Inchies and Twinchies

As you know I'm a scrapbooker, not much of a cardmaker, well not at the moment, as I have a stockpile of cards I'm still using up. I try not to keep and hoard, but I have to work hard not too. I have a birthday folder, where I keep cards, and still have quite a supply, perhaps when that is getting empty I may turn my hand to making a few.

I have made a few ATC's (Artist's Trading Cards) a bit like Pokemon cards for crafters and would like to make more of those, time permiting. But recently on my travels through the blogosphere came across something called inchies and twinchies. Mini works of art, scrapbooking style, rubber-stamping style and some of the ones I have found are super. So it was something I really wanted to have a go at. And something I thought Jamie might really enjoy having a go at too.

Inchies are a 1" X 1" square piece of artwork, they can be made from paper, card, fabric, anything really, they can included pictures, words, ribbon, brads anything you use in crafting or art, they can be inked, rubber stamped, embossed, coloured, painted etc, etc.

Twinchies are exactly the same but 2" x 2" (my own preference as they are a little easier for me to work with, now I need reading glasses but don't like to wear them!). I'm lucky as I have a 1" and 2" square punches, which has made life much much easier!

Rinchies are the same but are 1" circular - haven't had a go at these yet but will, and I'll show you. Will have to check out my Cuttlebug shapes and see if one of my circles is 1".

Rolo's are rolodex cards which are altered in exactly the same way as above, a sort of cross between a business card, mini art-work, ATC etc etc.

Moos which are exactly the same but 1.1" x 2.8 in size.

Whereas ATC's come in at 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

So here are our very first attempts, Jamie has done Club Penguin and I have done Whitesnake, I know not normal subject, but ours and we enjoy them! I think I prefer the twinchies, as I am not sure I can work as small as 1 inch. But they also appeal as they offer a super way to use up all those scraps I have left over, and when completed they could always be used as embellishments on scrapbook layouts or as card toppers, or even put into frames and given as gifts.

Here are some links to the websites I was having a look at

http://www.papercraftjunkies.com/content/2008/10/inchies-by-caro-stanton/ (a good how to on this site)

http://artbytheinch.wordpress.com/ (some stunning examples - real inspiration)

http://inchiearts.typepad.com/ (more wonderful ideas and inspiration)

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 3/16 - currently reading Pop Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones
Jamie's Reading challenge 2/12 - currently reading Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson SLYMI - 1/52

Thursday 21st May

I've been blogging for a whole half term, as today is the last day of this half term, wow! Just been up to all of the usual stuff today, trying to get some of my jobs out of the way before tomorrow when Jamie being at home means all routines go out of the window.

My Darling Doug Aldrich second from the right

Also today is the start of the Whitesnake tour in Europe, I am not sure if I will get to see them whilst they are over this time, as they are only playing 1 gig on mainland UK, 1 in Dublin and 1 on the Isle of Man. I've checked out the feasibility of all of them and all look pretty unlikely as it stands at the moment, but you never know. I will have to see if I can work anything out!

I still have three scrapbook pages to finish .....maybe tomorrow.

Ciao

Sue

XX

Chillin Out!

Hey, it's the weekend, so we can all take a step back and relax. Mike has been pretty tired just lately, so he had a very long lie in and has hopefully caught up a bit and feels a lot more refreshed. As well as working he has been ultra busy with his website and associated activities (see http://www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk/), and just needed a break from it. I will do a separate blog all about Friars because what started as an innocent remark from me has become something of a juggernaut, albeit a very interesting and exciting one!

Jamie got the first part of his homework out of the way this morning so he can enjoy the rest of the day, and has been out on his bike and now (whilst I write) Kian is here and I suspect (as the phone has just rung) David is on his way! Blackcurrant to drink and an ice-cream all round shortly, I expect!

Before Mike really surfaced, I took a reluctant Jamie off for a few minutes to a flower festival at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Willen. It is a lovely little church, with boxed pews, and a font in the middle of the aisle. They have had some repairs and a new roof recently and the flower festival was to celebrate their completion. There were some lovely arrangement, particularly the two at the side of the altar, which were by Jeanette Smith and one called 'Cross and Stable'. The latter was an asymmetrical in rich orange, bronze and yellow and had Leucospermum, which look stunning in any arrangement. Sadly my photo of this one did not come out well. But I have included a couple of photos, one of the alter arrangements, 'Reach for the Roof' (below) and a trio of asymmetricals in differing sizes called 'Following Jesus, Sharing his Love' by Margaret Brown (above).

There were 5 pew end arrangements, which looked very familiar, in fact identical to the one I did at my Floristry class on Tuesday, so I had a chat with one of the ladies and found out that she goes to the Thursday class with Sue Billington and they had been donated to the festival.

As we were leaving Willen we spotted the road name below and those of you who know me will know I have a bit of a soft spot for Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich, so I was very pleased to see that he had been honoured in Milton Keynes! Now what do you think the chances are of Mike and I buying a house on that street. Better do the lottery tonight I think.

So now I am organising a few scrapbook pages, picking the papers to use and the photos, and at the same time watching a flower arranging DVD, I guess for me its an ideal relaxation time.