white cardstock and punch out two Inchies using a 1" square punch.

 

Stamp Vine Branch image again with Archival Ink in Jet Black onto white cardstock, then ink the edges and the Inchies' edges too, using Distress Antique Linen ink pad and an Ink Blending Tool.  Mat black vine image with Paprika cardstock followed by Dill.  Mat Inchies with Dill cardstock then affix a few Marrakech glazed brads.  Line up matted Inchies onto the black vine image and adhere using foam dimensionals.

 

Stamp Memory Box Just A Note sentiment onto blue Marrakech paper with Archival Jet Black ink, and cut out, notching one end.

Using a Paprika notecard base with matching envelope, adhere more of the gorgeous Marrakech patterned paper, followed by the matted Inchies and sentiment.  These glazed brads add needed detail to this basic card.  Add vine images with black ink to the envelope front - this image is so versatile when used this way!

 

Use any leftover snippets for the card interior.  Stamp Vine Branch image repeatedly and randomly on the card interior using an Oregano ink, and again onto the Paprika envelope flap with an Archival Ink Jet Black ink pad.  Thank you for stopping by Ellen's Inchie INKlings blog today!

utee inchie pear magnets by cindy lyles

 

CLUE #7

Take your first hint from within this post and go back to the store to find a "hot" product "to dye for", it will make you "melt" even during this chilly time of year.

ETA: Direct Link to Clue #8

Today's post encases Inchies in small, clear wafers to create durable magnets.  I've wanted to encapsulate treasured Inchies in a functional manner, yet still be able to touch and handle the Inchies on a whim.

Lockhart Stamp Company's IB Pear image was stamped onto a 7/8" square of white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Image was stamped again onto script paper and cut out.  Small scale red script paper (both papers - 7gypsies) decorated the white square, and the edges of both pear cutout and 7/8" white square were delicately sponged with Distress Vintage Photo ink with an ink blending tool. 

Adhere pear cutout to square, then mount the 7/8" decorated white square onto a 1" Black Inchie Square.

Prepare heat-resistant silicone ice cube tray by centering a neodymium (or other, strong) magnet into a well.  If using a neodymium magnet I suggest doing one Inchie magnet at a time or at the very least space them several wells apart, as the pull force of the these magnets is incredible.  One of these magnets can support fifteen sheets of paper easily.

Add Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (utee) combined with UTEE Flex - a hardener, making the final product quite sturdy - into a Melting Pot (utee, flex, melting pot: Ranger) on the highest setting.  Cover, and allow the granular products to melt completely.

Pour melted utee mix over magnet in ice cube tray until just barely covered. 

Working quickly while utee is still molten, insert completed Inchie and tap firmly into place.  Pour a thin layer of utee over top of Inchie.  The photo above shows the air bubbles that natually occur.  To eliminate these, use a preheated heat tool (turn on your heat gun and let run about 10 seconds to warm up) to gingerly to pop the surface air bubbles.

Should the intial layer of utee harden, you can easily re-liquify it using your heat tool.

Allow utee Inchie to cool then gently pop from ice cube tray.

I created another Inchie using the same red script paper and a White Inchie Square, then colored with Copic markers. The base is a 1-1/4" square of Memory Box Licorice cardstock.  The process was repeated to create a second magnet.

 

Immediately upon removing each utee Inchie, carefully pop out the magnet with a hobby blade or other sharp implement.  Use superglue to re-attach the magnet and secure it permanently.

vintage inchies by Cindy Lyles

 

Today's post features a mini one-sheet-wonder combined with a bit of recycling.  Incorporating old dictionaries into art has been my latest craze - and they are FUN!  Try sourcing these at tag/garage sales, local auctions and even your bookshelves at home.  

 

To make the thin dictionary sheets more stable I adhere them to a piece of solar white cardstock using Matte Accents from Ranger.  Smear the adhesive with your finger to completely cover the cardstock.  Then firmly press the dictionary sheet and remove any air bubbles.

 

Next, stamp a few images at random.  I'm using images from Inchie Style set from The Rummage Bin (CHF) and Jet Black Archival Ink. 

 

Punch out images using a 1" square punch or cut into 1" squares.

Sponge Distress Antique Linen over each inchie, then blend edges using Distress Vintage Photo.  Lightly tap edges with Distress Walnut Stain.  The photo above shows the difference between the naked inchies and the ones with the Distress inks applied - big improvement!  Try incorporating thin strips of decorative paper from your scrap pile to further embellish if desired.

 

Stamp swirls from the Beautiful set (Rummage Bin/CHF) onto Arturo light blue notecards, and mat distressed Inchie squares with Licorice cardstock.  Adhere matted Inchie square to upper left corner overlapping the stamped swirl.

Inchie images were repeated onto the gorgeous Arturo envelopes - fabulous weight to these.

'Hello' sentiment is from Kim Hughes Silhouette Blooms I.  Thank you for stopping by today!

Inchies from A-Z:D is for...

D is for Dragonfly

Created by Karen Lockhart using: IB Dragonfly , Copic Markers, Prismacolor Pencils, Ultrafine Glitter, and Rub-on Alphabet Letter.

D is for Display

So you have all these gorgeous little Inchies. You have indexed them and perhaps put them in a binder, but they are so cute and tactile - how is it that you can bring them out and share them with others? The list of ways to display your Inchies continues to grow. I am going to share a couple of different ways that Karen has shared with me in this post.

The first is this darling Inchie Easel and Frame that Karen Lockhart created.

Karen purchased an inexpensive little wooden easel and covered it in a gorgeous Italian paper. Next she removed the glass from a little white frame and cut a piece of tin using tin snips to fit into the little frame. To "countrify" it she added a sheet of paper on top of the tin before sandwiching it in the frame. This makes a wonderful blue and yellow display - so the Inchies that are showcased in this presentation all fit with that scheme.

As I thought through this process I thought it would be fun to make Inchies in a select color scheme and theme, perhaps even spelling out a word. This would make a darling baby gift - basically a twist on the "Name Frames" we have seen being created over this last year. This would be a minature version - I wish I had more time to make one to share with you. If someone does this please link in the comments below so that all those who are Inchie lovers can see how you presented this idea!

Next is the little "Scrabble Tile" holder.

Again this is Karen Lockhart's beautiful handiwork! Karen can cover ANYTHING with paper in a magnificent manner - I love how she covered this little holder in green and presented Inchies that were color coordinated. If you ever get the opportunity to take one of Karen's Inchie classes jump at it. Not only is she an amazing teacher, but the laughter and enjoyment factor in her classes will give you a day that you will always remember!

Another one of the beauties Karen has made is this trifold.

Once again she found a wonderful tri-fold frame and inserted tin, behind the patterned paper. Attaching magnets to the back of her Inchies allows her to have a display that can be ever changing.

To show you how easy this is I took a frame that I had displayed with just the plain tin (you need to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post) and will show it with two different styles of paper. So my Inchie assortment isn't that grand at this point, but some day I hope to have a display that dazzles Ü Many thanks to Karen once again for providing me with such awesome eye candy!

I began with the 12"x12" tin sheet and purchased a ready made 12"x12" frame. With scrapbook layouts being framed these days it was quite easy to find a frame that I felt would be versatile. All you need is the frame, a piece of cardboard (this typically comes with the frame, a tin sheet and a piece of decorative paper.

Insert the paper, then the tin, and finally the cardboard - into the frame. Fasten it in place and voila - a custom designed Inchie Display!

TIred of the look - put in a different piece of paper!

Now I just need some more Inchies to fill it up - LOL! So send me your food Inchies will ya? OK - just send me your scans for this month's challenge and I'll be a happy girl :D